In this bulletin:
1. W|PAPUA — West Papuan group urges Jakarta to put words into action on UN visit
2. SOL — Solomon Islands PM Wale thank GREAT members, calls for dialogue and unity
3. SOL — Peace Corps volunteers set to return to Solomon Islands by 2028
4. PACIFIC — North Pacific leaders restore Peace Corps Partnership with the United States
5. PACIFIC — PM Marape commends PNG Police Officers serving with Pacific Police support group
6. TONGA — Tongan police officers support 55th Pacific Islands Forum security in Palau
7. PACIFIC — FSM President Simina concludes 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Palau
8. FIJI — Fiji and UAE explore stronger health cooperation
9. PACIFIC — MSG Secretariat prioritises climate change, women and youth empowerment
10. PACNEWS BIZ — President Simina and ADB President Kanda sign landmark agreement to establish North Pacific Subregional Office in the FSM
11. PACNEWS BIZ — Solomon Islands launches new electronic visa system and border management reforms
12. PACNEWS BIZ — $1b revenue loss as Mineral Bill Amendments delayed
13. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — Vanuatu’s literacy challenge: planting seeds of hope through national storytelling
14. PACNEWS DIGEST — Pacific Adopts Second Edition of State of the Environment and Conservation in the Pacific Islands: 2025 Report
15. PACNEWS DIGEST — The Pacific Speaks as One for Nature and Climate Resilience at the PCNC11
W|PAPUA – POLITICS: RNZ PACIFIC PACNEWS 1: Tue 08 Sep 2026
West Papuan group urges Jakarta to put words into action on UN visit
MANOKWARI, 08 SEPTEMBER 2026 (RNZ PACIFIC) — A leading West Papua pro-independence group has questioned Indonesia’s assertion that a proposed visit by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to West Papua is on track.
The West Papua National Committee (KNPB) is urging Indonesia to put its words into action on the proposed visit with a clear date, genuine access and meaningful engagement.
This comes after Melanesian countries last week urged Jakarta to facilitate the long-requested visit or have Indonesia’s status as an associate member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group reviewed.
A request for the visit was made by Pacific Islands Forum countries back in 2019, but it has still not gone ahead, despite ongoing armed conflict and human rights violations in Indonesian-ruled Papua region, known internationally as West Papua.
In the intervening years, frustration has built up among the Melanesian countries in particular that Indonesia has not yet allowed the visit to take place.
In response to last week’s statement from the MSG, the Indonesian government told RNZ Pacific that the visit was on track, without elaborating on details.
“We are always in constructive discussion on the issues deemed important by other members of the MSG, and we can also confirm that the said proposed visit is on the right path,” an Indonesian spokesperson said.
The KNPB’s international spokesperson, Victor Yeimo, said that for the Papuan people, Indonesia’s statement about the visit being on track must now translate into concrete, verifiable action.
“If the visit is genuinely on track, we respectfully ask: What is the timeline? What practical arrangements are being made? And when will the High Commissioner be able to visit West Papua and engage directly with the Papuan people?
“The question is whether the United Nations’ highest human rights official will now be given meaningful and independent access to assess the wider human rights situation.”
Yeimo said that in Papua the High Commissioner should be allowed to engage freely with Indigenous communities, victims of human rights violations, displaced persons, civil society, churches, human rights defenders and other affected communities.
“Such engagement should take place without intimidation, surveillance or reprisals, and without restricting who communities are able to speak with or what concerns they are able to raise.
“The Papuan people do not ask the international community simply to accept our narrative. Nor do we ask it simply to accept Jakarta’s narrative,” Yeimo said.
“We ask the United Nations to come, listen directly and assess the situation for itself. That is the purpose of an independent human rights assessment…. PACNEWS
SOL – POLITICS: SIBC NEWS PACNEWS 1: Tue 08 Sep 2026
Solomon Islands PM Wale thank GREAT members, calls for dialogue and unity
HONIARA, 08 SEPTEMBER 2026 (SIBC NEWS) — Prime Minister Matthew Wale has thanked Members of the GREAT Coalition who have stood firm as well as those who have recently joined the Government.
Speaking in Parliament Monday, the Prime Minister acknowledged his members’ solidarity as critical to maintaining stability in Parliament and Government.
Prime Minister Wale also welcomed the new members of the GREAT Coalition and thanked them for their confidence in the Government’s vision for Solomon Islands.
“Let us achieve stability in the House and in Government because we have a reasonable, realistic and achievable vision for our people,” he said.
The Prime Minister acknowledged that the pace of change under the GREAT Coalition’s vision is fast and that resistance to change is inevitable.
“Many things are changing under the GREAT Coalition vision. And of course we will expect some resistance. That is only human. We accept that too,” he said.
Prime Minister Wale said the Government must respond to differences through greater dialogue and discussion rather than allowing internal issues to escalate and unnecessarily agitate the public.
He said he is personally learning from the experience and remains committed to listening to different viewpoints.
“I must learn from; I am learning from and hope to keep learning, keep being open to dialogue and discussions,” he said.
