White tip shark in danger
By NETANI RIKA in Port Moresby THE Pacific must act now to stop Oceanic White Tip Shark from extinction. With White Tip stocks standing at five per cent of the original stock, the Worldwide Fund for Nature has called
News
Marape fires warning shot
By Netani Rika, Port Moresby PAPUA New Guinea has warned that illegal fishing vessels in its national waters will be sunk. Opening the 16th Regular Session of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, Prime
Climate change focus for fishing nations
By Netani Rika, Port Moresby INNOVATIVE ideas on fuel consumption and fleet management will take centre stage as Pacific fishing nations attempt to lead the world in climate change management. Over the next seven days
Measles epidemic shuts down Samoan government services
The ongoing measles epidemic in Samoa has prompted the government to announce the closure of all government services this Thursday and Friday so public servants can assist with the country’s mass vaccination
Excited voters post celebrate on-line
By Netani Rika, Port Moresby A NEW phenomenon has emerged in the Bougainville referendum – Balfies. Defined as a voter taking a selfie with their ballot paper, the trend has taken off, sparking concern among poll
Special treatment for women, disabled voters
By Netani Rika, Buka-: Bougainville VOTERS with special needs have received quick, relevant assistance in the Bougainville Referendum. This is despite the absence of ramps at many polling stations. Observer Makereta
Weather causes delays in Bougainville vote
From NETANI RIKA on Buka, Bougainville HEAVY rain and rough seas overnight have delayed the delivery of ballot boxes and voting officials to a number of small atolls off the Bougainville coast. Bougainville Referendum
Tears of joy as ballots flow
From NETANI RIKA, Buka, Bougainville TEARS of joy flowed down Francesca Semoso’s cheeks as she cast her vote in the Bougainville Referendum. Overcome by emotion, the Deputy Speaker of the Autonomous Bougainville House
Port Moresby is a rubber stamp
By Netani Rika, Buka-: Bougainville AN overwhelming vote for independence should compel Papua New Guinea to allow freedom for Bougainville. The Autonomous Bougainville Government’s President, John Momis, said a vote
Churches call for peace and calm
By Netani Rika, Buka-: Bougainville CHURCHES have called for peace, calm and wise choices of leaders in the Bougainville referendum. With polling stations closed yesterday (Sunday), Bougainvilleans flocked to church in
Flags and speakers – sign of the times
From NETANI RIKA on Buka, Bougainville IF flags here could speak, they would tell of an island chain poised on the edge of nationhood and held back only by an act of free choice and a decision to be made by legislators
Key players cast votes
By Netani Rika, Buka-: Bougainville KEY figures in the Bougainville peace process have cast their votes as the territory decides on independence. President John Momis of thr Autonomous Bougainville Government
A good day for world peace
From NETANI RIKA on Buka, Bougainville THE first day of Bougainville’s referendum on independence has been described as a good day for world peace. Chief Referendum Officer, Mauricio Claudio, told a media conference
Alcohol ban as poll begins
From NETANI RIKA on Buka, Bougainville A MONTH-LONG ban on alcohol sales and consumption remains in force as the autonomous region of Bougainville decides on its political future. Local police kept close watch over
Huge turnout for referendum
From NETANI RIKA, Buka, Bougainville THOUSANDS of Bougainvilleans flocked to the polls today (Saturday) in a process which might lead to the creation of a new nation. At 800 polling stations – including venues in
All eyes on island
From NETANI RIKA, Port Moresby THE eyes of the world focus on the resource-rich island of Bougainville as the territory prepares for a referendum to decide whether it becomes the world’s newest nation. Tomorrow
McGarry barred from Vanuatu
Vanuatu Daily Post journalist Dan McGarry has been stopped from re-entering the country by Vanuatu immigration officials. McGarry was until recently, the Media Director for the Daily Post. However the government earlier
Australia probes alleged exploitation of Fijian farm workers
(ABC news) This report was produced in collaboration with Islands Business, Fiji. Australian authorities are investigating whether dozens of workers from small, remote Fijian villages may be victims of labour
O’Neill matter still tied up in courts
The arrest warrant against former Papua New Guinea Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill has been withdrawn by police – but the matter is still making its way through the courts. The warrant related to alleged
Police after former PM O’Neill
By Samisoni Pareti There is a standoff in Papua New Guinea today over new plans by the country’s police constabulary to arrest former Prime Minister Peter O’Neill. Acting Police Commissioner David Manning confirmed
Marshall Islands off EU blacklist No joy yet for American Samoa, Fiji, Samoa,Vanuatu and Guam
Reuters European Union finance ministers have agreed to remove Marshall Islands from the bloc’s lists of countries deemed to be acting as tax havens. The 28-nation EU set up a blacklist and a gray list of tax havens
P?hiva Tu‘i‘onetoa sworn in as new Tongan Prime Minister
P?hiva Tu‘i‘onetoa is officially the prime minister of Tonga. King Tupou VI signed the warrant appointing Tu‘i‘onetoa as prime minister in a swearing in ceremony at the Royal Palace in Nuku’alofa
FNPF members urged to buy cane farms as sugar industry struggles
Fiji’s Sugar Cane Growers’ Fund (SCGF) is calling on Fiji’s working population to buy sugar cane farms, as more farmers go out of business and defaulters plague its loans portfolio. SCGF’s chief executive
