Fiji’s main opposition party suspended
This week’s sitting of the Fijian Parliament in the capital Suva continued without the country main opposition party SODELPA following its suspension by the Registrar of Political Parties, who is also the
News
Fiji government to support troubled national airline
The Fijian Government used its majority in parliament this week to fast track the passing into law of two bills aimed at assisting its financially troubled national airline as a result of the adverse impacts of the
Fiji Airways lays off workers, seeks urgent loan
The Fiji Parliament will be today asked to urgently grant a government guarantee for a loan to keep Fiji Airways afloat, as the adverse impacts of the COVID19 pandemic begin to bite on the national airline.
FNPF pays out F$49.1 million in COVID-19 scheme
The Fiji National Provident Fund says its has paid out F$49.1 million (US$22m) to 77,507 members under the COVID-19 withdrawal scheme, with most applications now processed. The FNPF says 86,854 applications in total
Dengue fever another blow for PICs
The Red Cross says a dengue outbreak continues to threaten a number of Pacific island nations, even as they rebuild after Tropical Cyclone Harold and struggle with the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. More
COVID-19 a wake up call on the need for regional cooperation
Fiji’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations says the COVID-19 pandemic is a wake-up call for the Pacific on the need for regional cooperation. “If the world ever needed confirmation of why multilateralism
Pacific travel bubble should be “cautious and incremental”: SPTO
A new report on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Pacific’s tourism industry and recovery strategies has recommended immediate wage support, microgrants to industry operators and changes in the tax regimes as
A ‘people’s funeral’ for Qarase
Deprived of a state-funeral after his death on 21 April, supporters of Fiji’s ousted Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase helped his family to give the 79-year old leader a send-off befitting the national and populist
Departure Lounge: Pacific transport news
THE SHIPPING NEWS Neptune Pacific Line (Neptune) has acquired Pacific Direct Line (PDL) from PDL’s parent holding company, Pacific International Lines. “By acquiring PDL, we can further develop our mainline shipping
COVID-19: Challenges and opportunity for Pacific tuna industry
Tuna expert Dr Transform Aqorau says COVID-19 presents challenges and opportunities to equity in the Pacific’s tuna industry. Marking World Tuna Day in a virtual link-up hosted by Pacific Island Developing States and
COVID-19 affects the military
The Rim of the Pacific military exercise will proceed from August 17-31 as an at-sea only event in light of COVID-19 concerns. The Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet will host the biennial maritime exercise. The
Pacific and M?ori students get support from AUT for access to online learning
As the tertiary sector in New Zealand prepares to shift online in response to COVID-19 restrictions, digital equity among students has never been more critical – an issue that disproportionately impacts on Pacific and
Resting by his mother
Fiji’s sixth Prime Minister, the late Laisenia Qarase will be buried next to his mother, opting not to be entombed in the sautabu, the sacred burial ground reserved for chiefs in his sea-side village in Lau.
Island readies to bury favourite son
Some 400 people have arrived on Vanuabalavu – a remote island on Fiji’s eastern sea borders – as they prepare to bury one of their favourite sons who became the country’s sixth prime minister. They are
FNPF bargain-hunts for cheap assets
The Fiji National Provident Fund is eyeing good bargains in the assets-for-sale space, as the coronavirus pandemic coughs up distressed companies either looking for cash or offering themselves up for sale. FNPF CEO
ATH offering shares to pay down debt
Shareholders in Fiji’s biggest telecom conglomerate are being offered more shares for cash. Amalgamated Telecom Holdings (ATH), which owns all major telecom carriers in Fiji except Digicel Fiji, is listed on the South
Vanuatu’s new government has a massive task ahead
The newly-elected Vanuatu government formed late yesterday will have a huge responsibility as the country struggles over the Covid-19 crisis and massive destruction wrought by TC Harold this month. Vanua’aku Party
Rewa burial for Ratu Finau Mara
Ratu Finau Mara will be interred at the chiefly burial grounds of the paramount chief of the Burebasaga Confederacy, in the chiefly village of Lomanikoro on the delta of the Rewa River, just outside the Fijian capital
Region cooperating to get nationals home
Pacific Islands Forum members have heard nationals stranded in other member countries will be ‘treated fairly’ during their virtual meeting on a Pacific Humanitarian Pathway for COVID-19 this week. Tuvalu’s
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
