In this bulletin:
1. NEW|CALE — Concerns over voter access raised as New Caledonia’s municipal elections highlight turnout gaps
2. KIRIBATI — Kiribati makes bid for UN women’s body, pushes Pacific voice in global stage
3. PACIFIC — Communities cut off, exhausted as cyclones drag on and NZ watches storm’s uncertain path
4. SAMOA — Charges against former Samoa PM Tuilaepa yet to be finalised
5. UN— Global food and energy shock looms as IMF, World Bank, WFP warn of middle easr war impact
6. GUAM — Moylan: Defence sales crucial to Guam’s security
7. FIJI — NGO coalition ‘deeply disappointed’ over GCC constitutional proposals
8. UN — Iran ceasefire raises hopes for reopening key Strait of Hormuz
9. PACNEWS BIZ — Samoa pushes $100 million dam project, seel global bidders ahead of 2026 roadshow
10. PACNEWS BIZ — ‘Fossilflation likely despite ceasefire, government must act now
11. PACNEWS BIZ — FCCC accused of failing to protect consumers amid rising costs
12. PACNEWS DIGEST — PRISMSS Restoring Island Resilience Award: NGOs awarded for protecting biodiversity and strengthening climate resilience
NEW|CALE – ELECTION: PACNEWS PACNEWS 3: Thu 09 Apr 2026
Concerns over voter access raised as New Caledonia’s municipal elections highlight turnout gaps
By Sanjeshni Kumar
NOUMEA, 09 APRIL 2026 (PACNEWS) — Concerns over voter access and representation have emerged following municipal elections in New Caledonia, as second-round results confirmed a widening political divide between urban and rural communities.
Roselyne Makalu, President of Women Weaving Peace KNC, said the elections exposed structural barriers that may have limited participation among vulnerable groups, particularly Indigenous Kanak and working-class communities.
“The official results confirm a deeply fractured New Caledonia,” she said, citing stark contrasts in turnout between urban centres and rural areas.
The two-round elections, held on 15 March and 22 March, saw pro-France parties consolidate their dominance in the capital, Nouméa, where incumbent mayor Sonia Lagarde secured re-election with 62 percent of the vote. However, Makalu said disparities in participation observed in the first round appeared to carry through to the final outcome.
She pointed to the centralisation of polling stations in Nouméa, reduced from 56 to eight, as a key factor.
“This sent a signal of complexity and exclusion,” Makalu said.
The changes, she said, disproportionately affected voters without access to private transport.
“Those who own a vehicle can vote easily; those who rely on public transport, non-existent on Sundays, are discouraged,” she said.
Makalu said the increased distances to polling stations effectively excluded some voters, particularly the elderly and those in precarious situations.
“The increased distances constituted a de facto exclusion for elders and the most precarious citizens,” she said.
In contrast, she noted that rural and island communities recorded higher turnout, where polling access remained localised.
“This proves that citizens wish to participate actively in civic life, provided that logistical barriers are not erected between the citizen and the ballot box,” she said.
Makalu warned that such barriers risk undermining confidence in democratic processes, particularly in the aftermath of the 2024 unrest triggered by proposed electoral reforms.
“Organising an election while restricting physical access for the most marginalised, the very people who expressed their suffering during the 2024 insurrection, is a form of democratic obstruction,” she said.
She added that no corrective measures were introduced between the two rounds of voting.
“To date, no measures have been put in place… We will unfortunately have to rely on citizen solidarity to overcome logistical and financial obstacles,” she said.
Makalu also raised concerns about representation following the loss of pro-independence seats in Nouméa.
“The fact that Unité Pays… lost its two seats in Nouméa means that a significant portion of the population will no longer be represented,” she said.
She warned that young people and residents of working-class neighbourhoods risk being left out of decision-making.
“Young people were at the heart of the events; they expect concrete perspectives for integration and consideration,” she said.
Despite this, she said support for pro-independence movements remained strong outside urban centres.
“That said, in the rest of the territory… the pro-independence grassroots remain solid,” she said.
The final results largely mirrored the disparities Makalu highlighted, with lower turnout in Nouméa and continued pro-independence support in rural areas, while pro-France parties retained control of the capital and surrounding municipalities.
Makalu also pointed to a rise in female political participation.
“I want to believe that we are progressively moving from a ‘forced’ parity to a parity of power,” she said.
The elections come amid ongoing debates over New Caledonia’s political status and proposed constitutional reforms by France.
