Fiji resilience: Sigatoka’s Masi Lady
From the masi (tapa) making island of Vatulele is Anareta Ketenilagi, pictured here at her stall inside Sigatoka’s main food market. She specialises in masi costumes for brides and bridegrooms. “Before the
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Pacific fisheries observers finally home
Solomon Island, Fijian and Papua New Guinean fisheries observers are now home after being repatriated from American Samoa this week. Some of them had been away from home since December last year. The nine Pacific
Maclellan wins Sean Dorney Pacific journalism grant
Islands Business correspondent Nic Maclellan has been awarded the Sean Dorney Grant for Pacific journalism for 2020. Established by the Walkley Foundation, the Sean Dorney Grant for Pacific Journalism aims to
Can sharing the joy of tax increase government revenue in PNG?
Around the world, tax compliance is a serious problem with big consequences. The case is no different in Papua New Guinea (PNG). It is an important concern of the current government. In July 2019, Prime Minister James
Presidential leadership for post referendum Bougainville
Bougainville is going through a major political metamorphosis ending one political status and entering into another entity. The 15 years of Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) Tenure has ended but continues
Australia appoints its first Indigenous person as Consul-General
Australia first Indigenous Consul-General, Benson Saulo says he’s keen to share Australia’s Indigenous culture and connecting with First Nations businesses and leaders in the US as part of his trade and investment
USP students protests continue across region
Solidarity action for change continues today in a number of University of the South Pacific campuses around the region, as students throw their weight behind the call for “good governance” within the
USP student across the region protest, police on Fiji campus
A “support good governance” protest organised by the University of the South Pacific Student Association today with the theme “wear blue” is now underway in a number of campuses around the region with the
Fired USP manager wants his job back
Sacked University of the South Pacific senior manager Hasmukh Lal is not challenging claims of plagiarism that led to his termination, documents filed with the Fiji High Court reveal. His lawyers, Reddy & Nandan are
Secret report reveals widespread salary and allowance rorts at USP
Senior academics and staff at the University of the South Pacific in Suva are accused in a special audit report of manipulating allowances to pay themselves hundreds of thousands of dollars they were not entitled to, as
Executive Committee suspends Pal, launches investigation
The Executive Committee of the University of the South Pacific’s Council has resolved that an independent investigation into the allegations against Vice Chancellor Professor Pal Ahluwalia be conducted. In a media
Nauru calls for special USP Council meeting
Nauru’s President and incoming chancellor of the University of the South Pacific has called for an urgent meeting of the full USP Council. In his third letter issued to university council members in less than one
Staff back Pal
A fresh protest at the University of the South Pacific’s Laucala Bay Campus in Suva was quickly stopped by Police Tuesday when protesters were told they had to apply for a permit. The protesters – angry at
Thompson quiet on USP meeting
The controversial Chair of the University of the South Pacific Council, Fiji’s Winston Thompson, has declined to confirm that a meeting he chaired today has asked the university vice chancellor to step down.
Pacific countries will access future COVID-19 vaccine through funding mechanism
Pacific island countries will be able to access a future COVID-19 vaccine through a new funding mechanism announced by Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance, at the Global Vaccine Summit last week. Fiji, Kiribati, Federated States
USP’s Tukana resigns
Drama continues at the University of the South Pacific with revelations that a member of a sub-committee formed to probe its besieged Vice Chancellor has resigned. Semi Tukana, an IT expert in Fiji, sent his
USP protest for VC Ahluwalia as meeting gets underway
A group of staff and students at the main Suva campus of the University of the South Pacific staged a short and peaceful protest today. It drew a crowd of about 100 men and women, some holding placards in support for
The week in brief
Vanuatu wants to defer leaders meeting The Government of Vanuatu has formally advised of its intention to defer the 51st Pacific Islands Forum Meeting scheduled for 4 – 7 August 2020 to next year, in light of the
Flurry of support for USP’s Ahluwalia
An urgent call by the President of Nauru, Lionel Aingimea for an end to the leadership battle at the University of the South Pacific has triggered an avalanche of concern from other member governments, as well as
Claims of Chinese interference hit upcoming Kiribati vote
The intense campaign in Kiribati’s presidential election has been dogged by allegations of interference by China’s ambassador to the country. Opposition presidential candidate, Banuera Berina, said China must stop
Nauru President calls for an end to USP saga
Nauru’s President Lionel Aingimea has called for an end to the incessant attempts to remove the vice chancellor and president of the University of the South Pacific, instigated by Fiji-based members of the university
F$1.7m payout for 8,000 FNPF members today
Around 8,000 members of the Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF) now have less than F$35 in their General Account (GA) after exhausting it over COVID-19 assistance. This was revealed by the Fund this week when it
Thompson calls urgent USP meeting over CEO sacking
The year-long leadership tussle at the sole Pacific owned university has flared again with reports of fresh attempts to dismiss besieged vice chancellor and president of the University of the South