Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Fiji counting the cost of TC Harold
Clean up efforts are already underway in Vanuatu and Fiji, parts of which were hit by Cyclone Harold this week. In Vanuatu the first reports have emerged of the category-five storm’s destruction in Vanuatu.
Fiji faced with a potential US$608 million tourism loss
Fiji is looking at a potential loss of F$1.4 billion (US$608 million) in tourism earnings as global travel grinds to a halt by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. This is according to a recent assessment by the ANZ Bank
PIF countries to cooperate on medical assistance, flights and shipping
Pacific Island Forum Leaders will establish a Pacific Humanitarian Pathway on COVID-19 which could see the expediting of medical assistance and customs clearance of medical supplies, and facilitating of diplomatic
USP students’ body backs VC Ahluwalia
Students of the University of the South Pacific have weighed in on the leadership row surrounding the university by calling on the USP’s top decision making body, the USP Council to reign in its chairperson who’s
TC Harold: Luganville’s Mayor fears rebuilding effort will be huge
The Lord Mayor of Luganville town in Vanuatu, Peter Patty says his biggest fear now is how they can rebuild as Cyclone Harold is already causing devastating damage in the northern town. The Category 5 Tropical Cyclone
A Humanitarian Corridor for the Pacific?
Reflecting the growing concern over the Coronavirus pandemic, the Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum and Tuvalu Prime Minister, Kausea Natano, invoked a few days ago the Biketawa Declaration, a security
Potential wait of “months” for green light on Fiji US$200m ADB loan bid
Fiji’s loan request of US$200million (F$460m) from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) “will be considered by ADB’s Board of Directors in the coming months,” according to a statement from the ADB this
Guam reports 4th COVID-19 death, Fiji 5 more cases
An update on COVID-19 related developments in the region today: Guam Guam has suffered its fourth COVID -19 related death. The Guam Daily Post reports that the a 67-year-old woman, who had recently traveled
Samoa warns USP Pro Chancellor
High drama continues at the Pacific’s only regional university, with reports that one of the member country’s that owns the university has signaled it could seek the removal from office of Winston Thompson,
Fiji confirms economic recession
The Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF) has today confirmed Fiji’s sure path to an economic recession, as all sectors of the economy brace for the harsh impact of the current coronavirus pandemic. “Following almost a
Enough cash for next 12 months: FNPF
The Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF) said it has enough cash to pay out to members who lose their jobs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the Fijian economy. Amid growing concerns that the Fund is
20% suspended pay for Fiji cabinet, MPs
Suspending 20 per cent of pay for government ministers as well as all members of the Fijian Parliament formed a key part of Fiji’s COVID 19 response budget handed down in a special sitting that ended a short time ago.
Pacific fishing surveillance operation ending with 24 boardings
“Fishing doesn’t stop, so neither will our surveillance,” said Commander Robert Lewis, at the Forum Fisheries Agency’s Regional Fisheries Surveillance Centre (RFSC) in Honiara as Operation Rai Balang
Vanuatu Election results disrupted by Chair’s death, COVID-19 precautions
The Vanuatu Electoral Commission has hit its worst nightmare as the official results continue to be delayed due to the COVID-19 situation and sadly, the passing of its Electoral Chairman Martin Tete in the early hours
‘Prepare as well as you can’: Mitchell to Pacific Olympic hopefuls
Will the 2020 Olympics still go ahead in July as scheduled? The International Olympic Committee says it will make a call within the next four weeks. Options could include a scaled-down version of the Games, a delay of
USP Vice Chancellor to be investigated for alleged “material misconduct”
The University of the South Pacific’s supreme body, the USP Council has established a team to investigate its vice chancellor and president Professor Pal Ahluwalia. The formation of the investigative team was
Fiji: Will Koya return to Parliament?
Update: Lands Minister Ashneel Sudhakar has been removed from his ministerial position this afternoon. ** A fracas within Fiji’s ruling Fiji First Party could see the return to Parliament of lawyer and former Tourism
First case of Covid-19 in Tahiti
President of French Polynesia Edouard Fritch has announced the first case of Covid-19 in Tahiti – the first confirmed case of the coronavirus across the Pacific Islands. President Fritch said that Maina Sage,
Fijian soldiers return from Iraq tonight to COVID-19 measures
Fijian soldiers returning from peacekeeping duties in Iraq tonight will not be able to meet their relatives immediately after arrival. This is a precaution against the corona Virus, COVID-19. Iraq has 54 reported
Tough battle for Vanuatu women candidates ahead
It’s election campaign time in Vanuatu where women candidates will try their luck once more to outpoll their male counterparts and end the ‘zero women in parliament’ drought with hopes for a place in Parliament.
Fiji resort to change hands after scam trial
A Fijian resort will change hands after an Australian salesman found guilty of swindling customers of $AUD190million was forced to hand over his interests in the property. Bounty Resort which lies between Nadi and the
Coronavirus travel restrictions: a Pacific wrap
There have been no cases of coronavirus reported in the Pacific Islands region, although Australia and New Zealand have reported cases, and in the case of Australia, one death. However the Pacific region has responded
Chuuk independence referendum delayed again
(Pacnews) A closely watched independence vote in the Pacific state of Chuuk, part of the U.S.-aligned Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), scheduled for next month has been postponed until 2022, the