The Prime Minister also said efforts are underway within the Government to strengthen internal dialogue and ensure issues are resolved internally through consultation.
He said this approach is important to maintaining stability and public confidence as the Government implements its reform agenda.
The Prime Minister reaffirmed that the GREAT Coalition remains focused on delivering a reasonable, realistic and achievable vision for the people of Solomon Islands, while ensuring stability in both Parliament and Government…. PACNEWS
SOL – PEACE CORPS: SIBC NEWS PACNEWS 1: Tue 08 Sep 2026
Peace Corps volunteers set to return to Solomon Islands by 2028
HONIARA, 08 SEPTEMBER 2026 (SIBC NEWS) — The United States is moving to re-establish the Peace Corps in Solomon Islands, with volunteers potentially returning to schools by the start of the 2028 academic year.
The development follows the signing Monday of a new country agreement between the United States and Solomon Islands, formally launching preparations for the programme’s return.
Speaking SIBC News Peace Corps Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Kristin Besch said the programme is being fast-tracked, although recruitment and preparations will take time.
“I think there’s a strong interest on the part of the government to have Peace Corps volunteers as teachers,” Besch said.
A planning team is expected to arrive in Solomon Islands early next month to meet with government officials and jointly determine the roles Peace Corps volunteers will undertake.
“From what we’ve heard so far from the government, it’s most likely going to be in the area of education,” she said.
Besch said volunteers would work alongside local counterparts, supporting schools, teachers and community-based projects.
She said while deploying volunteers is a lengthy process, the Peace Corps is working to accelerate preparations.
“We signed the country agreement in record time, and so we are looking to fast-track the arrival of volunteers,” Besch said.
She said recruitment would begin in the United States once the roles and areas of deployment are finalised.
“We’re hopeful that volunteers will be teaching in schools at the start of the school year in 2028,” she said.
The Peace Corps previously operated in Solomon Islands from 1971 to 2000, with more than 700 volunteers serving during that period.
Besch said the programme would also strengthen community links, with volunteers contributing beyond the classroom.
“They’re interacting with other teachers, helping their English fluency, and our volunteers work with community members on community projects,” she said.
She described the programme as a partnership between Peace Corps volunteers and their local counterparts, saying volunteers who return to the United States would become unofficial ambassadors for Solomon Islands.
The programme will now move into its planning and recruitment stages, ahead of the expected arrival of the first volunteers before the 2028 school year…. PACNEWS
PAC – PEACE CORPS: FSM GOVT PACNEWS 1: Tue 08 Sep 2026
North Pacific leaders restore Peace Corps Partnership with the United States
KOROR, 08 SEPTEMBER 2026 (FSM GOVT) — On the margins of the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting, Wesley W. Simina, President of the Federated States of Micronesia, joined Hilda C. Heine, President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands; Surangel S. Whipps Jr., President of the Republic of Palau; and United States Deputy Secretary of State and Peace Corps Acting Director Christopher Landau in signing a Letter of Intent supporting the return of the Peace Corps to the North Pacific region.
The signing represents an important and long-awaited step toward restoring the Peace Corps’ presence in Micronesia. Before Peace Corps operations ended in 2018, generations of volunteers contributed to education and community development while building lasting relationships between the people of Micronesia and the United States.
The signing carries particular significance for President Simina, who has personally advocated for the return of the Peace Corps since meeting with the former Peace Corps Director in Washington, D.C., in 2024. He has since continued to raise the matter during several bilateral engagements with the United States Government.
President Simina joined President Heine and President Whipps in welcoming the initiative and reflected on the lasting impact of Peace Corps Volunteers across the region. Recalling his personal connection to the programme, the President shared that he was taught by several Peace Corps Volunteers during his early education and considers himself a product of their service.
The President acknowledged the important role Peace Corps Volunteers have played in shaping the lives of generations of Micronesians and strengthening the enduring friendship between Micronesia and the United States.
President Simina expressed the FSM’s sincere appreciation to the United States Government and Deputy Secretary Landau for supporting the initiative, describing the signing as an important development that has long been awaited by communities across the North Pacific…. PACNEWS
PAC – PIFLM55: PNG GOVT PACNEWS 1: Tue 08 Sep 2026
PM Marape commends PNG Police Officers serving with Pacific Police support group
PORT MORESBY, 08 SEPTEMBER 2026 (PNG GOVT) — Prime Minister James Marape has commended four members of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary for representing the country with distinction through the Pacific Police Support Group during the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting in Koror, Palau.
The Prime Minister met Bevan Gore, Ishmael Wain, Talaiwe Paullon and John Bain while attending the Forum and thanked them for their service to Papua New Guinea and the wider Pacific region.
“I was very pleased to meet these four Papua New Guinean police officers serving alongside their Pacific colleagues in Palau,” Prime Minister Marape said.
“They carried our flag with pride and demonstrated the professionalism, discipline and commitment of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary.
“On behalf of the Government and people of Papua New Guinea, I commend Bevan Gore, Ishmael Wain, Talaiwe Paullon and John Bain for representing our country so well.”
