In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — Pacific and Global South voices sidelined in ocean negotiations, expert says
2. ACP — OACPS reaffirms commitment to Ocean protection
3. PACIFIC — Clean energy COP hits fossil fuel phase-out demands
4. FIJI — Fiji, Tuvalu move to deepen Cooperation amid fuel crisis and economic pressure
5. PNG — NBC concludes its regional consultations on Broadcasting Act review
6. PACNEWS BIZ — Fiji Election uncertainty holding back $1billion in private sector investment, says RBF Governor
7. PACNEWS BIZ — World Bank provides US$9 million additional support to help Marshall Islands respond to energy crisis
8. PACNEWS BIZ — Kiribati trade unions strengthen their role in shaping decent work and development
9. PACNEWS BIZ — RBF Governor warns Fiji faces period of ‘uncertainty and volatility’
10. PACNEWS BIZ — Debt remains Fiji’s biggest economic vulnerability
11. PACNEWS BIZ — Call for action against child labour
12. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — The Drug Trade as Governance Failure: Why Maritime Fiji Bears the Cost of State Absence
13. PACNEWS DIGEST — Marking historic progress on rights for persons with disabilities, UN conference tackles critical gaps
PAC – OCEANS: PACNEWS PACNEWS 2: Wed 10 Jun 2026
Pacific and Global South voices sidelined in ocean negotiations, expert says
By Sanjeshni Kumar
SUVA, 10 JUNE 2026 (PACNEWS)—A senior international law expert has raised concerns about power imbalances and inconsistencies in global ocean and climate negotiations, warning that behind-the-scenes diplomacy often diverges from public commitments and sidelines Pacific and Global South voices.
Pradeep Singh, a legal scholar with 15 years of experience in international law and the law of the sea, said his work in multilateral negotiations has exposed what he described as “hypocrisy” in global decision-making processes.
“You see things that make a lot of sense, but at the same time don’t make any sense at all,” Singh said.
He said public statements made during negotiations often differ significantly from positions taken in closed-door discussions.
“What is said publicly can be encouraging, but behind closed doors the reality is often quite different,” he said.
Singh said this disconnect is evident across several international ocean governance processes, including negotiations on the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement and deep-sea mining.
He noted that negotiators who advocate strong environmental protections in one forum often take different positions in discussions at the International Seabed Authority (ISA).
“Many of them then coming to the International Seabed Authority for negotiations on deep sea mining and suddenly taking a very different view on what they sort of presented,” he said.
He said such inconsistencies raise questions about the credibility of international decision-making on ocean issues.
Similar challenges, he said, are also seen in UN climate negotiations, where proposals from Pacific and African countries are often overlooked.
“It’s really disheartening that when proposals or initiatives come from Africa or from the Pacific, so often are they dismissed or sidelined as opposed to when proposals come from other Western countries,” he said.
Despite this, Singh said Pacific nations continue to play an influential role in shaping international ocean governance.
He pointed to initiatives led by countries such as Tuvalu and Vanuatu, which have helped elevate ocean and climate issues in global legal discussions and strengthened the region’s voice on the international stage.
On multilateral negotiations more broadly, Singh cautioned against compromise that undermines core principles, saying countries must be willing to defend their positions.
“The one phrase that you will hear very often is the spirit of compromise,” he said. “But sometimes the compromises being asked for are really not acceptable. And this is where it’s important to draw red lines.”
He said it was encouraging to see more countries standing firm in international negotiations.
“More and more countries now standing up and saying, ‘No, this is our right, this is our position, and we are going to defend it to the best of our abilities,’” he said.
Singh said the challenges facing international ocean governance underscore the need for decisions that reflect the interests of communities most dependent on the ocean. He said he came across a quote during a visit to the Fiji Museum that stayed with him.
“Our ancestors understood that the health of the ocean reflects the health of the people,” he said….PACNEWS
ACP – OCEAN CONSERVATION: PACNEWS PACNEWS 2: Wed 10 Jun 2026
OACPS reaffirms commitment to Ocean protection
BRUSSELS, 10 JUNE 2026 (PACNEWS)—The Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting and sustainably managing the world’s oceans, warning that marine ecosystems face growing threats from climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss.
Marking World Oceans Day 2026, OACPS Secretary-General Moussa Saleh Batraki said the organisation remained committed to advancing a sustainable and equitable blue economy while promoting the interests of its member states in global ocean governance discussions.
“This 08 June, the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) joins the international community in commemorating World Oceans Day,” he said.