“We are traversing a profound political, economic and social crisis,” Makalu said…. PACNEWS
While the results confirmed the strength of pro-France parties in the capital, Makalu said the broader issue remains whether all citizens had equal access to participate in the democratic process…. PACNEWS
KIRIBATI – WOMEN SEAT: PACNEWS PACNEWS 3: Thu 09 Apr 2026
Kiribati makes bid for UN women’s body, pushes Pacific voice in global stage
TARAWA/NEW YORK, 09 APRIL 2026 (PACNEWS) — Kiribati has formally entered the race for a seat on a key United Nations body, with its minister declaring the Pacific is ready to step up and be heard.
Ruth Cross Kwansing, Minister of Women, Youth, Sport and Social Affairs, announced the country’s candidacy for the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women for the 2026–2030 term.
She said the move is about addressing a gap in global representation.
“The voices of our Pacific nations have been missing from the global table, and we are ready to change that!”
Kiribati is positioning its campaign around climate, innovation and regional unity, highlighting its role as the Pacific Islands Forum Political Champion for Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GESI).
“As the Pacific Islands Forum Political Champion for GESI, we have a vision full of courage and conviction!”
Kwansing outlined priorities that include pushing Pacific-led climate and gender solutions, expanding support systems for survivors of violence, and representing the collective interests of Pacific countries.
“Climate Gender leadership: Bringing Pacific-led solutions to the heart of global climate finance.
“Scalable innovations: Exporting our “SafeNet” model as a global blueprint for survivor-centred justice.
“Regional solidarity: Acting as the collective, high-impact voice for all 18 Pacific Island nations.”
Elections are scheduled for 08 April at the United Nations headquarters in New York, where Kiribati will seek support from member states.
“We ask for your prayers and your support as we stand up for the recognition our Pacific family deserves. We are ready to guide, innovate, and ensure that no woman or girl—from our most remote atolls to the global stage—is left behind!”
The bid signals a push by Pacific nations to strengthen their presence in global decision-making spaces, particularly on gender equality and climate-linked challenges…. PACNEWS
PAC – CYCLONE RESPONSE: PMN PACNEWS 3: Thu 09 Apr 2026
Communities cut off, exhausted as cyclones drag on and NZ watches storm’s uncertain path
AUCKLAND/HONIARA/SUVA/PORT MORESBY 09 APRIL 2026(PMN) — Communities across the Pacific are cut off, exhausted, and still counting the cost of days of relentless cyclones as the crisis stretches across the region and shifts towards New Zealand.
In the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea, Severe Tropical Cyclone Maila continues to bring strong winds, heavy rain, and storm surges despite being downgraded to a Category four system.
For those on the ground, the impact is ongoing.
“Currently, the situation is that the surrounding islands and the communities are still dealing with the current disaster regarding Cyclone Maila,” Ulutah Gina, a journalist, told Pacific Mornings.
Coastal communities remain among the hardest hit with seawater pushing inland and damaging homes.
In Gizo and nearby islands, buildings have been torn apart and small coastal structures destroyed.
“The situation is serious, but not catastrophic,” Gina said, as many families move to higher ground.
But access remains a major issue. Dangerous conditions mean emergency teams are struggling to reach affected areas, leaving some communities to cope on their own.
“I think likely people are caught off guard. They are not expecting the current disaster that is happening right now.”
Authorities say the damage is widespread. Police in Western Province describe it as the worst impact since the 2007 earthquake and tsunami, with reports of damage to schools, clinics, and homes.
In Papua New Guinea’s Milne Bay, where cyclones are rare, communities are also reeling.
“The waves are huge, and the gardens are basically underwater. All the bananas that people would want to survive on are also… fallen,” Governor Gordon Wesley said in an RNZ Pacific report.
Aid agencies say the slow-moving nature of the system is making conditions even harder.
Some areas have now spent days under constant wind, rain, and flooding, with travel by sea still too dangerous and roads blocked.
Even countries not directly in the main storm paths are feeling the disruption.
A tropical cyclone warning remains in place for parts of Tonga as Vaianu passes nearby, with heavy rain, strong winds and flash flood alerts issued for Tongatapu, ‘Eua and Ha’apai.
A Fiji Airways flight from Sydney to Nadi was forced to divert to Tonga’s capital, Nuku’alofa, after severe weather from Cyclone Vaianu made multiple landing attempts unsafe, underscoring how widespread the storm’s impact has been across Pacific air routes.
“It’s been a rough week for everyone,” Kim Koch of Save the Children told PMN from the Fijian capital Suva.
While the country is beginning to recover after Cyclone Vaianu moved away, more than 500 families remain in evacuation centres and schools are still closed.
Koch says children are among the most affected. “These disasters disproportionately impact kids and young people.”
She warned that access to food and clean water is becoming a growing concern, with home gardens destroyed and water systems damaged in some communities.
