In this bulletin:
1. TONGA — Tongan leader backs ‘renewed blood’ as three ministers join Cabinet
2. USA/FIJI — Alleged US$165 million crypto Ponzi scheme mastermind deported from Fiji to U.S
3. PACIFIC — Theologian calls for education rooted in community, ethics and self-review
4. PACIFIC — Pacific young people must shape leadership, UNI Fiji vice-chancellor says
5. FIJI — Fiji urged to strengthen cyber defences as AI-driven threats rise
6. A/SAMOA — NOAA and partners to explore, map deep waters of American Samoa
7. PNG — PNG Government grants citizenship to 27
8. PACNEWS BIZ — Fiji’s $1.1billion food import bill highlights agricultural imbalance
9. PACNEWS BIZ — Taxpayers exposed to $1.33b Fiji Airways debt
10. PACNEWS BIZ — Forum, ADB strengthen cooperation on Pacific priorities
11. PACNEWS BIZ — Speciality private hospital anchors UTOF-FNU investment plan
12. PACNEWS BIZ — Australia-Kiribati Air Services Agreement referred to Treaties Committee
13. PACNEWS BIZ — PNG Opposition views mini budget as key
14. PACNEWS DIGEST — Youth policy and governance gaps in PNG: Supporting collective problem solving
15. PACNEWS DIGEST — Helping Niue Become Disaster-Ready
TONGA – CABINET RESHUFLLE: PMN/ABC PACNEWS 2: Tue 18 Aug 2026
Tongan leader backs ‘renewed blood’ as three ministers join Cabinet
NUKU’ALOFA, 18 AUGUST 2026 (PMN/ABC) —Tonga’s Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua says his new Cabinet marks a shift towards “renewed blood” and new ideas.
The appointments come as three ministers were sworn in following the loss of two Cabinet members through the courts.
Tongatapu One MP Tevita Puloka is the new Minister of Infrastructure while former Ministry of Finance deputy chief executive, Sivoki Lavemaau, has taken over the Finance portfolio.
Former Ministry of Health chief executive, Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola, is the new Health Minister.
Lavemaau and ‘Akau’ola have been appointed from outside Parliament as allowed under Tonga’s Constitution.
The changes follow the removal of two former Cabinet ministers after the courts found them guilty of offences linked to the 2025 general election.
Lavemaau is among the youngest ministers in Tonga’s history and brings experience from within the Finance Ministry where she previously served as deputy chief executive.
Her appointment has also been welcomed by women’s and youth organisations in Tonga.
The Women and Children Crisis Centre (WCCC) says having a woman lead the Finance Ministry sends an important message to the next generation.
“The appointment of a woman at the head of the Ministry of Finance is an important signal to young women and girls about opportunities for leadership.”
Youth leadership network Take The Lead also welcomed Lavemaau’s appointment, highlighting her age and experience and saying she should be given the opportunity to prove herself in the role.
The organisation says she becomes “the youngest person to hold the Finance portfolio” and should be given the opportunity to demonstrate her leadership.
Fakafanua told ABC Pacific Beat that Lavemaau’s appointment reflects his push to bring younger people and new thinking into government.
“It’s a bit of a change in gear, looking at renewed blood, new ideas, and also empowering the youth, which is something that I’ve been advocating for for many years.”
Fakafanua says she was one of several young candidates considered for the role before being chosen to lead the ministry.
“She was one of a few young candidates that we had a look at and I think we landed on our best, on the best minister of finance,” he told the network. “Just happens to be a woman but very capable one.”
He says her experience preparing the national budget was also important.
“She has a history of working within the government ministry at finance itself as a deputy CEO. And she’s been in charge of drafting the budget and after speaking to the potential candidates for finance, I think that we have a winner.”
The Prime Minister says the appointments were made now rather than waiting for by-elections in October because key government portfolios needed permanent ministers.
“It didn’t seem necessary to wait until the by-elections in October to fill some of these portfolios, especially the ones in finance and infrastructure, they’re very essential that we have someone take over as soon as possible,” Fakafanua told the ABC.
Former Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni has also been moved from Health to become Minister for Public Enterprises and Tourism.
Tourism was previously held by former Tongatapu Two MP Semisi Sika, who lost his seat after being found guilty of misreporting campaign funds.
Fakafanua says the reshuffle was always expected as his government worked to fill the vacancies.
“There was ultimately going to be a reshuffle once we fill the vacant posts within government. And I’m happy that now we have a full cabinet.”
He says ‘Akau’ola brings valuable experience to the Health portfolio, having previously led the Ministry of Health.
“He has both those experiences that he brings to the table. And I think he’s very capable of pushing forward a lot of the reforms that we have, especially with the challenges faced in health.”
The Prime Minister says there is currently no medical professional elected to Parliament, making ‘Akau’ola’s experience particularly important as Tonga works on health reforms.
Tonga’s Constitution allows the Prime Minister to appoint up to four Cabinet ministers from outside Parliament while Cabinet is limited to 12 members, including the Prime Minister.
Lavemaau and ‘Akau’ola join Crown Prince Tupouto’a as the three unelected members of Cabinet.
The three new ministers are expected to be formally sworn into the House following their Cabinet induction.
Fakafanua says he now wants the three ministers to get straight to work.
“Finance is the engine room of any government. And I wish her all the best and thank her for taking the challenge as well as new Minister of Infrastructure and new Minister of Health. They’re both very capable of doing the job.”