Prime Minister Marape said their deployment demonstrated Papua New Guinea’s growing contribution to regional peace, security and cooperation.
“Papua New Guinea is not only a recipient of regional assistance. We are also contributing our trained personnel, experience and leadership to help our Pacific neighbours,” he said.
“When one Pacific country faces a major event, security challenge or natural disaster, it should know that it can call upon its Pacific family for support.”
The Pacific Police Support Group is the multinational deployment arm of the broader Pacific Policing Initiative, which was endorsed by Pacific Islands Forum leaders in August 2024.
The initiative is built around three pillars: regional police training Centres of Excellence, the deployable Pacific Police Support Group and a development and coordination hub in Brisbane, Australia.
The Pacific Police Support Group brings together officers from different Pacific countries and prepares them to assist with natural disasters, security emergencies, major international meetings and sporting events when requested by a Pacific government.
Its guiding principle is: “By the Pacific, for the Pacific.”
Prime Minister Marape said the concept supported Papua New Guinea’s position that Pacific nations must take greater responsibility for the security and stability of their own region.
“This is Pacific security delivered by Pacific people, according to Pacific circumstances and in support of the sovereignty of every participating nation,” he said.
“Our police officers understand the cultures, communities and challenges of the region. By training and serving together, they build trust, strengthen their capabilities and become better prepared to respond when help is needed.”
The four PNG officers underwent intensive training in Brisbane to strengthen their skills in areas including public-order management, close personal protection, search-and-rescue coordination, disaster response and security planning for major events.
Some members of the PNG contingent have also supported regional operations during the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa and following the devastating earthquake in Vanuatu.
Prime Minister Marape said the experience gained through these deployments would also benefit policing within Papua New Guinea.
“These officers will return home with new skills, stronger regional networks and valuable operational experience that can be shared throughout the Constabulary,” he said.
“This is an investment in both regional security and the future capability of our own police force.”
Prime Minister Marape encouraged other members of the Constabulary, particularly young officers, to follow the example set by Gore, Wain, Paullon and Bain.
“Their service should inspire other young Papua New Guineans to embrace discipline, training and commitment to duty,” he said.
“They have shown that our people can serve confidently and professionally alongside their counterparts from across the Pacific.
“Papua New Guinea is proud of them, and I thank them for their service to our country and our Pacific family,” he said…. PACNEWS
TONGA – PIFLM55: TONGA GOVT PACNEWS 1: Tue 08 Sep 2026
Tongan police officers support 55th Pacific Islands Forum security in Palau
NUKU’ALOFA, 08 SEPTEMBER 2026 (TONGA GOVT) — A total of 120 police officers from across the Pacific were deployed to Palau to support the security and delivery of the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting—the largest-ever deployment of the Pacific Police Support Group.
Among them are 10 officers from the Tonga Police, who travelled to Palau following specialised training supported by Australia, joining colleagues from across the Pacific in this important regional effort.
The Prime Minister of Tonga and Minister for Police, Lord Fakafanua, was pleased to meet with Inspector Eliki Tomu and the Tongan police officers deployed to Palau. He expressed his sincere gratitude and appreciation to the officers for their professionalism, dedication and service in supporting the security of the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting.
Their presence reflected the strong spirit of Pacific regional cooperation and the shared commitment of Pacific nations to supporting a safe, secure and successful Forum Leaders Meeting…. PACNEWS
PAC – PIFLM55: FSM GOVT PACNEWS 1: Tue 08 Sep 2026
FSM President Simina concludes 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Palau
KOROR, 08 SEPTEMBER 2026 (FSM GOVT) — After a week of dialogue, deliberations, and high-level engagements, the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting concluded in Palau with the adoption of the Leaders’ Communiqué, reflecting the collective decisions and commitments of Pacific leaders on shared regional priorities.
Wesley W. Simina, President of the Federated States of Micronesia, joined fellow Pacific leaders throughout the week in reaffirming the importance of keeping the Forum focused on Pacific needs and priorities. Through Leaders’ meetings, regional dialogues, bilateral discussions, and engagements with development partners, the private sector, and civil society, President Simina advanced the FSM’s national interests while contributing to broader regional priorities.
During the Leaders’ plenary, President Simina reinforced the FSM’s longstanding position on the far-reaching impacts of climate change across Pacific communities. He welcomed continued efforts to keep climate change at the forefront of the international agenda, including the historic International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion, and underscored the importance of carrying a strong regional voice into upcoming Pre-COP engagements in Fiji and Tuvalu.
“Climate change remains the single greatest existential threat to lives and livelihoods,” President Simina told Leaders, emphasising the need for stronger international action on the 1.5-degree goal, climate finance, the ocean, and the particular vulnerabilities of Pacific Island countries. He also stressed the importance of strong high-level representation in the lead-up to COP31 so that the experiences and priorities of communities on the frontlines of climate change remain central to global discussions.
Throughout the week, President Simina also advocated alongside fellow leaders on other shared priorities, including energy security, sustainable development, ocean stewardship, regional security, connectivity, and opportunities for Pacific communities.
