PACNEWS ONE, 23 SEPTEMBER 2026

In this bulletin:

1. PACIFIC — This is the biggest attendance we have ever had at a PINA conference: President Kalafi Moala
2. PACIFIC — “We may not always agree — and that’s how it should work,” says Fiji information PS
3. PACIFIC — “Media makes better decisions possible,” says UK envoy
4. FIJI— Draft Fiji Constitution sets process for removing incapacitated President
5. PACIFIC — New Zealand’s Peters urges strong U.S role in Pacific
6. FIJI — Draft Fiji Constitution opens pathway for Rotuma to seek independence
7. PACIFIC — ‘We need you’: Public urged to help journalists tell their stories
8. FIJI — Draft Fiji Constitution proposes immunity for whistleblowers
9. PACIFIC — Male allyship helps break patriarchal mindset: Wainiqolo
10. PACIFIC — Women, data and the drive for change in Fiji
11. PACIFIC — Accountability must begin with self-examination: Rokotuibau
12. KIRIBATI — Kiribati debates return to ancestral name Tungaru
13. PACNEWS BIZ — Guam steps up plea for feds to bankroll civilian infrastructure upgrades
14. PACNEWS BIZ — Proposed PNG hydro project can ‘help’ agenda
15. PACNEWS DIGEST — Tilapia farming offers new livelihood pathway for West Tanna communities

PAC – PACIFIC MEDIA SUMMIT: PACNEWS PACNEWS 1: Wed 23 Sep 2026

This is the biggest attendance we have ever had at a PINA conference: President Kalafi Moala

By Pita Ligaiula in Savusavu

SAVUSAVU, 23 SEPTEMBER 2026 (PACNEWS)—Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) President Kalafi Moala has welcomed a record gathering of Pacific media professionals to the 8th Pacific Media Summit in Savusavu.

Speaking Tuesday at the opening dinner for delegates, Kalafi said the summit had attracted the largest attendance in PINA’s history, bringing together journalists and media representatives from across the Pacific and beyond.

“This is the biggest attendance we have ever had in a PINA conference,” Kalafi said.

Kalafi said the gathering was also significant as PINA marked more than five decades of regional media cooperation.

He recalled that PINA was established in Samoa before its secretariat was later moved to Fiji, where it has remained based for decades.

“PINA started in Samoa, and for the first four or five years we were in Samoa, and the Samoans kicked us out,” he said jokingly.

“And the Fijians took PINA back to Fiji and set up the secretariat here,” he told delegates in Savusavu.

Kalafi said the strength of PINA’s conferences was not only the formal programme but the relationships built among media practitioners from different Pacific countries.

“One of the highlights of all our PINA conferences is the fellowship, the camaraderie, being able to sit down with people that you haven’t seen for years or new people that you have never met and really have a time together,” he said.

He welcomed delegates from across the Pacific, including Tonga, Samoa, Niue, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia, French Polynesia, Wallis and Futuna and the Cook Islands.

Kalafi also acknowledged former Fiji President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere, the British Deputy High Commissioner and Fiji’s Permanent Secretary for Information Eseta Nadakuitavuki.

He paid tribute to long-serving Pacific media figures attending the summit, including Cook Islands News founder John Woods and former PINA president Johnson Honimae.

“It’s great to have this time together,” Kalafi said.

He said the presence of Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamic at the summit the following day would make the gathering particularly significant.

“It’s just tremendous,” he said.

Kalafi also paid tribute to journalists and media colleagues who had died, saying the summit would provide an opportunity to remember their contribution to Pacific journalism.

He specifically acknowledged Mary Fonua, whose husband and prominent Tongan media figure Pesi Fonua had died.

“Mary is so good to have her here with us at this conference,” he said.

Kalafi wellcomed the delegates and urging them to make the most of the week in Savusavu.

“It’s so good to have you all here. Wow, what an incredible group, and we’re looking forward to a great time,” he said….PACNEWS

PAC – PACIFIC MEDIA SUMMIT: PACNEWS PACNEWS 1: Wed 23Sep 2026

“We may not always agree — and that’s how it should work,” says Fiji information PS

By Pita Ligaiula in Savusavu

SAVUSAVU, 23 SEPTEMBER 2026 (PACNEWS)—Fiji’s Permanent Secretary for Information Eseta Nadakuitavuki says the government is committed to a free, independent and vibrant media and recognises the important role journalists play in providing accurate and timely information to the public.

Speaking at the opening dinner for delegates attending the 8th Pacific Media Summit in Savusavu, Nadakuitavuki said differences between government communicators and the private media were part of a healthy communications environment.

“We may work on different sides of the communications landscape, and from time to time, we may not always agree. That’s exactly how it should work.

“But we share an important responsibility to ensure our people have access to accurate, timely and meaningful information,” Nadakuitavuki said.

Nadakuitavuki said the Fiji Government was taking the Pacific Media Summit seriously, demonstrated by the participation of Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and Deputy Prime Minister Mano Kamikamica at the summit.

