Thirty nine years of independent Papua New Guinea
Thirty nine years this month a proud independent nation, Papua New Guinea is starting at last to box its weight as a real regional force as well. At last month’s Pacific Islands Forum summit in Palau, Prime
Leadership choice crucial to Fiji poll result
Fiji’s September 17 General Election will be decided primarily on the quality of political leadership on offer rather than on political platforms and manifestos. Media-driven interviews and general political
US seeks dismissal as nuke lawsuit gains support
Islanders’ justice bill nears US$2.3 billion When the Marshall Islands filed legal action in late April against nine nuclear nations at the International Court of Justice and against the United States in federal
Time runs out for Samoan airline
Board decides against extension request Fiji’s Air Transport Licensing Board has made a startling revelation surrounding American Samoa based airline Inter Island Airways’ much awaited entry into
Weightlifters bring home the medals in Glasgow
Pacific’s athletes brace for ANZAC invasion As predicted in our January 2014 edition, weightlifters proved to be the Pacific’s most successful athletes at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. They accounted for all
The PIDF Comes of Age
The second Summit of the Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF) was held on Fiji’s Denarau Island from June 18 to 20. Over 400 delegates from the region and beyond were in attendance and keynote presentations
The Pathway to the 3rd SIDS Conference in Samoa
Samoa will make history this year as the first Pacific island country to host an international United Nations conference. The 3rd International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS), to be held from 1 to 4
Airport plans ended, back to square one
A RARE unanimous vote by Vanuatu’s MPs to end plans for a new controversial V$350 million (US$3.66m) international airport have refocused attention on the parlous state of Bauerfield International Airport. Plans
Spare a Tala for grassroots wisdom
TThe longish drive from Faleolo Airport to downtown Apia is always a great opportunity for a grassroots view of the goings on in Samoa – especially when your driver, even if loquacious, is eloquently so. Views
Confusion causes skepticism and policy paralysis
What outcomes should the world’s small island states that are congregating in Samoa realistically hope for at the conclusion of the conference in early September? These island states, joined at the hip by the
Nauru, Cook Islands elect women MPs
The Pacific Islands region has often figured at the bottom of global gender parity statistics. The region has the fewest women parliamentarians, at no time in their histories since independence more than a handful
Seasonal worker programme shows promise
One of the two biggest income earners for most Pacific Island countries, particularly in Polynesia, is remittances – the other being tourism. Vast numbers of Pacific Island people live and work mainly in
Whispers
PNG’s Meg Taylor: is the Pacific Islands Forum’s new head, the Melanesian Spearhead Group solidarity is in tatters and the whisper is that Fiji is fuming still. So much so that Fiji’s losing candidate,
Forum debates fisheries management
At the Pacific Islands Forum, regional leaders adopted a new agreement to strengthen enforcement and surveillance over the region’s fisheries. In a ceremony during last month’s meeting in Palau, New Zealand
Samoa rolls out red carpet to the world
Proud moment for donors’ darling It’s Samoa’s biggest moment on the global stage. The third United Nations Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) Conference that gets under way on September 1 is
Clearer skies ahead for economy
With its high dependency on tourism and agriculture, the Samoan economy is severely affected by natural disasters. In December 2012, Tropical Cyclone Evan is estimated to have caused damage of more than S$400 million
Solomon goes to the poll under the weight of mounting debt
As Solomon Islands gears up for its national general election later this year troubling signs of corruption, economic woes and mounting debts are overshadowing preparations. No one really knows the exact date for the
Tuna access in doubt after talks fail to seal fisheries deal
Fishing for 40 United States-flagged purse seiners is in jeopardy for 2015 after negotiations between the US and Pacific nations last month failed to seal an access treaty. Although agreement was reached two years ago
Tokelau energy options
With almost all their electricity supply sourced from the sun, the 1,400 islanders of Tokelau are a living testament to what the Germanborn but English economist the late E F Schumacher advocated in his book ‘Small is
Global mobile phone giant enters PNG, Solomons partnership
Bmobile Vodafone opened for business in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea on July 16, days after Vodafone announced its expansion to PNG and the Solomon Islands in a non-equity arrangement with local partners. Group
Archbishop legacy of hope
Thousands of mourners lined the streets of Fiji’s capital, Suva, last month to farewell the late head of the Roman Catholic Church, Archbishop Emeritus Petero Mataca. In a ceremony full of the pomp and ritual of
Mobile companies reinforce presence in Fiji
Leading mobile phone companies announced major developments recently with Vodafone Fiji now fully Fijian owned while its rival Digicel rolled out a massive AU$40.4 million expansion of its Fiji operations. Digicel
Tokelau meeting approves south Albacore Tuna plan
FFA ministers endorse Atafu Declaration Fisheries Ministers in the Pacific have endorsed moves they hope would lead to better management of the south Pacific albacore tuna fisheries both in their 200 miles exclusive