The week in Palau also advanced a number of important priorities for the FSM and the wider North Pacific. Among the key outcomes was the signing of an agreement to establish the Asian Development Bank’s North Pacific Subregional Office in the FSM, alongside a Letter of Intent supporting the return of the Peace Corps to the North Pacific and a Hosting Agreement for the FSM to host the next meeting of the Committee of Representatives of Governments and Administrations (CRGA). The FSM also presented a $200,000 contribution on behalf of its four states, with the support of the 24th FSM Congress, toward strengthening the Micronesian Islands Forum Secretariat.
President Simina’s engagements further advanced the FSM’s diplomatic agenda, including discussions on a planned visit by United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed to the FSM later this year. The week also provided the opportunity to facilitate the first visit by a United States Deputy Secretary of State to the FSM, with Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau traveling to Chuuk for high-level engagements on the FSM–U.S partnership and Typhoon Sinlaku response and recovery…. PACNEWS
FIJI – HEALTH: FIJI GOVT PACNEWS 1: Tue 08 Sep 2026
Fiji and UAE explore stronger health cooperation
SUVA, 08 SEPTEMBER 2026 (FIJI GOVT) — Fiji and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are exploring opportunities to strengthen cooperation in healthcare, with a focus on improving services and building a more resilient health system.
Minister for Health and Medical Services, Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu and Assistant Minister, Penioni Ravunawa, held bilateral discussions with UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Her Excellency Dr Noura Mohamed Al Kaabi, during her first official visit to Fiji.
Discussions explored potential cooperation with Dubai Cares to support child health, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene initiatives in vulnerable communities.
The meeting also considered opportunities for collaboration on the phased rehabilitation of the Colonial War Memorial (CWM) Hospital, including the potential development of a new wing to expand healthcare delivery.
It was proposed that the new wing could be named in honour of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The discussions build on diplomatic relations established between Fiji and the UAE in 2010 and reflect a shared interest in developing practical partnerships that contribute to better health outcomes for Fijians…. PACNEWS
PAC – DIPLOMACY: MSG SECRETARIAT PACNEWS 1: Tue 08 Sep 2026
MSG Secretariat prioritises climate change and women and youth empowerment
SUVA, 08 SEPTEMBER 2026 (MSG SECRETARIAT) — The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Secretariat is prioritising women and youth empowerment for its subregional collaboration.
As well, climate change continues to be a major challenge for the members, affecting food, water and health security, driving loss, damage and displacement for many Melanesian communities.
This is a concern that has been repeatedly emphasised throughout a series of MSG country consultations held from 2025 to 2026, as views were sought about the development of subregional initiatives to be managed through the MSG Secretariat’s Project Coordination and Management Unit (PCMU).
The country consultations take forward the decisions of the 23rd MSG Leaders’ Summit held in Suva, Fiji in June 2025, which called for greater collaboration between the MSG Secretariat, development partners and regional organisations and also welcomed the advancement of a Yut4Melanesia project.
In the latest Member consultations, held in Noumea, New Caledonia in August 2026, the PCMU team, led by Johnston Riven, engaged closely with community-based organisations, the Noumea city council and the FLNKS to discuss priorities for a subregional initiative.
Discussions highlighted significant socio-economic challenges for the indigenous Melanesian population and explored opportunities for inclusive approaches to support women and youth empowerment. Upskilling youth, economic empowerment for women in small business, training and employment pathways were key messages heard, alongside many examples shared about the negative impacts of climate change on life in Kanaky New Caledonia.
The MSG Secretariat sincerely acknowledges all participating ministries, departments, city councils and the FLNKS Bureau for their unwavering commitment, collaboration and continued support throughout this important process.
An advanced subregional strategy design for collaborative sustainable development initiatives will be tabled to Members in subsequent MSG governing board meetings.
Together, we are strengthening subregional cooperation and shaping programmes that reflect the priorities of our Melanesian communities…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
PAC – DEVELOPMENT: FSM GOVT PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 08 Sep 2026
President Simina and ADB President Kanda sign landmark agreement to establish North Pacific Subregional Office in the FSM
KOROR, 08 SEPTEMBER 2026 (FSM GOVT) — Wesley W. Simina, President of the Federated States of Micronesia, and Masato Kanda, President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), formally signed an agreement regarding the establishment of ADB’s North Pacific Subregional Office in the FSM.
The signing, held on the margins of the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Palau, marks a significant milestone for the FSM and ADB in their partnership to establish the North Pacific Subregional Office. Once operational, the office will further strengthen ADB’s presence in the North Pacific and bring its services closer to the countries and communities it serves.
The ceremony was joined by Surangel S. Whipps Jr., President of the Republic of Palau, and Her Excellency Hilda C. Heine, President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
President Simina welcomed the agreement as a strong expression of confidence in the region and its people.
“The presence of an ADB office in Micronesia reflects confidence in our region and in the collective potential of our people,” President Simina said. “It will bring ADB closer to the communities, governments, and institutions it serves, strengthening dialogue, improving coordination, and helping ensure that development assistance is responsive to the realities and priorities of our island nations.”