By-elections for the vacant Tongatapu Two and Niua 17 seats are scheduled for 8 October…..PACNEWS
USA/FIJI – CRYPTO INVESTMENT SCHEME: PACNEWS/DOJ PACNEWS 2: Tue 18 Aug 2026
Alleged US$165 million crypto Ponzi scheme mastermind deported from Fiji to U.S
GAINESVILLE/SUVA, 18 AUGUST 2026 (PACNEWS/DOJ)—An American man accused of masterminding a US$165 million cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme has been deported from Fiji to the United States to face federal fraud and money laundering charges.
Edward Zimbardi, 59, of Flowery Branch, Georgia, was deported on 14 August 2026 after Fijian authorities were alerted to the charges against him, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.
Zimbardi is accused of operating a scheme known as “The Crypto Program” between June 2022 and August 2023, allegedly convincing thousands of investors to put money into advertising packages with a promised 25 percent monthly return.
Prosecutors allege investors were instructed to transfer cryptocurrency into digital wallets secretly controlled by Zimbardi.
Together, thousands of investors allegedly transferred more than US$165 million into those wallets.
Instead of using the money to purchase advertising packages, prosecutors allege Zimbardi lost more than US$34 million through risky foreign currency trading.
He is also accused of using money from new investors to pay earlier investors in an effort to keep the scheme operating.
Prosecutors further allege that Zimbardi spent at least US$10 million on personal expenses, including a house for his son, luxury vehicles and alimony payments to his former wife.
The scheme collapsed in August 2023, with investors losing their funds.
According to U.S authorities, Zimbardi subsequently travelled to Hawaii, Fiji and other locations before fleeing to Fiji in July 2025 after learning of the FBI investigation.
He remained in Fiji for more than a year.
Authorities said Zimbardi cancelled plans to attend his son’s wedding in Virginia in May 2026 after suspecting FBI agents would try to arrest him there.
Following coordination between Fijian authorities, the FBI and the U.S Department of State, Zimbardi was deported to the United States on 14 August.
He is due to appear before a federal magistrate judge in Los Angeles, California, with the U.S Government expected to seek his detention pending further proceedings in the Northern District of Georgia.
Zimbardi was indicted on 08 July 2026 on 12 counts of wire fraud, 12 counts of money laundering and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
U.S Attorney Theodore Hertzberg said Zimbardi allegedly deceived thousands of people with promises of large returns before using their money for risky investments and personal expenses.
“Zimbardi allegedly tricked thousands of people to invest in his ‘Crypto Program’ with false promises of enormous returns. Instead, he spent the money on risky currency trades, payments to early investors, and treating himself to a house and expensive vehicles,” Hertzberg said.
FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Marlo Graham said Zimbardi allegedly fled thousands of miles to the South Pacific after the scheme collapsed.
“Scammers are trying everything they can to defraud people out of their hard-earned money, but the FBI is doing everything we can to make sure they don’t succeed, no matter where they hide,” Graham said.
The case involved cooperation from several agencies in Fiji and the United States, including the Fiji Ministry of Immigration, Fiji Police Force, the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service at the U.S. Embassy in Suva, the FBI, U.S Securities and Exchange Commission and U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
People who invested in The Crypto Program have been encouraged to provide information to the FBI as authorities continue their investigation and prepare for further proceedings, including potential restitution.
The U.S Attorney’s Office stressed that the indictment contains allegations only. Zimbardi is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court…..PACNEWS
PAC – EDUCATION: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS 2: Tue 18 Aug 2026
Theologian calls for education rooted in community, ethics and self-review
SUVA, 18 AUGUST 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS) —A Pacific theologian and educator has called for a fundamental rethink of education systems in the region, saying they must move beyond employment, imported standards and narrow disciplines to become community-based, ethical and healing.
Dr Upolu Luma Vaai, Vice Chancellor at Pasifika Communities University, said education institutions had a responsibility to train leaders for the future but questioned whether they were doing justice to that mission.
“Are we doing justice to that mission and to that mission as educators, as education institutions?” Vaai asked during the 2nd Pasifika Philosophies Leadership Weaving Futures Conference
Speaking from three perspectives, “as a village poet,” “as an educator” and “as a theologian,” Vaai outlined four principles for education in the Pacific: self-review, community-based learning, multi-skilling and ethical education.
Vaai said education must begin with an honest examination of the systems and people it was intended to serve, including the effects of colonialism within Pacific institutions.
“Most of us in the Pacific we are really proud to say that the ocean is us, and the ocean is in us,” Vaai said.
“But hardly do we say that about colonialism in us.”
Pacific education had addressed colonial systems and structures since the 1960s and 1970s, Vaai said, but decolonisation had focused too heavily on social ills while paying less attention to personal flaws and immoralities that contribute to them.
“We have to decolonise ourselves first before we point to the decolonisation of others,” Vaai said.
That required curricula that taught people to recognise their own limitations, manage power and examine the ego, Vaai said. Leadership, the professor added, must include the ability to listen and to conduct self-assessment.
Vaai also challenged education systems to reconsider how they define inclusion. Creating access to speaking spaces was important, but it was not enough, the professor said.
“When we are given that space, are you able to manage yourself within that space respectfully in a way?” Vaai asked.
“Are you able to deal with the complexities, with the contradictions of relations when you are given that space?”
The second principle, community-based education, would require a shift from learning knowledge as something foreign to children towards ownership of knowledge, Vaai said.
“A child walks into the environment. It’s not his or her environment. It’s someone else’s environment that was forced upon a child, taught in English,” Vaai said.
Vaai referred to information received from leaders in Samoa about a reported failure rate of almost 90 percent in Year 8 mathematics and 13,000 students dropping out of school between Year 8 and Year 12 over the previous two to three years. Vaai said the figures had not been checked in detail and did not present them as a definitive explanation of school failure.