Across the region, response efforts are underway but the scale of the disruption and the difficulty reaching remote areas is slowing recovery.
At the same time, the focus is already shifting further south. Cyclone Vaianu is now tracking towards Aotearoa.
Forecasters say it could arrive this weekend with strong winds, heavy rain, and dangerous coastal conditions.
While the system has weakened to around Category 2 strength, meteorologists say its path remains uncertain, with modelling still being closely monitored.
Northland could be the first to feel its effects late on Saturday, with Sunday shaping as the most severe day.
Forecasters warn the storm could still bring “damaging, potentially life-threatening winds” even as it transitions away from a tropical system.
The back-to-back systems highlight how quickly disasters can move across the Pacific, leaving some communities still in crisis while others brace for what comes next.
For many, the immediate danger may pass but recovery is only just beginning and for others, the storm is still on its way…. PACNEWS
SAMOA – POLITICS/COURTS: TALAMUA ONLINE PACNEWS 3: Thu 09 Apr 2026
Charges against former Samoa PM Tuilaepa yet to be finalised
APIA, 09 APRIL 2026 (TALAMUA ONLINE) — The defamation charges against former Samoa Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi are yet to be finalised and the Court has granted another two weeks adjournment for police to finalise the charges.
The District Court has received two separate complaints against the former Prime Minister.
One complaint was filed by Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt and the other by the Minister of Education Aiono Dr Alec Ekeroma.
The matter was called before Judge Papalii Rosela Papalii this week and she informed prosecution that she also had before her another complaint by Molio’o Andrew Mowat of misleading information against Tuilaepa.
However, prosecution informed the Court that they only had the complaint files by Laaulialemalietoa and Aiono and were not aware of a complaint by Molioo.
He then asked for a two weeks’ adjournment for police to finalise the charges.
The adjournment was granted, and the matter will be recalled on the first week of May without the defendant entering a plea.
The court also ordered the defendant to refrain from posting further comments on social media against the complainants…. PACNEWS
UN – IRAN CRISIS: PACNEWS PACNEWS 3: Thu 09 Apr 2026
Global food and energy shock looms as IMF, World Bank, WFP warn of middle easr war impact
NEW YROK, 09 APRIL 2026 (PACNEWS) — A deepening crisis in the Middle East is set to drive up food and energy prices worldwide, with global financial and humanitarian leaders warning the poorest countries will take the hardest hit.
In a joint statement, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank Group and World Food Programme (WFP) said the conflict is already disrupting global markets and threatening food security.
“The Middle East war is upending lives and livelihoods in the region and beyond. It has already triggered one of the largest disruptions to global energy markets in modern history.
Sharp increases in oil, gas, and fertiliser prices, together with transport bottlenecks, will inevitably lead to rising food prices and food insecurity.”
The three institutions warned that the impact will not be evenly felt, with low-income and import-dependent countries facing the greatest risk.
“The burden will fall most heavily on the world’s most vulnerable populations, particularly in low-income, import-dependent economies.
Spikes in fuel prices and potential sharp increases in food prices are especially concerning where fiscal space is constrained and debt burdens are already high, reducing governments’ ability to protect vulnerable households.”
The warning comes as global supply chains face renewed strain, with rising fuel and fertiliser costs expected to push up the price of basic goods, including food staples.
The institutions said they are stepping up coordination as the crisis unfolds.
“Our institutions will continue to monitor developments closely and coordinate the use of all available tools to support those impacted by the crisis.”
They also signaled further support measures could be deployed to help countries manage the shock and recover.
“In accordance with our respective mandates, and building on existing response mechanisms, we will provide support to safeguard lives and livelihoods, and to lay the foundations for a resilient recovery that delivers stability, growth and jobs.”
The joint warning highlighted growing concern that the conflict could trigger a wider global economic and food crisis, particularly in regions already struggling with high debt, limited fiscal space, and heavy reliance on imports…. PACNEWS
GUAM – DEFENCE: GUAM PACIFIC DAILY NEWS PACNEWS 3: Thu 09 Apr 2026
Moylan: Defence sales crucial to Guam’s security
WASHINGTON, 09 APRIL 2026 (GUAM PACIFIC DAILY NEWS) — Guam’s delegate to Congress, James Moylan, told panellists at a U.S House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing that streamlining American defence sales is critical to maintaining Guam’s role as a cornerstone of national security.
Moylan said supplying munitions to places like Taiwan and the Philippines is important in protecting the “most western soil” of the U.S.
“Unnecessary red tape weakens the deterrence in places like Taiwan and the Philippines,” Moylan said during the March 17 hearing.
