In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — Forum SG Waqa pushes truth and accountability on nuclear legacy
2. NEW|CALE — Thousands take to the streets of Nouméa ahead of French Parliament debate
3. SOL — Top Solomon Islands Police candidate under Investigation for drug evidence mishandling
4. FIJI — Seven years of work went into 2013 Constitution: Former Fiji A-G tells parliamentary committee
5. PACIFIC — PRF moves closer to climate funding goal with North Pacific consultations
6. FIJI — Fiji Government set to accord Ratu Epeli state funeral
7. SAMOA — Former Samoa deputy PM lodges motion to stay and review court’s decision
8. PACNEWS BIZ — S&P lifts Cook Islands credit rating as tourism boosts finances
9. PACNEWS BIZ — PNG MP pushes Stanley Gas as global conflicts raise energy security fears
10. PACNEWS BIZ — Pacific Maritime colleges meet in Honiara to boost safety and security
11. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — Hidden archaeological landscapes discovered in Fiji through Moana data service’s LiDAR technology
12. PACNEWS DIGEST — Pacific emergency responders to gain accredited logistics training under new SPC–WFP partnership
13. PACNEWS DIGEST — International Symposium on Biological Control of Weeds
PAC – NUKE REMEMBRANCE DAY: PACNEWS PACNEWS 2: Wed 01 Apr 2026
Forum SG Waqa pushes truth and accountability on nuclear legacy
SUVA, 01 APRIL 2026 (PACNEWS) — Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Baron Waqa says remembrance of nuclear testing in the Pacific must drive action, as the region continues to deal with its lasting impacts.
Speaking at the Marshall Islands Nuclear Victims Remembrance Day commemoration in Suva under the theme ‘Ain Jitbon Mar: Spiritual Calling from Our Islands,’ Waqa said the theme reflects deep cultural ties and the ongoing fight for justice.”
“Although this day is observed in the Marshall Islands each year on 01 March, your commitment and leadership, including from the Marshall Islands Students Association to this annual event held here at the University of the South Pacific demonstrates something powerful: remembrance is shared across our Blue Pacific, across our communities, and across generations.
“This year’s theme speaks to the deep cultural and spiritual ties we hold with our islands and oceans. It is a call to honour the voices of survivors whose courage continues to guide our region’s pursuit of truth, justice, action and peace,” Waqa said.
He reminded the gathering that the scale of nuclear testing in the region continues to affect lives.
“As you all know, more than 300 nuclear tests were conducted across the Pacific. Their impacts, on the Marshall Islands, French Polynesia, Kiribati and others, remain with us today. These are not distant historical events; they are lived realities that continue to shape families, ecosystems, and identities today.”
Waqa said the Forum is backing efforts to establish the facts, including an independent study on contamination.
“This is why the Forum is supporting efforts, such as the upcoming preliminary independent study on nuclear contamination across the Pacific, including at the Runit Dome site, to ensure that our region has credible, science-based assessments of environmental and human health risks that continue to affect our people every day.”
“This work is essential to strengthening regional advocacy, informing global discussions, and ensuring that Pacific peoples have access to the truth. It also reinforces a core principle: that those affected deserve transparency, accountability, and meaningful action,” he stressed.
He highlighted the long-standing regional commitments to a nuclear-free Pacific.
“Our Forum Leaders have long championed a nuclear-free region through the Rarotonga Treaty, reaffirmed in our Blue Pacific Ocean of Peace Declaration. This time last year, we welcomed Marshall Islands signing the Rarotonga Treaty, an important moment of profound regional significance.”
Waqa said global developments make Pacific advocacy more urgent, with the upcoming Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons review conference a key platform.
“As global nuclear tensions rise, the Pacific’s voice is more important than ever. The upcoming 11th Review Conference of the State Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, also known as the NPT, in April will be another critical opportunity to ensure that the lived realities of Pacific peoples remain central to global disarmament and justice efforts.”
Reflecting on the annual event, he acknowledged those keeping the issue alive.
“Since the beginning of my tenure as Secretary General, I have been deeply privileged to support this annual commemoration here at USP. And each year, I am moved by an ever-deepening sense of humility and reflection.”
“I want to acknowledge the Marshall Islands Students Association. Since 2019, your leadership in spearheading this annual event has ensured that this story is kept alive, bringing communities together, and elevating survivors’ voices.”
“Your work shows that remembrance is not only about history, but also about empowering the next generation to safeguard our future,” SG Waqa said.
He said the commemoration reflects regional unity and shared responsibility.
“Today’s gathering embodies the unity and shared stewardship that define our region. Through collective commitment, we honour those affected and strengthen our resolve to protect our islands and our people.”
“As we mark this solemn day, let us recommit to standing with survivors, elevating their stories, and ensuring transparency and accountability. Let us continue to build a peaceful, secure, and resilient Blue Pacific where nuclear harm has no place.”
