In this bulletin:
1. UN — UN climate chief pushes $1.3 trillion finance plan, Calls for Political backing ahead of COP33
2. PACIFIC — Taiwan Vice President Hsiao says U.S-China engagement should not come at expense of regional security
3. FIJI — Cautious support for all-women party in Fiji
4. PACIFIC — Strict high-tech screening at Fiji airport, call for border agencies to embrace innovation
5. PNG — Parties must shift focus to policy-driven governance: PNG PM
6. GUAM — Guam’s ocean research, reef protection programmes facing shutdown in FY2027
7. PACIFIC — Journalists hold key role
8. PACIFIC — Newsrooms urged to support female reporters
9. PACNEWS BIZ — Digital tool eases tax reporting burden for Fiji tourism operators
10. PACNEWS BIZ — Fiji Employment Ministry warns against child exploitation
11. PACNEWS DIGEST — BBNJ Agreement is not about competition, but collective nurturing
12. PACNEWS DIGEST — EU and SPREP launch Pacific European Union Marine partnership Phase II to strengthen Pacific Ocean governance and sustainable fisheries
UN – CLIMATE CHANGE: PACNEWS PACNEWS 2: Mon 15 Jun 2026
UN climate chief pushes $1.3 trillion finance plan, Calls for Political backing ahead of COP33
BONN, 15 JUNE 2026 (PACNEWS) — UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell has called for stronger political support to deliver a global climate finance roadmap aimed at mobilising US$1.3 trillion annually by 2035, warning that finance remains the key factor in turning climate commitments into action.
Speaking during a joint COP29-COP30 Presidency event on the implementation of the Baku to Belém Roadmap to 1.3T at the UN June Climate Meetings in Bonn, Stiell said climate finance is central to ensuring the world moves from planning to implementation and achieves the ambitions required under the Paris Agreement.
“This discussion goes to the heart of our work today.
“This is an era of implementation in climate action. And finance will drive it forward,” Stiell told delegates.
Stiell said climate finance is essential to delivering a global transition to low-emission and climate-resilient economies.
“It is essential for a truly global transition: For turning plans into projects. Bringing the benefits of climate action to billions of people.
*And laying the groundwork for more ambitious commitments that the science demands, for the second global stocktake,” he said.
His remarks focused on the implementation of the Baku to Belém Roadmap, which emerged from decisions taken at COP29 and is intended to guide efforts to scale up climate finance over the next decade.
Stiell reminded delegates that governments had already agreed on the scale of ambition needed.
“Together, at COP29, countries called on all actors to scale up climate finance to US$1.3 trillion by 2035.”
He said the roadmap provides a framework for reaching that target and serves as an important signal to governments, investors, development institutions and the private sector.
“This Roadmap is the plan we need to answer that call: A powerful signal of confidence – that US$1.3 trillion is both achievable and essential,” he explained.
While acknowledging that the roadmap is not a negotiated outcome, Stiell said it reflects extensive engagement across climate and finance communities.
“It is not a negotiated document. But it is the result of record submissions and hundreds of ideas from across the climate and finance communities,” he said.
The UN climate chief urged countries and institutions to unite behind the roadmap despite differing priorities.
“It may not be everything that every Party would want. But it is a plan we can and must rally behind.”
Stiell said implementation efforts are taking place against a backdrop of significant global economic and geopolitical challenges that are disproportionately affecting developing countries.
“We are all aware of the headwinds we face. And the impact they have on developing countries: Limiting their ability to make the investments they need at this crucial time.”
He stressed that achieving the roadmap’s goals will require stronger political commitment beyond the climate negotiations process.
“We need real political backing to deliver on the roadmap. Including through other international fora.”
According to Stiell, the immediate task is to focus on practical measures that can sustain momentum and unlock greater investment flows for climate action.
“And our immediate focus must be those actions that sustain and build momentum – laying the foundations for further progress down the line,” he emphasised.
He outlined a range of priorities that governments, multilateral institutions and financial actors should pursue.
“Getting the most out of every drop of climate finance, making every dollar count, including from governments and development banks.”
“Changing perceptions of capital and aligning investment frameworks with climate goals.
“And continuing to identify new and innovative sources of climate finance,” he said.
Many developing countries, particularly small island developing states and least developed countries, have repeatedly argued that limited access to affordable finance remains one of the biggest barriers to implementing climate commitments and adapting to worsening climate impacts.
Stiell said collaboration between successive COP presidencies will be critical in maintaining momentum toward the finance target and ensuring measurable progress ahead of the next major review of global climate action.
