Kayboy perseveres through COVID
“Roots and culture is so vital and important for myself personally,” says Kayboy, a popular young Solomon Islands musician. “I pay homage to my culture and traditions. Blending traditional chants and dialects with
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Fiji Business Briefs: Fiji Kava, Survivor, FNPF, Fiji Airways
Fiji Kava has released its half year financial results (for the six months ending 31 December 2020) and it reports revenue of A$496,379 for the period, up 111% on the previous six months. Fiji Kava reported a statutory
Independence movement wins majority in New Caledonia government
In a major transformation, the incoming government of New Caledonia will be led by the first pro-independence leader in nearly forty years. Members of the independence coalition Front de Libération Nationale Kanak et
USP Council meets today
The University of the South Pacific Council is scheduled to meet again today to discuss the status of Vice Chancellor, Professor Pal Ahluwalia, who was deported almost two weeks ago by the Fiji government. The meeting
Cooks deny “sinister move” over audit delays
Official documents show Cook Islands auditors repeatedly raised issues over hundreds of millions in state assets, taxes, loans and cash. The audit documents, which have been obtained by Islands Business, show issues go
Threat to radio hits press freedom in Tahiti
The most popular radio station in French Polynesia faces closure, as it appeals a court fine that threatens to drive it out of business. For the community station Radio Tefana, it’s future is tied to a long-running
Fiji Business briefs:Lion One, RB Patel, Fiji Airways
Lion One Metals Ltd has received high-grade gold results from two recent drill holes, one deep and one shallow, at its 100% controlled Tuvatu alkaline gold project in Fiji. It describes the interval discovered
COVID-19 vaccine doses earmarked for Pacific Islands by July
Twelve Pacific Island countries are expected to receive vaccines for the coronavirus in the first half of this year through the COVAX initiative, with the region’s largest nation Papua New Guinea expected to receive
Fiji bought time to deport USP boss and wife
Documents tabled at yesterday’s special meeting of the University of the South Pacific suggest that plans to amend the contract of the university’s vice chancellor and president, Professor Pal Ahluwalia, prompted
USP Council disappointed over circumstances of Pal’s deportation
The University of the South Pacific Council has issued a statement expressing its disappointment over the fact it was not advised of the decision to deport USP Vice Chancellor, Professor Pal Ahluwalia, this week. “The
USP boss enroute to Nauru, says deportation was a surreal experience
University Vice Chancellor Professor Pal Ahluwalia and his wife Sandra Price are overnighting in a hotel in Brisbane, Australia this evening, and will be travelling onto Nauru early tomorrow. Professor Ahluwalia says he
Puna faces huge challenges as new Forum Secretary General
Pacific leaders have appointed Henry Puna, former Prime Minister of Cook Islands, as the new Secretary General for the Pacific Islands Forum. The decision came late at night at the Forum Special Leaders Retreat, after a
How the Pacific can learn from each other, and unite on COVID vaccines
Pacific island nations can learn from the early roll-out of coronavirus vaccines in the north Pacific says the World Health Organisation’s Representative in the South Pacific. The Pacific’s COVID response is
It’s Micronesia’s turn to head the Forum: Tong
As Pacific leaders meet Wednesday this week to try and select the next head of the Pacific Islands Forum, Former Kiribati Leader AnoteTong weighs in on what has been a divisive process. Long-time President of Kiribati,
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.
