In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — Pacific Ship Rider agreements strengthen, not surrender, sovereignty: Dr Aqorau
2. FIJI — No concerns raised over pre-COP31 attendance, says Fiji’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change
3. FIJI — Rabuka presses UN rep over outstanding peacekeeping payments
4. GUAM — Drone threats too big for Guam to handle on its own, industry leader warns
5. FIJI — Fiji among countries facing new permanent U.S visa bond requirement
6. PALAU — No drought yet in Palau, but forecasters warn of drier months ahead as El Niño strengthens
7. NZ — Aotearoa measles alert as unexplained case raises fears of wider community spread
8. PACNEWS BIZ — IMF warns Samoa’s recovery has lost momentum as growth slows amid global pressures
9. PACNEWS BIZ — U.S Embassy monitors Naoero flight suspension, advises Americans to contact Airline
10. PACNEWS BIZ — Government focused on creating an economy for fair business: PNG Minister
11. PACNEWS BIZ — Protect workers’ savings, PNG govt told
12. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — Why the Pacific invented the Ship Rider Agreement- A story of innovation, Sovereignty and international law
13. PACNEWS DIGEST — Impact of rooftop solar PV on rainwater harvesting in Tuvalu assessed for climate resilience and water security
PAC – DIPLOMACY: PACNEWS PACNEWS 2: Mon 03 Aug 2026
Pacific Ship Rider agreements strengthen, not surrender, sovereignty: Dr Aqorau
HONIARA, 03 AUGUST 2026 (PACNEWS) — Ship Rider Agreements are not a surrender of Pacific sovereignty but one of the region’s strongest expressions of it, according to Solomon Islands National University (SINU) Vice Chancellor and fisheries legal expert Dr Transform Aqorau, who says the agreements were developed by Pacific Island countries to strengthen enforcement of their fisheries laws while keeping full legal authority with the coastal State.
Dr Aqorau said misconceptions persist that Ship Rider Agreements allow foreign countries to police Pacific waters but stressed this is not how the arrangements operate.
“The answer is simple: they do not. In fact, Ship Rider Agreements are among the strongest expressions of Pacific Island sovereignty because they are built on the principle that all enforcement authority remains with the coastal State,” he said in a social media post.
He explained that the agreements were born out of the challenges Pacific Island countries faced after the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) established 200-nautical-mile Exclusive Economic Zones, giving them sovereign rights over vast ocean areas but leaving many without the resources to patrol them effectively.
According to Dr Aqorau, this challenge prompted the Pacific to develop innovative regional fisheries enforcement measures through the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), including the Regional Register, satellite-based Vessel Monitoring Systems, and regional measures to prevent illegally caught fish from entering Pacific ports.
He said those initiatives significantly improved compliance but could not overcome the reality of policing one-third of the Earth’s surface with limited patrol assets.
Recognising these limitations, Dr Aqorau said work began in 1991 on what became the Niue Treaty on Cooperation in Fisheries Surveillance and Law Enforcement in the South Pacific region.
“Our objective was simple but ambitious.
“If Pacific Island countries could cooperate in managing fisheries, why could they not also cooperate in enforcing their fisheries laws?” he said.
He said the Treaty established the world’s first regional framework dedicated to cooperative fisheries surveillance while preserving national sovereignty.
Dr Aqorau said Ship Rider Agreements build on that foundation by allowing a coastal State to place one of its authorised fisheries officers aboard a foreign vessel.
“That officer retains the legal authority of his or her own government.
“The foreign vessel merely provides transport, communications, accommodation and operational support.
“The authority never changes hands.
“The sovereignty never leaves the coastal State.
“The officer is enforcing the law of his or her own country.
“The ship is simply providing the ride,” said Dr Aqorau.
He rejected claims that the presence of foreign naval or coast guard vessels in Pacific waters undermines sovereignty.
“The presence of a foreign vessel does not mean foreign jurisdiction.
“Jurisdiction remains with the coastal State,” Dr Aqorau emphasised.
Dr Aqorau argued that Ship Rider Agreements demonstrate, rather than diminish, sovereignty because the coastal State decides how it exercises its jurisdiction and with whom it cooperates.
“A sovereign State has the right to decide how it will exercise its jurisdiction and with whom it will cooperate,” he said.
Dr Aqorau said cooperation remains essential because no Pacific Island country can effectively monitor its vast ocean territory alone.
“The Pacific Ocean will always be too vast for any one nation to patrol alone.
“But together, Pacific Island countries—and trusted partners acting under Pacific authority—can significantly increase the physical presence at sea, improve compliance, deter illegal fishing and better protect the resources upon which our economies, food security and future generations depend”,” he explained.
Dr Aqorau said the legal basis for Ship Rider Agreements is firmly grounded in international law, including UNCLOS, the Niue Treaty and its Subsidiary Agreement, the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, and decades of established State practice.
“Far from weakening Pacific sovereignty, Ship Rider Agreements strengthen the ability of Pacific Island countries to exercise the sovereign rights that international law has already recognised.