Batraki, reaffirmed the OACPS’ unwavering commitment to the protection, conservation and sustainable use of our oceans and marine resources.
Batraki noted that the OACPS comprises 79 member states across Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific, including 39 Small Island Developing States and 64 coastal nations, many of which depend heavily on healthy oceans for their economies, food security and cultural identity.
“For the OACPS, whose membership comprises 79 States across Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific, including 39 Small Island Developing States and 64 coastal nations, the ocean is at the heart of our economies, our food security, our cultures and our way of life. The sustainable management of marine resources is therefore fundamental to achieving resilient, inclusive and sustainable development for our peoples,” he said in a statement.
The Secretary-General said the organisation’s commitment is anchored in the Revised Georgetown Agreement and reinforced by decisions adopted at the 11th Summit of Heads of State and Government through the Malo Declaration.
He said these commitments highlight the importance of sustainable development, responsible stewardship of natural resources and stronger international cooperation on climate action, biodiversity conservation, sustainable ocean governance and climate finance.
Referring to this year’s World Oceans Day theme, “Awakening New Depths,” Batraki said it serves as a reminder of the urgent need to better understand the oceans and strengthen collective efforts to address growing environmental challenges.
“The Secretary-General welcomes this year’s theme, ‘Awakening New Depths,’ which serves as a timely reminder of the need to deepen our understanding of the oceans and to strengthen collective action in addressing the growing challenges posed by climate change, marine pollution, biodiversity loss and the unsustainable exploitation of marine resources.”
Batraki said the OACPS remains committed to advancing a sustainable and equitable blue economy and supporting member states in international negotiations and agreements aimed at protecting marine ecosystems.
“The OACPS remains firmly committed to advancing a sustainable and equitable blue economy, and to promoting the interests of its Member States in global discussions on ocean governance.”
“In this regard, the Organisation continues to support the implementation of international commitments, including the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement), as well as initiatives aimed at strengthening the resilience of coastal and island communities.”
The Secretary-General also called on governments, development partners, businesses and civil society to increase investment in ocean protection and sustainable management.
“The Secretary-General joins the United Nations and the international community in calling upon governments, development partners, the private sector and civil society to invest in the protection and sustainable management of our oceans, ensuring that they continue to serve as a source of prosperity, resilience and opportunity for present and future generations.”
The statement comes as countries around the world mark World Oceans Day and intensify efforts to address mounting threats to marine ecosystems and the communities that depend on them…..PACNEWS
PAC – FOSSIL FUEL/CLIMATE CHANGE: AAP PACNEWS 2: Wed 10 Jun 2026
Clean energy COP hits fossil fuel phase-out demands
BONN, 10 JUNE 2026 (AAP)—Electrification and clean energy have been foregrounded by the Australian leader of international climate negotiations as a prominent green group demands progress on a fossil fuels transition.
Energy and climate change minister Chris Bowen has used his opening speech at the mid-year climate talks to highlight the “fragility of fossil fuel supply chains”.
“In a world of geopolitical uncertainty and energy disruption, the transition is not a risk,” he declared in Bonn, Germany, the long-time home of the intersessional United Nations climate summit.
“It is the solution and an immense opportunity.”
The 2026 Conference of the Parties conference is set to take place in the southern Turkish province of Antalya but with Australia running negotiations and Pacific island nations hosting pre-COP events, the outcome of a diplomatic compromise struck between the rival bidders.
Since then, conflict in the Middle East – which is threatening to escalate – has triggered the biggest oil shock in history and put the spotlight on energy security.
Bowen and his Turkish counterpart, COP31 president Murat Kurum, have been framing transport electrification and renewables as the answer to energy supply chain shocks and geopolitical fracturing.
But groups like Greenpeace Australia Pacific also want leadership on a key perceived shortcoming from 2025’s COP30 event in Brazil – the lack of progress on a global road map away from fossil fuels.
“While Australia’s speech was strongly focused on the limitations of fossil fuels and supply chains amid the current energy shock, what’s still lacking is the vision and agenda for COP31 that will truly deliver the transition away from fossil fuels,” the environmental group’s head of Pacific Shiva Gounden said.
“Every successful COP has depended on a strong presidency and Bonn is a key moment for the incoming presidency to start shaping the vision.”
Outside the formal UN climate diplomacy process, a group of countries – including several Pacific states – have been pushing hard for progress on the fossil fuel transition, with Brazil using its ongoing COP30 presidency role to continue negotiations.