The professor argued that education must return to communities and create environments in which students could take ownership of learning.
“If you let the child own that knowledge, that child will thrive,” Vaai said.
Community-based education also had implications for research. Vaai criticised researchers who spend only weeks or months in communities, claim expertise in community knowledge, publish the findings, and never return to give something back.
“It’s still an extractive business that we are in,” he said.
Research in Pacific communities must also recognise that knowledge is not automatically available to outsiders, Vaai said. Some knowledge is free, while other knowledge is closed and belongs to particular families.
Vaai questioned whether academic excellence in the Pacific should continue to be measured primarily through British accreditation standards.
“Our accreditation system in the Pacific is still British,” Vaai said. “Can we have our own education standards, standards that are based and grounded on our values?”
The third principle, multi-skilling education, would respond to the realities of Pacific communities, where people often perform several roles rather than work within a single discipline.
“In the community, many of us are multitasking,” Vaai said. “We need multi-skills in the community.”
Vaai described moving between roles as a farmer, carpenter and helper when working in communities, and called for education to become more transdisciplinary and strength-based rather than needs-based.
The final principle was ethical education, including a place for theology, spirituality and faith within institutions.
“We need theology back to the education system,” Vaai said.
Vaai criticised what was described as a colonial division between secular education and spiritual or church education, arguing that institutions must weave together institutional knowledge and ethical knowledge.
The professor called for consideration of a Pacific ethics framework to guide leaders on issues including mining and other matters affecting the region, with ethics grounded in Pacific cultures and shaped by local issues.
Vaai also questioned narrow definitions of accountability, saying the term was often linked to economic measures, growth, and money, while overlooking obligations to land, people, and ancestors.
“When we talk about accountability, it normally talks about economic metrics,” Vaai said. “But it hardly talks about accountability to the land, to our people, to our ancestors.”
Education in the Pacific, Vaai said, should be liberated, service-driven and healing. Its purpose should be to serve leaders and communities while helping address the conflict and disconnection that continue in everyday life.
The four principles, self-review, community-based education, multi-skilling and ethical education were presented as a way to weave institutional knowledge together with ethical memory.
“Perhaps we can start with finding first this ethical foundation,” Vaai said.
“What is ethical? What is moral? What is just to us?,” he said…. PACNEWS
PAC – LEADERSHIP: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS 2: Tue 18 Aug 2026
Pacific young people must shape leadership, UNI Fiji vice-chancellor says
SUVA, 18 AUGUST 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS)—Pacific leaders must listen to young people and pursue the common good as the region confronts climate distress, rising inequality, weakened civil society and a loss of trust in government, governance and leadership.
Speaking to an audience at the 2nd Pasifika Philosophies Leadership Weaving Futures Conference, Professor Shaista Shameem, vice-chancellor of The University of Fiji, said the central question was not what leaders thought leadership should be, but what young people wanted from leadership.
“It’s the young people who are the future generations,” she said. “Now we have done our time, and there are a lot of mistakes that my generation has made in terms of the environment.”
Shameem said students at The University of Fiji, including students from Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and other places in the Pacific, were “very critical of leadership, of the current leadership.”
“So the main question is: What kind of leadership do young people want?” she asked.
She said young people were asking questions about the global agenda and were interested in ethics, environmental protection, justice and equality. They also focused on collaboration, community, compassion and collective experience.
“What COVID did to young people is something that is not yet properly understood,” Shameem said.
“We have not done the research on it, and we don’t know what the long-term effects have been on young people as a result of COVID, and in the Pacific as much as the rest of the world.”
She pointed to Vanuatu law students who brought an environmental case to the International Court of Justice as an example of the “bravery and courage” of young Pacific people.
“They are the ones who are defining the agenda for us,” she said.
Shameem said Pacific leadership had to be grounded in realities on the ground, including political polarisation, exclusion, weakened civil society and the rise of authoritarianism.
“We have to balance out traditional societies that are collaborative and consensus-based with traditional societies that perhaps unwittingly also practice authoritarianism, just like any other society in the world,” she said.
She identified several principles for leadership: pursuing the common good; recognising power imbalances that harm the environment; using emotion as part of reason and logical decision-making; and practising good stewardship as a caretaker and custodian of society.
“Leaders who think that we have a homogeneous society and that one size fits all are not going to last for very long,” Shameem said.
Her blueprint for Pacific leadership included a longer-term view, courageous leadership, mutual appreciation, cultural understanding, listening, cooperation and mutual respect.
She said leaders should look beyond five-year strategic plans and the gross domestic product model, arguing that unpaid labour by women was productive labour but was not recognised in statistics.
“One of the worst things about how we calculate productivity in society is that we refuse to recognise that what women do as unpaid labour is productive labour,” she said.
Shameem said Pacific communities also had to confront non-communicable diseases, HIV in Fiji, domestic violence, family safety, the rights of children, climate distress, migration and the loss of trust.
“They don’t trust government. They don’t trust governance. They don’t trust leaders,” she said. “And how are we going to recover that?”
Climate distress was causing social problems as well as environmental damage, she said, including the dislocation of people and young people. Migration could appear to be the only solution, but displaced people also had to carry their culture, social systems and understanding into a different context.
Shameem also questioned whether education was serving Pacific national priorities or mainly transferring skills from Fiji to Australia and New Zealand.
“Am I educating for the skills transfer from Fiji to Australia and New Zealand, or are we educating for national priorities here?” she said.
She said the three leadership crises identified by her students were environmental, social, and trust. Pacific leadership, she said, should be culturally collaborative, mutually respectful and based on fiduciary responsibility towards the people.