“Alongside our Leaders, I renew my full commitment to supporting all efforts to ensure that nuclear testing never happens again in our beautiful and bountiful Pacific,” said SG Waqa…. PACNEWS
NEW|CALE – POLITICS: RNZ PACIFIC PACNEWS 2: Wed 01 Apr 2026
Thousands take to the streets of Nouméa ahead of French Parliament debate
NOUMEA, 01 APRIL 2026 (RNZ PACIFIC) — In New Caledonia, thousands took to the streets of the capital Nouméa on Tuesday, only hours ahead of a scheduled French Parliament debate in the National Assembly in Paris to discuss the French Pacific territory’s political future.
An estimated 2500 came in support of local Association “Un Coeur, une Voix” (UCUV – One Heart, One Voice) to oppose the prospect of the next local elections (to elect New Caledonia’s three provinces) being held under the current ‘frozen” electoral roll, which excludes people who have not resided in New Caledonia before 1998 or their direct descendents.
During a one-hour peaceful march in downtown Nouméa, the participants were brandishing tricolour blue-white-red flags and other placards denouncing what they described as ‘second-class citizens” treatment and their perceived condition of self-styled “victims of history”.
The march was designed to send a clear message to French MPs ahead of debates on New Caledonia later this week.
“I’m sorry for using harsh words, but it’s like we’re being robbed (of our rights)”, UCUV president Raphaël Romano told local Radio Rythme Bleu.
“And now we have those MPs who are going to decide for us. They’re going to use New Caledonia for their own national political gains … and make a mess”.
“If (MPs) can’t find an agreement, then they should let New Caledonians choose.”
“It’s a shame for democracy, it happens nowhere else in the world”, Romano told local media.
His movement is strongly supported by several prominent pro-France parties, including Le Rassemblement and Les Loyalistes.
He said the situation affected all ethnic communities in New Caledonia.
“Those who can’t vote are men and women from all walks of life, all ethnic groups who live together in peace, every day,” he said.
“It’s hard enough to try and recover from the May 2024 riots, where people have lost their businesses and their job.”
The 2024 riots caused 14 deaths and over €2 billion in material damage.
They were also initially triggered by peaceful protests against a plan to have the French constitution modified, especially regarding the electoral restrictions.
The protests turned violent and out of control in Nouméa on the very day debates started in Paris.
The “freeze” was enforced in 2009, as part of the Nouméa Accord, signed in 1998.
Originally designed as a temporary measure, the restriction currently excludes up to 40,000 people, many of them born in New Caledonia.
Meanwhile, pro-independence movements have called for other “counter-demonstrations” outside of Nouméa.
One gathering took place on Tuesday, including in the outer Loyalty Islands of Lifou, while another demonstration is scheduled on Wednesday, in Koné (North of the main island, Grande Terre).
The voting restriction measure was originally included in the 1998 Nouméa Accord as a measure to prevent any erosion of New Caledonia’s indigenous Kanak population’s voice.
The proposed text derives from talks held between New Caledonia political stakeholders and the French government. This was on two occasions: in the small city of Bougival in July 2025 and later in January 2026 in Paris, at the French Presidential palace of l’ Élysée and the French ministry of Overseas territories, rue Oudinot.
Hence the name of Bougival-Élysée-Oudinot (BEO) for a text and an expanded project.
But the BEO text, in August 2025, was unequivocally opposed by the FLNKS (Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front), the main component of the pro-independence movement.
Other participating parties pro-France and pro-independence (two pro-independence members of FLNKS have since split to create their own ‘UNI” [Union Nationale pour l’Indépendance]), have since maintained their commitment to the BEO process, including their legislative adaptation (in the form of a Constitutional Amendment and an “organic Law”, which would de facto become New Caledonia’s constitution).
The project also envisions the creation of a “State of New Caledonia”, with a correlated “New Caledonia Nationality”” available to people who are already French citizens.
The FLNKS later explained it saw these, as well as a planned process of transfer of more powers from Paris to Nouméa, was, in their view, just a “lure” of independence.
Reacting to the UCUV march, FLNKS said the “freeze” was ruled Constitutional by France’s Constitutional Council in September 2025 and could only be changed if a “consensual” agreement was found.
But FLNKS considers the BEO-derived text “is not a logical continuation of the Nouméa Accord”.
The BEO-derived Bill, if adopted, could eventually replace the Nouméa Accord.
But it is now still undergoing the legislative process.
The French Senate endorsed it on 24 February, with a comfortable right-wing majority.
But this week, the same text is to be debated in the Lower House of Parliament, the National Assembly, which has been divided since the July 2024 French national snap election following President Macron’s decision to dissolve Parliament.
Current predictions are that since there is no clear majority within the Lower House, the Bill, which comes in the form of a Constitutional Amendment (with the capacity to replace the Nouméa Accord) is likely to be rejected.
