Outlook 2022: The year ahead
For the third year running, COVID-19 is defining and disrupting life, leadership and governance in the Pacific Islands. Compounded by climate change-related flooding and the devastating Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai
News
Kacific gets nod to provide Tonga broadband Internet
Rural and remote communities in Tonga will now have broadband Internet access, following the lifting by Tongan authorities of earlier restrictions placed on Singaporean-based satellite service provider Kacific
COVID-19 lessons for public messaging
Whether it was the early reports out of China in late 2019, the World Health Organization’s announcement of a pandemic in March 2020, or the dreaded first official announcement of an in-country case, everyone
Opinion: Promoting kava exports, ignoring sustainability
On 1 December 2021, Australia launched a pilot program for the commercial importation of kava from the Pacific islands, joining a modest global boom in trade in this iconic Pacific product. As Pacific Trade Invest
Opinion: Guam, a prime military target for the Chinese
Guam remains a key target for the Chinese military. During the Cold War Guam was a target of the Soviet military in part because Sumay was home to Navy submarines that carried intercontinental ballistic missiles
Political leadership in PNG: women parliamentarians in the 2017 election
The three women parliamentarians who were elected in the 2012 Papua New Guinea (PNG) election failed to win re-election in the 2017 general election. Their electoral defeats only deepen the concern for gender
Tonga volcanic eruption: Update
The confirmed death toll as a result of the Tonga volcanic eruption stands at two, although there may be other, yet unconfirmed casualties. There are concerns that there are growing fuel shortages, and panic
Tonga volcanic eruption: Lau update
A government vessel is expected to depart for Lau today taking Fiji government officials to survey the extent of the damage wrought as a result of the Tonga volcanic eruption over the weekend. And one casualty has been
Pacific Person of the Year 2021
It was not until well into our deliberations over the Islands Business Pacific Person of the Year that a definite theme emerged: the representation of powerful Pacific women in our final list. This year we couldn’t
Massive referendum boycott highlights ongoing division in New Caledonia
Provisional figures in the New Caledonia referendum on self-determination show an overwhelming No to independence. But this result only comes from the peaceful and disciplined response to the independence movement’s
Analysis: Many voters to boycott New Caledonia referendum
Many New Caledonians will go to church this Sunday, or visit family or go fishing, and some of them will also drop into the local town hall to vote in the New Caledonia referendum to decide on its political status. But
Traditional medicine: Affirmation or resurgence
Fijians watched our health workers scramble to keep as COVID-19 spread its invisible tentacles through one community after another. The sirens never stopped. Sobering images of burials by strangers cloaked in protective
Solomon Islands riot cost SI$534m (US$66m)
Following last week’s Solomon Islands riots, the U.S. consular agency in the Solomon Islands has warned U.S. citizens there of a “possibility of demonstrations” on Monday, when Parliament will vote on
Unlimited commercial kava export trial to Australia gets nod
Kava exporters from the Pacific Islands can now export an unlimited amount of kava to Australia for commercial purposes, under Phase 2 of Australia’s Kava Pilot program. Launching Phase 2 in Canberra yesterday in
Fiji Reopens with Hope for Gradual Normalcy, Despite Omicron
“It’s a happy day for us,” Fiji Airports acting CEO Isei Tudreu said during a news conference in Nadi, as the nation officially reopened to international travel today. Moments later, with Flight FJ914
“People want to travel, they want to live again”
As coronavirus began spreading around the world in early 2020, even the far-flung islands of French Polynesia were affected. The first case of COVID-19 was recorded in Tahiti on 10 March 2020, after politician Maina
Solomon Islands update: Government intact, no confidence motion filed, more Australian police on way
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare says his government is fully intact. Sogavare said he is sincerely grateful to his colleague MPs for their ongoing support and solidarity to stand for the principles of
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
Independents the winners in Tonga’s election
Is the party over? Tonga’s election has seen support for the country’s two major parties disintegrate, in favour of a large new cohort of independents, Kalafi Moala writes. The people have spoken and voted for
Pacific leaders join call for delay in New Caledonia referendum
In a significant intervention, former Pacific island presidents, prime ministers and senior officials have written to French President Emmanuel Macron, urging him to delay the next referendum on self-determination in
ANALYSIS: Challenges for Tonga as election looms
As Tongans lose faith in the major parties, the country’s election will likely see a rise in new independent members of parliament, Kalafi Moala writes. Tonga goes to the polls on 18 November to elect 26 members of
Tap into “environmentally conscious” tourists: Pacific report
A recently released report is recommending that Pacific destinations tap into environmentally conscious tourists when rebuilding their tourism sectors. This was part of recommendations in a recently released
Tonga election 2021 – missing the ‘Akilisi Pohiva election factor
Tonga election 2021: Tonga’s most prominent political group Paati Temokalati ‘Otumotu Anga’ofa (PTOA) is sorely missing its leader, the late prime minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva in this year’s general election.