Although headquartered in the FSM, the Subregional Office will serve the wider North Pacific, including Palau and the Marshall Islands. It will provide an important platform for closer cooperation on shared priorities, including climate resilience, sustainable infrastructure, energy security, connectivity, human development, and inclusive private-sector growth.
President Whipps and President Heine welcomed the establishment of the office and echoed President Simina’s views on its anticipated benefits for the three North Pacific nations.
President Simina reaffirmed the FSM’s commitment to working closely with ADB and its regional partners to ensure that, once operational, the office becomes an effective center for engagement, innovation, and practical results. He also welcomed the establishment of the North Pacific Private Sector Hub in Palau, noting that the two initiatives will help mobilise investment, expand opportunities, and strengthen the resilience of North Pacific economies…. PACNEWS
SOL – VISA: SOLOMON ISLANDS GOVT PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 08 Sep 2026
Solomon Islands launches new electronic visa system and border management reforms
HONIARA, 08 SEPTEMBER 2026 (SOLOMON ISLANDS GOVT) — The Solomon Islands Government has officially implemented a new border management system and visa regime to strengthen border security and make travel to Solomon Islands easier and more efficient.
The reforms are being delivered through the Solomon Islands Border Management System (BMS) and are administered by the Immigration Division, Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration.
Under Section 92(1) of the Immigration Act 2012, the Minister has approved an authorised electronic system for visa applications and decisions.
The new Electronic Visa System allows applicants to apply, be processed, approved and recorded online. A decision made through the system is recognised as a decision made by an authorised officer under the Act.
Director of Immigration Christopher Akosawa said the system will reduce processing times and make visa services more accessible to applicants both in Solomon Islands and overseas.
The Government has also implemented the Immigration (Amendment) Visa Regulation 2025 and the Immigration (Amendment) Fees Schedule 2025.
The new regime introduces 34 visa categories under 11 visa subclasses. The reforms are designed to improve border management, strengthen immigration security, provide clearer visa requirements, and streamline processing.
Full details of visa categories and requirements are available on the Immigration Division website or by email.
Tourists and other travellers who require a visa must now apply through the online portal before travelling.
Approved applicants will receive pre-entry authorisation to enter Solomon Islands for an initial period of 30 days visa-free. Those wishing to stay longer may apply for an extended stay visa. The tourist visa subclass allows for a total stay of up to 180 days, subject to meeting all requirements under the Immigration Act 2012.
All travellers remain subject to immigration clearance on arrival and must comply with visa conditions.
Solomon Islands maintains visa exemption and mutual exemption arrangements with several countries for holders of official, diplomatic and, in some cases, ordinary passports. These include the European Union, Indonesia, India, United Arab Emirates, People’s Republic of China, and Hong Kong.
Applicants under these arrangements are required to obtain a visa support note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade and a sponsor letter from the relevant Solomon Islands Government Ministry. All exemptions are subject to Gazette notices and conditions in place at the time of travel.
The Immigration Division has requested the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade to advise Solomon Islands High Commissions, foreign diplomatic missions in Honiara, regional and international organisations of the new arrangements to ensure travellers receive accurate and up-to-date information.
“These reforms balance the need to protect our borders with the need to facilitate legitimate travel and tourism. The new system makes it easier to visit Solomon Islands while strengthening our security and immigration processes,” Akosawa said.
Applicants can pay visas online as the e-payment gateway is now operational for visa payment…. PACNEWS
SOL – MINERAL BILL: INDEPTH SOLOMONS PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 08 Sep 2026
$1b revenue loss as Mineral Bill Amendments delayed
HONIARA, 08 SEPTEMBER 2026 (INDEPTH SOLOMONS) — The Solomon Islands Government could forgo an estimated $1 billion (US$125.41 million) in revenue this year following a decision to delay proposed amendments to the country’s mineral resources legislation, Prime Minister Mathew Wale told Parliament today.
The Prime Minister said the mineral resources bill contained one of the Government’s major revenue measures, but the proposed amendments would not proceed immediately after the Bills Committee recommended further consultation.
Wale said the Government had accepted the committee’s recommendations and would use the next two months to consult stakeholders on the proposed changes.
“We estimate that revenue forgone this year is around $1 billion (US$125.41 million) that we could have collected had we proceeded with the amendments,” the Prime Minister told Parliament.
The admission places a significant financial cost on the decision to delay the legislative changes, at a time when the Government is seeking to strengthen domestic revenue collection and improve the country’s fiscal position.
Wale said the Government could have proceeded with the amendments and potentially collected the additional revenue this year but chose to respect the position taken by the Bills Committee.
“We have accepted recommendations from the Bills Committee through its chair for further consultations on the proposed amendment to strengthen that regulatory framework,” he said.
The Government will now undertake consultations with affected stakeholders over the next two months before determining how to proceed with the proposed amendments.
The Prime Minister’s statement raises a fundamental question over the financial consequences of legislative delays: how much can the country afford to lose while waiting for reforms to be agreed upon?