“Pursue the common good, balancing individual and specific public interests, and finding good communication skills,” Shameem said.
“The question then becomes: at the end, how is this different from the other cultures? And that’s a question that I think we’ll have to leave for another day,” she said…..PACNEWS
FIJI – CYBER SECURITY: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS 2: Tue 18 Aug 2026
Fiji urged to strengthen cyber defences as AI-driven threats rise
SUVA, 18 AUGUST 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS)—Fiji is facing a rapidly evolving cybersecurity threat landscape, with cybercriminals increasingly using artificial intelligence (AI) to launch attacks at greater speed and scale, a regional cybersecurity expert has warned.
Speaking at the Annual Fiji CyberSec Conference in Suva, Chillisoft Group Chief Executive Officer Alex Teh said the Pacific had become a “cyber frontline”, with Fiji increasingly exposed as internet connectivity and digital reliance grow.
Teh said the conference attracted more than 300 registrations, with about 200 people attending, reflecting growing interest in cybersecurity across Fiji.
He said Interpol had identified Fiji as a prime target for Redline malware, a malware-as-a-service tool used to steal information including cryptocurrency wallet details, personal information and sensitive documents.
Teh said the threat was no longer limited to traditional hacking methods, with cybercriminals increasingly using AI-generated phishing, deepfakes and other techniques to manipulate users and gain access to organisations.
He said identity protection had become a critical area of cybersecurity, with attackers increasingly seeking to obtain legitimate credentials rather than breaking through technical defences.
“Identity theft is the new frontier,” Teh said.
He urged organisations to treat multi-factor authentication as a minimum-security measure and to regularly review the privileges given to users, machines and AI systems.
Teh also warned organisations about the risks associated with the growing use of AI, particularly where employees use public or unsanctioned AI platforms and upload confidential information.
“AI is good but unsecure AI is bad,” he said.
He said organisations needed systems and policies to control and manage the use of AI while allowing staff to benefit from the technology securely.
The growing use of AI by cybercriminals was also changing the speed of attacks, he said, with attackers now able to combine multiple AI techniques within a single attack sequence.
Teh said the cybersecurity sector would increasingly need to use AI to defend against AI-powered threats, while strengthening human expertise and security controls.
However, he said Fiji had an opportunity to build a stronger cybersecurity ecosystem and could play a regional leadership role.
Teh highlighted the establishment of Fiji’s Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) and the country’s growing pool of information technology graduates as important assets.
He said Fiji was producing about 1000 IT graduates annually, including around 700 from Fiji National University, providing a potential workforce for the country’s expanding cybersecurity needs.
“We’re actually producing excellent graduates,” Teh said, urging greater opportunities for young professionals to build cybersecurity careers in Fiji.
He also pointed to growing support from the Fijian Government, Australia, the United States and the United Nations as an opportunity to strengthen cybersecurity capabilities across the Pacific.
Teh said partnerships between governments, businesses, universities and international cybersecurity organisations would be critical to developing the skills, infrastructure and response systems needed to protect the region.
The conference brought together cybersecurity specialists from Fiji, Australia and New Zealand, with workshops and panel discussions focused on emerging threats and practical measures to strengthen cyber resilience.
Teh said the growth of the conference — from about 40 participants at its early events to hundreds today — reflected the increasing importance of cybersecurity to Fiji and the wider Pacific.
He said the region could no longer treat cybersecurity as solely an information technology issue, but as a national and regional resilience priority…PACNEWS
A/SAMOA – DEEP SEA EXPEDITIONS: NOAA PACNEWS 2: Tue 18 Aug 2026
NOAA and partners to explore, map deep waters of American Samoa
PAGOPAGO, 18 AUGUST 2026 (NOAA)—NOAA Ocean Exploration and its partners will conduct two expeditions in waters around American Samoa this summer and fall to map and characterise the deep seafloor in the nation’s highest-priority region for offshore critical mineral exploration.
The expeditions will generate publicly available data and information to increase understanding of mineral potential, guide future exploration, and support federal and local decision-making.
These expeditions will take place aboard NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer. The first will take place August through September 2026 using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV). The second expedition will run from late September through October 2026.
Throughout both expeditions, the team will deploy advanced mapping technology and observational sensors.
“NOAA is dedicating our resources to providing scientific research and data that supports commerce,” said NOAA Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Erik Noble.
“We are investing in the thrill of exploration, tying scientific discoveries to data that industry, government and our partners can use to build prosperity, both at home and around the globe.”
Real-time ROV operations will be streamed online daily, providing the public and shore-based scientists a unique window into the deep-sea environment. This data-driven approach is designed to provide authoritative science for decision-makers at federal and local levels. All data gathered will be made publicly available to support critical mineral assessments, future exploration decisions, and broader marine-resource planning.
“The deep waters around American Samoa hold unknown secrets about our ocean, including unmapped habitats and potential mineral resources critical to our national prosperity and security,” said Captain William Mowitt, acting director of NOAA Ocean Exploration.
“By exploring these areas in an open and transparent way, we are providing the authoritative and foundational science that decision-makers and local communities need to responsibly manage the marine environment and its resources,” said Mowitt….PACNEWS
PNG – CITIZENSHIP: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS 2: Tue 18 Aug 2026
PNG Government grants citizenship to 27
PORT MORESBY, 18 AUGUST 2026 (THE NATIONAL)—The Papua New Guinea Government has granted Papua New Guinean citizenship to more than 700 applicants since 2020, according to Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso.
Rosso, the former Immigration and Border Security Minister, said that the recipients included both naturalised citizens and dual citizenship holders who have demonstrated good standing, and contributed meaningfully to communities across the country.