More than 50 countries, Australia included, participated in the first conference on the fossil fuel phase-out co-hosted by Colombia and The Netherlands in April.
Australia has also signed up to the Belem Declaration, a voluntary commitment to a “just, orderly, and equitable” roadmap away from fossil fuels brokered on the sidelines of the COP30 talks when a formal consensus could not be reached.
In Bowen’s opening address, the importance of implementation, adaptation, finance, the just transition, and ocean-based climate action were also flagged.
Countries have also been called on to submit updated Nationally Determined Contributions for 2035 ahead of COP31 after deadlines for the emission-reduction plans were missed by many states ahead of the 2025 talks….PACNEWS
FIJI – DIPLOMACY: FIJI GOVT PACNEWS 2: Wed 10 Jun 2026
Fiji, Tuvalu move to deepen Cooperation amid fuel crisis and economic pressure
SUVA, 10 JUNE 2026 (FIJI GOVT)—-Fiji’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade Sakiasi Ditoka, this week received a courtesy visit from Tuvalu’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Labour and Trade, Paulson Panapa.
The meeting provided a valuable platform for both Ministers to reaffirm the longstanding relationship between Fiji and Tuvalu and to exchange views on shared priorities and emerging challenges facing the Pacific region.
Discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in addressing common issues, particularly the ongoing global fuel crisis and broader economic pressures stemming from shifting geopolitical dynamics.
Both leaders engaged in forward-looking dialogue on opportunities to enhance collaboration across key sectors, including trade and investment, air and maritime connectivity, and the strengthening of diaspora engagement to support national development objectives.
In his remarks, Ditoka warmly welcomed Panapa and underscored the importance of the strong bilateral and regional partnership between the two countries, grounded in a shared history, cultural ties, and a common Pacific identity.
He reaffirmed Fiji’s commitment to deepening relations with Tuvalu, including through the development and formalization of a comprehensive Development Cooperation Framework.
This framework will reflect shared priorities in areas such as climate resilience, human capital development, and enhanced diaspora engagement.
The two leaders reiterated their shared commitment to advancing regional cooperation through established mechanisms such as the Pacific Islands Forum and other multilateral platforms, which play a critical role in promoting the collective interests and sustainable development of Pacific Island nations.
The constructive discussions set a positive tone for continued diplomatic engagement and strengthened cooperation between Fiji and Tuvalu.
Ditoka expressed his appreciation to Panapa for the visit and extended his best wishes for a successful stay in Fiji, as both nations work together towards fostering regional stability, peace, and prosperity….PACNEWS
PNG – NATIONAL BROADCASTER: NBC PNG NEWS PACNEWS 2: Wed 10 Jun 2026
NBC concludes its regional consultations on Broadcasting Act review
PORT MORESBY, 10 JUNE 2026 (NBC PNG NEWS)—Papua New Guinea’s national broadcaster the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) has successfully concluded its regional consultations for the review of the NBC Act 1973.
The final sessions saw strong representation from the network’s top leadership. Senior management, including the directors of all seven NBC divisions, attended the closing event alongside members of the Technical Working Committee Group.
The discussions were chaired by the Executive Director for News and Chairman of the technical working group, Maivo Lafanama and various development partners from the Department of ICT, Constitution and Law Reform Commission (CLRC), Department of Finance, DPM, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)] Media Action, Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s International Development (ABCID) and others.
Delivering the closing remarks, NBC Deputy Managing Director Michael Samuga emphasised that the collective feedback gathered nationwide will form the drafting instructions to reshape the state broadcaster’s future.
“The Act is the house. It now gives or makes it is an enabler. It enables NBC now to deliver its services in whatever way or form that the people of Papua New Guinea expect of it,” Samuga said.
He stressed that the final legislation must be fully inclusive, driving both growth and organisational transition to serve citizens at home and overseas.
A major focus of the review is establishing clear operational boundaries within NBC while maintaining its core role in telling the truth to the public and hold governments accountable.
Meanwhile, On behalf of Managing Director Kora Nou, Samuga thanked the regional contributors from NGI, Momase, the Highlands, and the Southern Region, alongside the technical team and the Constitutional and Law Reform Commission (CLRC).
He said public submissions remain open until the end of next week.
Until then it marks the final step toward a modernised legislative framework designed to guide NBC’s service delivery for the next 50 years……PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
FIJI – PRIVATE SECTOR: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 10 Jun 2026
Fiji Election uncertainty holding back $1 billion in private sector investment, says RBF Governor
SUVA, 10 JUNE 2026 (FIJI TIMES) —Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF) Governor Ariff Ali says a growing “wait-and-see” attitude ahead of the next general election is contributing to delays in private sector investment, despite almost $1billion (US$500 million) in approved financing being available for businesses.