The opposition to the current right-wing group comes from the left (far-left La France Insoumise -LFI-, the Socialists (who say the Bill is “heavy with threats and dangers”), the Communists, the Greens) and Marine Le Pen’s far-right Rassemblement National (RN).
Last week, the Constitutional Bill came before the National Assembly’s Law Committee and suffered an initial rejection.
Parliamentary debates in the National Assembly are scheduled to begin on Wednesday (1 April 2026, Paris time) and could last for the next three days…. PACNEWS
SOL – POLI/DRUGS FIGHT: OCCRP PACNEWS 2: Wed 01 Apr 2026
Top Solomon Islands Police candidate under Investigation for drug evidence mishandling
HONIARA, 01 APRIL 2026 (OCCRP) — One of the frontrunners to become Solomon Islands’ top police officer is under investigation for allegedly mishandling drug evidence in a case that has prompted whistleblower complaints and caused ructions among the rank-and-file.
An internal memo obtained by OCCRP’s member, In-depth Solomons, reveals that prosecutors last year recommended suspending and criminally charging Ian Vaevaso, deputy commissioner of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF).
The recommendation followed an investigation alleging that Vaevaso improperly destroyed key drug evidence, intimidated officers who opposed him, and lied to investigators when confronted.
In June 2025, the country’s top prosecutor issued a report recommending that Vaevaso be interviewed before the formal filing of charges.
He has neither been suspended nor charged. The case has been stalled by a standoff between the prosecutor and a police commission tasked with oversight.
Vaevaso continues to be a leading candidate to become commissioner, overseeing the police department’s 3,000 officers.
Vaevaso declined to answer specific questions regarding the allegations sent by In-depth Solomons but confirmed there is an active inquiry.
“It would be inappropriate and potentially prejudicial for me to comment publicly while such processes remain active and before any formal findings or decisions have been concluded,” Vaevaso said.
“I wish to assure the public that I continue to cooperate fully with all lawful inquiries and respect the role of independent institutions tasked with examining these matters.”
In an interview, Director of Public Prosecutions Andrew Kelesi confirmed the authenticity of the memo, which was prepared by one of his senior legal officers.
The memo, from mid 2025, said that there was “sufficient evidence to establish the criminal offence of abuse of office.” It recommended that Vaevaso and two other officers be suspended pending criminal investigation, and that “we file the appropriate criminal charges against the officers before the end of the month of June 2025.”
Kelesi said he had followed the memo’s advice and recommended that Vaevaso and the other officers be suspended, but that the police chief at the time and a commission overseeing police and correctional officers had failed to respond to his request.
“We provided legal advice on the criminal aspects of this matter and recommended the suspension of the three concerned officers, as there is sufficient evidence based on exhibits and witness testimony,” he said in an interview.
“However, the decision to suspend lies entirely with the RSIPF and the Police and Prison Services Commission (PPSC).”
Kelesi said that the memo was not a final decision and that he wanted to hear Vaevaso’s side of the story before deciding whether to charge him. He asked for the PPSC to interview Vaevaso, but that request was also ignored.
“My request is a thing that should have been done in just a week,” Kelesi said. “Now it’s almost a year [later] with nothing coming forth.”
“This is simply unfair for the public.”
David Suinara, the PPSC’s deputy secretary, denied responsibility, arguing that only the police chief can suspend an officer and that the request to interview Vaevaso should have come from the police.
But Kelesi said he had the authority to make the request, which was done with the agreement of the police chief and internal investigators to avoid conflicts of interest. Moreover, the PPSC remains in possession of the investigative files required to suspend Vaevaso, he said.
Mostyn Mangau, who was police chief at the time, said he was aware of the case but effectively cut out of the process.
“The file is with the PPSC, and never reached my office,” he said. “That’s the only reason I never acted on the case. Just because I am no longer there doesn’t mean they can put a blame on me.”
The impasse means that Vaevaso could soon take charge of the department. On 22 March, Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele said the next police chief had been chosen and would soon be announced.
The case comes amid a surge of drug trafficking across the Pacific.
Small island states have become midway points for narcotics bound for the wealthier shores of New Zealand and Australia. The influx of cheap methamphetamine is also driving an increase in local addiction in some Pacific island countries.
In the Solomon Islands, three so-called “narco subs” were discovered in the past two years.
The case that has entangled the frontrunner for the country’s top police position began in October and November 2023, when a pair of drug busts resulted in the seizure of unspecified amounts of ketamine and methamphetamine.
A few months later, in February 2024, police issued a press release with photos of the drugs apparently being dumped into the ocean.
The disposal of the drugs “generated significant concern within the RSIPF, with numerous officers questioning the legality and appropriateness of DC Vaevaso’s process,” according to a leaked report later written by Director of Public Prosecutions Kelesi.
