Opinion: The road to a Pacific Island economic recovery requires regional solutions
A step up in engagement by the Australian and New Zealand governments, combined with regional and international economic support over the past year, has cushioned the initial blow of Covid-19. Moving forward,
D Day for USP 3
The executive body of the University of the South Pacific, the USP Council, meets tomorrow (Friday) to determine the fate of three of their senior Council members. To be convened virtually using the Zoom platform, the
Kina’s Westpac offer: why a banking duopoly would be bad for PNG
The much-anticipated bid for Westpac Pacific (PNG and Fiji) operations by Kina Securities (the owner of Kina Bank) was finally confirmed last month. The offer did not come as a surprise as Westpac moved its Pacific
Death by slow strangulation
Growing up in his settlement in Nadi, western Fiji, Sundar Lal recalls an abundance of fish, crabs and prawns in the nearby creeks, rivers and foreshore areas. “We never returned empty-handed,” he recalls.
New report cites concerns over COVID response on human rights in the Pacific
A new human rights report released as Fiji’s Nazhat Shameem Khan takes the presidency of the United Nations Human Rights Council has noted concern over some Pacific Island governments’ responses to the
Fiji briefs: ANZ, Kontiki, FijiLink, Lyndhurst, Port Denarau Marina
After five years leading ANZ’s business in Fiji, ANZ Fiji Country Head Saud Minam will leave ANZ on 30 April 2021. During his tenure at ANZ Fiji, Mr Minam oversaw the FJ$10m refurbishment of ANZ Fiji’s branch
Opinion: Leadership of the Forum – Fiji’s Candidate
The Heads of the Pacific Islands Forum Governments will meet virtually in early February 2021 to choose the next Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), to succeed the outgoing Secretary General, Dame Meg
‘Sickened’, ‘saddened’ and ‘a bit angry’: US Ambassador Cella on riots
The outgoing US Ambassador to Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tuvalu and Tonga says he was sickened, saddened and a bit angered by the scenes of violence at the US Capitol building in Washington DC last week.
UN Human rights role impasse continues
A vote at the United Nations Human Rights Council this week could resolve a stalemate over the body’s Presidency between candidates from Fiji, Bahrain and Uzbekistan. Russia and China continue to oppose the candidacy
UN Human rights role impasse continues
A vote at the United Nations Human Rights Council this week could resolve a stalemate over the body’s Presidency between candidates from Fiji, Bahrain and Uzbekistan. Russia and China continue to oppose the candidacy
Fiji jobs, lending, tax revenue down
The Reserve Bank of Fiji has released another series of sobering figures, and says the coronavirus pandemic shows little sign of abating going into 2021. The Bank has recorded declines in jobs, government tax revenue,
COVID-19 lessons for the Pacific in 2021
Opinion: From COVID-19 containment to suppression in the Western Pacific Region: 2020 Lessons for 2021 Compared to other parts of the world, the Western Pacific Region has been comparatively fortunate. Although the
Australia, China and other aid donors must realise there’s a better way to help the Pacific
Covid-19 has only catalysed the growing geopolitical interest in the Pacific Islands. Donors have been tripping over each other to prepare for an outbreak of the virus. But, at the same time, this has only exacerbated
Business confidence grows: PTI
Pacific Trade Invest says 78% of respondents to its latest survey of Pacific businesses are confident their businesses will survive the COVID-19 crisis. However the impact of COVID-19 on businesses has slightly worsened
New Caledonia’s fight over nickel
The young people gathered early in Noumea, preparing for action. Soon the main road along the waterfront in New Caledonia’s capital was blocked with barricades, burning tires and large stones. Riot police moved in,
ADB further downgrades Pacific growth expectations
Economic growth expectations for the Pacific have been downgraded to decline by 6.1% for 2020. The Asian Development Bank had originally forecast a 4.3% decline in July of this year. “Vaccine procurement and
Forum to hold virtual climate summit
The Pacific Islands Forum will hold a two hour virtual summit tonight, dubbed “Kainaki II to COP 26 – a High-Level Roundtable on Urgent Climate Change Action.” This week’s online summit comes on the eve of
Fiji optimistic of growth as economic decline persists
Fiji’s central bank is projecting the country’s economic growth to climb back into positive territory next year, after revising this year’s historic contraction to negative 19 percent from an earlier estimate of
Large Sigatoka iron sands results a “game changer”: Dome
The Chair of Dome Gold Mines has told shareholders that additional drilling work and analysis at its Sigatoka site in Fiji has provided the “silver lining” in a difficult year. “The iron sand deposit at Sigatoka
From coconut crab to chicken
Every household in Vanuatu’s Torres islands in Torba Province will be provided with chicken wire to farm chickens,now that the harvesting of coconut crab, has been banned by the Ministry of Fisheries. The ban is
Vanuatu’s ambitious new cattle breeding program
Vanuatu’s Director of Livestock is confident the nation will meet its targets on cattle farming, as long as land disputes do not impede its plans. Vanuatu seeks to raise half a million heads of cattle by 2025, a mere
Facebook: Can’t live with it, can’t live without it
Pacific governments face a crucial dilemma with social media. How they react will define our future. The decision this week by Solomon Islands’ cabinet to ban Facebook is wrong, of course. It represents
Pacific Business briefs
Free Bird Limited has signed a contract with Air New Zealand to bring its international students back to Fiji on 27 December 2020. Chief Operating Officer, Mereseini Baleilevuka said, “This is a great