“Working with each COP Presidency. Building on your priorities and your incredible networks.”
The roadmap is expected to play a central role in shaping discussions on climate finance over the coming years as countries prepare for the second Global Stocktake, which will assess collective progress toward the goals of the Paris Agreement.
Stiell said the international community must demonstrate tangible results before that review takes place.
“So that by the second global stocktake at COP33, we show real progress.”
He urged governments, financial institutions and stakeholders to move from planning to implementation.
“We have a plan. Let’s put it to work,” he said…. PACNEWS
PACIFIC – DIPLOMACY: ISLAND TIMES PACNEWS 2: Mon 15 Jun 2026
Taiwan Vice President Hsiao says U.S-China engagement should not come at expense of regional security
KOROR, 15 JUNE 2026 (ISLAND TIMES) — As Washington seeks to manage tensions with Beijing, Taiwan Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao says U.S engagement with China should not be mistaken for a weakening of support for Taiwan, Palau and other Indo-Pacific partners.
During an interview with Island Times, Hsiao discussed regional security, strategic competition and a new Taiwan-Palau law enforcement initiative.
— “We have the same belief as the United States — that peace is maintained through strength,” Taiwan Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao said, emphasising that continued U.S engagement with China does not signal a weakening of support for Taiwan, Palau or other partners in the Indo-Pacific.
Speaking to Island Times during her visit to Palau, Hsiao addressed questions about what some observers perceive as a softer or more cooperative approach by Washington toward Beijing, while maintaining longstanding security and diplomatic commitments in the region.
Hsiao said recent statements and actions from U.S officials indicate continuity rather than change in America’s Taiwan policy.
“What I can say is recently the American senior officials have reiterated publicly, and to the Taiwanese people, that their policy on Taiwan has not changed,” Hsiao said.
“This is a continuity of the very strong partnership that we have had.”
She pointed to bipartisan support for Taiwan in the U.S Congress, including initiatives aimed at strengthening ties with Taiwan and supporting countries that maintain diplomatic relations with Taipei.
Hsiao noted that members of Congress have proposed a special fund for Taiwan’s allies under a broader framework to counter what she described as coercive and malign influence from the People’s Republic of China.
While acknowledging that Washington and Beijing are seeking to improve communication, Hsiao said such engagement should be viewed as an effort to prevent conflict rather than a shift away from regional partners.
“I think both the U.S and China want to set guardrails so that this competition does not evolve into conflict,” she said.
“You see efforts to have open lines of communication, but at the same time they have reiterated the strong partnership with Taiwan.”
The vice president said countries across the Indo-Pacific are responding to growing geopolitical uncertainty by strengthening their own security capabilities while seeking to preserve peace and stability.
She cited Japan’s increased defence spending and security initiatives by the Philippines and other regional partners as examples of a broader effort to deter conflict through preparedness.
For Palau, Hsiao said the United States continues to demonstrate its commitment through the Compact of Free Association and expanding cooperation with the island nation.
“We see the United States also looking into broadening their partnership here with Palau,” she said.
Beyond security cooperation, Hsiao announced a new area of Taiwan-Palau collaboration focused on law enforcement and transnational crime.
Taiwan plans to post personnel from its Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau at its embassy in Palau to support local authorities through information-sharing, training and other cooperative efforts.
The initiative comes as Palau faces growing challenges from drug trafficking, human trafficking, fraud, scams and other forms of transnational crime.
Hsiao said Taiwan and Palau share many of the same challenges as small island nations, including climate threats, security concerns and external pressure from larger countries.
“Taiwanese people are just like Palauans,” she said. “We are warm, we demonstrate hospitality, and we are Pacific people.”
She added that Taiwan looks forward to working with Palau and other like-minded partners to maintain a secure, stable and peaceful region.
The vice president’s remarks come amid continued strategic competition between the United States and China in the Indo-Pacific, where Pacific island nations such as Palau have become increasingly important partners in regional security, development and diplomatic engagement…. PACNEWS
FIJI – POLITICS: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 2: Mon 15 Jun 2026
Cautious support for all-women party in Fiji
SUVA, 15 JUNE 2026 (FIJI SUN) — Discussions about forming an all-women political party in Fiji have drawn cautious support from Opposition MP Premila Kumar and Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre coordinator Shamima Ali, but both say the road to Parliament for women remains steep.
The reactions came after activist Judy Compain posted on social media over the weekend that a group had discussed forming an all-women political party whose sole promise would be to “just get things done”.
Kumar said the idea was not a bad one but pointed to sobering figures from the 2022 General Election.