Speaking at the Dialogue Fiji-organised State of the Fiji Economy 2026 Dialogue in Suva, Ali said commercial banks have already approved close to $1billion (US$500 million) in loans that have yet to be drawn down by investors.
“My take on this is that right now there is almost a billion dollars of loans that the private sector has, or the commercial banks have already approved, but this has not been turned out,” Ali said.
“Why isn’t it turned out? That’s the question.”
The Governor said discussions with businesses indicated that many projects were stalled while investors waited for approvals from various government agencies and regulatory bodies.
“When you talk to the private sector, they say they’re waiting for some approval.”
He argued that the economy could receive a significant boost if bottlenecks delaying investment decisions were removed.
“The economy can quickly come up if you give approvals on time.”
“Of course, if the approvals cannot be given, then that needs to be communicated quickly.”
Ali said Fiji’s private sector had consistently demonstrated resilience and remained willing to invest despite challenging economic conditions.
“The private sector in Fiji has always been resilient. They continue to invest.”
However, he acknowledged that uncertainty associated with the approaching election was contributing to investor caution.
“Right now, there is a bit of a wait-and-see attitude as you get closer to election.”
The Governor stressed that the trend was not unique to the upcoming polls and had become a recurring feature of Fiji’s political and economic landscape.
“This is not common with this election. This has been common in all the elections for almost 35 years.”
Ali said the only notable exception was the period surrounding the 2014 General Election.
“The only difference is 2014 slightly. Otherwise, there is always a wait-and-see attitude.”
He said unlocking private sector investment was critical because the Government had limited capacity to stimulate economic growth through public spending.
The Governor has previously noted that fiscal constraints and high debt levels mean the private sector remains Fiji’s strongest avenue for economic expansion.
Ali said identifying and addressing the obstacles preventing approved investments from proceeding should be a national priority, particularly at a time when Fiji faces global economic uncertainty, rising fuel costs and growing social challenges.
“The bottom line is to find out what the problem is,” he said, adding that faster approvals and improved coordination could help unlock investment, create jobs and support economic growth…..PACNEWS
MARSH – ENERGY CRISIS: WORLD BANK PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 10 Jun 2026
World Bank provides US$9 million additional support to help Marshall Islands respond to energy crisis
MAJURO,10 JUNE 2026 (WORLD BANK)——The World Bank has approved an additional US$9 million in financing to help the Republic of the Marshall Islands respond to sharply higher energy costs that are placing pressure on families, businesses, public services, and the national budget.
The assistance provides immediate budget support through an existing Marshall Islands Development Policy Operation.
The original US$21 million operation was approved in July 2024 to support stronger fiscal management and disaster and climate resilience.
This additional financing brings total World Bank support under the operation to US$30 million, of which US$12 million in contingent financing remains available in the event of an eligible catastrophe.
“This support comes at an important time for Marshall Islands as we work to protect our people from rising costs and maintain essential services,” said Marshall Islands Minister of Finance, David Paul.
“We are committed to managing this crisis responsibly while continuing our work toward stronger public finances, greater energy security, and long-term resilience.”
Marshall Islands is one of the world’s most fuel-import-dependent economies. With a heavy reliance on imported energy, food, and essential goods, the country has been hit by disruptions in global energy markets.
Fuel costs have tripled, the fuel import bill has increased by around US$40 million, equivalent to 11.5 percent of GDP, and growth in FY26 is now expected to slow from a pre-crisis baseline of 4.1 percent to 2.0 percent. Inflation is projected to reach 8.6 percent this fiscal year.
Higher fuel costs are being felt across the economy. Fishing activity, the country’s largest source of export earnings and government revenue, is expected to decline. Families are facing higher prices for electricity, food, and transport, with outer-island communities particularly exposed because they depend on sea freight for essential supplies.
“This crisis is placing real pressure on families, services, and the national budget,” said Omar Lyasse, World Bank Resident Representative for the North Pacific.
“This support gives the Government critical breathing room while continuing the reforms needed to build a stronger, more resilient economy.”
The Government declared a State of Economic Emergency on 26 March 2026, and has taken steps to cushion households, stabilise essential services, and contain fiscal pressures.
The World Bank’s additional financing will help support this response while preserving progress on reforms to strengthen public financial management, disaster preparedness, and climate resilience.