That report was separate from the memo obtained by reporters, and was emailed to a handful of people, including In-depth Solomons.
In August 2024, a whistleblower filed a complaint about Vaevaso with the Solomon Islands Independent Commission Against Corruption, which kicked off the probe into his actions
The commission referred the complaint to RSIPF’s Professional Standards and Internal Investigations Department for investigation, according to the public prosecutions report. Kelesi’s office was then tasked with offering legal advice.
Then, this February, an anonymous person claiming to represent RSIPF rank-and-file officers emailed leading members of parliament and the police to demand action in the case. Attached to the email — sent to In-depth Solomons and some anti-corruption organisations — was a partially redacted copy of the public prosecutions report that raised concerns about Vaevaso’s “process” of destroying drugs.
Among those who received the email was acting police commissioner Mathias Lenialu, who had only been sworn in a few weeks earlier. He responded directly to the email, calling the allegation “a one-sided story of the issue.”
“To our esteemed National Political Leaders and those copied in this email,” he wrote, “the RSIPF stands with DC Vaevaso and disassociate[s] itself from one or two police officers who are working hard to destroy the good reputation of DC Vaevaso with hidden interests and agendas.”
When questioned by In-depth Solomons, however, Lenialu said he wasn’t familiar with the case, couldn’t comment and referred questions to the Police and Prison Services Commission.
The public prosecutions report, which was submitted to the PPSC and police internal investigators on 27 June 2025, cites eight witnesses and six exhibits.
It alleged that Vaevaso had bypassed proper channels and broken protocol by insisting subordinates hand the drugs over to him. When some officers raised concerns, Vaevaso allegedly “responded with hostility” and “may have used words which threatened” one with disciplinary inaction for her resistance.
“This persistent acquisition of complete control over exhibits through multiple stages, conducted outside proper forensic oversight, demonstrates highly irregular and suspicious behavior,” the report continued.
Vaevaso then allegedly stored the drugs in his private office for nearly a month, which created “ample opportunity for interference, mishandling, or tampering with critical evidence,” according to the report.
The deputy commissioner personally oversaw the destruction of the drugs at sea in an allegedly “intentional, premeditated, and clandestine nature.”
The report concluded with the recommendation that Vaevaso be interviewed in anticipation of a formal criminal investigation. It did not go as far, however, as the earlier internal public prosecutions memo, which recommended that Vaevaso and two other officers be suspended and criminally charged.
Vaevaso declined to comment on the allegations citing, in part, his potential promotion.
“At this time, I am unable to provide substantive comment on the matters raised,” he said. “As you may be aware, I am currently a candidate for the position of Commissioner of Police,” said Vaevaso…. PACNEWS
FIJI – CONSTITUTION: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 2: Wed 01 Apr 2026
Seven years of work went into 2013 Constitution: Former Fiji A-G tells parliamentary committee
SUVA, 01 APRIL 2026 (FIJI SUN) — Former Fiji Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has pushed back against what he called misleading narratives about how the 2013 constitution was made.
Sayed Khaiyum said it was the product of seven years of public consultation adding it was the most extensive in the country’s history.
Making submissions to the Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights on Monday, he said the 2013 constitution was not rushed or imposed, as some politicians and commentators have suggested.
“It is through that wide-scale and intensive consultations over a period of about seven years did we then have the 2013 constitution come into place,” he said.
He outlined the process in detail:
*The National Council for Building a Better Fiji held 1,256 consultations at village and settlement level
*The Yash Ghai Commission received 7,170 written submissions and held 110 public hearings around Fiji
*A further round of government consultations received 1,000 additional submissions
*He personally attended 19 public consultations across the country, including in Kadavu and Ra
He contrasted this with the country’s earlier constitutions — the 1970 constitution was negotiated by politicians in London without direct public input.
The 1990 constitution, Sayed Khaiyum said was “promulgated at midnight” by the late former President Ratu Penaia Ganilau with minimal consultation and was widely criticised as racially flawed.
Sayed-Khaiyum said it was precisely because of the depth of those 2013 consultations that a referendum provision was written into the constitution so that any future changes to it would require a public vote rather than being left solely to politicians.
“Changing the constitution should not be done willy-nilly,” he said…. PACNEWS
PAC – PRF: PACNEWS/PIFS PACNEWS 2: Wed 01 Apr 2026
PRF moves closer to climate funding goal with North Pacific consultations
SUVA, 01 APRIL 2026 (PACNEWS/PIFS) — The Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF) has taken a key step toward delivering climate financing to Blue Pacific communities, launching national consultations across the North Pacific.
Week-long consultations in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia and Palau brought together government ministries, civil society, community groups, chambers of commerce and development partners.
The PRF also took part in national climate events, including the Palau Water Resilience Dialogue and the FSM SPREP Loss and Damage Workshop.