The hearing sought to address bottlenecks in the Foreign Military Sales process, with discussions on speeding up deliveries to allies and overhauling acquisition systems.
Guam sits in what’s called the “Second Island Chain,” a notional line of Pacific islands forming a secondary defence perimetre in the Western Pacific. The “First Island of Chain” includes Taiwan and the Philippines.
“It’s shared with us how important our first island chain needs to have what they need in order to protect the most western soil as well as their own,” Moylan said. “These are our allies.”
Dozens of leaders, including Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, have referred to Guam as the “tip of the spear” for U.S forces in the Pacific.
Undersecretary of Defence for Acquisition and Sustainment Michael Duffey said at the hearing that an US$11 billion Taiwan arms sales package announced in December serves as a demonstration of U.S commitment. Duffey said the National Defence Strategy emphasises deterrence through strength.
“The work that I’m leading…to ensure that we have a defence industrial base that’s robust enough to support the needs of the U.S Joint Force…will be key to ensuring that we can fulfill those orders to our allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific,” Duffey said.
Moylan questioned panelists whether Guam might face a redeployment of its own defences.
That concern follows the redeployment of parts from the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence, THAAD, from South Korea to the Middle East to address needs related to the war in Iran.
Panelists told Moylan that they have not heard of any discussions to redeploy the system in Guam to the Middle East.
Moylan noted that under the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defence Authorication Act, Congress would be required to notify Guam at least 10 days in advance if any defence assets were to be transferred away from the island to support other conflicts.
The hearing focused on reducing bureaucracy and increasing transparency in how he U.S sells and transfers weapons to foreign nations.
Supporters argue that reform would put the U.S ahead of geopolitical competition against adversaries like China and Russia for defence equipment and serve as an economic revitalisation for the nation’s defence industry.
Critics say accelerating weapons sales could bypass congressional oversight, lack transparency, and could exacerbate regional tensions in certain high-conflict areas.
The Pacific Daily News reported earlier this week that Guam and Micronesia are in the crosshairs as the threat of global nuclear war continues to rise.
That’s according to nuclear strategy analyst Ankit Panda, a senior fellow with the Nuclear Policy Programme at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
U.S intelligence assessments have China growing its stockpile of nuclear warheads from the low-200s in 2019 to as high as 1,500 by the mid-2030s, according to the analyst.
In Washington, military planners are increasingly concerned about nuclear missile attacks in the case of a U.S-China conflict over Taiwan.
Meanwhile, security concerns continue to hit closer to home.
On Wednesday, South Korean media reported that North Korea had fired several short-range ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan.
Since 2025, the Guam Homeland Security and the Office of Civil Defence (OCD) reported six such launches by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, DPRK, to date.
GHS/OCD said all launches posed no immediate threat to Guam.
Guam Homeland Security Advisor Esther Aguigui told the PDN that while it’s primarily the Department of Defence’s responsibility to coordinate security partnerships with foreign nations, from an emergency management standpoint, “these partnerships strengthen preparedness and resilience across the region.”
GHS/OCD said it prioritises an all-hazards approach to community safety.
“While we monitor regional activity, there is currently no direct physical threat to the island; instead, our primary focus remains on strengthening our warning systems and infrastructure against natural disasters, cyber threats, and misinformation,” Aguigui added…. PACNEWS
FIJI – CONSTITUTION: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 3: Thu 09 Apr 2026
NGO coalition ‘deeply disappointed’ over GCC constitutional proposals
SUVA, 09 APRIL 2026 (FIJI SUN) — The NGO Coalition on Human Rights (NGOCHR) says it is “deeply disappointed” by proposals attributed to the Great Council of Chiefs (GCC), warning they could undermine equality and democratic principles.
In a statement, the coalition raised serious concerns about submissions reportedly made to the Fiji Constitution Review Commission.
The group said the proposals including reserving the term “Fijian” exclusively for iTaukei, granting the GCC authority to appoint the President and Vice-President, and removing protections related to gender and sexual orientation risk rolling back key constitutional safeguards.
While the rights of iTaukei people – including land, culture, and traditional governance – must be fully respected and protected, these rights must coexist with a shared civic identity that affirms equality for all, the NGO coalition said.
The coalition also raised alarm over a proposal to repeal Fiji’s status as a secular State, describing it as a critical safeguard in a diverse, multi-faith society.
It warned that removing this protection could lead to exclusion, discrimination and the politicisation of religion, and would contradict Fiji’s international obligations.
“The proposal to vest the authority to appoint the President and Vice-President in the Great Council of Chiefs raises serious constitutional concerns. Public offices of such significance must be filled through processes that are transparent, accountable, and reflective of democratic principles. Any reform must strengthen institutional legitimacy, not concentrate authority in ways that risk weakening checks and balances,” the NGO coalition added.”