At approximately $1 billion (US$125.41 million) in foregone revenue, the amount represents a substantial potential contribution to government finances.
The figure also provides a stark measure of the economic stakes surrounding the proposed amendments to the mineral resources regulatory framework.
Wale stressed that the decision was not a rejection of the proposed amendments, but a commitment to undertake further consultation before proceeding.
The Government’s challenge will now be to ensure the consultation process does not become another source of prolonged legislative delay.
For Solomon Islands, the $1 billion (US$125.41 million) question is no longer simply whether the mineral resources amendments should be passed—it is how much revenue the country can continue to afford to leave on the table while Parliament considers them…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS In Focus
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Vanuatu’s literacy challenge: planting seeds of hope through national storytelling
By Rebecca Olul-Hossen, Christelle Thieffry and Catherine Lessa
PORT VILA, 08 SEPTEMBER 2026 (DEVPOLICY.ORG) — Vanuatu held a National Education and Training Forum from 3 to 6 August 2026. It had a fiery start. Prime Minister Jotham Napat told a room filled with policymakers and educators from across the archipelago that he was “not satisfied” with the national education system, despite the sector receiving one of the government’s biggest annual investments, accounting for over 22 percent of the national budget. Napat illustrated his concerns, saying “70 percent of children cannot read or write”, sparking a social media storm of outrage.
One month on, as the world marks International Literacy Day on 8 September, the questions raised at the Forum remain unresolved. While statistics from the 2018 Vanuatu Standardised Test of Achievement (VANSTA) place illiteracy rates at 65 percent for Year 4 students (an average across the English and French language streams), the challenging reality of Vanuatu’s literacy levels remains.
Literacy statistics for Vanuatu have been stark for several years, so Napat’s reference to 70 percent low literacy among school-age children would not have surprised most. The challenge has deepened since the prolonged teachers’ strike of 2024 to 2026 and frequent disruptions from climate-induced and other disasters, leaving Vanuatu’s multilingual education system at an all-time low, with concerning attrition rates: only 55 percent and 25 percent of students finish junior and senior secondary school respectively.
“The question we must ask ourselves is whether our education system is preparing our young people for global opportunities. We also need to ask what has gone wrong over the past 45 years and how we can fix it,” Napat said at the Forum.
Shocking statistics demand attention. Regression, rather than progression, in literacy levels is especially disheartening as Vanuatu celebrated its 46th independence anniversary in July.
Yet the public debate sparked by the Prime Minister’s comments risks reducing Vanuatu’s education challenges to a question of literacy rates and school performance alone. Children’s ability to learn is shaped — in both positive and negative ways — by much more than what happens in the classroom.
First, the negative ways. In Vanuatu, more than four in five children experience violent discipline at home, while girls face particularly acute risks, with an estimated one in three experiencing sexual violence before the age of 15. Children cannot learn well when they do not feel safe. Global evidence shows that exposure to violence and trauma can affect concentration, memory, behaviour, attendance and educational achievement, with impacts that can extend across generations. If Vanuatu is serious about improving learning outcomes, it must look beyond curriculum reform and test scores to the broader social conditions affecting children’s wellbeing. The question is not only why children are struggling to learn, but whether they are growing up in environments that allow them to learn in the first place.
But there are some positive, partially countervailing factors too. While politicians and policymakers debate education statistics and reform pathways, some seeds of hope have been quietly growing, showcasing the high levels of literacy that can exist in Vanuatu.
Through the now-annual Sot Sot Storian (micro-fiction) national writing competition, youth and adult participation has grown steadily over three years to almost 100 submissions in 2026. As a multilingual competition, it encourages entries in any of Vanuatu’s three official languages (Bislama, English and French) as well as any of the more than 130 vernacular languages. 2026 drew the highest number of French language entries to date, and the significant share of repeat entrants across years signals a strong appetite for outlets for homegrown writing and storytelling.
The introduction of the inaugural Poetri Pawa Praes (PPP) in 2026 offers further cause for optimism. By recognising poetry alongside micro-fiction, the awards broaden opportunities for ni-Vanuatu writers of all ages to engage with language, culture and creative expression. Together, the competitions point to a growing grassroots literary movement that is often absent from public discussions about education.
More than simply celebrating writing, the competitions provide a platform for perspectives that are often missing from national discourse. This year’s entries, responding to the theme Routes and Roots, explored questions that sit at the heart of Vanuatu’s development journey: the relationship between education and cultural identity, the pressures of urbanisation and migration, the preservation of language and tradition, and the experience of studying overseas while maintaining connections to home.
Several writers reflected on the tension between educational success and cultural belonging, questioning whether social mobility can sometimes come at the cost of language, custom and connection to place. Others explored the opportunities and uncertainties associated with urbanisation and life abroad. A number of entries by young writers spoke candidly about frustration, dislocation and the challenges of navigating an increasingly complex social landscape. These are not simply literary themes; they are some of the same issues confronting policymakers, educators and communities across the country, and they overlap with the pressures on children’s wellbeing that shape whether learning happens at all.