“I take pride in being able to grant the applications, especially to people who have been in our country for years and call it home,” he said.
“I take equal pride in granting applications of Papua New Guineans seeking foreign citizenship, and of those, both foreign nationals and nationals, seeking dual citizenship.
“During my tenure in the ministry, I have granted 734 citizenship applications,” Rosso said.
“From this total, 435 are our brothers and sisters from West Papua.”
He made these remarks during a ceremony in Port Moresby on Friday to welcome 27 new citizens of PNG.
Of the 27, three were naturalised citizens and 17 were dual citizenship holders.
Seven Papua New Guinean citizens were granted the permission to seek dual citizenship with a prescribed country.
Rosso urged the new Immigration and Border Security Minister William Bando, including the Immigration and Citizenship Services Authority (ICSA) and Citizenship Advisory Board, to ensure strict compliance in granting Papua New Guinean citizenship to any applicant.
Bando, who took office last month, said that he would lead ICSA to implement reforms to improve the governance and administration of citizenship matters in the future.
“Your citizenship is now a bond between you and PNG,” he told the 27 new citizens.
“We welcome you with open arms and are grateful for your decision to come and contribute to the development of our country.”
Speaking on behalf of the recipients, Australian-born John Byrne said that they would serve the country as proud Papua New Guineans.
Byrne, who is president of the Lae Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the decision to call the country home was easy as he held the experiences with the people and culture close to his heart.
He was granted dual citizenship after 13 years living in the country. …PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
FIJI – IMPORT BILL: FIJI SUN PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 18 Aug 2026
Fiji’s $1.1billion food import bill highlights agricultural imbalance
SUVA, 18 AUGUST 2026 (FIJI SUN) —Fiji imported approximately $1.106 billion (US$553 million) worth of food in 2023 while exporting only $343.4 million (US$171.7 million) in crop and livestock products, highlighting the country’s heavy reliance on imported food.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka revealed the figures last Friday as he launched the Horizon 2030 National Food System Pathway in Lami.
Rabuka said the country’s food import bill was more than three times the value of its exports, pointing to a container ship he saw arriving in Suva Harbour as he sailed in that morning.
“We saw this big container ship that called once every three months, importing wheat to Fiji,” he said, adding that he had seen breadfruit “laden with fruit” going unused elsewhere.
“A paradox, a paradox, a most ingenious paradox.”
The Prime Minister officially launched three instruments – Horizon 2030, the Fiji Food System Investment Plan Framework, and a Short-Term Investment Plan worth $26.5 million (US$13.25 million) – aimed at cutting Fiji’s reliance on imported food.
The $26.5 million (US$13.25 million) plan will be funded 40 percent by Government, 35 percent by development partner grants, 15 percent by private sector investment and 10 percent through climate finance.
Permanent Secretary for Agriculture Andrew Tukana said 63 percent of Fiji’s youngest children suffer from multidimensional deprivation, while non-communicable diseases account for around 80 percent of deaths in Fiji.
European Union Ambassador Barbara Plinkert said the EU’s agriculture support to Fiji, Samoa and Solomon Islands totalled more than $25 million (US$12.5 million) from 2023 to 2028, with Fijian exporters enjoying duty-free access to the EU’s 450 million consumers.
UN Resident Coordinator Dirk Wagener said nearly a third of the world’s population could not afford a healthy diet, urging Fiji to rely more on local root crops, fish and seafood rather than imported processed food.
Agriculture Minister Tomasi Tunabuna admitted the food system “has not really been planned the way it should have been” and called for greater private and community investment….PACNEWS
FIJI – AIRLINE DEBT: FIJI SUN PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 18 Aug 2026
Taxpayers exposed to $1.33b Fiji Airways debt
SUVA, 18 AUGUST 2026 (FIJI SUN) —The Fiji Government is preparing to put another $200 million (US$100 million) behind Fiji Airways, pushing its total guaranteed debt exposure to $1.33 billion and raising fresh concerns over the financial risks facing taxpayers.
Finance Minister Esrom Immanuel told Parliament that the additional guarantee would increase Government’s guaranteed debt exposure from $1.1315 billion (US$565.75 million) to $1.3315 billion (US$665.75 million), equal to 9.5 percent of Fiji’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The three-year guarantee, effective from 01 August 2026 to June 30, 2029, would allow Fiji Airways to secure additional borrowing without paying a guarantee fee.
“Airline needs the money to deal with immediate cash-flow pressures, including high aviation fuel costs,” Immanuel said.
Of the $200 million (US$100 million), about $123 million (US$1.6.5 million) would replace cash currently tied up as collateral, while another $77 million (US$38.5 million) would provide revolving working capital.
The move comes as Fiji Airways continues to face financial pressure.
The airline suffered a $666 million (US$333 million) cumulative loss during the COVID-19 period before returning to a $121 million (US$60.5 million) profit in 2023.
However, that recovery has since reversed, with the airline recording a $25 million (US$12.5 million) loss in 2024 and an unaudited $42.3 million (US$21.15 million) loss in 2025.
“Its cash reserves also fell sharply, from $256.8 million (US$128.4 million) in 2024 to $135.1 million (US$67.55 million) in 2025,” Immanuel said.
He noted that the situation had been worsened by soaring fuel costs, with Fiji Airways’ fuel bill increasing by $113 million (US$56.5 million) in the second quarter of 2026 alone compared with the same period last year.
But he also warned that Government could not continue supporting the airline indefinitely and said the guarantee should come with measures to strengthen its financial position.
Opposition MP Alvick Maharaj said the Opposition would support the guarantee, but with reservations.