The World Bank is also supporting Marshall Islands’ longer-term energy transition through the Renewable Energy Generation and Access Increase Project, which aims to reduce the country’s dependence on imported diesel.
Preparation of the World Bank’s supplemental financing was supported by the Africa Caribbean Pacific-European Union Disaster Risk Management Programme, managed by the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery….PACNEWS
KIRIBATI – TRADE UNIONS: ILO NEWS PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 10 Jun 2026
Kiribati trade unions strengthen their role in shaping decent work and development
TARAWA, 10 JUNE 2026 (ILO NEWS)–More than 25 trade union leaders from across Kiribati have come together for an ILO-supported training programme aimed at strengthening workers’ voices and preparing unions to respond to the rapidly changing world of work.
Representing a diverse range of sectors—including education, healthcare, banking, maritime transport, public utilities, migrant workers and government ministries—participants gathered under the umbrella of the Kiribati Trades Union Congress (KTUC) to explore how trade unions can adapt, grow and remain effective in the face of social, economic, technological, environmental and demographic changes.
Organised jointly by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Bureau for Workers’ Activities (ACTRAV) and the ILO’s MARI II Project (Workers Protection and Family Resilience), funded by the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the capacity-building programme focused on strengthening union leadership, organisational development and strategic planning. It was inaugurated by Terengaiti Awerika, Secretary, Ministry of Employment and Human Resources.
Throughout the training, participants examined the external trends shaping labour markets and employment relations, while also assessing KTUC’s current priorities, policies and activities.
“This training is very important to us. I now know more about what I have to do. Before we were told what to do but now we have our own stand, we know more about our rights and what’s best for us,” said Beiataake Aaron, University of the South Pacific Staff Union.
Union leaders identified key challenges facing the organisation and developed proposals for a revitalized future based on stronger organising efforts, innovative engagement strategies and broader alliances with community-based organisations.
The programme also provided technical assistance to support the drafting and finalization of KTUC’s Constitution. The updated Constitution is expected to help modernise the organisation, strengthen its governance structures and improve the services it provides to its members.
“This is the most important tool that will guide the KTUC and all its affiliates at the national level,” said Teiraoi Bio, Vice President of the KTUC.
The training comes at a critical time for Kiribati. The country is currently developing its Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) that identifies priorities for collaboration with ILO while preparing for the ratification of the Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155). Kiribati is also seeking to address persistent unemployment challenges, particularly among young people.
Participants discussed how trade unions can contribute more effectively to these national priorities through social dialogue and constructive engagement.
The United Nations Resident Coordinator for Kiribati also presented the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2023–2027. Participants welcomed the opportunity to learn more about the framework and called for greater engagement of trade unions in its implementation, as well as increased technical support for workers’ organisations.
“The future of work in Kiribati depends on strong, representative and forward-looking workers’ organisations,” said Pong Sul-Ahn, ACTRAV Regional Workers’ Activity Specialist.
“This training is helping union leaders build the skills, knowledge and partnerships needed to ensure workers’ voices are heard and that they can play a meaningful role in shaping national development and decent work policies in tripartite dialogue,” said Pong….PACNEWS
FIJI – ECONOMY: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 10 Jun 2026
RBF Governor warns Fiji faces period of ‘uncertainty and volatility’
SUVA, 10 JUNE 2026 (FIJI TIMES)—Reserve Bank of Fiji Governor Ariff Ali has warned that Fiji is entering a period of heightened economic uncertainty and volatility, driven by global events, rising fuel prices and domestic challenges affecting business confidence and growth.
Speaking at the Dialogue Fiji-organised State of the Fiji Economy 2026 Dialogue in Suva, Ali said the country’s economic environment had become increasingly unpredictable.
“The way I characterise where we are right now is that we are really in a period of uncertainty and volatility. This is the opposite of stability,” Mr Ali said.
He told participants that Fiji was being affected by international developments beyond its control, particularly geopolitical tensions and disruptions in global energy markets.
“What is happening in the states of homes is impacting us, and we have no control.”
Ali said many people were underestimating the true extent of fuel price increases affecting countries in the region.
“Most people think that the price of crude oil has gone up from about US$68 before the war to around US$98 now, but that’s not the truth.”
He explained that many Asian buyers were paying significantly more than benchmark market prices.
“In the Asian market, most people are buying crude oil at somewhere between 20 and 50 percent more than what is the market price. That’s why the price of diesel and fuel have gone up more than what you see in terms of the global crude oil prices.”