“Only 55 women out of 316 candidates stood for election,” she said.
“Out of 55, only five women made it into Parliament.”
She said the bigger challenge was that even when women stood for election, they did not receive enough votes, despite more women turning out to vote than men in 2022.
“It’s a clear indication that if one is relying on women to vote for women, it’s not going to happen, because this is what the statistics tell us,” Kumar said.
She nonetheless encouraged women to step forward, saying those with conviction and a desire to improve people’s lives should approach a political party and contest elections.
Ali said she would support an all-women party in principle but cautioned against rushing the idea.
“It can’t be just a reaction,” she said.
“It has to be well thought out, well discussed and there has to be a manifesto that is people-centred and respects human rights.”
She said the biggest barrier to women entering politics remained patriarchy, including the financial disadvantages women faced when campaigning.
“Women don’t have the economic power, they don’t have the finances to campaign in the same way men do,” Ali said.
She called for temporary special measures, such as reserved seats, to help build a critical mass of women in leadership.
Currently, only five women sit in Fiji’s 55-seat Parliament…. PACNEWS
PAC – IMMIGRATION/BORDER SECURITY: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS 2: Mon 15 Jun 2026
Strict high-tech screening at Fiji airport, call for border agencies to embrace innovation
SUVA, 15 JUNE 2026 (FIJI TIMES) — International travellers face strict new high-tech security screening before boarding flights, under a border protection hit designed to intercept global syndicate drug mules.
The Fiji Ministry of Immigration is finalising a sophisticated electronic intelligence system forcing inbound passengers to submit deep-level personal data before departure.
The mandatory digital tracking system integrates the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) and Passenger Name Record (PNR) data to build comprehensive traveller profiles.
Minister for Immigration Viliame Naupoto confirmed the enhanced border system was in its final operational stages, with commercial vendors bidding for a tender.
The dual-layered data surveillance directly targets international narcotics trafficking.
It scans individual passenger histories, booking timelines, and digital footprints to identify high-risk anomalies.
Immigration officials will receive the intelligence data before aircraft leave foreign runways.
This allows local authorities to isolate suspect targets well before landing.
Tourists and business travellers will experience seamless entry, while the automated grid isolates individuals showing irregular patterns.
“Once the tender has been awarded, we will be able to sign a contract with the vendor for the system,” he said.
He highlighted that the system would zero in on persons of interest to help fight the war against drugs.
“API tells us who is travelling, and PNR gives a little story of the traveller.
“When you combine the two, the system will flag who we need to pay more attention to, allowing genuine travellers to pass effortlessly.”
Meanwhile, global conflicts and climate change are putting unprecedented pressure on Pacific borders, forcing a rapid modernisation of regional immigration systems to counter complex criminal networks.
Speaking at the 30th Pacific Immigration Development Community (PIDC) conference in Suva last week, Immigration Minister Viliame Naupoto issued a sharp call to action for regional border agencies to embrace innovation and tighter cooperation.
Naupoto warned that economic and geopolitical turmoil thousands of kilometres away was directly impacting the Pacific, driving up visa applications, humanitarian demands and strain on labour programmes.
He stressed that immigration had evolved from a secondary administrative duty into a core pillar of national stability and growth.
“Immigration work has never been more important than it is today,” Naupoto said.
“It is no longer a peripheral issue, but a central issue to our country’s development, prosperity and security.
With global migrant numbers reaching a record 304 million mid-last year, he said the Pacific must navigate both the economic benefits of human mobility and its underlying security risks.
While tourism and labour mobility continue to boost local livelihoods, they also expose the region to shifting criminal tactics.
“Today’s threats are more complex,” Naupoto said.
“Human trafficking, migrant smuggling, fraudulent documents, cyber-enabled crime, and the exploitation of vulnerable people. These threats demand that we must work together.”
To stay ahead of organised crime, the minister urged border agencies to quickly adopt modern tools such as digital identity markers, biometrics, automation and artificial intelligence.
However, he said technological upgrades must be matched by legal reforms and regional unity.
Following a recent meeting of Pacific police commissioners, Naupoto noted that immigration must remain tightly integrated into the broader regional security architecture.
Closing the historic 30th anniversary meeting of the PIDC, the minister called on delegates to resolve regional challenges through the traditional Pacific framework of talanoa, a practice rooted in deep, respectful listening.
“The spirit of talanoa is founded on active listening.