She said the Minister for Information, Environment and Climate Change, Lynda Tabuya, was unable to attend the opening dinner because she was on duty travel preparing for the upcoming Pre-COP meeting in Nadi.

“With the Pre-COP not only a week away, the Minister is on duty travel and very much focused on ensuring that Fiji is ready when 05 October arrives,” she said.

Nadakuitavuki said government support for the summit went beyond financial assistance and reflected a commitment from the highest levels of government.

“I can assure you that the Minister of Information and the Government of Fiji is very, very pleased to support the Eighth Pacific Media Summit,” she said.

She said the Ministry of Information had sent its largest delegation ever to a PINA summit, describing the participation as significant to the relationship between government communications and private media.

“For us, that is significant. It demonstrates how far the relationship between government communications and the private media has developed,” she said.

Nadakuitavuki commended the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) and the Fijian Media Association (FMA) for creating opportunities for journalists and government communicators to engage, learn from one another and build professional relationships.

She also congratulated the Fijian Media Association for choosing Savusavu as the venue for the summit.

Nadakuitavuki said the summit was an opportunity not only to discuss the future of Pacific media, digital innovation and connecting remote communities, but also to strengthen relationships among journalists across the region.

“Gatherings such as this are not only about sessions we attend, they are also about conversations we have over dinner, the relationships we build, the experience we share, and the partnerships we take home with us.

“Our Pacific is vast, but our media community is relatively small. That makes these relationships even more important,” she said.

Nadakuitavuki urged delegates to make the most of their time in Savusavu and experience the town’s hospitality while taking part in discussions on the future of Pacific media.

“Tonight, enjoy the food, enjoy the company of each other, enjoy Savusavu,” she said…..PACNEWS

PAC – PACIFIC MEDIA SUMMIT: PACNEWS PACNEWS 1: Wed 23 Sep 2026

“Media makes better decisions possible,” says UK envoy

By Pita Ligaiula in Savusavu

SAVUSAVU, 23 SEPTEMBER 2026 (PACNEWS)—The media plays a critical role in good governance by providing communities with the information they need to make informed decisions, Acting British High Commissioner to Fiji Stephen Lysaght says.

Speaking at a welcome dinner for delegates attending the 8th Pacific Media Summit in Savusavu Tuesday, Lysaght said the media was central to the Pacific tradition of talanoa and to how communities discuss issues and shape decisions.

“Fundamentally, that is what the media does for all of our countries,” Lysaght said.

He said talanoa brings people together to understand problems, exchange information and respectfully discuss issues before making decisions for their communities.

“When there is an issue, when there is something that needs deciding, people come together and they talk. They understand what the problems are. They talk respectfully to each other. They have the right information.”

“And through the common wisdom of the crowd, they make better decisions for themselves and for their communities.”

Lysaght said journalists faced pressure to get their work right, often working long hours in a profession that was not always easy.

“It is not always the easiest profession. It’s hard work, I know. It’s late hours. There are many pressures to get it right,” he said.

He acknowledged that government officials could sometimes be frustrated when media reports were inaccurate, but stressed the wider importance of journalism.

“It is tremendously important what you do, and the benefits are felt by everyone all across the country and all across the region,” Lysaght said.

He highlighted Fiji’s proposed new Constitution, which was laid before Parliament on Tuesday, as an example of the media’s role in supporting public participation.

“In the next days and weeks, there will be a nationwide Talanoa. And it will be conducted through the good work and integrity of many of you in this room,” he said.

Lysaght said Fijians would have the opportunity to discuss what they wanted for their communities and their future.

“It will be respectful, and in the end of that process, whatever Fijians decide will be a great outcome.

“But it would not be possible without what the media does in Fiji, in the region, and beyond,” he said.

Lysaght also highlighted the Pacific’s upcoming climate discussions, saying the media would be important in communicating the region’s priorities to the wider world.

He said the Pacific would come together at the upcoming pre-COP meeting in Nadi to voice its priorities on climate change and seek international support.

“All of this is not possible without the professionalism, the skills, the dedication of the media, and all of you that work in it,” he said.

Lysaght thanked Pacific journalists for their work and wished delegates well for the week-long summit.

“On behalf of the British High Commission, the British Government, I’d like to say a big thank you for all that you do,” he said…..PACNEWS

FIJI – CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS 1: Wed 23 Sep 2026

Draft Fiji Constitution sets process for removing incapacitated President

SUVA, 23 SEPTEMBER 2206 (FIJI TIMES)—Fiji’s proposed 2026 Draft Constitution sets out a detailed process under which a President could be suspended and ultimately removed from office on medical grounds if unable to perform the functions of the presidency.

The process would begin with Parliament passing a resolution at a joint sitting of the House of Representatives and Senate, supported by at least two-thirds of the members of both Houses.

