Opinion: Europe’s efforts to vilify Vanuatu’s Citizenship Program are tone deaf, protectionist and foolish
In a press call on 12 January, the European Union announced that it may look to suspend its bilateral agreement with Vanuatu, which allows citizens of the Pacific nation to enter, visa free. This obstruction—which
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
Fiji made me, but which Fiji is mine?
‘Three scores and ten’ is the age allotted to humans, the Good Book tells us. Modern medicine might add 10 odd years, but the end is in sight, the shadow lengthening visibly. By that measure, my time is up or will
COP26 at the micro level
(Pacific climate talanoa) By the beginning of the second week of September, the informal Pacific Regional Talanoa Group (PRTG), of which I am a member, was suitably enthused to start its virtual talanoa series on the
View from the West
By Dennis Rounds One thing is certain about living in Fiji’s western and northern farmlands and having to rely on wells and boreholes for water needs. When there’s a hole in the bucket, Dear Henry now knows all too
Opinion: Framing a “new Pacific consciousness”
By Kaliopate Tavola Outgoing USP Chancellor, H.E. President of Nauru Lionel Rouwen Aingimea, recently penned an editorial, which, having fulfilled his one-year stint as Chancellor and on the way out, can be regarded as
Protect the Poor when fighting money laundering in the Pacific
The risk of “de-risking” – the process of international banks disassociating from financial partners, such as small remittance providers and local banks – is that it could push people out of the
View from the West: The COVID 360 shuffle
By Dennis Rounds Kava sessions in Western Fiji can be quite “intellectual” with discussions around the tanoa ranging from fishermen’s tales to “bush lawyer” arguments about politics, democracy and the economy.
Changing prescription for regional leadership
By Ambassador Kaliopate Tavola The former Secretary General (SG) of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), Dame Meg Taylor, discussed her prescription for Forum leadership when she participated at the Blue
Opinion: Does disallowing diversity data create an equitable Fiji?
The release of Fiji poverty data desegregated by ethnicity and religion by the Fiji Bureau of Statistics in its 2019-20 Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES), resulted in the firing of its CEO last week.
Former Fiji Stats Chief clarifies controversial Household Income and Expenditure Survey
I note that there has been much debate since the release of the 2019-2020 Household Income and Expenditure Survey on the Fiji Bureau of Statistics Website www.statsfiji.gov.fj. The Minister of Economy, Aiyaz Sayed
Opinion: Repression not the answer to Fiji’s political dilemma
The frequent detention and questioning of some of Fiji’s political leaders by the police in the last eight days for merely engaging in public debate on the contentious iTaukei Land Trust Bill No. 17 has raised
View from the West
During times of national crisis, people look to their government for political leadership, meaningful financial and welfare assistance, and general reassurance. The COVID-19 pandemic might not be a war in the true sense
A view of Bill 17 of 2021
Earlier this month, the government, in the context of its annual budget process, introduced a Bill (“Bill 17”) to amend the iTaukei Land Trust Act (TLTA) – the “iTaukei Land Trust (Budget Amendment) Act,
A note from the editor
After more than two months and infinite patience on the part of voters, Samoa finally has a new Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata'afa. We’re yet to see what Fiame’s ascendancy will mean for regional
Virtual leadership- a new norm?
By Dennis Rounds During times of national crisis, people look to their government for political leadership, meaningful financial and welfare assistance, and general reassurance. The COVID-19 pandemic might not be a war
Fiji’s new budget: significant fiscal challenges
The task that the Fiji government has faced since the onset of the COVID-19 crisis has been challenging, involving difficult choices and adjustments. Despite rising case numbers and deaths, there is an obvious tension
The crisis of governance in PNG’s power sector
The recent spate of power outages (70 in a week according to the Post Courier), and the sudden resignation of yet another PNG Power Chief Executive Officer after only nine months in the job have brought into stark
OPINION: Scrambling for work – the RSE Scheme
As part of Pacific Cooperation Foundation’s (PCF) Pacific Voices series, FotuoSamoa Jackson shares her views on the Recognised Seasonal Employment (RSE) scheme and asks the New Zealand Government to take more
View from the West
Here, in what some call the “burning West”, a pub with no beer is to some parched human throats what a dry river is to a herd of thirsty cattle. Due to COVID lockdowns, Fijians walked for close to two months in the
We Say: COVID awareness needs to speak our languages
When I suggested to a friend on Facebook that we should host a live session on the social media platform about COVID-19 and vaccinations, I absolutely had no idea what we were getting into. Seven days later and three
Now is the time for an independent Pacific foreign policy and security think tank
Good foreign policy, diplomacy and sound national security in the Pacific Islands doesn’t just require solid ideas and good plans. It needs robust evidence of what works and a level of informed public debate on what
How an ASEAN ag visa would undermine Pacific seasonal worker programs
The Australian Federal Agriculture Minister, David Littleproud, announced yesterday morning on the ABC that the National Party had demanded and gained acceptance of a proposed “seasonal agricultural workforce visa”