“They are not only legally tenable; they are legally sound, practically necessary, and internationally defensible,” he stressed…. PACNEWS
FIJI – CLIMATE CHANGE: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 2: Mon 03 Aug 2026
No concerns raised over pre-COP31 attendance, says Fiji’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change
SUVA, 03 AUGUST 2026 (FIJI SUN) — Fiji’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change says it has not been informed of any concerns over reports that Australia is struggling to secure world leaders’ attendance for the pre-COP31 climate meeting in Nadi this October.
Permanent Secretary Sivendra Michael made the comments following Australian media reports, including by the ABC and The Australian, claiming Canberra had yet to confirm the attendance of non-Pacific heads of state or government for the meeting, which Australia is hosting in Fiji.
“No such concerns have been registered with us,” Dr Michael said.
He said the Ministry had been working closely with Australia and other stakeholders in the lead-up to the event.
“We have been working so hard to host the pre-COP,” he said, adding that weekly planning meetings were being held to prepare for the gathering.
Fiji Sun understands the Ministry has been meeting regularly with Australian officials and other stakeholders, and from its perspective, preparations remain on track.
Questions sent to the Australian High Commission regarding the reported attendance concerns had not been answered when this edition went to press. This newspaper understands that queries referred to Canberra were also awaiting a response.
Questions sent to Minister for Environment and Climate Change Lynda Tabuya also remained unanswered.
The pre-COP31 meeting is scheduled to be held in Nadi in October…. PACNEWS
FIJI – DIPLOMACY: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 2: Mon 03 Aug 2026
Rabuka presses UN rep over outstanding peacekeeping payments
SUVA, 03 AUGUST 2026 (FIJI SUN) — Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has urged the United Nations to settle outstanding peacekeeping reimbursements owed to Fiji, saying the unpaid funds could have been invested in critical infrastructure such as health, transport and education.
Rabuka made the call after welcoming United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix during a traditional ceremony at Black Rock Camp in Votualevu, Nadi, last Saturday.
“It is very timely. It gives us an opportunity to see what we have at home in our capacity to keep abreast with developments and training,” Rabuka said.
“It is also an opportunity for me as Prime Minister to tell him about the impact and the burden of peacekeeping, particularly the financing of our contributions.
“The UN still owes us a few hundred million dollars, which could have gone into infrastructure development, particularly in health, transport and education.”
Lacroix said United Nations peacekeeping operations were confronting increasingly complex global challenges, including transnational crime, climate change, emerging technologies, and the spread of misinformation and disinformation.
“We now have more complex mandates and more complex situations,” he said.
“You have the impact of transnational criminal activities, climate change and new technologies that create new threats to populations and peacekeepers. Drones, misinformation and disinformation are being weaponised through technology.
“We have to adapt to all of this, and we can only do it by working collectively with our troop- and police-contributing countries.”
Lacroix also commended Fiji’s commitment to increasing the participation of women in peacekeeping operations.
“I am pleased to see Fiji’s strong commitment to increasing the role and empowerment of women in peacekeeping,” he said.
“UN peacekeeping is more effective when there are more women involved. We have seen this across all our operations.
“We want to see more women in leadership positions and across all functions in peacekeeping.
“We have made significant progress, with more women serving in uniformed units and command positions, but we want to do even more.
“For that, we need the continued support of Fiji, one of our most trusted troop- and police-contributing countries,” he said…. PACNEWS
GUAM – DRONE THREAT: PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES PACNEWS 2: Mon 03 Aug 2026
Drone threats too big for Guam to handle on its own, industry leader warns
HAGATNA, 03 AUGUST 2026 (PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES) — Amid the unfolding global drone warfare, Guam becomes more vulnerable to threats, requiring a comprehensive defence strategy beyond operational restrictions, an industry leader said last Friday.
“The threat is evolving rapidly and so must our approach,” Charlie Hermosa warned, testifying on Bill 38-338, which would mark restricted zones at the Port Authority of Guam and empower the port police to respond to illegal drone operations.
“Guam is the tip of the spear here in the Indo-Pacific. Because of our strategic importance, we must think beyond simply prohibiting unauthorised drone operations,” said Hermosa, founder of Bella Wings Aviation, which provides drone services on Guam.
The bill, authored by Senator Telo Taitague, would mandate the port authority to identify protected areas through public maps and signage “to address the growing security risks posed by the malicious use of drones.”
While endorsing the bill’s passage, Hermosa cautioned that it does not guarantee full protection.
“It will not, by itself, stop a determined bad actor,” he said. “The bad actors have the capability to fly hundreds of miles and have the capability to be able to load these drones with payloads that could cause a lot of damage.”
At any rate, Hermosa described the bill as a “positive first step” that can be an impetus for a broader scheme
He suggested a strategy that includes advanced drone detection capabilities, coordinated response plans, regular training and exercises and partnership with federal agencies tasked with responding to more sophisticated threats.
While the bill does not seek to create a no-fly zone or regulate U.S airspace, Taitague said it targets those who “intentionally use drones to spy on, disrupt or threaten port operations.”
Military leaders acknowledged that the rise of small, unmanned aircraft systems poses one of the fastest-changing challenges in modern warfare, forcing them to rethink how they protect bases and infrastructure.
In January this year, the U.S military conducted drone testing over portions of the Philippine Sea north of Andersen Air Force Base as part of the Department of War’s broader efforts to strengthen counter-drone capabilities across the Indo-Pacific region.