Once the resolution is passed, the Speaker would appoint a three-member tribunal of appropriately qualified medical practitioners to assess the President’s capacity.

One practitioner would be selected by the President, or the President’s personal representative or family member; a second by the body regulating Fiji’s medical profession; and the third jointly by the first two tribunal members.

During the investigation, the President would be suspended from exercising presidential functions and powers, with the Speaker authorised to perform the functions of President until the matter is resolved.

At least two members of the medical tribunal would have to agree on its finding.

The tribunal could reach one of three conclusions: that the President is able to perform the functions of office, in which case the suspension ends; that the President is currently unable to perform the functions but is more likely than not to recover within four months, in which case the suspension continues; or that the President is unable to perform the functions and is unlikely to recover within four months, resulting in removal from office for incapacity.

Where recovery within four months is considered likely, the President could return earlier if at least two tribunal members certify that sufficient capacity has been recovered.

If the President remains suspended at the end of four months, the Speaker must request a fresh tribunal report.

Under the Draft Constitution, if incapacity continues at that stage, the President would be removed from office regardless of the prospect of subsequently recovering.

The proposed procedure forms part of the Draft Constitution released with the Constitution Review Report and remains a proposal rather than current law.

Meanwhile, a person who has held political party office or contested an election within the previous eight years would be barred from being nominated as Fiji’s President under the proposed 2026 Draft Constitution.

The draft sets out new qualification requirements for the presidency as well as a new Presidential Appointment Commission responsible for selecting the Head of State.

To qualify, a nominee must be a Fiji citizen who has had a “distinguished career” in national or international life, whether in the public or private sector.

The nominee must not currently belong to or hold office in a political party and must not have held political party office or been an election candidate during the eight years preceding the nomination.

A person would also be ineligible if they are a candidate for another State office or have at any time been convicted of an offence carrying a term of imprisonment of 12 months or more.

The draft would establish a seven-member Presidential Appointment Commission comprising three nominees of the Bose Levu Vakaturaga, the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, a Fiji Council of Churches nominee and an Interfaith Search Fiji nominee.

Members of the Commission could nominate presidential candidates individually or jointly.

Once the Commission decides who will be appointed President, it would inform the Speaker, who would publicly announce the appointment.

The Commission would operate as a part-time body, convening when there is a presidential vacancy, a resignation or a question concerning the removal of the President.

The draft also allows a person holding public office to be nominated without first resigning. However, appointment as President would automatically terminate that person’s service in the previous office.

The provisions form part of the Draft Constitution released with the Constitution Review Report and remain proposals rather than law…..PACNEWS

PAC – DIPLOMACY: REUTERS PACNEWS 1: Wed 23 Sep 2026

New Zealand’s Peters urges strong US role in Pacific

WELLINGTON, 23 SEPTEMBER 2026 (REUTERS)—- New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters warned on Monday of a more troubled and unsettled world, calling for the United States to be engaged in the Pacific as he noted the unwelcome geopolitical manoeuvring in the region.

In his final major foreign policy speech before ‌New Zealand’s 07 November election, Peters said the current environment was not benign, pointing to the testing of missiles without permission or adequate notice, to naval exercises edging ever-further southwards, and the threat to Pacific neighbours and New Zealand from organised transnational crime.

While Peters did not mention China, he previously condemned ‌China’s test firing of an intercontinental ballistic missile into the South ⁠Pacific.

China’s official Xinhua news ⁠agency said at the time that the launch was a “routine arrangement” of China’s annual military training and not directed against any specific country or target.

“The United States is a Pacific power, and we need an engaged America in the Pacific in support of regional prosperity and security,” Peters said.

Peters, serving his third stint as foreign minister, said Washington had an important role in helping Pacific nations build the capacity ⁠to disrupt drug trafficking, which he called an “evil scourge” ⁠washing across the region’s shores.

His comments underline the centre-right government’s increasingly direct language on geopolitical competition in the Pacific, where China has expanded its diplomatic, economic and security presence in recent years.

New Zealand has sought to reinforce its role ‌in the Pacific through aid, defence cooperation and diplomatic engagement, while urging larger partners including the US to listen more closely to the priorities of island governments.

Peters said the United States had responded to concerns raised by Wellington and other regional partners during the government’s ⁠term, pointing to announcements made by Washington in Palau which included US$150 million in support for Pacific Islands.

“We have talked a lot with them this term about the challenges facing the ⁠Pacific and the United States’ ‌announcements in Palau were welcome recognition that they have listened ⁠and are responding,” he said.

More broadly, Peters said New Zealanders were living in ‌a deeply troubled world, and one whose global economy has been roiled ⁠by disruption, uncertainty and the unwelcome return of trade protectionism.