“Listening not merely to respond but to understand through the conversations that arise from the stories we tell and the experiences we share,” he said…. PACNEWS
PNG – POLITICS: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS 2: Mon 15 Jun 2026
Parties must shift focus to policy-driven governance: PNG PM
PORT MORESBY, 15 JUNE 2026 (THE NATIONAL) — Political parties must become functional institutions that ensure policy-driven governance is able to last for generations, says Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape.
Marape, the Pangu Pati leader, said his political party, founded on 13 June 1967, was one that laid the foundation of the country’s journey toward independence and still remains relevant today.
“Political parties must not be personalised as they do not belong to one person,” the four-term Tari-Pori MP said.
“Pangu Pati must be bigger than James Marape.
“We owe it to the memories and the work of those who came before us to get it right and to pass on our party so it remains viable and usable by generations of Papua New Guineans who will come after us.
“We are structuring the party in a way that it outlives James Marape and all current office holders.
“The party must regenerate and rejuvenate beyond the present status quo.”
Marape made these remarks at the opening of the 28th Pangu Pati national convention in Port Moresby last week.
He said it was held in accordance with the party constitution and the Organic Law on the Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates (Olippac), with party representatives from all 21 provinces and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.
He clarified that the convention was not about candidate selection for General Election 2027, but about reviewing the party’s performance, policies and structures while preparing the next generation of leaders.
“We are not collecting candidates as yet,” he said.
“This is not a meeting for candidate selection. This is a meeting for preparing the party, reviewing what we have done, what is outstanding and what we must do.”
Marape said the Pangu Pati-led Government had introduced the revised Olippac, passed by Parliament with an 83-0 vote on March 24, to improve and strengthen the country’s political party system.
“Our government introduced legislative reforms requiring that at least 10 per cent of candidates endorsed by political parties be women.
“We will fulfil the law that we ourselves enacted.
“We want to see more women participating in leadership and decision-making because our country is stronger when women have a greater voice in shaping its future,” he said…. PACNEWS
GUAM – OCEAN RESEARCH: PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES PACNEWS 2: Mon 15 Jun 2026
Guam’s ocean research, reef protection programmes facing shutdown in FY2027
HAGATNA, 15 JUNE 2026 (PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES) — Guam’s marine science and conservation initiatives are facing termination amid the Trump administration’s proposal to abolish dozens of research and grant programmes under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
NOAA’s proposed budget is cut by US$1 billion in fiscal 2027, leaving key environmental programmes on the chopping block.
“It will affect Guam hugely,” said Dr Laurie Raymundo, director of the Marine Laboratory at the University of Guam.
“We need federal funding to help us manage and protect our natural resources, particularly in this period of rapidly changing climate, warming seas, human migration, and increasingly severe typhoons,” she added.
Among the initiatives slated for termination are funding pipelines for Guam’s ocean-related programmes, including the National Sea Grant College Program, the Coral Reef Conservation Program, Coastal Zone Management Grants, Habitat Conservation and Restoration, and climate-centric programmes.
“Much of our conservation, marine management, and research has been funded by NOAA—this programme specifically—for decades,” Raymundo said.
The elimination of research, monitoring and resilience programs constitutes a sweeping part of NOAA’s US$4.54 billion budget request, which is stamped with Donald Trump’s climate and environmental policy shift.
“This is consistent with the administration’s utter refusal to acknowledge climate change and the role of human activities in environmental degradation and the complete lack of concern about the devastating effects environmental carelessness has on our very own health and well-being,” Raymundo said.
The biology professor is a pioneer in coral reef restoration and coral disease research on Guam. In 2019, she launched Guam’s first coral reef nursery dedicated to restoring staghorn Acropora corals.
NOAA’s budget request proposes the termination of its US$33.7 million Coral Reef Conservation Program, which funds reef monitoring, coral disease response and local conservation efforts.
“This will hurt badly and is very, very irresponsible,” Raymundo said, noting that Guam has the nation’s most diverse coral reef systems.
Guam is nationally recognised as the Coral Reef Research Centre,
Also, at risk of abolition is the UOG Cenre for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant, the regional hub of sustainability research and community outreach.
NOAA proposes to zero out its $80.3 million allocation for the National Sea Grant College Program, jeopardizing UOG Sea Grant’s projects that support community resilience projects and aquaculture development in Guam and the Pacific island region.
Austin Shelton, Sea Grant director, has not responded to the Pacific Island Times’ request for comment.
It is not currently clear how the looming budget slash would affect new research projects recently selected for a two-year grant, including stormwater management, groundwater pollution, coral reef conservation and coastal erosion protection.