Officials say Guam’s strategic location makes the island an important site for testing and operational readiness as the military adapts to increasingly sophisticated drone threats.
Chief Victor Camacho, assistant port police chief, disclosed an incident involving two “tourists of foreign descent,” who were caught along the seawall flying a drone that entered the port yard facility, which is a restricted area.
“Luckily, we have the Navy’s assistance. They detected the drone and reached out to us. We located the operators and identified them,” Camacho said.
However, local enforcers have limited authority to handle the case because the Port Authority of Guam is a federally regulated maritime facility under the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002.
“The only thing we could have done within our authority was to coordinate the mission to the fusion centre,” Camacho said.
The arrested drone operators have been turned over to federal authorities, he added.
“Those are not discretionary responsibilities. There are federally mandated security obligations that the port must meet every day,” Camacho said. “The port cannot wait until an incident occurs before determining whether clear legal authority exists to respond. We need the authority before an incident happens.”
He said the bill provides the port with clear legal authority to protect designated critical infrastructure from unauthorized drone operations without encroaching on the Federal Aviation Administration’s authority.
Taitague said her bill seeks to protect the port “before something happens, not after.”
“As drone technology continues to evolve, Guam needs laws that deter those who would intentionally threaten our supply chain and public safety while respecting the rights of responsible drone operators,” she added.
Besides aerial threats, Hermosa alerted the port authority to the emerging surface drones. “Those are water-based drones,” he said. “We need to ensure that we protect our ports or waterways from these types of activities as well.”
In June, Governor Lou Leon Guerrero signed Bill 38-191, now Public Law 38-128, prohibiting drone flying over the Department of Corrections perimetre fence.
“Advances in drone technology have made detection and mitigation more challenging for our law enforcement community who have for years faced staff and resource shortages,” said Senator Shawn Gumataotao, the bill’s author.
“Given the lack of progress on a new prison consistent with the 2021 DOC Facility Master Plan, implementing this drone restrictions policy across government prisons and jails ensures that our law enforcement staff might just have one less operational issue to worry about,” he added…. PACNEWS
FIJI – VISA BOND: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS 2: Mon 03 Aug 2026
Fiji among countries facing new permanent U.S visa bond requirement
SUVA, 03 AUGUST 2026 (FIJI TIMES) — Fiji has been included in a new United States visa bond programme that will require Fijian travellers to pay a bond of up to US$20,000 (about FJD$44,000) before being issued a visitor visa.
The new rule, announced by the U.S State Department, makes permanent a visa bond programme aimed at reducing visa overstays.
It comes into effect on 03 August, with Fiji listed among 50 countries whose nationals may be subject to the requirement. The programme is scheduled to apply to Fiji from 21 January 2026.
The policy applies to B1 (business) and B2 (tourism) visas. Under the rule, U.S consular officers may require applicants from designated countries to post a refundable bond of up to US$20,000 as a condition of receiving a visa.
The State Department said the decision follows a pilot programme launched in 2025, which concluded that visa bonds were an effective tool for encouraging compliance with visa conditions and reducing overstays.
During the pilot phase, applicants could be required to pay bonds of US$5,000, US$10,000 or US$15,000. Under the permanent programme, the minimum bond has increased to US$10,000, while the maximum has been raised to US$20,000.
Fiji is one of several Pacific nations included in the programme, alongside Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
The State Department has not indicated that every applicant from the listed countries will automatically be required to pay a bond. Instead, the decision will be made on a case-by-case basis by consular officers during the visa application process.
U.S officials say the policy is designed to reduce visa overstays and strengthen immigration compliance.
However, immigration and civil rights advocates have criticised the measure, arguing it could discourage legitimate travel and create additional financial barriers for visitors from affected countries.
The new rule is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on 03 August, formally bringing the programme into effect…. PACNEWS
PALAU – WEATHER WATCH: ISLAND TIMES PACNEWS 2: Mon 03 Aug 2026
No drought yet in Palau, but forecasters warn of drier months ahead as El Niño strengthens
KOROR, 03 AUGUST 2026 (ISLAND TIMES) — Forecasters say El Niño conditions are strengthening and are expected to persist through early 2027, raising the risk of prolonged dry periods, water shortages and stress on agriculture and fisheries across Palau in the months ahead, according to a drought information bulletin issued by the National Weather Service.
No drought has been reported across Palau’s main islands as of now, the bulletin said. The U.S Drought Monitor for U.S-Affiliated Pacific Islands, which tracks conditions using rainfall data over Koror and the main islands, found no drought concerns as of 26 July.
Still, forecasters noted a drier trend emerging across Palau’s southwestern islands, which is expected to expand northeastward later in the year. Koror and the rest of Palau are expected to remain relatively wet for now, as the ongoing monsoon keeps moisture in place, according to the bulletin.
“Regional drought guidance is not guaranteed,” the bulletin said, urging local community monitoring to track conditions as they evolve.
Rainfall totals over the 30 days leading up to 26 July came in below normal at Koror and most weather stations across Palau, the report said. Exceptions included the National Weather Service office at Airai, as well as automated weather stations in Melekeok and Aimeliik, which recorded above-normal rainfall for June.