The veteran populist politician, 81, is seeking re-election as leader of New Zealand First, a junior partner in the governing coalition. While unlikely to seek the premiership himself, Peters has played a decisive role in forming governments on several occasions since New Zealand adopted proportional representation in the 1990s….PACNEWS

FIJI – CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS 1: Wed 23 Sep 2026

Draft Fiji Constitution opens pathway for Rotuma to seek independence

SUVA, 23 SEPTEMBER 2026 (FIJI TIMES)—-Rotuma would be given a constitutional pathway to begin a process towards becoming an independent state under Fiji’s proposed 2026 Draft Constitution.

The provision allows the Rotuma Island Council (RIC), following consultation with the Rotuman people, to unanimously resolve to initiate discussions with the Fiji Government on the possibility of independence.

Such a resolution would allow the RIC to formally notify Government and enter into good-faith consultations. However, initiating the process would not automatically result in independence.

Under the Draft Constitution, Rotuma could only become independent if several conditions were met, including a cooperative consultation process and the formal agreement of the Fiji Government.

A referendum would also have to be conducted to determine the majority view of the Rotuman people, while at least two-thirds of RIC members would have to vote in favour of independence.

Finally, Fiji’s Constitution itself would have to be amended before Rotuma could become an independent state.

The draft also proposes significant internal self-government powers for Rotuma. The RIC would be responsible for Rotuma’s internal government and administration and the welfare of its inhabitants.

Its proposed powers include making laws and regulations covering peace, order and good governance, internal revenue raising and the management of Rotuman land and associated territorial and archipelagic waters and their resources.

The RIC would also have responsibilities for protecting and transmitting Rotuman language, culture, customs, traditions and heritage.

Significantly, Government decisions on legislation, policy or development applying to Rotuma would be subject to the free, prior and informed consent of the Rotuman people, with the RIC determining whether that consent had been obtained.

The State would also be required to provide adequate funding for the RIC to exercise its functions and support infrastructure and other development agreed to by the Council.

The provisions are contained in the 2026 Draft Constitution released with the Constitution Review Report and remain proposals rather than law…..PACNEWS

PAC – PACIFIC MEDIA SUMMIT: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 1: Wed 23 Sep 2026

‘We need you’: Public urged to help journalists tell their stories

SAVUSAVU, 23 SEPTEMBER 2026 (FIJI SUN)—Fiji Media Association(FMA)President Rosi Doviverata is urging members of the public to help journalists identify and tell stories that matter to their communities.

Speaking during the National Training of Women Auditors on the Kacivaka Tool in Savusavu Tuesday, Doviverata said journalists relied on people on the ground to bring issues and experiences to their attention.

“People on the ground this is very much important and we need people to reach out to us and send us evidence whether its through pictures, videos or contacts” she said.

She encouraged communities to approach journalists and share information about issues affecting their families and communities.

Doviverata said members of the public could also help journalists identify the right people to speak to and provide information that could strengthen a story.

“We need you more than you need us, and if you can assist us in any way you can and wherever you are” she said.

She also stressed the importance of looking beyond problems and identifying possible solutions.

Doviverata said this kind of engagement could help journalists better understand the experiences of people in communities and ensure their stories reflected what was happening on the ground.

The programme is co-facilitated by FCOSS and Women in Media (WiM) Fiji, with financial support from the Australia-Fijian Governance Partnership (AFGP) community engagement fund.

The WiM event is one of six pre-summit sessions being held ahead of the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) Summit, which officially gets underway Wednesday……PACNEWS

FIJI – CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS 1: Wed 23 Sep 2026

Draft Fiji Constitution proposes immunity for whistleblowers

SUVA, 23 SEPTEMBER 2026 (FIJI TIMES)—People who disclose suspected wrongdoing by State bodies or public officers would be protected from civil, criminal and administrative liability under Fiji’s proposed 2026 Draft Constitution.

Section 227 of the draft provides constitutional protection for whistleblowers who make disclosures in good faith to a State officer or State body.

To qualify for protection, the person must reasonably believe the information shows, or tends to show, that a State body or public officer has contravened the Constitution or the law while performing official functions.

Protection would also extend to disclosures concerning official conduct that has endangered, or is likely to endanger, an individual’s health or safety.

The provision also covers information relating to conduct that has damaged or is likely to damage the environment.

Significantly, the Draft Constitution states that a person making a qualifying disclosure would be “immune from any civil, criminal or administrative liability for that disclosure”.

State bodies would also have a constitutional obligation to establish and maintain systems through which people can make confidential disclosures, and mechanisms would have to be in place to act on the information received.

The availability of these whistleblower reporting systems would also have to be regularly publicised to the public.

The whistleblower protections are contained in the Draft Constitution released as part of the Constitution Review Report and remain proposals rather than current law.

Meanwhile, Fiji’s proposed 2026 Draft Constitution would establish a National Security Council chaired by the Prime Minister, bringing together government, opposition and security officials to advise on national security matters.

Under the proposed provision, the Council would include the Prime Minister and ministers responsible for Defence, Foreign Affairs, Police, Public Safety, Home Affairs, Health, Communications, Disaster Management and Social Protection.