Last month, six research projects were picked for the 2026–2028 UOG Sea Grant Competitive Research Funding, with more than US$709,000 in grants awarded through the National Sea Grant College Programme.
Raymundo’s research, “Transitioning the Malesso Coral Ocean Nursery to a Nursery and Spawning Hub,” is among the projects selected for the current grant cycle.
“We rely—and successfully compete for—grant funding from NOAA’s Reef Conservation Program for research that directly supports management and conservation initiatives and practices for Guam,” she said.
“Our NOAA colleagues have meaningful careers and have dedicated their lives to coral reef conservation. And many will suddenly be jobless. It is excruciating to watch,” she added.
NOAA’s budget proposal would also seal the shutdown of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System, a network of instruments that collect data critical to wave monitoring, coastal inundation alerts, weather forecasting and typhoon readiness.
“We rely heavily on data that comes out of NOAA, tracking sea surface temperatures, weather, and ocean water parameters,” Raymundo said.
The Trump administration has announced plans to dismantle the ocean monitors, contradicting the U.S House of Representatives’ move earlier this year to reauthorize the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act for five fiscal years, with an annual funding of US$56 million.
The planned demolition of the ocean observation infrastructure network comes on the brink of what ocean scientists predict to be one of the worst El Niño cycles in a century.
The National Weather Service Guam forecasts up to seven more storms hitting the Pacific islands.
Landon Aydlett, a meteorologist at NWS Guam, acknowledged the unpredictability of the budget process but assured Guam and other Pacific communities that “our impact on the community is going to remain the same, if not stronger in the future.”
“The weather service’s goal is to be flexible, nimble and eye-to-eye with our partners. We intend to double down on that, especially in the Western North Pacific, working with our homeland security partners, not just on Guam, but also in the CNMI and across all of Micronesia,” Aydlett said at a recent press briefing.
Veronica Verde, external affairs officer at the Federal Emergency Management Agency Region 9, said the agency remains focused on readiness and supporting communities before, during and after disasters.
“Weather forecasts and warnings remain critical tools that help emergency managers,” Verde said. “We continue to coordinate with our federal and territory and local partners to prepare.”
While retreating from marine conservation tasks, NOAA enhances its focus on the core weather mission.
The agency is requesting an additional US$2 million, for a total of US$500 million, to fund development of the next-generation geostationary satellites, Geostationary Extended Observations.
“GeoXO will meet essential observation needs to support weather forecasting and severe storm warnings and is committed to leveraging the innovation and capabilities of the commercial industry, including the adoption of commercial best practices and technology where possible,” the budget document states…. PACNEWS
PACIFIC – ANTI CORRUPTION: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS 2: Mon 15 Jun 2026
Journalists hold key role
SUVA, 15 JUNE 2026 (FIJI TIMES) — The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) says journalists remain central to strengthening accountability and exposing corruption across the Pacific.
UNODC Head of Office and Regional Anti-Corruption Adviser Marie Pegie Cauchois said journalism played a vital role by highlighting regional progress while exposing ongoing challenges.
“There are things that are going well, but also some of the challenges that the country is facing, and some of the things that need to be done,” Ms Cauchois said.
She said corruption reporting required specialist skills, technical expertise and reliable funding, which were often limited in Pacific newsrooms.
She stated the media must go beyond reporting initial allegations by following through on outcomes to help the public track corruption cases.
“It is about having proper information, giving it out there, and then continuing the discussions. What happened? What are the cases? What was the outcome?”
Cauchois called for stronger cooperation between journalists and anti-corruption watchdogs.
“Journalists are there to help out.
“They are to there call out. It is important that this partnership is working.”
She concluded that a massive achievement was reached when investigative reporting triggers real regulatory changes or official investigations…. PACNEWS
PAC – MEDIA: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS 2: Mon 15 Jun 2026
Newsrooms urged to support female reporters
PORT MORESBY, 15 JUNE 2026 (THE NATIONAL) — Newsrooms in the Pacific need to build systems that can help female media personnel progress in their career, says a journalist.
Fiji Broadcasting Corporation (FBC) senior multimedia journalist Litia Cava speaking during the Pacific Media Partnership Conference in Port Moresby held recently said women did not have to do more than their male counterparts to get the same benefits and enjoy and the same career progress.
“I think it also falls on newsrooms, they need to build systems which ensure that women progress through training, mentorship and creating clear pathways in terms of the leadership roles,” Cava said.
“I think that way women, especially young ones would come into the media industry and stay.”