The NGOCHR said recognising all citizens as “Fijians” remained central to national unity, while stressing that the rights of iTaukei people must continue to be respected.
It also expressed concern over proposals to amend protections for children, warning that allowing punishment at the discretion of parents and teachers would weaken safeguards.
“The Coalition expresses strong opposition to any amendment to Section 41 on the Rights of the Child that would permit punishment at the discretion of parents and teachers. Children have an inherent right to dignity and protection from all forms of violence. Fiji’s obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child are clear: children must be protected in all settings. Any weakening of these protections would be a serious step backward and could expose children to harm under the guise of discipline.”
The coalition said constitutional reform must be inclusive, transparent and grounded in equality, dignity and justice.
“We must be clear that it is not for institutions to dictate what the Constitution must contain,” NGOCHR chair Shamima Ali said.
“The Constitution belongs to the people of Fiji, and its future must be shaped by them through a genuinely participatory process.”
The coalition has called on the public to take part in the constitutional review process and said it would make a formal submission in the coming days…. PACNEWS
IRAN – DIPLOMACY: UN NEWS CENTRE PACNEWS 3: Thu 09 Apr 2026
Iran ceasefire raises hopes for reopening key Strait of Hormuz
NEW YORK/TEHRAN, 09 APRIL 2026 (UN NEWS CENTRE) — The announcement of a two-week ceasefire between the U.S and Iran, will it is hoped, lead to the opening of the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway through which one fifth of the world’s oil and gas passes.
The strait has become a global flashpoint which has driven up the price of oil, threatened the safety of ships and seafarers while rocking regional stability.
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow maritime corridor between Iran and Oman which links the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman through which countries including Saudi Arabia, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates export oil and gas.
Even limited disruption can:
*Spike energy prices
* Delay global supply chains
*Increase geopolitical tensions
Shipping through the strait – just 39 kilometres (21 nautical miles) at its narrowest point – has been severely disrupted since the beginning of the conflict at the end of February.
According to the UN’s specialised maritime agency, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), prior to the conflict, around 150 vessels passed through the waterway every day.
With the threat of attack once the conflict broke out, that figure dwindled to just four or five ships a day, and only ones which the Iranian authorities considered as “non-hostile.”
It is still not clear if or when the strait will reopen to all shipping, despite the announcement of the ceasefire.
The IMO has estimated that there are some 2,000 ships including oil and gas tankers, bulk carriers, cargo ships – as well as six tourist cruise liners – stranded in the Persian Gulf, unable to pass through the strait.
Around 20,000 seafarers are thought to be currently aboard those vessels.
There have been 21 confirmed attacks on international shipping in the region with 10 seafarer fatalities and several seafarers injured, according to IMO.
“The ceasefire is welcome news for the 20,000 seafarers who are awaiting evacuation on the ships which remain in the Persian Gulf,” said Damien Chevallier, the Director, of IMO’s Maritime Safety Division adding that “they have spent more than one month in a tense and volatile situation, unable to leave their ships.”
IMO is already working with the relevant parties to implement an “appropriate mechanism to ensure the safe transit of ships through the Strait of Hormuz,” said Chevallier.
“The priority now is to ensure the safety of navigation to guarantee an evacuation. We do not wish to see a return to escalation. So, for now, we need to focus on evacuation,” he added.
The legal framework for all maritime activities is set out in a multilateral treaty known as the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Key principles:
* Ships have the right of “transit passage” through international straits
*Coastal States must not block or disrupt navigation
In plain terms, the strait must remain open to international shipping.
There is one major caveat, however. Iran is not a Party to UNCLOS, but the transit passage system is generally considered part of international customary law.
There is the international will to reopen the strait but “ship operators will need to carefully assess the risk situation,” said Chevallier adding that the “resumption of routine trade will depend on the maritime security situation.”
Meanwhile, the UN and partners are engaging in diplomatic discussions to find a safe, secure and efficient way for ships to pass through the strait.
Shipping is expected to resume through long-established routes, the key mechanism for which is the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS).
Proposed by Iran and Oman and adopted by the IMO in 1968, it designates shipping lanes for maritime traffic in order to:
* Reduce collisions
*Improve safety
*Maintain predictable transit even during times of international tension
The few vessels that have transited through to the Gulf of Oman over the past month have taken a northern route close to Iran, reportedly so the authorities there can monitor their movements more closely.