The Governor warned that higher fuel prices would eventually flow through every sector of the economy.
“Transportation and fuel are the lifeblood of the economy, just like blood supply, so it will impact us.”
Ali said the Government’s capacity to stimulate growth was constrained, making private sector investment increasingly important.
“I feel that the only option to grow out of this crisis, out of this situation, is the private sector.”
“Government has very little ammunition.”
He also highlighted concerns repeatedly raised by businesses regarding the ease of doing business in Fiji, saying regulatory processes and approval delays were affecting investor confidence.
“Based on our surveys, there are a number of issues that are impacting the private sector. One, and we have talked about for a long time, is ease of doing business.”
Ali said investors frequently cited delays involving regulatory agencies and government departments as obstacles to investment and economic expansion.
He urged policymakers and agencies to address these concerns, arguing that improving the business environment would be critical if Fiji is to navigate the current uncertainty and maintain economic growth.
“This is something that we really need to work on,” he said….PACNEWS
FIJI – DEBT: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 10 Jun 2026
Debt remains Fiji’s biggest economic vulnerability
SUVA, 10 JUNE 2026 (FIJI TIMES)—Fiji’s public debt remains one of the country’s most significant economic vulnerabilities, with the Government warning that high debt levels continue to limit fiscal flexibility and place pressure on living standards.
The assessment is contained in the Pre-Election Economic and Fiscal Update released by the Ministry of Finance on 07 June.
According to the report, Government debt is projected to reach $11.31 billion (US$5.65 million), equivalent to 81.3 percent of GDP, by the end of July 2026.
While this is below the pandemic-era peak of more than 90 percent of GDP, the Ministry acknowledged that debt remains substantially higher than pre-COVID levels.
“Government debt remains a critical macroeconomic vulnerability for Fiji and is projected to reach $11.3 billion(US$5.65 million), equivalent to 81.3 percent of GDP, by the end of July 2026,” the report states.
The Ministry noted that Fiji’s debt burden increased sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic as Government resorted to significant borrowing to finance essential expenditure while revenues declined.
Debt-to-GDP rose from 48 percent before the pandemic to 90.6 percent by the end of FY2021-2022, remaining more than 30 percentage points above pre-pandemic levels.
Although the debt ratio has since improved due to economic growth, the report warns that elevated debt continues to constrain policy options.
“The elevated level of public debt continues to constrain fiscal policy space and place pressure on living standards.”
The report also highlights growing debt-servicing costs, with interest payments consuming an increasing share of national resources.
As debt levels have risen, Government borrowing has become more expensive, particularly as concessional financing becomes less dominant within the debt portfolio.
The Ministry further warned that Fiji remains exposed to foreign exchange risks because a significant portion of external debt is denominated in foreign currencies.
External debt denominated in US dollars accounts for 85.8 percent of total external debt, while Japanese yen accounts for 5.8 percent and Chinese yuan 8.4 percent.
The report cautions that unfavourable exchange rate movements could increase debt-servicing costs and place additional pressure on Government finances.
The Ministry also referenced the International Monetary Fund’s latest Article IV Consultation, which concluded that Fiji remains at moderate risk of debt distress despite its debt being assessed as sustainable.
However, the report notes that weakened fiscal buffers reduce Government’s capacity to respond to future economic shocks, natural disasters or other unforeseen crises.
The update warns that should additional fiscal support become necessary, the scope for meaningful intervention may be constrained by Fiji’s already elevated debt levels….PACNEWS
UN – ILO MEET: UN NEWS CENTRE PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 10 Jun 2026
Call for action against child labour
GENEVA, 10 JUNE 2026 (UN NEWS CENTRE)—Ahead of World Day Against Child Labour on 12 June, the UN is urging governments and communities to accelerate efforts to end a crisis that still affects millions of children worldwide.
Today, nearly 138 million children remain trapped in child labour globally, including 54 million engaged in hazardous work that threatens their health, safety and development.
“This is unacceptable – we must accelerate action,” said Gilbert F. Houngbo, Director-General of the International Labour Organisation, ILO, in a video message.
He called for renewed global commitment through expanded access to decent work, education, social protection and stronger legal safeguards.
This year’s theme, Red Card to Child Labour: Fair play for children, decent work for adults, highlights the need to ensure every child can learn, play and grow up in a safe environment.
The recently adopted Marrakech Global Framework for Action against Child Labour aims to provide a roadmap to reach that goal, focusing on decent jobs for parents, universal access to quality education, stronger social protection systems and reinforced laws and institutions.