Looking ahead, forecasters expect below-normal rainfall across Palau over the next three months, with the most pronounced impact expected in Hatohobei, the country’s most southwestern island.
The monsoon may also enhance westerly winds and conditions over Palau in the short term, according to the bulletin’s one-week outlook.
May through October marks Palau’s wet season, while November through April is the dry season, with February through April typically the driest stretch, the National Weather Service noted.
El Niño’s broader, long-term effects can include heat extremes, increased wildfire risk, coral bleaching and food security concerns, according to the bulletin. NOAA’s Climate Prediction Centre figures, updated 09 July, show El Niño conditions favored to continue through the spring 2027 forecast period.
The National Weather Service encouraged residents and local officials to monitor conditions closely in the coming months, noting that broad regional forecasts may not capture local variability across Palau’s islands…. PACNEWS
NZ – HEALTH: PMN PACNEWS 2: Mon 03 Aug 2026
Aotearoa measles alert as unexplained case raises fears of wider community spread
WELLINGTON, 03 AUGUST 2026 (PMN) — Health New Zealand is urging people to be alert for measles symptoms after confirming a case in Palmerston North with no link to overseas travel and no known source of infection.
The unexplained case has raised concerns that measles may already be spreading in the community, with public health officials investigating where the person became infected.
For Pacific families, the warning comes as measles remains a major concern across the region following recent outbreaks, including in Sāmoa, and renewed calls for people to make sure they are fully vaccinated.
The infected person spent time in both Palmerston North and Wellington between 04 and 18 July, including the busy Matariki weekend, when thousands attended events, concerts and an international sporting fixture.
Health New Zealand Public Health Medicine Specialist Dr Sharon Sime said officials were concerned there could be more cases that have not yet been detected.
“We are concerned that there could be more cases in the community that we are not yet aware of, so we encourage people who were out in Wellington over the weekend to be extra vigilant for symptoms of measles,” she said in a statement.
Officials are tracing possible sources of infection and are asking anyone who has recently had measles symptoms, even if they have since recovered, to contact Healthline or their healthcare provider.
Measles symptoms include fever, cough, a runny nose or red eyes, followed by a rash that starts on the face and spreads across the body.
Health officials say the best protection is two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
Several locations in Palmerston North have been identified as places where people may have been exposed, including Rosie O’Grady’s restaurant, Woolworths Broadway, Pizza Hut, The Laundry Room and an NPD petrol station.
Anyone who was at those locations during the listed times is being asked to check the Health New Zealand locations of interest page and follow public health advice.
The latest case follows an earlier measles outbreak centred on the Wellington region.
In May, Health New Zealand confirmed a fourth case and warned it was likely measles was circulating in the community, prompting free MMR vaccinations for everyone aged 12 months and over across Greater Wellington.
Health officials continue to remind people that measles is highly contagious and can cause serious illness.
Around one in three people infected will need hospital treatment, while complications can include pneumonia, brain inflammation and, in rare cases, death.
For many Pacific families, the warning brings back painful memories of the 2019 measles epidemic in Sāmoa when 83 people died (most of them children under the age of five) after the virus spread rapidly through communities with low vaccination rates.
More than 5700 people were infected before a nationwide vaccination campaign brought the outbreak under control.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says all 21 Pacific island countries and territories had achieved measles and rubella elimination by 2025, showing what high vaccination rates and strong public health programmes can achieve.
But the WHO warns countries must remain vigilant because imported cases can still spark outbreaks where immunity has fallen.
“Immunisation has safeguarded the health of millions of people, including children, across our Region,” Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, the WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific, said in a media release last month.
“But the latest estimates remind us that progress cannot be taken for granted. Every child who misses vaccination leaves a gap in our collective protection,” the Tongan health leader said.
Across the Pacific, health leaders are also working to strengthen vaccination programmes and build public confidence in immunisation.
Leilani Jackson, who leads work on the Polynesian Health Corridors’ Vaccinator Pathway, said nurses play a vital role in helping families understand the importance of immunisation.
“This was also one of the areas that the Vaccinator Pathway also supports,” she said.
“It’s around having safe and informed conversations about the value, about the science behind the vaccines, about the history of vaccines, that it wasn’t created yesterday, that vaccines have been put through scientific measures to ensure safety for the community.
“The pathway informs or prepares the confidence and the competence in nurses to have these frank conversations with our community,” Jackson told PMN.
Sime said staying up to date with vaccinations remains the best protection against the disease.
“Getting in touch will help us stop the potential spread of more measles in the community. It’s important that anyone who has experienced the symptoms of measles recently, even if they have already recovered, get in touch with Healthline on 0800 611 116, or your usual healthcare provider.”
Jackson urged Pacific families not to delay routine vaccinations. “Make sure that your children get vaccinated. If you’re due your vaccine, please get vaccinated.”
WHO says vaccination has prevented an estimated 154 million deaths worldwide since 1974 including around 12 million lives saved through measles vaccination in the Western Pacific region alone.