Young people expressed themselves, showing self-confidence in telling a story, narrating and sharing their thoughts, their feelings, who they are. These are the same young people who read their prose aloud, making sure their voices matter. Being heard, in one’s own languages, is part of the sense of safety and belonging that supports learning.
Vanuatu is known for its strong oral culture, as are many countries in the Pacific region. But these two competitions show that Vanuatu also holds an important space for Pacific written expression.
The concerns raised at the Forum should not be dismissed. Improving literacy and learning outcomes remains one of Vanuatu’s most pressing development challenges. But neither should the conversation be limited to what children cannot do, or to what happens inside the classroom alone.
Sot Sot Storian and Poetri Pawa Praes suggest there is more to the story than literacy statistics alone. Across the two competitions, ni-Vanuatu are writing in multiple languages, reflecting on their experiences and contributing to national conversations about the country’s future. The competitions will not solve Vanuatu’s education challenges, nor the wider conditions shaping children’s lives. But they demonstrate that literacy is not only about reading levels and assessment results. It is also about the ability to tell stories, communicate ideas and participate in public life.
On International Literacy Day, those voices are worth listening to…. PACNEWS
Rebecca Olul-Hossen is a ni-Vanuatu poet, storyteller and editor. She co-edited Vanuatu’s first women’s anthology Sista! Stanap Strong (2021) and co-founded the national Sot Sot Storian competition with Anna Naupa.
Christelle Thieffry is a French / Ni-Vanuatu education and development specialist. She is a founding member of the Haus Storian collective together with Anna Naupa and Rebecca Olul-Hossen.
Catherine Lessa is an emerging writer and poet from the islands of Nguna and Ambae.
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The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Pacific Adopts Second Edition of State of the Environment and Conservation in the Pacific Islands: 2025 Report
NOUMEA, 08 SEPTEMBER 2026 (SPREP) — Five years after the Pacific region’s environmental status and trends were first assessed, the results tell the region what has changed and what it must do next. This morning, the Pacific Ministerial segment adopted the second edition of the State of the Environment and Conservation in the Pacific Islands: 2025 Regional Report (SOEC) at the 11th Pacific Islands Conference on Nature Conservation, held at the Tjibaou Cultural Centre in Nouméa.
In his ministerial intervention, Tokaibure Rabaua, Kiribati’s Minister of Environment, Lands and Agricultural Development said – “Kiribati welcomes the regional State of the Environment Report. These findings are not abstract, and we stand firmly behind this regional effort”.
For the first time, the region can review the baselines established in 2020 and measure five years of change. This is a significant step forward in turning Pacific evidence into Pacific decisions.
Noting the report’s findings on the poor state of hazardous waste captured, Ralph Regenvanu, Vanuatu’s Minister for Climate Change Adaptation, Energy, Environment, Meteorology, Geo-Hazards and Disaster Management, used his ministerial intervention to highlight recent legislative progress. He pointed to the passage of the Product Stewardship Scheme Act, which establishes a national Product Stewardship Scheme (PSS) to hold the private sector accountable for container and packaging waste in Vanuatu.
“We are putting in place a practical, self-financing system that reduces litter, improves recycling and makes producers part of the solution to Vanuatu’s waste challenge.”
The SOEC 2025 report examines the status and trends of the region’s environmental indicators across six thematic areas – atmosphere and climate, biodiversity, environmental governance, land, built environment and coastal and marine, providing decision-makers with the authoritative evidence needed to guide action.
“What our indicators tell us is clear, progress is possible when we act together. Consistent monitoring, sustained management, financing and political will are what sustain our gains.” said Jope Davetanivalu, Director of SPREP’s Environmental Governance Programme in his opening presentation of the findings of the SOEC.
“The commitments are already in place and this report helps us track them through one shared evidence base.”
The 2025 report presents a mixed picture across the region. Some indicators continue to achieve the outcomes the region wants, including stable offshore fisheries and the progressive phase-out of ozone-depleting substances.
Other indicators show limited or no improvement since 2020, including national budget allocations to environment ministries, the condition of native and primary forests and the management of hazardous waste and invasive species which remain ongoing and growing challenges.
The assessment also highlights the challenge of data fragmentation, with environmental information scattered and siloed across national systems, leaving gaps in monitoring and reporting that lower confidence in some indicators and limit the region’s ability to track progress.
On land, the condition of the region’s native and primary forests is not improving, with the indicator status dropping since 2020. Forests continue to be impacted by land-use change, fragmentation and deforestation. Data confidence has also dropped, as assessments still rely on older national forest inventories (more than five years old) or non-inventory sources which is a useful reminder of the value of strengthening monitoring and reporting, so that together the region can better understand how best to manage and protect what remains.
Within built environment thematic area, waste and new types of waste remains an ongoing and growing challenge for the region. The region continues to face challenges on how to safely dispose of hazardous waste, including e-waste and pharmaceutical and chemical waste, and as the region develops and adopts new technologies, these volumes are only likely to grow.