For the first time, the framework also introduces measurable indicators and an accountability mechanism designed to track implementation and maintain momentum, beyond the 2030 target date.
“Together, let us act with urgency and determination to end child labour,” Houngbo urged….PACNEWS
PACNEWS In Focus
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
The Drug Trade as Governance Failure: Why Maritime Fiji Bears the Cost of State Absence
By Lanieta Tukana
SUVA, 10 JUNE 2026 (FIJI POLITICAL REVIEW)—The persistence of the drug trade in Fiji is not primarily a consequence of weak policing. Rather, it reflects the absence of sustained state presence; at sea, within village governance, and in fiscal priorities. Transnational traffickers have been quick to identify and exploit these gaps.
Fiji’s maritime communities span approximately 1.29 million square kilometres of ocean. Rotuma lies closer to Tuvalu than to Suva; the Yasawa Islands extend northwest of Viti Levu, Kadavu sits to the south, and Lomaiviti is dispersed across the Koro Sea. Each region maintains distinct economic systems, dialects, and chiefly structures, yet all face persistent resource constraints. Maritime enforcement capacity remains limited: the Coast Guard Auxiliary operates without dedicated vessels, naval patrols are conducted as intermittent pilot initiatives rather than sustained operations, and village by-laws are largely absent or unenforced.
Traffickers do not target the Lau Group, Kadavu, or Rotuma because these locations are inherently criminal. They target them because they are effectively unmonitored. The state’s maritime presence is too limited to provide meaningful deterrence: shipments can arrive, be stored, and redistributed with minimal risk of interception. Judicial and health infrastructure are similarly sparse; there is no permanent magistrate in the Lau Group, limited clinical capacity to respond to overdose, and policing remains concentrated on a small number of central islands. Cicia, in Northern Lau, lies approximately 230 km from Suva and is accessible only by infrequent flights and a monthly cargo vessel. This level of institutional thinness is not incidental; it is the cumulative result of policy decisions repeated across successive budget cycles.
The World Bank’s 2017 Systematic Country Diagnostic for Fiji calls these gaps institutional capacity constraints. In these villages, they are recognised simply as the routine conditions of daily life, not an anomaly, but the predictable consequence of long‑standing neglect.
The data shows that prevention costs FJD$4.3 million (US$2.15 million) while crisis costs FJD$57.5 million (US$28.5 million). This is a ratio of 13 to 1. Prevention is one budget line that a minister must sign and a journalist can question, while a crisis is a dozen emergencies across a dozen ministries that no one can trace to a single signature. No one owns the FJD$57.5 million, and no one is held accountable for the bill.
Over 10 years, inaction compounds to FJD$1.17 billion (US$585 billion). Prevention runs to FJD$460 million (US$230 million). The FJD$710 million (US$355 million) difference is a deferred choice, put off because the horizon exceeds every electoral cycle, every ministerial tenure, every budget document ministers actually read.
But the aggregates flatten what they should reveal. Prevention costs FJD$5(US$2.50) per Fijian per year. Crisis costs FJD$64(US$32) per Fijian per year. In the Lau Group, the crisis burden is FJD$288(US$144 million) per resident per year, 60 times the prevention cost and 4.5 times the national average. The aggregates show a billion-dollar problem. The per-capita figures show who pays for it.
The Lau Group occupies a strategic position at the intersection of three trafficking corridors: a southern route originating in South America, a western pathway through Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands, and a domestic redistribution network centred on Suva. Despite generating none of the underlying drivers of this crisis, the province bears a disproportionate burden, absorbing costs estimated at up to 60 times the national per capita impact. Communities that have repeatedly requested sustained patrols and received none are the same communities whose young men later appear in Suva’s courts, displaced from kinship networks and incarcerated on Viti Levu, often beyond the financial reach of family visitation. In this dynamic, the state is largely absent in prevention yet highly visible in punishment.
The return-on-investment metrics tell the rest. Community cohesion scores 90/100, the highest return. In the Pacific, social capital is the infrastructure; the village, with strong kinship networks, functioning churches, active women’s groups, and respected elders, has an institutional capacity that no state programme can replicate. Traffickers target this cohesion precisely because it resists them. Trust networks that distribute kava can distribute methamphetamine. Reciprocal labour relationships can become debt bondage, and youth unemployment becomes recruitment.