The successful reopening of the Strait of Hormuz ultimately depends on the ceasefire holding, diplomacy working, maritime coordination and full respect for internationally agreed navigation rules…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
PAC – DAM PROJECT: PACNEWS PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 09 Apr 2026
Samoa pushes $100 million dam project, seel global bidders ahead of 2026 roadshow
APIA, 09 APRIL 2026 (PACNEWS) — Samoa is moving ahead with a major infrastructure project aimed at flood control, water security and renewable energy, with officials opening early engagement with global contractors for the proposed Alaoa Multipurpose Dam Project.
Backed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Ireland Trust Fund, the project is valued at about US$100.1 million and will be procured through an open competitive bidding process following prequalification.
The Government says the project will deliver three key outcomes: reduce flooding along the Vaisigano River, strengthen water supply resilience in Apia, and boost renewable energy generation.
At the centre of the plan is a large roller compacted concrete dam, standing 60 metres high with a crest length of about 320 metres, to be built upstream of the Vaisigano River. The dam will regulate roughly half of the river’s catchment and provide around 4 million cubic metres of storage, mainly for flood control and water supply.
The project also includes a small 0.6-megawatt hydropower plant, along with transmission infrastructure and a substation, adding to Samoa’s push to increase renewable energy capacity.
Authorities confirmed that the main construction contract—estimated at around US$72 million—will follow a single-stage, two-envelope bidding process under international standards, with contractors required to meet strict prequalification criteria.
Early engagement with the market will take place at a roadshow scheduled for 25 May 2026 in Nadi, Fiji, during the Pacific Infrastructure Business Opportunities Seminar.
The session will bring together international and regional contractors to review technical details, procurement plans and contract conditions.
Officials say the engagement is designed to test market interest and improve competition before the formal tender process begins.
The Government said the objective is to “inform the market of the main aspects of the main contraction contract under Alaoa Multipurpose Dam Project (AMDP) and seek its inputs to ensure that the project achieves value for money in procurement through enhancing competition among best qualified bidders.”
The workshop will outline project design, procurement strategy and timelines, while also allowing potential bidders to raise concerns and provide feedback on technical and contractual elements.
The dam is classified as a high hazard structure and is being designed to withstand extreme flood events and seismic activity, highlighting the scale and complexity of the project.
Procurement activities will follow ADB policies and directives, with the prequalification process expected to be launched in the third quarter of 2026.
Once completed, the project is expected to play a key role in protecting Apia from flooding, improving water reliability and reducing reliance on imported fuels through increased renewable energy generation…. PACNEWS
PAC – IRAN CRISIS/FOSSIL FUEL: 350.ORG PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 09 April 2026
‘Fossilflation’ likely despite ceasefire, governments must act now
SUVA, 09 APRIL 2026 (350.ORG) — 350.org Pacific has welcomed the announcement of a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran as a first step, but raises concerns over its fragility and limited scope, which leaves the risk of persistently high fossil fuel prices.
‘Fossilflation’ – or inflation caused by volatile and rising prices of oil and gas – is still likely to continue, due to the fragility of the ceasefire arrangement and extensively damaged fossil fuel infrastructure.
350.org said that governments must use this opportunity to double down on efforts to protect people from oil and price shocks and accelerate the shift away from fossil fuels.
350.org has calculated that price spikes due to the Iran war have cost consumers and businesses an additional US$104.2–US$111.6 billion in the first month of the war alone.
Pacific Island countries, heavily reliant on diesel imports, felt the shocks of fossil fuel instability in multiple sectors, with Northern Mariana Islands considering “loadshedding”, the Marshall Islands declaring a 90-day emergency, and several other countries experiencing fuel price spikes.
Fenton Lutunatabua, 350.org Pacific and Caribbean Team Lead says, “While the two-week ceasefire is welcome, we need a permanent end to violence and war. The repercussions of this war in particular have shown us just how vulnerable fossil fuel dependence makes us, as Pacific Island countries.
Even if the Strait of Hormuz reopens and the ceasefire holds, oil and gas prices will stay above pre-war levels and consumers will pay. The fuel price increase in Fiji alone is going to hit our market vendors just as hard as the recent Cyclone Vaianu damage, doubling the obstacles they need to overcome to earn a living. Unless we end our reliance on fossil fuels, we will continue to be at the mercy of political instability thousands of miles away. This is our opportunity to move beyond fossil fuels, to become energy independent as a region, with a switch to renewable energy…. PACNEWS
FIJI – CONSUMER PROTECTION: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 09 Apr 2026
FCCC accused of failing to protect Fiji consumers amid rising costs
SUVA, 09 APRIL 2026 (FIJI TIMES) — A former top executive at the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC) has questioned whether Fiji’s competition regulator is fulfilling its mandate, warning that recent decisions suggest a weakening of consumer protection.