He questioned the airline’s financial management and warned that taxpayers should not be treated as an “open-ended ATM” for a commercial operation.
Maharaj also questioned spending on sponsorships, expansion and other costs while the airline was seeking another government-backed borrowing facility.
Government said Fiji Airways expects to return to sustainable profitability by 2027, supported by cost-cutting measures, route optimisation and other reforms.
But if the airline defaults, the Government would be liable for the guaranteed borrowing…..PACNEWS
PAC- DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES: PACNEWS/PIFS PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 18 Aug 2026
Forum, ADB strengthen cooperation on Pacific priorities
SUVA, 18 AUGUST 2026 (PACNEWS/PIFS)—Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Baron Divavesi Waqa has met with Asian Development Bank Executive Director Cipto Widarto Parjiono to discuss strengthening cooperation on key Pacific development priorities.
The meeting was held on 14 August 2026.
Parjiono represents Armenia, the Cook Islands, Fiji, Indonesia, the Kyrgyz Republic, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa and Tonga on the ADB Board.
Discussions focused on continued collaboration between the ADB and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in areas including climate-resilient infrastructure, disaster risk management, renewable energy and economic resilience.
The meeting reaffirmed the importance of sustained partnerships to support Pacific priorities and advance implementation of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.
The engagement also highlighted the role of regional and development partners in supporting Pacific countries to build resilience and address shared development challenges….PACNEWS
FIJI – INVESTMENT: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 18 Aug 2026
Speciality private hospital anchors UTOF-FNU investment plan
SUVA, 18 AUGUST 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS)—A speciality private hospital is at the centre of a proposed investment of more than FJD$200 million(US$100 million) by UTOF and Fiji National University(FNU).
The project is still subject to technical assessments, final design and regulatory approvals, UTOF chairperson Lavinia Kaumaitotoya said.
The projects will also cover sporting facilities at FNU’s Nasinu site and student accommodation and sports infrastructure at the university’s Marine School in Laucala Bay, Kaumaitotoya said.
The investment figure remains provisional, with the final project scope, hospital capacity and financing structure still to be determined.
“We don’t have the definitive details at the moment. It’s definitely going to be well over 200 million,” Kaumaitotoya said.
“The investment, the details are still yet to be ironed out.”
The proposed private hospital in Nabua, Suva, is expected to be the centrepiece of the partnership.
Kaumaitotoya said the facility would be developed as a speciality hospital to complement Fiji’s existing public medical infrastructure and expand access to higher-standard medical services.
“We’re looking at a specialty private hospital,” she said. The project would support efforts “to ensure that we have global standard medical facilities here in Fiji.”
The agreement brings together FNU’s land, staff and medical training capabilities with UTOF’s investment funds, including capital from its unit holders, Kaumaitotoya said.
She said the partnership aligned with UTOF’s focus on education, health and well-being, while allowing the fund to invest in medical infrastructure and generate returns for unit holders.
“For us in Unit Trust, one of our pillars is education, and also health and well-being,” Kaumaitotoya said.
She described the arrangement as a public-university partnership involving one party with property assets and another with investment capital.
The accommodation component is intended to address a shortage affecting students from Fiji’s maritime communities, other parts of the country and the wider region.
“We are all well aware of the fact of student accommodation, the shortage,” Kaumaitotoya said.
The project aims to provide “quality accommodation to accommodate many of our students,” including local, maritime and regional students.
The developments remain at an early technical stage. UTOF said technical teams would now assess the project’s physical infrastructure, costs, structural requirements and regulatory approvals. The hospital assessment will also cover expensive medical equipment and the types of machines required to operate the facility.
“This is just the technical first stage,” she said. “Now comes the big work,” including work by technical advisers and quantity surveyors, followed by the necessary approvals.
Groundbreaking could take place in less than 18 months if approvals are secured, although the overall process could take between 18 and 24 months, Kaumaitotoya said.
“Technically, when you do a project, it can take up to 18 months to 24 months because you have approvals, documentation, structural approvals, and then groundbreaking,” she said.
The partners intend to rely primarily on local expertise, including FNU’s medical and technical capabilities.
“We believe in FNU. They have the expertise, and we will use our own people,” Kaumaitotoya said.
“This is a made-in-Fiji project,” she said….PACNEWS
AUST – AIR SERVICE AGREEMENT: PACNEWS PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 18 Aug 2026
Australia-Kiribati Air Services Agreement referred to Treaties Committee
CANBERRA, 18 AUGUST 2026 (PACNEWS)—The Agreement between the Governments of Australia and Kiribati on Air Services has been referred to Australia’s Joint Standing Committee on Treaties for consideration.
The agreement was referred to the Committee on 23 June 2026.
The Treaties Committee is responsible for examining treaties and related National Interest Analyses, proposed treaty actions and explanatory statements presented to, or deemed to have been presented to, the Australian Parliament.
The Committee is now inviting interested individuals and organisations to make submissions on the Australia-Kiribati Air Services Agreement.
The Committee said submissions can be made online through the Australian Parliament’s My Parliament platform.
The inquiry is part of the Committee’s consideration of Australia’s treaty commitments and proposed treaty actions.
The agreement is expected to provide the framework for air services arrangements between Australia and Kiribati….PACNEWS
PNG – MINI BUDGET: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 18 Aug 2026
PNG Opposition views mini budget as key
PORT MORESBY, 18 AUGUST 2026 (THE NATIONAL)–The Papua New Guinea Opposition has urged the Government to table a supplementary budget this month, claiming fiscal discipline has collapsed amid rising debt, delayed financial reports, and soaring living costs.