The adoption of the second edition coincides with the launch of the renewed Pacific Regional Framework for Nature Conservation 2026–2030, underscoring the region’s commitment to evidence-based conservation and sustainable development.
With the SOEC 2025 now adopted, the Pacific turns its attention to the road ahead. The report is not an endpoint but a starting point, a living tool that will guide decisions, track commitments and hold the region accountable as it works towards the goals of the renewed Framework 2026–2030. Every indicator it measures is a promise to future generations, and every gap it reveals is an invitation to act.
The strength of this report lies not only in its data but in the people behind it – the Members, national officers, technical experts, communities, youth, reviewers, donors and partners whose work made it possible. As the region moves forward, it does so together, carrying forward the evidence, the commitments and the collective will to ensure that the next five years bring the change the Pacific wants to see.
About the State of Environment and Conservation in the Pacific Islands: 2025 Regional Report
The State of the Environment and Conservation in the Pacific Islands: 2025 Regional Report was made possible through the financial support of the Ministry of New Zealand Foreign Affairs and Trade, the EU-funded Bio-scape Programme, and the African, Caribbean and Pacific Multilateral Environmental Agreements Programme (ACP MEAs) ACP MEAs Programme.
The assessment draws on data from across the region.
– Fourteen independent Pacific countries are represented: the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
– The seven SPREP member territories and protectorates of American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Tokelau and Wallis and Futuna are included in the assessments whenever data were available.
– Information was excluded when it was specific only to an entire metropolitan country partner, namely Australia, France, New Zealand, the United Kingdom or the United States of America.
– Pitcairn Island is also included in many analyses, where the availability of data permitted, although, while the United Kingdom is a Member of SPREP, Pitcairn is not formally a SPREP Member.
To access the SOEC 2025, please visit: https://library.sprep.org/content/state-environment-and-conservation-int-he-pacific-islands-2025-regional-report-second …. PACNEWS
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The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
The Pacific Speaks as One for Nature and Climate Resilience at the PCNC11
NOUMEA, 08 SEPTEMBER 2026 (SPREP) — Following a powerful traditional Kanak welcome that honoured the cultural heritage, customary values and deep connections between people and nature, delegates from across the Pacific formally opened the 11th Pacific Islands Conference on Nature Conservation and Protected Areas (PCNC11) in Nouméa, New Caledonia.
Bringing together governments, Indigenous leaders, conservation practitioners, researchers, development partners and community representatives, the conference serves as the Pacific’s premier platform for advancing biodiversity conservation, climate resilience and sustainable development.
Against the backdrop of New Caledonia’s UNESCO-listed lagoons and globally significant terrestrial and marine ecosystems, the opening session highlighted an overarching theme that would guide discussions throughout the week: that the future of Pacific conservation depends on collective action rooted in both scientific innovation and traditional knowledge.
Opening the conference, the President of New Caledonia, Milakulo Tukumuli, encouraged all delegates to unite for the better of our natural environment through a video message presented today.
“We must unite our voices,” stated President Tukumuli.
“In the face of the challenges ahead, none of us should act alone. We must act together, and its up to each of us to act wherever we can.”
“My hope is this conference gives us new impetus to strengthen regional collection and leave with new endeavours and partnerships and the will to continue and pursue the work here for the benefit of our countries and communities.”
The High Commissioner of France to New Caledonia, Jacques Billant, reaffirmed France’s and New Caledonia’s enduring commitment to environmental stewardship emphasising that the Pacific stands at a critical moment, facing escalating climate impacts while possessing unique opportunities to demonstrate global leadership in nature conservation.
Billant highlighted New Caledonia’s designation of its maritime space as a marine protected area, one of the largest such conservation efforts under French jurisdiction and pointed to ongoing provincial initiatives that integrate environmental management with Kanak cultural values and customary practices.
“The Pacific is not only witnessing the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss but also demonstrating the solutions. Through partnership, innovation and respect for local knowledge, we can build a more resilient future for our communities and ecosystems.”
Providing the regional perspective, Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) Director General Sefanaia Nawadra situated the conference within the wider ambitions of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.
He noted that Pacific Island countries are confronting unprecedented pressures from climate change, including rising temperatures, ocean warming, acidification and changing weather patterns. However, rather than focusing solely on the challenges, the Director General highlighted the region’s determination to respond collectively through regional cooperation and shared leadership.
“The Pacific voice must remain united. Whether we are speaking about climate change, biodiversity conservation or ocean governance, our message is stronger when we speak together.”
He emphasised that environmental conservation and climate resilience remain central pillars of the Pacific 2050 Strategy, supported by well-established regional mechanisms and partnerships that have served the region for decades.
The conference also coincides with the 40th anniversary of the Nouméa Convention, a milestone that reflects decades of Pacific cooperation in addressing shared environmental challenges and strengthening regional governance.
As PCNC11 moves into its substantive programme of technical sessions, workshops and regional dialogues, delegates will explore a wide range of issues, including ecosystem restoration, invasive species management, protected areas, sustainable financing, climate adaptation and ocean governance…. PACNEWS
