USP protest for VC Ahluwalia as meeting gets underway
A group of staff and students at the main Suva campus of the University of the South Pacific staged a short and peaceful protest today. It drew a crowd of about 100 men and women, some holding placards in support for
The week in brief
Vanuatu wants to defer leaders meeting The Government of Vanuatu has formally advised of its intention to defer the 51st Pacific Islands Forum Meeting scheduled for 4 – 7 August 2020 to next year, in light of the
Flurry of support for USP’s Ahluwalia
An urgent call by the President of Nauru, Lionel Aingimea for an end to the leadership battle at the University of the South Pacific has triggered an avalanche of concern from other member governments, as well as
Claims of Chinese interference hit upcoming Kiribati vote
The intense campaign in Kiribati’s presidential election has been dogged by allegations of interference by China’s ambassador to the country. Opposition presidential candidate, Banuera Berina, said China must stop
Nauru President calls for an end to USP saga
Nauru’s President Lionel Aingimea has called for an end to the incessant attempts to remove the vice chancellor and president of the University of the South Pacific, instigated by Fiji-based members of the university
F$1.7m payout for 8,000 FNPF members today
Around 8,000 members of the Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF) now have less than F$35 in their General Account (GA) after exhausting it over COVID-19 assistance. This was revealed by the Fund this week when it
Thompson calls urgent USP meeting over CEO sacking
The year-long leadership tussle at the sole Pacific owned university has flared again with reports of fresh attempts to dismiss besieged vice chancellor and president of the University of the South
PNG rejects observer suspension on fishing vessels
The Papua New Guinea Fishing Industry Association (PNGFIA) has rejected the recent suspension by the Western and Central Pacific Fishing Commission (WCPFC) of observer coverage services on board purse seine fishing
USP challenged by sacked manager
A former senior manager of the University of the South Pacific has lodged a complaint against his employer with Fiji’s employment industrial tribunal. Hasmukh Lal was until recently, CEO of the USP’s Pacific
Why we’re bailing out Fiji Airways: FNPF
The Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF) is helping to bail out Fiji Airways as it is a strategic investment for tourism, which accounts for around 16 percent of the Fund’s investment portfolio. While
Potential for more benefits from new Hawaiki telecom cable
A new deal could potentially provide more Pacific Island countries access to affordable Internet via submarine telecom cable. The multi-million dollar deal was jointly announced in New Zealand last week by its
Consumption and investment down: Fiji Reserve Bank
The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is starting to show in declining consumption and investment indicators says Fiji’s Reserve Bank. In its latest Economic Review, the Bank says cumulative to April, domestic
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
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