Health NZ officials say checking vaccination records and seeking medical advice as soon as symptoms appear are the best ways to protect families and prevent another outbreak…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
SAMOA – ECONOMY: PACNEWS PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 03 Aug 2026
IMF warns Samoa’s recovery has lost momentum as growth slows amid global pressures
APIA, 03 AUGUST 2026 (PACNEWS) — Samoa’s strong post-pandemic recovery has slowed sharply, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warning that weaker domestic demand, rising global energy prices and persistent structural challenges are weighing on the economy and clouding the near-term outlook.
The IMF, in its 2026 Article IV Consultation concluding statement, estimated Samoa’s economy grew by just 0.4 percent in FY2025/26, down from 4.2 percent the previous fiscal year, reflecting weak household consumption, subdued private investment, lower agricultural output and the fading impact of the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
The Fund expects growth to recover gradually to 2 percent in FY2026/27, supported by an expansionary fiscal stance, although elevated oil prices are expected to continue weighing on household incomes, tourism demand and project implementation. Inflation is projected to rise to 4.5 percent, while the current account is forecast to return to a deficit as higher fuel import costs take effect.
The IMF said policy priorities should focus on preserving macroeconomic stability while supporting vulnerable households and strengthening resilience.
“Policy priorities should therefore focus on preserving macroeconomic stability through a prudent but supportive fiscal stance, remaining vigilant against inflationary pressures, safeguarding financial sector resilience, and advancing structural reforms to strengthen medium-term growth.”
The Fund said Samoa entered the slowdown from a position of strength, supported by low public debt, ample international reserves and prudent macroeconomic management, but warned that higher energy prices, climate risks, infrastructure gaps, a narrow production base and outward migration continue to constrain medium-term growth.
The IMF recommended that fiscal policy continue providing targeted support to vulnerable households while avoiding broad fuel subsidies, which it described as costly, regressive and difficult to unwind.
It also urged improvements in public investment management, fiscal reporting and debt management to safeguard long-term fiscal sustainability.
On monetary policy, the IMF said the Central Bank of Samoa should maintain its current policy stance while remaining alert to inflationary pressures stemming from higher fuel prices.
It also recommended stronger liquidity management and reaffirmed that Samoa’s exchange rate basket peg remains an appropriate anchor for macroeconomic stability.
The Fund said financial sector risks remain contained but called for closer monitoring of lending by public financial institutions, stronger supervision and reforms to improve access to finance for businesses.
It also stressed the importance of protecting correspondent banking relationships and strengthening anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing measures ahead of Samoa’s 2027 Mutual Evaluation.
Looking beyond the near term, the IMF said accelerating structural reforms would be essential to improve productivity, diversify the economy and address labour shortages through better investment conditions, improved access to finance and stronger human capital development…. PACNEWS
NAOERO- AIRLINE: PACNEWS PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 03 Aug 2026
U.S Embassy monitors Naoero flight suspension, advises Americans to contact Airline
SUVA/YAREN, 03 AUGUST 2026 (PACNEWS) — The U.S Embassy in Suva says it is monitoring the suspension of Nauru Airlines flights in and out of Naoero International Airport and is engaging with relevant stakeholders to assess any impact on American citizens in Naoero.
In a routine alert issued on 31 July 2026, the Embassy’s American Citizen Services, which provides consular services to Americans in Naoero, said it is aware of Nauru Airlines’ decision to suspend flights in and out of Naoero International Airport.
“We are engaging with relevant stakeholders to better understand the situation and any implications for Americans in Naoero.”
The Embassy advised passengers with questions about existing bookings, flight changes or future travel to contact Nauru Airlines directly.
Americans in Naoero requiring consular assistance have been advised to contact the U.S Embassy in Suva on +679 331-4466.
The Embassy also said those needing immediate assistance after normal business hours can call the consular emergency number on +679 772-8049…. PACNEWS
PNG – ECONOMY: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 03 Aug 2026
Government focused on creating an economy for fair business: PNG Minister
PORT MORESBY, 03 AUGUST 2026 (THE NATIONAL) — A Papua New Guinea Cabinet minister says the Government is keen on creating an economy where businesses compete on a level playing field, consumers are protected from unfair market practices and investors continue to have confidence in the country’s economic future.
Rural and Economic Development minister Joseph Lelang reiterated the Government’s commitment when opening this year’s Papua New Guinea Consumer, Competition and Economic Regulation Forum (CCERF).
The two-day forum provides an opportunity to examine regulatory challenges, explore emerging opportunities and develop practical policy solutions that strengthen market integrity, improve regulatory performance and enhance consumer confidence.
Speaking as the minister responsible for the Independent Consumer and Competition Commission (ICCC), Lelang said: “Achieving these national objectives (fair competition, etc) requires more than Government action alone.
“It demands strong partnerships between Government, regulators, the private sector, civil society and development partners.”
He noted that the annual forum has become an important national platform for bringing together government agencies, regulators, businesses, development partners and other stakeholders to discuss emerging issues affecting consumer protection, competition policy and economic regulation.
Lelang noted that PNG’s economy continues to evolve through technological advancement, digital commerce, changing investment patterns and shifting consumer expectations.
While these developments create new opportunities for investment and growth, he said they also require regulatory institutions to remain responsive, innovative and effective in addressing emerging challenges.