In a statement issued recently, Opposition leader James Nomane said the Government’s claims of a booming economy did not reflect the realities faced by ordinary Papua New Guineans, arguing that inflation and the devaluation of the kina had eroded household buying.
He said the economic growth was largely being driven by inflation and currency depreciation rather than genuine improvements in productivity and living standards.
“Total public debt has now exceeded K66 billion (US$15 billion), while concerns over debt sustainability continue to grow,” he said.
Nomane also criticised the Government for committing billions of Kina in Connect PNG projects outside the parliamentary appropriation process, describing the practice as undermining Parliament’s constitutional authority over public spending.
He raised concerns over the country’s continued placement on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list, saying regulatory reforms lacked urgency and accountability.
Nomane also criticised the transfer of the Government’s warranting function from the Treasury Department, arguing the move had weakened fiscal oversight by separating expenditure control from Treasury’s financial expertise. He said statutory financial reports remained overdue, including the Final Budget Outcome, which should have been released by 31 March under the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2006, and the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook, which was also yet to be published.
Nomane questioned the Government’s announcement of an improved Moody’s credit rating, calling on it to table the rating notice in Parliament or withdraw the claim.
He proposed steps to strengthen fiscal management, including restoring the warranting function to Treasury, bringing all Connect PNG contracts into the national budget and before the Public Accounts Committee, legislating a binding timetable to address FATF requirements, and ensuring all statutory fiscal reports are published on time.
He called for debt to be managed within the limits of the Fiscal Responsibility Act…..PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Youth policy and governance gaps in PNG: Supporting collective problem solving
By Barbara Thomas Elias, Denphil-Hunt Mitir, Shane D’Angelo
PORT MORESBY, 18 AUGUST 2026 (DEVPOLICY.ORG) —In Papua New Guinea, young people are often framed as a “problem” linked to unemployment, crime and urban violence.
High youth populations (60 percent of the population is estimated to be under 25 years), limited education and employment opportunities and weak support systems have fuelled concerns about social instability.
Prime Minister James Marape has repeatedly argued that PNG’s future depends on empowering young people to become a “positive force” in the economy and society. Partly in response to these concerns, PNG introduced the National Youth Policy in 2020, aiming to strengthen youth participation in decision-making and governance through the establishment of Youth Councils at the provincial, district and local government levels.
In this context, youth mobilisation for participatory governance has emerged as a key strategy, providing a platform for young people to contribute to decision-making processes. To operationalise the National Youth Policy, 98 local Youth Councils and 25 district-level Youth Councils have now been established across the country, although many are not functional or continue to face challenges accessing resources and influencing policy processes.
To address this disconnect, the National Youth Development Authority (NYDA) and The Voice Inc. (TVI) convened PNG’s first-ever National Youth Multi-Stakeholder Meeting (MSM) in Port Moresby in April. Drawing broad participation from government, civil society and the private sector, the MSM marked a shift in how youth policy discussions are conducted in PNG.
The MSM created space for government officials, youth representatives, the private sector and civil society to collectively frame the problem and contribute to policy recommendations together. Discussions exposed important areas of debate, including how youth should be defined, which level of government should be responsible for funding and supporting youth-led initiatives, and how limited resources could be better targeted. These debates reflected broader questions about governance, accountability and service delivery, highlighting that meaningful youth participation depends not only on policy reform, but also on clarifying institutional responsibilities and securing sustainable funding.
Several key recommendations emerged from the MSM.
The first was to change the youth age definition to people between 15 and 35 years of age, in accordance with findings from a stakeholder survey conducted prior to the MSM. Currently, youth are defined in the National Youth Authority Development Act 2014 as 12-38 and in the National Youth Policy as 12-30. Inconsistent age definitions across legislation and sectoral policies, including those for health, education and employment, have created confusion about who youth policies are intended to serve and which agencies are responsible for service delivery, resulting in poorly targeted policies and programs and gaps in delivery. A consistent age definition would enable policy to be better targeted, clearly distinguishing youth from children and other cohorts.
A second recommendation was to expand youth participation across national platforms through stronger governance structures and fair representation, including on the NYDA Board, which would strengthen the ability of youth to influence government decision-making, advocate for their priorities and improve access to the resources needed to support youth-led initiatives.
Finally, participants called on national and subnational governments to make available dedicated youth-specific funding, emphasising that this is essential to implement the National Youth Policy and support locally identified youth priorities. Drawing on the experience of the Kutubu Local Level Youth Development Council, they argued that funding is needed to address the structural barriers that prevent Youth Councils from functioning effectively and influencing governance decision-making.
The MSM marked the first stage of the Youth Policy review process, with participants’ suggested revisions to inform an updated Youth Policy, to be presented in November 2026 prior to a follow-up MSM. But the MSM was also the culmination of several years of coalition-building between youth leaders, civil society organisations, government agencies and private sector actors. It didn’t come out of nowhere.
This coalition work began in 2022 in Kutubu in the Southern Highlands through collaboration between local youth leaders, TVI and the Santos Foundation. Youth surveys conducted in the area had identified a strong demand among young people for a greater voice in decisions affecting their communities. In 2023, the Kutubu Local Level Youth Development Council (KLLYDC) was established to address this.
The process quickly revealed deeper structural problems. While youth participation mechanisms existed formally, the Youth Council was unable to access funding and other resources for project activities or to influence decision-making. This highlighted broader weaknesses in the policy and legislative environment shaping youth governance, prompting a shift in focus beyond local engagement towards systemic reform.