The consultations are focused on shaping a funding model built by, with and for Pacific communities, with an emphasis on practical access to climate finance at the grassroots level. Discussions are identifying gaps, opportunities and existing systems to avoid duplication while ensuring strong governance, speed and real community impact.
“We are co-designing our PRF to reflect the lived realities of our communities to ensure that we build a facility that is simple and responsive to the needs of our people,” said PRF General Manager Finau Soqo.
The North Pacific meetings mark the start of wider consultations with all Pacific Islands Forum members in the coming weeks. Outcomes will feed into a second Regional Programming Co-Design Workshop scheduled for late May 2026, where grant policies, procedures and funding packages are expected to be finalised.
This will pave the way for the inaugural PRF Council meeting after the Forum Economic Ministers Meeting in Majuro in late June, ahead of a call for pilot proposals set to be launched at the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Palau in August.
The PRF is also working closely with members in the lead-up to the Pacific Pre-COP31 in Fiji and Tuvalu, aiming to demonstrate community impact and push its capitalisation target to US$1.5 billion in support of a 1.5-degree climate goal…. PACNEWS
FIJI – STATE FUNERAL: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 2: Wed 01 Apr 2026
Fiji Government set to accord Ratu Epeli state funeral
SUVA, 01 APRIL 2026 (FIJI SUN) — Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has confirmed that former President and Speaker of Parliament Ratu Epeli Nailatikau will be accorded a state funeral.
Rabuka said they would await funeral details and plans from Ratu Epeli’s family, noting his chiefly status and links to the Royal Family of Tonga, before final rites are confirmed.
He said the Government recognises Ratu Epeli’s significant contribution to Fiji’s political and national life, with preparations already underway.
“As far as we are concerned, he is entitled to one, and we are prepared for that,” Rabuka said.
An official date is yet to be announced, with final arrangements still being coordinated.
Rabuka said Ratu Epeli’s close ties with the Tongan Royal Family were also being considered, with discussions ongoing to align funeral proceedings with the possible presence of King Tupou VI.
He said the Government was working to ensure schedules align.
Ratu Epeli served as President of Fiji from 2009 to 2015 and later as Speaker of Parliament, playing a key role in the country’s political landscape over several decades.
Leaders from across the region are expected to attend the state funeral…. PACNEWS
SAMOA – COURTS: TALAMUA ONLINE PACNEWS 2: Wed 01 Apr 2026
Former Samoa deputy PM lodges motion to stay and review court’s decision
APIA, 01 APRIL 2026 (TALAMUA ONLINE) — Former Samoa deputy Prime Minister, Toelupe Maoiautele Poumulinuku Onesemo has lodged a motion to stay the Electoral Court’s decision issued last week which voided the Falealili 1 district parliamentary seat he held after the general election last year.
Also lodged is a “motion for enforcement of a constitutional right and a review of the court’s decision.”
The motion to stay a decision, is to suspend the court’s decision until a case is heard, and Toelupe has already lodged a case with the court.
The Electoral Court found Toelupe guilty of corrupt practise around the election period last year and declared Falealili 1 seat void.
At Monday’s press conference, Toelupe expressed his respect for the court and its work however, as he stepped down from his position as Deputy Prime Minister and as a Cabinet Minister, he confirmed that his lawyer has lodged a case with the court to review the decision.
Toelupe said he is humbled by the prayers and messages of encouragement from families, members of the district and supporters in search for the truth to have clarity for the sake of future generations.
He said his district of Falealili 1 agreed to withdraw the petition, but he did not understand why the court could not do it; yet allowed the other side to continue the petition.
He spoke of the challenges but trust in God that always will result in victory.
Reflecting on his and the FAST party’s journey after winning the 2021 election and how the Government then under the leadership of Fiame Naomi Mataafa prioritised the development of people, families, culture but especially the Christian values.
According to Toelupe, the core aspect of the FAST policies is to help those at lowest end of the social ladder and government needs to persevere to fight for the truth.
He wished the FAST Government the best and to move forward and serve the people and country well…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
COOKS – CREDIT RATINGS: REUTERS PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 01 Apr 2026
S&P lifts Cook Islands credit rating as tourism boosts finances
WELLINGTON/RAROTONGA, 01 APRIL 2026 (REUTERS) — S&P Global Ratings raised the Cook Islands’ long-term sovereign credit rating to BB- from B+ late on Tuesday, citing a tourism-driven economic rebound and fiscal prudence that has strengthened government finances.
It assigned a stable outlook to the rating and affirmed the Pacific island nation’s short-term sovereign rating at B and kept its transfer and convertibility assessment at AAA.
S&P said the upgrade reflected “buoyant” economic conditions helped by strong tourist arrivals and government spending coming in below budget, particularly on wages and capital expenditure.
Although S&P expects a small fiscal deficit in the current year, reflecting the withdrawal of budget support from New Zealand and higher capital spending, it said stronger-than-expected tourism income and reprioritised expenditure should cushion the impact in later years.