ICCC Commissioner Roy Nunts Daggy said: “As markets continue to evolve through technological advancement, digital commerce and changing consumer behaviour, our regulatory approaches must also evolve to remain responsive and effective.
“Regulation should not be seen as a barrier to business, but as an enabler of sustainable economic growth, stronger investment confidence and greater consumer trust, said Daggy…. PACNEWS
PNG – SUPERANNUATION: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 03 Aug 2026
Protect workers’ savings, PNG govt told
PORT MORESBY, 03 AUGUST 2026 (THE NATIONAL) — The Papua New Guinea Government must urgently progress the long-standing reforms required to strengthen retirement security, protect workers’ savings and support the stability of the country’s financial system, according to the Association of Superannuation Funds of PNG (ASFPNG).
Association president Rajeev Sharma said the country’s superannuation industry had developed into one of the largest and most important pools of long-term domestic savings.
“These savings belong to workers and their families and must be managed prudently, transparently and in the best interests of members,” Sharma said. “Significant policy, legislative and taxation issues affecting superannuation members remain unresolved despite extensive consultations, industry submissions and formal reviews conducted over many years.”
He said the statutory employer contribution rate of 8.4 percent had remained unchanged for many years.
“The ASFPNG supports a properly researched and phased review of contribution rates, having regard to wage affordability, employer capacity, inflation, projected retirement needs, life expectancy, medical and housing costs and the long-term adequacy of members’ retirement balances.
“Any adjustment should be introduced gradually and in consultation with employers, workers, Government and the superannuation industry.”
Sharma, also the Nasfund chief executive officer, said the current 25 percent tax imposed on superannuation investment income materially affects the returns ultimately credited to members.
“Superannuation funds must generate returns sufficient to meet operating costs, taxation and inflation before members receive any meaningful real growth in their retirement savings,” he said.
“ASFPNG therefore calls for the tax rate applying to superannuation investment income to be reviewed and progressively reduced to a level that is regionally competitive and consistent with the national objective of improving retirement outcomes.”
He added that frequent or substantial early withdrawals could significantly reduce a member’s final retirement benefit.
“A member loses not only the amount withdrawn but also the compound investment earnings that amount would otherwise have generated over the remaining working life of the member.
“ASFPNG supports a review of unemployment withdrawal provisions, including consideration of limiting unemployment withdrawals to the member’s employee-funded component while preserving the employer-funded component for retirement, subject to appropriate hardship protections.
“Government and industry should also consider complementary arrangements, including unemployment insurance; emergency savings products; savings and loan facilities; and properly defined financial-hardship provisions.
“Retirement savings should not be required to perform the function of every other form of social protection,” said Sharma….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
Why the Pacific invented the Ship Rider Agreement- A story of innovation, Sovereignty and international law
By Dr Transform Aqorau
HONIARA, 03 AUGUST 202 (PACNEWS) — One of the least understood, but most successful, innovations in international fisheries law emerged not from one of the world’s great powers, but from the small island countries of the Pacific.
Many people today hear about “Ship Rider Agreements” and wonder whether they compromise the sovereignty of Pacific Island countries or somehow allow foreign countries to police our waters. The answer is simple: they do not. In fact, Ship Rider Agreements are among the strongest expressions of Pacific Island sovereignty because they are built on the principle that all enforcement authority remains with the coastal State.
To understand why Ship Rider Agreements, exist, we need to go back to the birth of the modern law of the sea.
When the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) created the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), it gave coastal States sovereign rights over the natural resources within 200 nautical miles of their coastlines. For Pacific Island countries, this was both an extraordinary opportunity and an enormous responsibility.
Overnight, many Pacific Island countries became custodians of some of the largest ocean territories on Earth.
But there was one problem.
Although they now possessed jurisdiction over millions of square kilometres of ocean, very few had the ships, aircraft, personnel or financial resources necessary to patrol and enforce those rights effectively.
The Pacific therefore faced a choice.
Either accept that these enormous ocean spaces would become impossible to police or develop entirely new ways of exercising sovereignty.
The Pacific chose innovation.
This spirit of innovation became one of the defining characteristics of the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA).
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Pacific Island countries pioneered fisheries compliance measures that were years, and in some cases decades, ahead of the rest of the world.
One of the earliest initiatives was the FFA Regional Register. If a fishing vessel seriously violated the fisheries laws of one FFA member and fled beyond that country’s jurisdiction, the information could be shared regionally. The vessel could then be removed from the Regional Register, effectively preventing it from obtaining licences to fish anywhere in the FFA region. Instead of relying solely on arrest at sea, Pacific countries used collective market access as an enforcement tool.
Another world-leading innovation was the introduction of satellite-based Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS). The FFA became the first fisheries management region in the world to require licensed fishing vessels to carry satellite transponders that transmitted their positions at regular intervals. This gave fisheries authorities near real-time knowledge of vessel movements across one of the largest ocean regions on Earth.
Pacific Island countries also adopted another highly innovative legal approach inspired by the principles behind the United States Lacey Act. FFA members progressively developed measures to ensure that fish caught illegally in one Pacific country’s waters could not simply be landed legally in another Pacific Island port. In other words, illegal fish would find no safe harbour within the region.
These measures transformed fisheries enforcement.
Yet they were still not enough.