Pacific Local Journalism Network-PNG reporter Belinda Kora also emphasised the need for creating pathways, policies and conducive environment for women in media…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
FIJI – TOURISM INDUSTRY: FIJI SUN PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 15 Jun 2026
Digital tool eases tax reporting burden for Fiji tourism operators
SUVA, 15 JUNE 2026 (FIJI SUN) — Hotels and resorts facing imminent Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) VAT Monitoring System (VMS) compliance deadlines now have access to a sector-specific solution designed to avoid costly hardware upgrades and manual reporting.
The new digital platform is expected to ease compliance pressures on accommodation providers as FRCS VMS implementation deadlines approach for the tourism sector this year.
Counterpoint Group has secured FRCS V3 accreditation for its CP VMS platform.
Counterpoint Group director Craig Smith said accommodation providers relied on specialised booking platforms that operated differently from standard retail point-of-sale systems.
“CP VMS was built specifically to bridge this gap. It acts as a secure, automated conduit directly to the FRCS Tax Core portal, allowing hoteliers to meet their tax reporting obligations without disrupting daily guest operations or needing to purchase expensive new hardware,” Smith said.
The integration makes Hotel Link one of the first bespoke global Property Management System (PMS) platforms to automate VMS compliance for Fiji’s accommodation sector.
Under FRCS Phase 3 implementation timelines, accommodation providers face upcoming registration and compliance deadlines.
Unlike traditional retail businesses, resorts and hotels manage complex financial transactions, including advance deposits, split payments and booking refunds, making manual tax reporting a significant operational challenge.
Through a cloud-based integration, the system automatically transmits required financial data in real time, reducing the risk of human error and eliminating the need for manual intervention.
Since 2015, Counterpoint Group has provided digital tourism technology solutions across the Oceania-Pacific region, helping accommodation providers and tour operators improve efficiency and grow their businesses.
The company specialises in strategic marketing, custom software development, digital transformation and the adoption of Google Workspace and Gemini AI.
It also supports operators through a suite of booking management platforms featuring direct booking capabilities, channel management and integrated guest payment processing systems…. PACNEWS
FIJI – CHILD LABOUR: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 15 Jun 2026
Fiji Employment Ministry warns against child exploitation
SUVA, 15 JUNE 2026 (FIJI TIMES) — Parents and guardians must not allow income-generating activities to interfere with their children’s education, Fiji’s Permanent Secretary for Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations Jone Maritino Nemani says.
Responding to growing public concern over children selling roti parcels, muffins and other goods at night, Nemani reminded families that while children can participate in small business activities, the law places strict limits on work involving minors.
“However, there is a clear line in the law. If work is affecting a child’s schooling, homework, study time, attendance, rest or academic performance, then it is not acceptable,” he said.
Nemani said the Employment Relations Act 2007 permits children aged 13 to 15 years to perform only light work, provided it does not harm their health, development or education.
“A child’s primary responsibility is to learn. Their future depends on education. No child should be placed in a situation where earning income becomes more important than completing homework, preparing for examinations or getting enough rest before school.”
He warned parents and guardians to watch for signs that work may be negatively affecting a child’s education.
“If a child is regularly returning home late, missing study time, struggling to complete homework, arriving at school tired or showing declining academic performance, those are warning signs that the arrangement may not be in the child’s best interests and may not comply with the law.”
Nemani stressed that the responsibility for providing for children rests with adults, not children themselves.
“A child does not choose to be born. It is the fundamental responsibility of parents and guardians to provide for their children’s needs, including food, shelter, education and care. Parents must never shift that responsibility onto their children.”
He added that it was unacceptable for capable adults to rely on children to generate household income.
“It is unacceptable for adults to send children out to work, sell goods or beg for money while they remain at home and are capable of providing for their families themselves. Children should not be carrying the financial burden of a household.”
Nemani also reminded employers and business operators of their legal obligations under the Employment Relations Act to ensure that any work performed by children complies with the law.
“The law is designed to protect children. Education must never be sacrificed for income, no matter how well-intentioned the arrangement may be.”
As Fiji marked World Day Against Child Labour on 12 June, Nemani said protecting children’s right to education was critical to the country’s future.
“The future of our nation depends on the education of our children. Homework, learning and school attendance must always come before work. No child should have their future compromised because income has taken priority over education,” he said…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
BBNJ Agreement is not about competition, but collective nurturing
Op-ed by the Pacific Ocean Commissioner, Dr Filimon Manoni
KOROR, 15 JUNE 202 (OPOC) — In New York early this year, the global community witnessed the completion of the third and final Preparatory Commission (PrepCom3) to lay the platform for the first Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Biological Diversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, which is due to be held in early January 2027.