Significantly, the Leader of the Opposition, or a nominee, would also sit on the National Security Council.

The Council would further include the chairperson of a parliamentary committee responsible for defence, national security, public safety or related matters.

The Commissioner of Police and Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces would be members of the Council but would serve in non-voting advisory roles.

The Draft Constitution also allows additional members to be appointed through legislation.

The proposed Council has a key role under other provisions of the Draft Constitution dealing with national emergencies. Cabinet would be able to declare a state of emergency only on the recommendation of the National Security Council, provided the constitutional requirements for such a declaration are met.

The proposed structure would therefore give elected government responsibility for national security decisions while providing formal advisory roles for Fiji’s Police Commissioner and military commander.

The provisions form part of the 2026 Draft Constitution released with the Constitution Review Report and remain proposals rather than current law…..PACNEWS

PAC – PACIFIC MEDIA SUMMIT/GENDER: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 1: Wed 23 Sep 2026

Male allyship helps break patriarchal mindset: Wainiqolo

SAVUSAVU, 23 SEPTEMBER 2026 (FIJI SUN) —-Traditional district leader Timoci Wainiqolo says his decision to join a male allyship programme will help him break out of a patriarchal mindset.

Wainiqolo is the Mata-ni-Tikina (traditional district leader) of Nadi in Bua.

With the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) Summit scheduled to officially open tomorrow in Savusavu, Wainiqolo was among participants in one of six pre-summit workshops.

He attended the two-day National Training of Women Auditors on the Kacivaka Tool, facilitated by the Fiji Council of Social Services (FCOSS) and Women in Media (WiM) Fiji.

He described the programme as “new to him”, but said it was one he would cherish for the rest of his life.

“Being a male community ally helps to understand how to promote a conducive space for my district’s women members,” he said.

Wainiqolo said young men starting families and entering the workforce needed to develop their behaviour and attitudes to better appreciate women.

FCOSS program manager Josaia Tokoni and facilitator Josaia Tokoni said the male allyship programme was designed to help women journalists and community leaders collaborate effectively through the Kacivaka Tool.

Mr Tokoni said the Kacivaka Tool was still in its awareness and learning phase and would enable participants to scrutinise Government policies and assess their effectiveness.

He described it as a community-led tool that would question the transparency, accountability and timeliness of service delivery by Government institutions.

More than 30 participants from media organisations and community groups took part in the two-day workshop.

Tokoni also shared his personal experience of promoting male allyship at community level.

He said simple household chores, such as washing dishes and plates, were among the responsibilities he took on as he developed his understanding of male allyship and sought to support women in his church community.

Wainiqolo said while many men in community and traditional village settings continued to hold patriarchal views, the workshop had opened up a new perspective for him.

He said women had contributed immensely to communities in many ways but were often excluded from critical decision-making.

“I was able to work with my fellow women participates for a common good of accounting government institutions to step up and deliver effective policies,” Wainiqolo added…..PACNEWS

PAC – PACIFIC MEDIA SUMMIT: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS 1: Wed 23 Sep 2026

Women, data and the drive for change in Fiji

SAVUSAVU, 23 SEPTEMBER 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS)—Fiji’s communities and media organisations are joining forces to assess the openness and effectiveness of government agencies.

Women are being trained to gather evidence that can support public-interest reporting and improve access to information and services.

The work is part of the one-year Women’s Accountability Media Lab project, supported by the Australian government. It will use the Kacivaka (announcement) tool (or Kacivaka Diagnostic Framework) to assess the openness capacity of seven government agencies.

Community and media representatives are being onboarded as assessors on a live dashboard where they will input data, Fiji Council of Social Services Executive Director Vani Catanasiga said at the conclusion of the first day of a two-day training.

The training covered the project’s six phases, the Kacivaka tool and three preconditions set by FCOSS members in 2021, she said.

It also focused on why community and media representatives were qualified to audit government services.

“Citizens are the primary target group for civil service delivery,” Catanasiga said. “We are the most qualified to rate the efficiency and the effectiveness of the civil service.”

Citizens were not only the main recipients of public services but also the financiers of government and the people who gave leaders the mandate operationalised through the civil service, she said.

“It is our civic responsibility to provide that feedback,” Catanasiga said.

She said citizens were sometimes made to feel less qualified than overseas consultants to assess the effectiveness of Fiji’s civil service.

“Citizens often forget or sometimes are indirectly told that they are the least qualified to audit how effective civil service is,” she said.

The partnership with the media was long overdue, particularly because the right to information was often treated primarily as a media concern, Catanasiga said.

“The right to information is not only a media industry concern, it is a community, Fijian community’s concern,” she said.

Access to life-saving information was directly linked to community well-being, including vulnerability to disasters and crises and access to social services, she said.

Catanasiga said the project would also use indigenous concepts to make its work easier for communities to understand.

“When you speak the language of the communities, it helps them to understand the concepts, the philosophy behind an initiative,” she said.