The agency expects Cook Islands’ net debt to continue falling after 2026, remaining around 15 percent to 20 percent of GDP over the following three years. Net debt dropped to 16.4 percent of GDP in fiscal 2025 from a peak of 37.6 percent in fiscal 2022, aided by rising tourism revenue and concessional donor financing.
Still, the agency said the rating remained constrained by the Cook Islands’ narrow economic base, weak statistical capacity, lack of independent monetary policy and exposure to external shocks, including higher fuel costs and strains in relations with New Zealand…. PACNEWS
PNG – IRAN CRISIS/FUEL: PACNEWS PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 01 Apr 2026
PNG MP pushes Stanley Gas as global conflicts raise energy security fears
PORT MORESBY, 01 APRIL 2026 (PACNEWS) — A Papua New Guinea Member of Parliament has called for urgent development of the Stanley Gas Condensate Field, warning that global conflicts are exposing the risks of relying on external fuel supplies.
MP Allan Bird said PNG must act quickly to secure its energy future.
“PNG needs to speed up development of Stanley Gas Condensate Field in Western Province urgently. Coupled with this we must look at biofuel production using our Palm Oil as well,” he said in a social media statement.
Bird highlighted the rising geopolitical tensions as a wake-up call.
“The U.S-Israel War in Iran should teach us that the world supply systems are unreliable and highly risky into the future.”
He said major powers will prioritise their own interests over smaller nations.
“Rich nations like the U.S will only be interested in their own security and prosperity. They do not care what happens to small island states like PNG.”
The MP warned that future conflicts over energy resources are likely.
“We can see this clearly now so the chances of more wars by the US on countries with significant oil deposits will continue to be normalised into the future.”
He also criticised the global arms industry.
“The largest weapon manufacturers in the world are in the U.S and therefore having wars to use up weapons stockpiles makes absolute business sense.”
The MP said developing the Stanley Gas project would allow PNG to produce its own fuel.
“In this light, PNG should speed up the development of Stanley Gas immediately. The condensate in that Gas can be used to produce diesel, petrol and kerosene.”
He stressed the need for energy independence.
“We need to be energy independent quickly and we have the resources, intelligence and reasoning to do so.”
Bird added that local fuel production could benefit the wider Pacific.
“Fuel production in PNG would also be great for the Pacific if we can produce excess fuel to support our friends in the Pacific.”
He called on the government to act without delay.
“Something for the Strategic planners in the Marape Rosso government to consider and urgently action.”
Bird also urged a return to a neutral foreign policy stance.
“We must move back to being friends to all and enemies to none. We must take the lead in the Pacific.
“The wisdom of our Founding Fathers,” he said…. PACNEWS
PAC – FISHERIES: PACNEWS/FFA PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 01 Apr 2026
Pacific Maritime colleges meet in Honiara to boost safety and security
HONIARA, 01 APRIL 2026 (PACNEWS/FFA) — The Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) has brought together maritime training institutions from across the Pacific for the 7th Maritime College Seminar, now underway in Honiara, Solomon Islands.
Opening the three-day meeting, FFA Director-General Noan David Pakop stressed the importance of maritime education in strengthening safety and security across the Blue Pacific.
“Our ocean is not just a resource – it is our identity, our livelihood, and our shared heritage. Ensuring maritime safety and security is fundamental to protecting our seafarers, supporting safe operations at sea, and safeguarding our fisheries resources,” he said.
The seminar has drawn 16 participants from maritime colleges and universities in the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
Participants are sharing experiences and looking at ways to strengthen training systems to better prepare seafarers, fisheries observers, compliance officers and other maritime professionals.
Held under the theme “Maritime Safety and Security in the Pacific Islands Region,” discussions are focusing on international safety frameworks, emerging security threats, search and rescue coordination, maritime domain awareness, cybersecurity in training, gender issues in safety at sea, and seafarer welfare.
The meeting is also considering the establishment of a Pacific Maritime Colleges Association to improve regional coordination, standardise training and boost knowledge-sharing among institutions.
FFA says initiatives like the seminar are key to strengthening cooperation, building capacity and supporting safer seas and sustainable fisheries across the region…. 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
Hidden archaeological landscapes discovered in Fiji through Moana data service’s LiDAR technology
By Moana Data Services/Kahuto Pacific
SUVA, 01 APRIL 2026 (ADB) — New high-resolution airborne LiDAR data from the Moana Data Service has revealed a previously hidden landscape of earthworks across parts of the Suva and Rewa region, offering new insights into how people may have lived, farmed, and organised the landscape in Fiji’s past.
The data, recently processed and released through the Moana platform, provides detailed elevation models that allow researchers to detect subtle ground features invisible beneath vegetation and modern development. Early analysis suggests the presence of extensive earthwork formations, including circular and interconnected structures that may represent historical land-use systems.