PrepCom3 saw our Pacific negotiators working down to the wire to reach consensus on how to facilitate the smooth operationalization of the Agreement at the first BBNJ COP. Many issues were resolved, while some areas will need further negotiation at the inaugural gathering. Pacific negotiators expertly navigated difficult waters, showing flexibility and agility to ensure global readiness for COP1.
As Pacific Ocean Commissioner, I have seen first-hand how delegates from the Pacific region have consistently approached the BBNJ negotiations and lead-up processes with a genuine interest in a robust regime. This was done through a cohesive and truly unified regional bloc approach, fostering the region’s unique defining issues, exemplary political leadership by Forum Leaders and dedication by our negotiators. The central regional positioning, on issues defining challenges and opportunities for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), include access and benefit sharing; equity in terms of monetary and non- monetary benefits and representation through various bodies; furthering the interests of Indigenous peoples, local communities and traditional knowledge; accessible financing mechanisms; and ocean protection and management. The region’s priorities echoed loudly throughout the halls of the UN at these BBNJ negotiations.
To support our Pacific delegates in the global negotiations, the Office of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner (OPOC) has, through support from Australia, facilitated the participation of close to a hundred Pacific delegates to attend the Intergovernmental Conference and Preparatory Commission processes in the last decade. The investment and time dedicated by our Pacific delegates, including those in our New York-based Missions, has been instrumental for the past decade and crucial to the region’s success.
This has been driven through a concerted effort with the Forum Leaders continuing to play a direct hand and role in terms of providing the guidance and mandate for the Pacific delegations attending the BBNJ process. The Forum Leaders’ mandate on BBNJ dates back to 2016. In 2023, the Forum Leaders’ annual communique acknowledged the conclusion of the negotiations on the global BBNJ Agreement and encouraged Members to sign the Agreement. In 2024 and 2025, the Forum Leaders’ communique mandated OPOC as the coordinating lead for the regional organisations and members of the Pacific Ocean Alliance (POA) to support members in the signature, ratification and implementation of the BBNJ agreement.
Although the BBNJ Agreement has come at a time when the utility of multilateralism is being constantly questioned, the speed at which the agreement moved from “endorsement” in September of 2023 to “entry into force” in January of 2026 signals that multilateralism is very much alive, and is evidence of a near universal commitment to closing management gaps in areas beyond national jurisdiction. As the Preparatory Commission concluded on Thursday 03 April, 88 countries had ratified the
BBNJ Agreementt, including eight countries from the Pacific Islands region. It seems the world will see more ratifications from our region in order to have a stronger say at the upcoming COP processes. It’s in the interest of the entire region for Pacific countries to ratify the BBNJ Agreement, as doing so will allow for a more robust and accountable intergovernmental process.
The entry into force of the BBNJ Agreement is a major step forward in ocean governance. It helps us to finally close management gaps through a robust international legal framework covering ocean spaces that had remained ungoverned for too long – areas that many have called the “wild wild west” of the ocean.
The BBNJ regime is a call for activating collaboration among the different sectoral high seas regimes, including the IMO, Regional Fisheries Management bodies (RFMOs), the regional seas programme, the International Seabed Authority (ISA), and member states’ continental shelf claims, among others. The most pressing hurdle for BBNJ, as the “new kid on the block,” is to get these different longstanding regimes to come together and operate as an integrated system of governance that’s cognizant of the General Assembly mandate, all while ensuring that the BBNJ Agreement does not undermine existing instruments.
Now, with the overwhelming momentum of the BBNJ behind us, we in the Pacific cannot rest on our laurels. We must ensure the political leadership creates the enabling environment to foster collaboration in the interest of our region. It could be the case that a resolve would be for these sectors to gather on a frequent basis with the help of the regional architecture to define the roles they each play in this modern seascape. In such conversations, finding the right balanced approach must be prioritized in order for the highly contested areas to become areas of nurturing rather than competition.
For the Pacific, the entry into force of the BBNJ Agreement is a critical piece of the puzzle that helps our region fully realise the narrative of the “Blue Pacific Continent,” which was adopted by our Forum Leaders in 2017. It is an instrument that seeks to level the playing field by promoting equity, fairness and opportunity for SIDS. The high seas areas that lay between our national jurisdictions can now really serve as the connectors of the different pieces of the “continental blue economy” puzzle.
As the BBNJ Agreement treaty comes into force, it creates an important opportunity for the region. If anything, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Pacific win on getting through Sustainable Development Goal (SDG14) on the ocean proves the success of Pacific diplomacy, that with the right political will and leadership, solidarity and persistence, anything is achievable. And so here, we must pay tribute to our Pacific Leaders for their vision and wisdom.