“Development is supposed to benefit all, not just some.”

Fiji Media Association President and Fiji Sun Publisher Rosi Doviverata said the training gave women in communities an opportunity to identify injustice and delays, then approach newsrooms with evidence and data.

“Having them as auditors, it might sound scary, but really it’s about looking at the issues around them and identifying injustice, delays, and then reaching out to the media,” Doviverata said.

The project aimed to build trust and engagement between community workers and news organisations so community members could confidently approach journalists, she said.

“They’re able to come to us, not just to raise complaints, but also to bring to them evidence and data of what we need to run strong stories that will bring about change and impact,” She said.

“The Kacivaka tool would add value to media storytelling by helping journalists report what was happening on the ground, rather than relying only on reports from government agencies.”

The training aims to equip women journalists and community leaders with skills to gather evidence that can contribute to stronger accountability and informed decision-making.

FCOSS and Women in Media (WiM) co-facilitate the programme, with financial support from the Australia-Fijian Governance Partnership (AFGP) community engagement fund.

The WiM event is one of six pre-summit sessions being held ahead of the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) Summit, which officially gets underway on Wednesday…PACNEWS

PAC – PACIFIC MEDIA SUMMIT: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS 1: Wed 23 Sep 2026

Accountability must begin with self-examination: Rokotuibau

SAVUSAVU, 22 SEPTEMBER 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS)—“Women auditors must have the courage to ask difficult questions, hold people accountable, and demand change from themselves before demanding it from others.

Balance of Power Executive Director Mereani Rokotuibau said during a two-day National Training of Women Auditors on the Kacivaka (announcement) tool (or Kacivaka Diagnostic Framework) at the Salvation Army Hall in Savusavu, Fiji, where leaders and volunteers gathered to strengthen accountability, transparency and leadership in their communities and organisations.

“Before we demand adaptability from others, we must really demand it from ourselves,” Rokotuibau said.

She said the training was intended to give participants space to “unpack, to test, to question, and strengthen” the Kacivaka Framework.

Rokotuibau said the framework was about directing greater attention to issues affecting adaptability, governments, operators and transparency.

She urged participants to approach the work with courage, humility, integrity and responsibility.

“We must have the courage to say no,” she said. “We cannot simply be something we demand from others. We must also be something we are prepared to give ourselves.”

Rokotuibau said the Kacivaka Tool was not simply about learning, but about preparing, making issues known and having the courage to say what needed to be said.

She encouraged women auditors to challenge their ways of working, culture and tradition while maintaining respect.

“Ask me difficult questions,” she said. “Have the courage to say so with humility, with a clear conscience and with respect.”

Rokotuibau said speaking out should not be about speaking for its own sake, but about using collective voices to strengthen leadership and institutions.

“It’s about using our collective voices to strengthen, not to tear down, to ask difficult questions, not to create enemies, to hold people accountable, not to shame them, and ultimately to contribute to better leadership, better institutions, and better teaching,” she said.

She urged participants to look beyond the training content and consider what they were prepared to change.

“What am I prepared to change?” she asked. “And perhaps most importantly, what am I prepared to change about myself?”

Rokotuibau said participants already brought voices, wisdom and experience from their communities, churches and organisations.

She acknowledged the Fiji Council of Social Services, the European Union and the Australian government for bringing participants together and supporting the gathering.

Rokotuibau also highlighted the importance of including humane outreach in the training and said the Balance of Power organisation was connected to the issue through its work.

The training brought together female and male leaders and volunteers working to nurture and strengthen accountability and transparency from the community level to the local, sub-national, and national levels.

FCOSS and Women in Media (WiM) co-facilitate the programme, with financial support from the Australia-Fijian Governance Partnership (AFGP) community engagement fund.

The WiM event is one of six pre-summit sessions being held ahead of the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) Summit, which officially gets underway on Wednesday….PACNEWS

KIRIBATI – COUNTRY NAME CHANGE: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS 1: Wed 23 Sep 2026

Kiribati debates return to ancestral name Tungaru

TARAWA, 23 SEPTEMBER 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS) —An I-Kiribati researcher has called for a national discussion on whether Kiribati should return to its ancestral name, Tungaru.

University of Cincinnati researcher Dr Amota Ataneka believes the issue is linked to identity, history and decolonisation.

Ataneka told local broadcaster, BPA, the name Kiribati was derived from the colonial-era name Gilbert Islands, which was named after British sea captain Thomas Gilbert. He argues that Tungaru is more closely connected to I-Kiribati history, culture and identity.

However, there is also a view that Kiribati should not reclaim the name Tungaru. For some people, Kiribati represents the country’s history and journey to independence, achieved after I-Kiribati ancestors fought against colonial rule.

From this perspective, changing the country’s name could be seen as altering a name that has become part of Kiribati’s national history.

An old saying, “When it’s done, it’s done,” reflects the view that something that has been completed and is working should be left as it is.