NYDA, which had already been working on youth policy and law reform, became a central partner in this effort, as did the Department of National Planning and Monitoring through the Open Government Partnership, alongside the KLLYDC, Santos Foundation and TVI. Over time, the coalition worked to better understand why youth governance structures were struggling and how gaps between national policy and local implementation were limiting meaningful youth participation.
An important part of the coalition process involved training in problem-driven iterative adaptation (PDIA), an approach focused on collective problem-solving. Rather than beginning with assumptions about what reform should look like, the coalition spent time working through the complexity of the issue together to collectively agree on the problem and trial potential solutions. This process also helped expand the coalition’s “authorising environment”, building relationships and buy-in across government, civil society and the private sector.
The National Youth MSM highlighted that meaningfully engaging young people in PNG will require far more than national-level political statements or policies. While youth are regularly described as critical to PNG’s future, translating these commitments into tangible support requires the slower and more difficult work of building systems, coordination mechanisms and funding pathways at the provincial and district level. Without this, youth participation risks remaining rhetorical rather than practical.
The process also reveals a broader governance challenge in PNG: the persistent disconnect between national policy development and subnational implementation. Policies are often developed centrally, yet provincial and district governments are left without the resources, authority or guidance needed to implement them effectively.
In this context, the MSM was significant not simply because it focused on youth policy, but because it created a space where diverse actors could collectively confront a shared governance problem. The experience demonstrates that change in PNG is often incremental and highly relational. Building shared understandings of problems, creating trust between individuals and institutions and slowly strengthening coordination may be less tangible than policy reform, but these processes are essential for generating meaningful and lasting change. In the lead-up to an election year, when the emphasis will likely be on big-ticket promises and “announceables”, it is worth remembering that these seemingly mundane but critical processes that build real collective action often happen behind the scenes….PACNEWS
Barbara Thomas Elias is the current Acting Executive Director of The Voice Inc, with experience in governance, public policy and youth leadership. Barbara is also an honorary associate with La Trobe University’s Centre for Human Security and Social Change.
Denphil-Hunt Mitir serves as the Coalitions Officer (Youth) with The Voice Inc. His work focuses on empowering local leaders, authorities and issue-based coalitions to advance youth development opportunities and policy reform.
Shane D’Angelo
Shane D’Angelo is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Human Security and Social Change, La Trobe University. His research focusses on supporting positive social change initiatives with Indigenous Australia, the Pacific and Southeast Asia.
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Helping Niue Become Disaster-Ready
ALOFI, 18 AUGUST 2026 (ADB)—Known as the “Rock of Polynesia,” Niue is one of the Pacific’s most isolated nations. Its roads, airport, and wharf are vital links that keep people connected and ensure the flow of food, medicine, and other essential supplies.
But more extreme weather events are putting growing pressure on these critical connections.
Working with the Government of Niue and local communities, ADB is helping map the island’s disaster risks and identify practical measures to keep transport networks functioning during emergencies. By combining technical analysis with local knowledge, the project is supporting better planning, stronger preparedness, and more informed decision-making.
The goal is simple: to help ensure Niue remains connected, resilient, and ready for the challenges of a changing climate.
Richard Sami, Chief of Police, Niue: “There wouldn’t be too many people in the world who know where Niue is.”
Robin Hekau, Director, Niue Disaster Management Office: “We’re pretty much in the heart of the Pacific.”
Esther Pavihi, Resident: “In the middle of that Polynesian triangle.”
Robin Hekau: “We are also known as the Rock of Polynesia. But that little rock is our home.”
For generations, the people of Niue have lived with the challenges of island life. As one of the Pacific’s most isolated nations, its roads, airports, and wharf are more than just infrastructure—they’re connections that keep families together and essential supplies moving. But these vital links are coming under new pressure.
Billy Talagi, Speaker of the House, Niue Assembly: “What do I know about climate change? Well, things have changed.”
Manogi Tavelia, New-Zealand based writer and community leader: “Storms and cyclones, rising water levels, that concerns me.”
Esther Pavihi, Senior Reporter, Niue Broadcasting Corporation: “I don’t want my children to leave because they think that this country will be devastated by more cyclones, or food security will be an issue.”
It’s no longer a question of if the climate is changing, but what this change means for Niue’s future.
Billy Talagi, Speaker of the House, Niue Assembly: “What can we do if ships are not coming, planes are not coming? How will we be surviving?”
Rossy Mitiepo, Director, Niue Meteorological Service: “Are we prepared? Are we ready? And the time to address these concerns is right now.”
Preparing for this future starts with understanding where Niue’s critical connections are most vulnerable.
Lynsey Talagi, Manager Maritime Division, Niue: “The worst-case scenario would be we’re not able to offload our cargo. There have been cases where, due to weather, the ship has had to sail to Tonga, offload our cargo, and another ship would come back. The airport is important as well. It brings in air freight, urgent parts for key machinery, medicines for the hospital, and also for medical referrals out to New Zealand.”
Richard Sami, Chief of Police, Niue: “It’s important for the island in regards to having contingency plans should our main routes go down.”
Working with the governments of Niue and the community, ADB is helping map out where the island’s infrastructure is at risk and suggesting practical ways to make sure these vital connections remain open.
Emma Veve, Director General, Pacific Department, Asian Development Bank: “We’re combining technical analysis with local knowledge to build a clearer picture of how disasters affect the island. What this means is that the community will have the information that they need to know how best to respond in an emergency to keep the transport network open.”
Richard Sami, Chief of Police, Niue: “So that combination of all that intel is going to help us make some worthwhile decisions, and those decisions are going to help mitigate risk.”
While forward planning won’t stop the next cyclone, it will change what happens after. And for families like Esther’s, it helps ensure Niue remains a place future generations can still call home. …PACNEWS
