COVID-19 lessons for public messaging
By Mere Nailatikau Whether it was the early reports out of China in late 2019, the World Health Organization’s announcement of a pandemic in March 2020, or the dreaded first official announcement of an in-country
Fit for purpose
Concerns over Solomon Islands quarantine centres By Ben Bilua The smell of new paint is still strong at the newly refurbished Nusatupe Quarantine site in Solomon Islands. The quarantine site has been empty since its
Five-year timeline to vaccinate
By Kevin McQuillan New modelling has revealed that Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea will have vaccinated less than 20% of their adult populations by the end of this year and it could take five years to
ANALYSIS: Challenges for Tonga as election looms
As Tongans lose faith in the major parties, the country’s election will likely see a rise in new independent members of parliament, Kalafi Moala writes. Tonga goes to the polls on 18 November to elect 26 members of
Tonga facing lockdown
Tonga is expected to go into lockdown later today after the kingdom reported its first COVID-19 case. Preparations are underway with churches being mobilised to support medical authorities. Tonga had been COVID-free
Catalysing Tuvalu’s ICT ambitions
By Dionisia Tabureguci A five-year agreement signed last year between the Tuvalu Government and satellite service provider Kacific Broadband Satellites International Limited (Kacific) came at critical juncture for the
Pacific Ports: Climate and COVID
More than 90% of trade commodities come to Pacific Island countries and territories by sea; with imports dominated by fuel, industrial, commercial machinery and other natural resources. But over the last two years the
Port Moresby General hospital on the verge of collapse
PNG COVID update: Papua New Guinea’s Port Moresby General Hospital(PMGH) says it is reaching a crisis point, with services teetering on collapse unless they are immediately given more support. “We urgently need
Fiji ready to welcome international tourists
Fiji tourism operators are deep in preparations to welcome international visitors back to the tourism-dependent nation. Fiji has announced the opening of borders to Australia, New Zealand, United States of America,
COVID-19 cases in Papua New Guinea: the silent dead
Although only 65,000 suspect COVID-19 cases have been reported in Papua New Guinea over the last year, PNG’s own administrative health data show 2.6 million cases of flu- and pneumonia-like symptoms over the same
Wish you were here: Pacific islands travel destinations inch towards reopening
Just a few months ago, whether travellers to the Pacific would need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 was still a matter of debate. But that discussion has moved as quickly as the Delta variant, and it now seems fait
“We stand by what we said”
The Micronesian Leaders Summit discussed COVID, transport and the Pacific Islands Forum. Leaders of five Micronesian countries have moved to strengthen their sub-regional co-ordination at the 20th Micronesian
Tourists trickle into Micronesia
By Bernadette Carreon Palau’s cautious return to tourism this year is being closely watched by its neighbours as it has had to respond to fluctuating case numbers in its tourism source markets. Palau slowly reopened
Pacific island leaders at the UN General Assembly call for solidarity on COVID-19 and climate change
Pacific Island leaders at the UN General Assembly on Saturday underlined the need for global solidarity, commitment and action to tackle COVID-19 and climate change, two crises which threaten sustainable development.
COVID behind Fiji economy’s ‘severe recession’, but ratings agency predicts economy to start recovering next year
COVID-related restrictions and a relatively large fiscal deficit has prompted S&P Global to lower its rating of the Fiji economy from BB-minus to B+, although it expects the Fiji economy to recover next year.
France expands Pacific reach
The French government is expanding its engagement with Pacific Island nations, following the fifth France-Oceania summit, a visit by President Emmanuel Macron to French Polynesia, and increased support by France and the
Covering a restricted Tokyo 2020 Games
Covering the Tokyo Olympics for Pacific island nations was a logistical
Pivoting Post Fiji
What do you do when the global pandemic shuts borders and cuts international mail services; services that were previously your bread and butter? If you are Post Fiji, you diversify your offerings and look to digital
Fiji’s shot in the arm for MSMEs
The Fiji government’s latest budget included a F$200 million (US$94 million) financial package for MSMEs to be rolled out by the Reserve Bank of Fiji and commercial
A slower recovery: Findings from the 15th Pacific Business Monitor
Just 8% of Pacific Islands businesses expect to return to pre-COVID revenue this year, with 55% expecting this recovery next year or even later according to the latest Pacific Trade Invest Pacific Business Monitor
Vanuatu: taking the pandemic in its economic stride
Economic data out of Vanuatu indicates that the country’s economy has been less affected than expected by the COVID-19 pandemic. No doubt there has been real economic pain. But the latest GDP figures show a fall of
Climate, Covid and Co-ordination: Forum leaders hold online summit
A virtual summit of the Pacific Islands Forum will be held this Friday 6 August, after the annual face-to-face meeting of presidents and prime ministers was again disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic. After the 2020