Police integrity scores 60/100, the lowest return, and the gateway. Without it, every other dollar is compromised, intelligence leaks and patrol schedules become predictable. Officers enforce against local users while protecting the distribution networks that supply them. A compromised Coast Guard Auxiliary is worse than none. It provides the illusion of enforcement while actively facilitating trafficking.
Tourism contributes an estimated 40 percent to Fiji’s GDP when both direct and indirect economic effects are taken into account, according to industry and government estimates. One overdose in the Mamanucas, one violent incident at a Yasawa resort, one corruption scandal at immigration, and international headlines depress bookings for months. The trafficker who lands a shipment in Kadavu or Rotuma generates no tourism revenue there. But the reputational damage hits the entire Fiji brand. Maritime communities pay the costs of the crisis directly (health, social damage, lost productivity) and indirectly through foregone economic opportunities. That is a double tax on people who didn’t create the problem.
The Pacific drug trade is a regional system, and Fiji is a node because it offers both isolation and connectivity (via Suva and Nadi) to the Australian and New Zealand markets. Unilateral enforcement just displaces trafficking to Vanuatu or Tonga. The Biketawa Declaration provides a framework for regional security cooperation, but implementation has lagged ambition. Australia and New Zealand provide surveillance assistance, the United States has increased engagement, and China has built port infrastructure. These partnerships are valuable but insufficient; they can’t substitute for domestic prevention. They can’t fix a fiscal architecture that hides crisis costs in distributed budget lines. And they can’t correct a per-capita imbalance that charges Lau FJD$288 (US$144 million) for a crisis generated in transnational supply chains.
So what would prevention look like? Reframe the crisis as peripheralisation rather than criminality. Correct the per-capita imbalance: if maritime communities bear 60 times the cost, they deserve 60 times the investment, not charity but restitution. For the Lau Group, that means a permanent magistrate, addiction treatment that doesn’t require medical evacuation to Suva, a Coast Guard station with vessels and fuel for 16,000 square kilometres of water, and jobs for youths who might otherwise crew trafficking boats. Legislate the FJD$710 million (US$355 million) net savings as a binding commitment with annual reporting. Regionalise enforcement through intelligence-sharing with Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Samoa. And fix police integrity (competitive salaries, independent oversight, rotation protocols), because without it, nothing else works.
Maritime Fiji should not have to keep paying the price for drug operations that thrive in the gaps left by weak governance. …. PACNEWS
Lanieta Tukana is the founding editor of the Fiji Political Review. She writes on Fijian politics, constitutional reform and democratic governance.
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Marking historic progress on rights for persons with disabilities, UN conference tackles critical gaps
NEW YORK,10 JUNE 2026 (UN NEWS CENTRE) —Historical gains have been hard-won, but much more needs to be done to advance progress in realising promises made two decades ago, said the UN chief at the opening on Tuesday of the 19th global meeting on the rights of persons with disabilities at UN Headquarters.
“The world benefits when everyone has the chance to use their skills in the service of humanity and to pursue their dreams,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres told the opening session held in the iconic General Assembly Hall.
“Your discussions today are a vital next step towards a world where all of us are respected and included.”
Known as COSP19, this year’s the Conference of State Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities runs from 9 to 11 June under the theme Celebrating and consolidating achievements and shaping the next phase of implementation in a changing world, with roundtable discussions, elections, decisions on best ways forward and first-hand accounts of challenges, innovative solutions and success stories from around the world.
‘While progress is real, it is unacceptably slow’
Actions hinge on the convention, CRPD, a legally-binding agreement between Member State signatories to uphold, promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2006 and now ratified by 192 countries.
Twenty years later, much has been accomplished, including that over 90 percent of countries have laws guaranteeing the rights of persons with disabilities, but much more must be done in light of the latest UN Disability and Development Report findings that show almost all of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) indicators for persons with disabilities are off track.
“While progress is real, it is unacceptably slow,” the UN chief said.
‘Luckily, it is possible to redesign the world’
Pointing to a world facing crises, from climate change and conflict to a global surge in the cost of living,Guterres said “too often, living with a disability means living in a world designed by and for others. Luckily, it is possible to redesign the world.”
Striving to lead by example, the UN’s Disability Inclusion Strategy aims to ensure change, led by the insights of people with disabilities.
“Together, let’s realise the rights of every person with disabilities and build a fair and vibrant future for all.”
Civil society voices heard
Communities from around the world have already amplified their voices on Monday, holding a multi-session Civil Society Forum under the auspices of COSP19 to tackle pressing issues, from building resilient societies to enhancing accessible civic engagement, leadership and advocacy in political and public life…PACNEWS