The patterns were first identified by Leo Vanualailai, a GIS officer with the Ministry of Environment, who was exploring the newly released dataset. They are now being examined in collaboration with international archaeologists, the Fiji Museum, and local research partners.
“Finds like these are remarkable archaeological discoveries that add to a growing Pacific-wide inventory of what LiDAR is revealing. They also provide direct evidence for how communities adapted and reshaped their environment over time, offering long term perspectives on some of the biggest challenges facing the Pacific today,” said Phillip Parton, Archeologist from the Australian National University.
Preliminary interpretations indicate that some of the larger circular earthworks are surrounded by large ditches and banks that resemble defensive structures seen elsewhere in the Pacific. Surrounding these structures are expansive networks of smaller earthworks that could represent earlier landscape modifications used for settlement or agriculture in low-lying areas.
“These datasets allow us to see patterns in the landscape that are almost impossible to identify on the ground,” said Christopher Saili of Kahuto Pacific.
“LiDAR technology can reveal subtle earthworks and landscape modifications that have been hidden by vegetation or development.’
Researchers have also observed extensive networks of interconnected pathways and features across floodplains and ridgelines, suggesting a complex and organised historical landscape. However, experts stress that further research and field verification will be required before definitive conclusions can be drawn about the age and function of these structures.
Kahuto Pacific is currently working closely with the Fiji Museum, local landowners, and international archaeological experts to review the findings and determine appropriate next steps for research and heritage protection.
“This is an early-stage discovery, but it highlights how powerful open geospatial data can be in supporting cultural heritage research and uncovering stories about Fiji’s past,” Saili added.
The LiDAR datasets for Suva and Nadi are available through the Moana Data Service, a web-based geospatial platform designed to make high-quality environmental and spatial data accessible to researchers, government agencies, and the public…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Pacific emergency responders to gain accredited logistics training under new SPC–WFP partnership
SUVA, 01 APRIL 2026 (SPC) — The Pacific Community (SPC) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) have signed a Letter of Agreement to develop the Pacific’s first accredited training programme in humanitarian supply chain and logistics, aiming to build a regional cadre of professionals who can move aid faster when disasters strike.
The agreement, signed in February this year, will fund new specialised modules in Humanitarian Supply Chain and Logistics (HSC&L) within the Certificate IV in Disaster Risk Management (Team Leadership).
The modules are designed to give emergency management professionals practical skills in logistics coordination, supply chain management and humanitarian response. The need is acute: Pacific Island countries sit on the Pacific Ring of Fire, and within the cyclone belt, and face overlapping threats from geological hazards, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, cyclones and flooding.
According to the World Risk Index, six Pacific Island nations are among the 20 most disaster-prone countries in the world. In 2019, disasters cost the region USD$1.07 billion per year, with 49 percent of losses due to cyclones and 20% due to droughts, reports the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).
New accredited modules and micro-qualifications will be developed and integrated into the existing disaster risk management qualification. The modules and micro-qualifications will also be made available online through SPC’s digital learning platforms, widening access for learners across Pacific Island countries and territories. This inclusive approach will particularly enable greater participation of women in the Pacific, many of whom balance dual roles at home and in their communities.
SPC, through its Pacific Islands Emergency Management Alliance (PIEMA) and WFP, will lead the development and accreditation of the modules, train instructors and coordinate outreach to learners across the region. WFP will also contribute its global expertise in humanitarian logistics by supporting the development of competency frameworks and relevant content, identifying funding opportunities for learner cohorts and strengthening partnerships to expand the programme’s reach.
“The signing of the LOA between WFP and SPC PIEMA marks an important milestone in strengthening humanitarian logistics capability across the Pacific,” said Emma Conlan, Acting Country Director, WFP Pacific.
“This partnership directly supports priorities identified by National Disaster Management Offices, ensuring responders have access to standardised, accredited, and professional qualifications in humanitarian supply chain and logistics.”
The programme is expected to run from 2026 to 2029, with an estimated total value of USD$328,000, supporting curriculum development, training delivery and the enrolment of multiple learner cohorts across the region.
The programme will also contribute to a Pacific surge roster – a standing pool of logistics specialists who can deploy at short notice when disasters strike.
SPC’s Geoscience, Energy and Maritime (GEM) Division Deputy Director, Litea Biukoto, said the partnership reflects SPC’s commitment to strengthening regional resilience through knowledge, training and collaboration.
“The support to implementation or operations needs to be complemented with institutional capability,” said Biukoto.
“When disasters strike, effective logistics and supply chains are essential to delivering life‑saving assistance without delay. Our partnership with WFP to strengthen logistics capability in the Pacific, including formal qualifications alongside core disaster risk management competencies, will enhance emergency preparedness and help ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches the communities who need it most,” she added.