The Pacific Ocean covers almost one-third of the Earth’s surface. Even with patrol boats supplied by Australia and other partners, the reality was stark. A patrol boat could spend days travelling simply to reach one area of its own EEZ. Fuel was expensive. Crews were small. Maintenance costs were high. No Pacific country could realistically maintain a constant physical presence across such vast ocean spaces.
Recognising these limitations, a small group of us began working in 1991 on what became the Niue Treaty on Cooperation in Fisheries Surveillance and Law Enforcement in the South Pacific Region.
Our objective was simple but ambitious.
If Pacific Island countries could cooperate in managing fisheries, why could they not also cooperate in enforcing their fisheries laws?
After months of legal drafting and negotiations, the Niue Treaty emerged as the world’s first regional treaty devoted specifically to cooperative fisheries surveillance and enforcement.
The Treaty created an umbrella framework that allowed Pacific Island countries to help one another protect their fisheries resources without compromising national sovereignty.
In 1995, I was given the responsibility by the Forum Fisheries Agency to prepare the first Subsidiary Agreement to implement many of the Treaty provisions. This agreement enabled patrol boats from one Pacific country to operate in another country’s EEZ under agreed conditions and to carry authorised fisheries officers from neighbouring countries. It established practical arrangements for reciprocal enforcement and operational cooperation.
Those arrangements later evolved into the much more comprehensive Niue Treaty Subsidiary Agreement (NTSA), which today remains one of the most sophisticated regional fisheries enforcement frameworks anywhere in the world.
The philosophy, however, has never changed.
Pacific countries remain fully sovereign.
They simply cooperate more effectively.
As technology advanced, satellite imagery, radar systems, automatic identification systems (AIS), drones and other surveillance technologies dramatically improved maritime monitoring.
But technology can never replace people.
A satellite may identify suspicious activity.
Only an authorised fisheries officer can investigate it, board a vessel where legally authorised, inspect documentation, collect evidence and initiate legal proceedings.
Physical presence at sea remains indispensable.
This is where the Ship Rider concept becomes so important.
The United States, France, Australia and New Zealand possess ships and aircraft capable of remaining at sea for extended periods. These vessels provide valuable surveillance platforms.
However, they do not possess legal authority to enforce the fisheries laws of Pacific Island countries inside another State’s EEZ simply because they are present there.
That authority belongs exclusively to the coastal State.
The solution developed by Pacific Island countries was both elegant and legally sound.
Rather than giving foreign naval vessels enforcement powers, the coastal State places one of its own authorised fisheries officers on board the foreign vessel.
That officer retains the legal authority of his or her own government.
The foreign vessel merely provides transport, communications, accommodation and operational support.
The authority never changes hands.
The sovereignty never leaves the coastal State.
The officer is enforcing the law of his or her own country.
The ship is simply providing the ride.
Hence the name “Ship Rider.”
This arrangement only exists because there is a formal agreement between the two governments setting out exactly what each party may and may not do.
Without that agreement, there is no authority.
With the agreement, the legal basis is clear.
Some critics occasionally argue that Ship Rider Agreements somehow undermine sovereignty because foreign military or coast guard vessels are operating in Pacific waters.
That misunderstands how the arrangements actually work.
The presence of a foreign vessel does not mean foreign jurisdiction.
Jurisdiction remains with the coastal State.
The authorised fisheries officer acts under the laws of his or her own country. Decisions about boarding, inspections, evidence gathering and enforcement are undertaken within the legal framework agreed between the parties.
Indeed, Ship Rider Agreements demonstrate sovereignty rather than diminish it. A sovereign State has the right to decide how it will exercise its jurisdiction and with whom it will cooperate. Choosing to use another country’s vessel as a platform for one’s own enforcement officers is no different in principle from hiring an aircraft or sharing intelligence. The sovereign decision remains that of the coastal State.
Having spent several weeks at sea aboard two purse seine fishing vessels operating on the high seas, I can personally attest to the sheer scale of the Pacific Ocean. Until one has stood on the deck of a fishing vessel and seen nothing but water in every direction for days on end, it is difficult to appreciate the enormity of the challenge facing fisheries enforcement agencies.
The ocean is vast beyond imagination.
No single Pacific Island country can monitor it alone.
That is precisely why cooperation has become one of the Pacific’s greatest strengths.
The Pacific has shown the world that even small developing States can shape international law through creativity, trust and practical cooperation. Many of the fisheries compliance tools now regarded as international best practice were first developed in our region out of necessity.
The Ship Rider concept is another example of Pacific innovation. It allows us to maximise scarce resources while preserving what matters most—our sovereignty over our ocean resources.
As technology continues to evolve, satellites, artificial intelligence, drones and advanced analytics will make surveillance even more effective. Yet they will never eliminate the need for people, partnerships and legal cooperation.
The Pacific Ocean will always be too vast for any one nation to patrol alone.
But together, Pacific Island countries—and trusted partners acting under Pacific authority—can significantly increase the physical presence at sea, improve compliance, deter illegal fishing and better protect the resources upon which our economies, food security and future generations depend.
The Legal Foundation: Why Ship Rider Agreements Are Defensible Under International Law
The legal basis for Ship Rider Agreements is both robust and well established.
First, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) gives coastal States sovereign rights over the exploration, exploitation, conservation and management of living resources within their Exclusive Economic Zones (Article 56). It also gives coastal States the authority to enforce their fisheries laws within those zones, including boarding, inspection, arrest and judicial proceedings (Article 73). Nothing in UNCLOS prevents a coastal State from deciding, by agreement, how it will exercise those enforcement powers.
Secondly, UNCLOS encourages international cooperation, particularly in the conservation and management of living marine resources (Articles 61, 62, 63, 64 and 118). Ship Rider Agreements are an example of precisely that kind of lawful cooperation.
Thirdly, the Niue Treaty and the Niue Treaty Subsidiary Agreement (NTSA) provide the regional legal framework through which Pacific Island countries cooperate in fisheries surveillance, information sharing, reciprocal enforcement and operational assistance. The Ship Rider concept reflects the same legal philosophy: cooperation without surrendering sovereignty.
Fourthly, Ship Rider Agreements are entirely consistent with the general international law principle that States may conclude treaties or executive agreements concerning matters within their sovereign competence. This principle is reflected in the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (1969), which recognises the freedom of States to enter into agreements governing their mutual rights and obligations.
Finally, State practice provides powerful support. Similar Ship Rider arrangements have operated successfully for decades between the United States and numerous Pacific Island countries, as well as with Caribbean States and other maritime nations. Their longevity, widespread acceptance and successful implementation reinforce their legitimacy under international law.
For these reasons, Ship Rider Agreements are not legal anomalies. They are carefully negotiated bilateral arrangements that respect the sovereignty of coastal States, operate within the framework of UNCLOS, complement the Niue Treaty system, and exemplify the cooperative spirit that international law encourages.
Far from weakening Pacific sovereignty, Ship Rider Agreements strengthen the ability of Pacific Island countries to exercise the sovereign rights that international law has already recognised. They are not only legally tenable; they are legally sound, practically necessary, and internationally defensible…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Impact of rooftop solar PV on rainwater harvesting in Tuvalu assessed for climate resilience and water security
FUNAFUTI, 03 AUGUST 2026 (SPREP) — The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) is working with the Government of Tuvalu to assess whether rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) systems have any measurable impacts on the quality of rainwater harvested from rooftops in Funafuti.
The initiative supports Tuvalu’s climate commitments under its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) while strengthening understanding of the relationship between renewable energy infrastructure and water security, two national priorities that increasingly share the same rooftop infrastructure.
Rooftop rainwater harvesting remains the primary source of freshwater for households and communities across Tuvalu. As rooftop solar installations continue to expand in the country’s push towards renewable energy and climate goals, the collaboration seeks to understand how these two critical systems interact and whether rooftop PV installations affect harvested rainwater quality over time.
A key step was the “Technical Case Study on Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic (PV) systems in Tuvalu” inception workshop facilitated by SPREP, through the Regional Pacific NDC Hub, in partnership with Tuvalu Climate Change Department (CCD). The workshop held in Funafuti brought together government agencies, utilities, community representatives, development partners and other stakeholders to discuss the project objectives, methodology and implementation arrangements.
Representatives from Tuvalu Climate Change Department highlighted the importance of the study in providing evidence-based information to support future policy and investment decisions in both the water and energy sectors.
“As we continue to expand rooftop solar installations to meet our NDC targets, it is essential that we fully understand any potential impacts on the quality of the rainwater that our communities rely on every day,” said Director Jaime Ovia.
“The findings will provide valuable evidence to guide future policy, investment and infrastructure decisions, ensuring that our transition to clean energy also safeguards the health and wellbeing of the Tuvalu people”
The participants also shared perspectives on renewable energy development, rainwater harvesting systems and water quality management in Tuvalu.
The study will combine scientific field assessments, laboratory analysis and stakeholder engagement to compare water quality from rooftops with solar PV systems and rooftops without solar PV systems. It will also assess whether factors such as panel condition, age and corrosion influence water quality outcomes.
SPREP Climate Change Mitigation Advisor, Vanda Faasoa-Chan Ting highlighted that the study would help address an important knowledge and information gap for Tuvalu and the wider Pacific region.
“The findings of this study will support and inform decision-making and practical recommendations that enable Tuvalu to pursue its renewable energy ambitions while safeguarding the freshwater resources that communities depend on every day,” she said.
During the consultations and one-on-one meetings, representatives from the Government of Tuvalu, SPREP and the Consultancy team discussed the project objectives, implementation activities, expected outcomes and opportunities to strengthen collaboration.
Key field activities included water sampling, laboratory testing, assessment of rooftop solar installations and engagement with selected households and communities. The results from this study will contribute to recommendations supporting both renewable energy deployment and the protection of Tuvalu’s water resources.
SPREP acknowledges the valuable contribution of all stakeholders and partners, including the Government of Australia, SPC, Tuvalu Climate Change Department and the consultancy team from Teulava Consultancy. …PACNEWS
For more information, contact Ms Vanda Faasoa Chan-Ting, Climate Change Mitigation Advisor vandac@sprep.org or Toiata Apelu – Uili, Pacific NDC Technical Officer toiatau@sprep.org