Pranil Singh said the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC) should not act as a “rubber stamp” for cost increases, but instead actively negotiate to reduce the burden on the public.
He was the FCCC’s General Manager Regulations and also acted as CEO.
“In periods of global cost pressures, FCCC’s role is not simply to pass through cost increases. It is to actively assess, challenge, and negotiate,” he said.
Singh pointed to past practices under former CEO Joel Abraham, where price increases were challenged and, in some cases, reduced through negotiation with industry and Government.
He also raised concerns about governance, questioning how the FCCC Board allowed such decisions without robust scrutiny.
“If these actions reflect a lack of judgment… then this must be addressed decisively,” he said, calling for possible leadership review.
He stressed that fuel pricing decisions must meet the highest standards of transparency and accountability, warning that public confidence is at risk.
Singh also said fuel pricing methodology may also have been breached.
A former senior regulator has raised alarm over what he describes as a “clear departure” from established fuel pricing methodology, warning it may have unnecessarily increased costs for Fijians.
In an opinion piece, Pranil Singh said the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC) deviated from its structured pricing model by incorporating March fuel imports into April pricing.
“FCCC has confirmed… that March fuel imports were incorporated into the April pricing determination, representing a clear departure from the approved methodology,” Singh stated.
He explained that under the standard framework, April prices should reflect February costs, allowing Government time to assess mitigation measures.
Singh argued that failing to follow this model likely placed upward pressure on fuel prices, impacting the cost of living across transport, food and essential goods.
He called on FCCC to provide a full explanation for the shift and justify why established policy was not followed…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
PRISMSS Restoring Island Resilience Award: NGOs awarded for protecting biodiversity and strengthening climate resilience
SUVA, 09 APRIL 2026 (SPREP) — The inaugural Pacific Regional Invasive Species Management Support Service (PRISMSS) Restoring Island Resilience Awards, sponsored by Air New Zealand, recognised six Pacific NGOs leading the fight against invasive species to protect biodiversity and strengthen climate resilience of island ecosystems and communities.
The special awards ceremony was held in Fiji in late March as part of the PRISMSS symposium Empowering Pacific Narratives: Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) and Traditional Knowledge (TK) in Invasive Species Communications Capacity Building.
As part of Air New Zealand’s sponsorship, all six nominated NGOs received NZ$5,000(US$11,604) grants to support immediate on-the-ground conservation actions, to protect biodiversity, increase ecosystem resilience, and improve livelihoods.
The Vava’u Environmental Protection Association (VEPA) based in Va’vau, Tonga, was awarded the overall winner and received an additional NZ$15,000 (US$11,604) grant to further scale up their invasive species management work.
The awards nominees included frontline organisations from across the Pacific from NatureFiji-MareqetiViti, Niue Ocean Wide Trust, Samoa Conservation Society / Sosaiete Faasao o Samoa, Société d’Ornithologie de Polynésie (SOP Manu-French Polynesia), Te Ipukarea Society (Cook Islands) and the Vava’u Environmental Protection Association (Tonga).
Kanbar Hossein-Bor, British High Commissioner to Fiji, commented that, “across the Pacific, invasive species have been formally identified as a threat to 1,531 native species, making them the leading driver of biodiversity loss on islands in the region.”
“We also know that this work is not simply about biodiversity for its own sake as the science is clear that invasive species are a climate issue. There are knock-on effects as we can control vector-borne diseases, protect food security, ensure freshwater access.”
“Controlling invasives can help coral reefs recover faster, which results in more fish in the sea, which in turn improves people’s livelihoods.”
The British High Commissioner added that people of the Pacific and the community-embedded organisations know this as they are on the frontlines of this battle and it is their traditional knowledge and deep awareness of the landscape and culture that ensures the work, they do is trusted and locally driven.
“We’re not just a donor supporting short-term aid, we are investing in systems and institutions. PRISMSS embodies that approach. And we are glad to have played a part in supporting it and look forward to seeing this work continue.”
“On a warming planet, the profound impacts of invasive species are magnified. So, we must work fast to tackle these underlying threats to safeguard this region’s ecological and economic future. The work being recognised is central to this mission.”
Rachel Bennett, Development Counsellor form the New Zealand High Commission in Fiji shared that, “the six organisations nominated are tackling some of the biggest challenges facing the Pacific, climate change, the impacts of invasive species and ecosystem degradation.”
“For many communities, ecosystems form the frontline defences against the impacts of climate change and disasters. These organisations’ dedication, persistence, and deep community roots are essential to safeguarding the environments and ecosystems that sustain us all.”