The Certificate IV in Disaster Risk Management was developed jointly by USP’s Pacific Technical and Further Education (Pacific TAFE) and SPC, and it was officially launched in September 2021.
Supported by the New Zealand and Australia governments, PIEMA is at the forefront of emergency and disaster management training across the Pacific. Through its partnerships, PIEMA leads the way in strengthening preparedness and the response to and recovery from emergencies and disasters.
WFP’s Pacific strategy is centred on supporting government-led readiness for climate and disaster shocks across one of the world’s most exposed and logistically isolated regions. The Pacific Multi-Country Office works with national and regional institutions to reinforce capability before crises hit…. PACNEWS
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
International Symposium on Biological Control of Weeds
APIA, 01 APRIL 2026 (SPREP) — Pacific Island nations face unique vulnerabilities to invasive species, which threaten biodiversity, food security, and climate resilience.
By participating in the XVII International Symposium on Biological Control of Weeds (ISBCW), organised by the New Zealand Bioeconomy Science Institute, held in Rotorua, Pacific representatives were able to exchange experiences, learn from international experts and explore new technologies such as bioherbicides, remote sensing and drone applications.
The attendance of 20 Pacific island participants was made possible largely through the support of the Secretariat of the APIA, 01 APRIL 2026 (SPREP)—Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) led Pacific Regional Invasive Species Management Support Service (PRISMSS) with funding provided by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the United Kingdom International Development.
By coordinating funding and technical assistance, PRISMSS enabled most Pacific Island delegates to attend the ISBCW, ensuring their voices were heard in a space where global strategies are shaped. The New Zealand Bioeconomy Science Institute is the lead technical partner of the PRISMSS Natural Enemies-Natural Solutions programme.
PRISMSS Manager, Dominic Sadler while reflecting on the symposium shared that, “the presence of Pacific islanders at ISBCW underscored the importance of inclusion and showcased how biocontrol is not just about managing weeds, it is about protecting livelihoods, ecosystems, and resilience.”
“Enabling Pacific islanders to participate in international forums like the ISBCW assists participants to learn from global experts, share lessons from their own contexts, and build networks that strengthen regional collaboration.”
“Their contributions reminded the global community that small islands are on the frontlines of invasive species impacts, but also that they are leaders in innovative, community-driven solutions.”
Pacific representatives highlighted the importance of attending the ISBCW, value of shared learning and emphasised how exposure to global expertise can help in reassuring communities that biocontrol is safe, effective, and adaptable to local contexts.
Moon Chan an Environmental Scientist with the Scientific Research Organisation of Samoa shared that, “as a Pacific islander, I am inspired by the impressive global approaches in biocontrol, and the depth of knowledge is encouraging to see.”
“It emphasises the power of collaboration on an international level. I will take the knowledge I learned about host specificity and applying it to African tulip beetle in refining design studies.”
Alowesi Suveinakama from the Cook Islands National Environment Service shared, “up until now I was only exposed to the tip of the iceberg when it came to biocontrol.”
“It’s a big topic but I’ve learnt about where we might have gaps and opportunities to collaborate with each other such as sharing data. We have heard about the lessons from other countries, and we can learn from those lessons for a better future for our Pacific.”
Veira Pulekera, Principal Conservation Officer, Solomon Islands Environment and Conservation Division commented that, “being at this conference exposed me to other options to manage invasive weeds that I can now take back to my community.”
“Hearing from international experts, even from Pacific neighbours who are also becoming experts, we got to hear their lessons learned. In the Solomon Islands, we are preparing ourselves for when we are ready to carry out this work and build on the experience and knowledge of others.”
Makereta Ranadi from the Fiji Ministry of Agriculture reflected, “this symposium gave us the chance to connect with our Pacific neighbours as our environments are so alike, and we face many of the same challenges, so our conversations have focused on how we can support each other to strengthen biocontrol practices.”
“Listening to researchers from across the region and learning about technologies like bioherbicides and remote sensing surveys has inspired me to think about how we can apply that knowledge and expertise back home in Fiji.”
Mimosa Bethel, Biosafety and Invasives Species Officer with the Vanuatu Department of Environmental Protection and Conservation shared that, “this is my first time at an international biocontrol conference, it was a great opportunity to meet fellow scientists who share my expertise, talk to them and creating that network.”
“I’m looking forward to expanding my work after the experience of this conference, particularly with Import Risk Assessment. There is potential for more Pacific research in the islands,” she added.
PRISMSS through programme such as Natural Enemies – Natural Solutions, helps Pacific countries scale up biocontrol efforts. It provides technical training, fosters regional coordination, and integrates traditional knowledge with scientific methods to ensure solutions are culturally relevant and community driven.
By introducing new tools PRISMSS equips practitioners with the expertise needed to manage invasive weeds effectively while linking these efforts to broader climate resilience strategies…. PACNEWS