The debate is not simply about a name, but also about how I-Kiribati people understand their history, identity and independence.

Dr Ataneka has called for Members of Parliament to begin a formal discussion in the Maneaba ni Maungatabu. He also recommended seeking the views of elders, church leaders, historians, educators, youth groups and island councils before any decision is made.

The debate over whether the country should be known as Tungaru or Kiribati also raises broader questions about independence, culture and identity in a post-colonial context…..PACNEWS

PACNEWS BIZ

GUAM – INFRASTRUCTURE: PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 23 Sep 2026

Guam steps up plea for feds to bankroll civilian infrastructure upgrades

HAGATNA, 23 SEPTEMBER 2026 (PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES)—Guam’s bid to secure federal support for community infrastructure entered a new phase this week, as an island delegation met with U.S officials in San Francisco to discuss the impact of the military buildup on civilian life.

The meetings—initially scheduled for April but reset due to Super Typhoon Sinlaku—mark the most significant step yet toward convening an Economic Adjustment Committee, a presidential‑level interagency body designed to coordinate federal assistance for communities affected by major Department of Defence program changes.

Governor Lou Leon Guerrero, who is leading the delegation, said the process is essential for aligning Guam’s strategic role with the realities facing its civilian infrastructure.

“This inter‑agency process is necessary to lay the groundwork for eventually convening an Economic Adjustment Committee,” she said.

The governor said the EAC mechanism, which was adopted in past Guam realignment efforts, could bring federal resources to address the island’s most urgent vulnerabilities: healthcare capacity, power generation and grid stability, water and wastewater systems, seaport and airport modernization and communications‑cyber security resilience.

The meetings build directly on a December 2025 letter from Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence Robert E. Thompson, who recognised Guam’s unique role in the Indo‑Pacific defence posture and the need for coordinated federal action.

In that letter, Thompson acknowledged the pressure on Guam’s hospitals, utilities, ports, schools, housing, and first responders, noting that DoD intends to move forward with interagency coordination to support the potential convening of an EAC.

“This letter acknowledges what we have been saying in every meeting in Washington and here at home — that national defence decisions in Guam carry very real costs for our people and our local government,” Leon Guerrero said at the time.

Lieutenant Governor Josh Tenorio reinforced that message this week, emphasizing that Guam’s role in national defence must be matched with federal investment.

“Because of our unique and invaluable role in America’s Pacific force posture, the economic costs and benefits to Guam… can be affecting us through the next decade,” he said.

For years, Guam agencies have been preparing, and through the Community Defence Liaison Office, working groups have compiled data on power, water, wastewater, transportation, housing, health care, education, labor, emergency response, ports of entry and regulatory requirements.

“These teams have spent years compiling data, identifying shortfalls, and documenting how the population growth and military construction for the buildup and Guam Defence System will impact our island,” Tenorio said earlier.

The Guam delegation is expected to present these findings directly to federal counterparts this week, outlining the scale of stress on civilian infrastructure and the cost of sustaining Guam’s role as the westernmost U.S. territory and a critical node in the Indo‑Pacific defence architecture.

“We support a strong defence posture in the Indo‑Pacific and we are proud of Guam’s role,” Tenorio said. “But strengthening Guam’s defences must go hand in hand with strengthening our civilian infrastructure and services.”

Leon Guerrero framed the effort as a matter of fairness and national partnership: “As we deepen our strategic role in the region, we will continue to insist on a fair partnership—one that protects our people, respects our capacity, and honors the sacrifices Guam makes in service to the nation.”

The San Francisco meetings are expected to set the stage for formal interagency coordination and to reconvene an EAC in the months ahead.

If convened, the EAC could become the most consequential federal engagement with Guam’s civilian infrastructure in more than a decade—one that determines whether the island can sustain both its strategic military mission and its residents’ quality of life…..PACNEWS

PNG – HYDRO: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 23 Sep 2026

Proposed PNG hydro project can ‘help’ agenda

PORT MORESBY, 23 SEPTEMBER 2026 (THE NATIONAL)—Kairuku MP Peter Isoaimo says the proposed Bakoidu-Dilava hydro project in Papua New Guinea can contribute to the Government’s rural electrification objectives.

Isoaimo, the Energy Minister, accompanied PNG Hydro Development Ltd managing director Allan Guo to the project site for a technical inspection and landowner awareness meeting. It was held last week at Bereina Station and attended by landowners from Bakoidu and Dilava.

“The proposed hydro project is being explored as a potential major investment for Kairuku, with the development expected to assess the area’s capacity for clean hydroelectric power generation, employment, rural electrification and economic opportunities,” he said.

Guo said strong landowner participation was important to the long-term success of the project and assured the community that benefit-sharing arrangements, royalties and opportunities for local businesses would be considered as the project progressed.

Isoaimo’s said development must deliver tangible benefits to customary landowners and local communities.

He said the Government, developer and customary landowners must have agreements that properly recognise the interests and rights of all parties.

