Briefs
American Samoa Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga has signed a Bill into law which will establish a Samoan Language Commission and recognise both Samoan and English as the official languages in the Territory to “preserve our
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Movers and Shakers
Tuvalu national Ian Fry is the first United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Climate Change for the next three years. Fiji’s Sefanaia Nawadra has commenced his new role as Director-General (D-G) at SPREP
Fiji street food: Vasaqa Productions
Vasaqa Productions at Namaka market in Nadi offers street food with a Fijian twist. “We brought in the concepts of street food that we only see online and made it accessible to anyone and everyone. The food that you
A fraying lifeline: chronically under-funded and lacking resources
Pacific islands health care faces the crisis of a lifetime The COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t just highlighted the Pacific’s fragile health systems. It’s amplified the central role that public health plays in all
COP26 cop out?
Making Glasgow matter Build back better. Blah, blah, blah. Green economy. Blah, blah, blah. Net-zero by 2050. Blah, blah, blah. This is all we hear from our so-called leaders. Words that sound great but so far have not
Catalysing Tuvalu’s ICT ambitions
A five-year agreement signed last year between the Tuvalu Government and satellite service provider Kacific Broadband Satellites International Limited (Kacific) came at critical juncture for the Polynesian nation, as
Refugee processing in PNG to end
Australia and Papua New Guinea have announced the closure of Canberra’s offshore refugee processing program by the end of this year, leaving responsibility for the remaining asylum seekers and refugees to Port
Niuean musician, actor and entrepreneur: Glen Jackson
Niuean musician Glen Jackson did not know that he came from a musical family until he returned to the Rock in 1985. “Growing up in Otara [New Zealand], my mum introduced me to the guitar, I was already fascinated with
Wish you were here: Pacific islands travel destinations inch towards reopening
Just a few months ago, whether travellers to the Pacific would need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 was still a matter of debate. But that discussion has moved as quickly as the Delta variant, and it now seems fait
He was lost in the system: Now he wants to change it
Fiji Airways Flight 360 from Singapore arrived at Nadi International Airport before I did the morning of 18 July 2018. I lost that race by minutes, and found myself in a pre-pandemic, bustling hub where hourly flights
“We stand by what we said”
The Micronesian Leaders Summit discussed COVID, transport and the Pacific Islands Forum. Leaders of five Micronesian countries have moved to strengthen their sub-regional co-ordination at the 20th Micronesian
More than skin deep: The Pacific beauty industry
Coconut oil is a staple in most Pacific households. It perfumes the air at many traditional events. We massage our babies with it, use it to treat hands roughened by sea, salt and soil (and a bowl too many of kava),
How effective is climate finance in the Pacific
“Climate finance cannot be about loans, we cannot give our children the burden of servicing our debts.” That was the message Oxfam in the Pacific’s Regional Director, Raijeli Nicole delivered at a recent online
Changing prescription for regionalism
The former Secretary General (SG) of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), Dame Meg Taylor, discussed her prescription for Forum leadership when she participated at the Blue Pacific Futures Webinar on 3 November
A workplace culture of giving
An aspect of the Pacific culture that I love is how communal-centric it is! The concept of sharing and giving is imprinted onto us like the dark black and brown inks that dance across our tapa, nga’atu or masi,
Solomon Islands’ Small Jam: Waiting to rock dancefloors
A couple of months ago we profiled Papua New Guinea’s Justin Wellington, one half of the team behind global TikTok and iTunes reggae hit “Iko Iko”. This month it’s the turn of the second half of that
Rugby 7s Olympic Glory unites nation, Pacific
When you think of Rugby 7s, the ascent of Fiji’s men’s team to the summit of 7s heaven and their winning of almost every accolade of the fast-paced and ever-growing sport is usually the first thing that come to
France expands Pacific reach
The French government is expanding its engagement with Pacific Island nations, following the fifth France-Oceania summit, a visit by President Emmanuel Macron to French Polynesia, and increased support by France and the
UBS Inquiry: Loan losses quantified
Papua New Guinea lost US$432 million on a loan arranged by the Sydney office of the Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS) in 2014, far more than earlier thought, the UBS Inquiry has heard. Current Prime Minister, James
Fukushima power reactor: What about risk management?
Concerns over the Fukushima power reactor persist. In early May, former Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), Dame Meg Taylor, called on Japan to reconsider its decision to release more than
Tuilaepa rallies in vain
The political car rally that took place in Apia led by former Prime Minister of Samoa, Tuilaepa Sailele Lupesoliai Malielegaoi on July 30 was reminiscent of the rallies staged by supporters of former President Donald
Nurturing the seeds of MSMEs
Economists used to say that micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) were the backbone of Pacific Island countries. But as the impact of COVID-related border closures deepens almost 18 months into the crisis,