“These awards recognise far more than individual projects. They honour collaboration, cultural leadership, and the deep local knowledge which enables Pacific peoples to care for their lands, their waters, and their futures. For New Zealand, it is an honour to stand alongside you as partners in this work.”
Speaking after the win, Talita Morley from VEPA said “the impact is already being felt on the ground, particularly in food production and we’re planning to expand to reach out to other island groups in Tonga, not only our island groups, but the main islands.”
“We’ve already expanded to Ha’apai, because our agriculture has been harmed by these invasive plants, so we need to get rid of it,” she said.
Ms Morley added that the award funding will allow the organisation to scale up its response, bringing support and awareness to more vulnerable communities and used the platform to send a strong message of inclusion and empowerment, particularly for women and young people.
“As a woman, if I can do it, they can do it. This work is not only for men, we as teenagers and youths can stand up for our communities and culture and fight to protect our environment and our endemic species,” she said.
Guests at the PRISMSS RIR Awards event learnt how locally driven action can drive global impact with VEPA’s Ambassador programme, built on the simple but powerful idea of employing community members to manage invasive rats on Mt Talau, has already transformed the ecological balance of Vava’u.
By reducing rat populations, Ambassadors have given the endangered Tongan Whistler a chance to thrive again, while seabird populations are rebounding, restoring nutrient flows that nourish forests and coral reefs. These healthier ecosystems, in turn, act as natural shields against cyclones and strengthen food security, showing how biodiversity protection is inseparable from community resilience.
VEPA’s approach is deeply collaborative. Working hand in hand with Tonga’s Environment Department, Ambassadors maintain the pig-proof fence that safeguards rare endemic plants, while PRISMSS has provided training that blends traditional knowledge with scientific expertise. This partnership produced a species manual for Mt Talau, now used across Tonga, and has empowered communities to take ownership of conservation.
The programme is expanding beyond Vava’u to Ha’apai, with Ambassadors conducting surveys, biosecurity activities, and awareness campaigns, ensuring that invasive species management becomes a cornerstone of climate resilience across the islands.
The initiative is not only ecological but also social. Thirteen Ambassadors are employed, gaining income, skills, and pride as environmental stewards. Their work has sparked new ecotourism opportunities, with visitors eager to join guided bird tours and witness the recovery of species once thought to be disappearing.
The prize funding will go directly into tools like acoustic recorders to monitor bird populations and materials to maintain the Mt Talau fence, ensuring that conservation remains practical and effective.
SPREP Invasive Species Adviser, David Moverley reflected that, “we are deeply grateful to Air New Zealand for their commitment to conservation and for demonstrating how corporate social responsibility can be a powerful force for positive change.”
“Building effective partnerships to protect biodiversity and restore our island ecosystems is at the very core of SPREP’s work as the key environmental organisation for the Pacific region.”
“Their sponsorship of the PRISMSS Restoring Island Resilience Awards demonstrates partnerships can translate into tangible, on-the-ground impact, supporting NGOs who are working tirelessly in some of Air New Zealand’s key destinations to protect biodiversity and strengthen community resilience.”
“These awards remind us that conservation is not an abstract goal. It is about seabirds returning to predator-free islands, reefs becoming more productive, and communities reclaiming their heritage.”
The SPREP Invasive Species Adviser reflected that, “it is about the voices of our communities’, women, youth, elders and people with disabilities being heard, respected, and amplified. It is about ensuring that the benefits of conservation are shared equitably, and that every community has the opportunity to thrive.”
“VEPA’s recognition at the PRISMSS RIR Awards is more than a celebration of one project, it is a testament to the power of community-driven conservation. And by weaving together livelihoods, traditional knowledge, scientific training and ecological restoration, VEPA is showing that resilience is not just about surviving challenges but about building a future where biodiversity and people thrive together.”
The PRISMSS Restoring Island Resilience awards event not only recognised outstanding conservation achievements but also showcased how locally driven action, rooted in traditional knowledge and community leadership, can deliver global impact by weaving together biodiversity protection, climate resilience, and sustainable livelihoods with an exhibition display.
Since 2019, PRISMSS supported programmes have helped expand predator control and invasive species management across dozens of island landscapes. More than 100 Pacific islands have now been declared predator free, delivering measurable benefits for biodiversity and ecosystem resilience, including healthier and more productive coral reefs.
The PRISMSS partnership enables Pacific Island governments and NGO partners to access global expertise and support for invasive species management from organisations such as the Bioeconomy Science Institute (NZ), BirdLife International, Earth Sciences New Zealand, New Zealand Department of Conservation, Island Conservation, the Pacific Community and SPREP…. PACNEWS