Isoaimo said landowners must understand and be satisfied with the arrangements before any formal agreements were concluded.

The Bakoidu and Dilava landowners welcomed the proposed development and expressed their willingness to work with the developer and the Government.

Isoaimo said the inspection would be followed by technical assessments, feasibility studies, environmental and social considerations, consultations and formal agreements before any construction could start…..PACNEWS

PACNEWS DIGEST

The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS

Tilapia farming offers new livelihood pathway for West Tanna communities

TANNA, 23 SEPTEMBER 2026 (SPREP)—- For communities in West Tanna working to conserve their coastal fisheries, a new source of food and income is taking shape through backyard fish farming.

The training was delivered by the Vanuatu Fisheries Department (VFD), with support from the West Tanna Area Administrator and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) through the Pacific Ecosystem-based Adaptation to Climate Change (PEBACC+) project. From 17-30 June 2026, 35 participants from 12 communities across West Tanna gathered at Loukatai village for a 10-day training on tilapia fishpond construction and fish husbandry.

The training forms part of planned activities in Tanna and aims to promote backyard freshwater fish farming as both a climate change adaptation measure and a livelihood option for coastal communities that have committed their coastlines to marine conservation.

William Bani, PEBACC+ Coordinator for Vanuatu, SPREP, said, “As communities take steps to conserve their coastal fisheries, there is a need for alternative sources of food and livelihoods. The PEBACC+ project promotes freshwater fish farming as one such option, allowing communities to continue producing fish while coastal fishing areas are progressively closed for conservation.”

Over the two-week training, participants combined classroom learning with practical, hands-on activities. They attended theory sessions, visited an existing fishpond, and worked together to construct a demonstration pond before introducing fish fingerlings. The training alsodemonstrated how fish farming can be integrated with other farming systems. The completed demonstration pond at Loukatai includes a poultry house positioned over the pond, creating a system designed to provide mutual benefits to both forms of farming.

Since June, the demonstration site is showing how the integrated system can support food production, even under challenging climate conditions. According to William Bani, PEBACC+ Coordinator for Vanuatu at SPREP, the pond is helping sustain vegetable production in one of West Tanna’s driest areas during the current El Niño period.

“People visit the site almost every day to see the promising performance of the vegetables,” said Bani. “West Tanna is a very dry area, especially during this El Niño period we’re experiencing. However, water from the pond is keeping the vegetables healthy and thriving well. That is the whole aim of the initiative.”

The completed tilapia fishpond in West Tanna.

The demonstration site has already produced lettuce and other short-term vegetables, with new plantings underway. The chickens are doing well, while the fish are expected to be harvested in November.

For communities, the demonstration pond therefore offers a future source of fish. It provides a practical example of how water, fish, poultry, and vegetable production can be brought together to support food security and livelihoods in a climate-vulnerable environment.

Marina Tamuru from Lowinio community said, “We didn’t realise it is this easy to farm freshwater fish such as tilapia. We will dig our fishponds right after this training.” She added that she looks forward to working closely with VFD as they start farming fish in their backyards.

The response from communities was immediate as 25 backyard fishponds were dug following the training, with participants now looking forward to support from VFD and the PEBACC+ project to complete the ponds and introduce fish fingerlings.

Francis Korisa, Area Administrator for West Tanna, welcomed the initiative, highlighting the importance of providing communities with an alternative while coastal fisheries are being conserved. “We are in the process of conserving our coastal fisheries, and we are glad that SPREP and VFD have come up with the idea of farming fish on shore, which will make life easier and safer for our families,” said Korisa.

The training brought together project beneficiaries from Lowaniai, Lamkail, Lounapkiko, Lenpakel, Itunga, Isini, Lenmaot, Lounik, Lethaus, Lounamilo, Lounapikmita and Lenamir, alongside local fisheries officers and the West Tanna Area Administrator.

Participants during tilapia fishpond construction and fish husbandry training in West Tanna.

Bani said the training shows how practical, community-led solutions can build resilience while supporting conservation. “By introducing backyard tilapia farming, communities have an opportunity to maintain access to fish as a source of food and income while allowing their coastal fisheries to recover. The response from participants, with 25 fishponds already dug following the training, shows the strong interest and commitment within communities to take this opportunity forward,” said Bani.

PEBACC+ is a regional project implemented by SPREP and funded by the Kiwa Initiative through its donors the European Union, Agence Française de Développement (AFD), Global Affairs Canada, Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), with co-financing from French Facility for Global Environment (FFEM).

The project aims to develop, sustain, and institutionalize ecosystem-based approaches in Fiji, New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. These efforts will strengthen the resilience of ecosystems, local economies, and communities against the impacts of climate change.

For more information, please contact: Setaita Tavanabola, Communications Officer, PEBACC+ Project, SPREP; email: setaitat@sprep.org or visit www.sprep.org/pebacc-plus….PACNEWS