The vision is that, through the BBNJ Agreement, the high seas areas in our part of the world – which hold major ecological, economic and social value – can now be harnessed across our respective national zones as a connected maritime estate or whole “blue economy.” It is widely known that the Pacific peoples have long carried a legacy of moral stewardship and custodianship of these large ocean spaces. The protection and management of the ocean is a life-giving action and must be recognised by the world and the global community. We are safeguarding a body of the ocean that covers more than half of the planet, and that directly supports the vital services that humanity and all life on Earth rely on.
A very good example of success is how well the Pacific is managing fisheries, contributing 50 percent-60 percent of the global tuna supply, thereby providing food security and nutrition to communities across the globe. In fact, our regional experts often refer to our ocean as the “biggest blue lung” and endowment of the planet.
This understanding of Pacific peoples’ stewardship requires strategic elevation, as well as significant “blue financing” for the “continental blue economy.” We must also link the power of ocean connectivity with other key thematic areas of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, such as climate change in its many facets, fisheries development, disaster, peace and security and socio-economic development. The BBNJ Agreement in this manner supports the 2050 Strategy and its implementation by addressing the protection and management of the region’s largest natural capital and endowment, our Pacific Ocean, in addition to supporting the other 2050 Strategy themes.
It is high time for the Pacific as a region to see the opportunity ushered in by the BBNJ Agreement as a new blue frontier to be harnessed – and to unlock the real intergenerational prosperity that our region deserves.
To make this a reality, a shift must happen. With the exception of fisheries, the ocean has for far too long been on the periphery of our regional discourse. We, as the Pacific region, must all agree to situate the ocean as the region’s largest natural capital at the very heart of the regional agenda and regionalism. As Pacific Ocean Commissioner, I remain committed to delivering on this vision, first and foremost by realising this new frontier enabled through the BBNJ Agreement and the mega financing it deserves.
I also look earnestly to deliver on the mandate vested in me by the Forum Leaders. The involvement of OPOC in coordinating the regional machinery to support our Pacific members has been exemplary; it should serve as a blueprint for future regional coordinating machineries. This is definitely a machinery that is needed as we look ahead to the implementation phase. And so, I call upon our CROP Teams, the POA and all partners from within and beyond our region to work closely with my office through the BBNJ coordination mechanism so we may continue to support our Members in turning the ocean aspirations of our Blue Pacific Continent into reality…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
EU and SPREP launch Pacific European Union Marine Partnership Phase II to strengthen Pacific Ocean governance and sustainable fisheries
NADI, 15 JUNE 2026 (SPREP) — The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), in partnership with the European Union Delegation for the Pacific (EU) have officially launched the second phase of the Pacific-European Union Marine Partnership (PEUMP II).
The launch event, on Thursday 11 June 2026 in Nadi, marked a significant step forward in regional efforts to advance the environmental, climate-resilient, economic and social development of Pacific communities, while ensuring the sustainability of the marine resources and ecosystems.
The event was held on the margins of the Regional Workshop on CBD Target 3 Implementation.
SPRED Director for Biodiversity Programme and the Fiji Office, Amena Yauvoli, underscored the critical role of marine resources in sustaining Pacific communities and economies and the importance of partnership and long-term commitment.
“Our marine resources, as we collectively appreciate, are the backbone of our communities, our economies, and our resilience in the face of climate change. The ocean does not recognise boundaries and neither should our commitment,”
Together, we will continue to address key threats to marine species in a shared commitment to protecting the Pacific Ocean.
Kim Edou, representing the European Union Delegation, conveyed the Delegation’s delight in joining SPREP and the country representatives in launching the project.
She emphasised that the PEUMP programme is built on partnerships with the Council of Regional Organisations of the Pacific (CROP) and designed to be fully complementary with EU Member State initiatives in the region namely the Agence Française de Développement’s (AFD) Ocean Initiative and the ocean programmes of the German Development agency, GIZ.
The PEUMP Phase II SPREP project will focus on the three thematic areas: addressing the extinction risk of turtles in the Pacific; mitigating bycatch of key marine species; and support Pacific Parties in their compliance under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
SPREP acknowledges the financial support of the European Union which will enable the delivery of the actions described. I thank the European Union for extending the PEUMP initiative to a second phase, a true testament of the Delegation’s commitment to our shared journey towards a resilient and healthy ocean and environment…. PACNEWS
