Supporting Commentary: Charting our own course with hope, dignity and purpose
To reduce reliance on external aid, the Pacific must strengthen regional integration through existing and new frameworks that promote economic resilience, people mobility, and sovereign
Breaking the cycle of donor dependency in the Pacific
For decades, the Pacific Islands region has been heavily reliant on donor funding to support development, governance, and capacity-building initiatives. While donor support has played a role in strengthening
Vanuatu PM instructs review of Capital Investment Immigration Plan funds
Vanuatu Prime Minister has instructed the Citizenship Commission to identify where funds generated under the Capital Investment Immigration Plan (CIIP) are held or have been invested. The Citizenship-by-Investment
Solomon Islands, Tuvalu discuss international shipping registry
Solomon Islands Minister for Infrastructure Development (MID), Manasseh Maelanga, held a dialogue last week at the margins of the Honiara Ocean Summit with Tuvalu’s Minister for Natural Resources Development, Sa’aga
The World Bank head has thoughts on the Pacific – and needs Australia’s help
The president of the World Bank is due in Australia this week offering to be a force-multiplier for good in the Pacific Island states, and expecting some federal funding to do so. In the first visit by a World Bank
Pacific Islands Forum tweaks communique after China outburst
The Pacific Islands Forum secretariat has altered the communique from last week’s summit in Tonga to remove an affirming reference to Taiwan, after an outburst from China. In a tumultuous ending to the otherwise
Pacific Islands welcome development partnerships amid rising regional tensions
Cook Islands Prime Minister and Forum Chair Mark Brown has emphasised the importance of collaborative efforts with various development partners in supporting Pacific Island countries. Speaking last week in Tokyo, PM
Samoa Airport launches initial start of construction for $25 million regional terminal and apron aircraft parking
The construction of two pivotal infrastructure projects for the Samoa Airport Authority (SAA) was officially launched this morning at Faleolo, with a ground-breaking ceremony. These two projects are the Regional
Decades of commitment, development and continuous improvement of Pacific’s qualifications: What’s next?
Looking at the improved mobility of Pacific people across the region makes me reflect on structures and systems that allowed it to be a reality, something that was very difficult to achieve a decade ago. Mauri, I am
Fiji Business Briefs: McDonald’s expansion, hotel room demand, reporting season
McDonald’s Fiji expands back-end operations Vuvale Restaurants (Fiji) Ltd, the parent company of McDonald’s Fiji, has announced a $25 million investment of a new retail and supermarket complex
Fiji Business Briefs: Energy price hike rejected, SPX results, BSP Life payout
FCCC rejects energy price hike The Fijian Competition & Consumer Commission (FCCC) has rejected Energy Fiji Limited’s (EFL) bid to increase electricity prices. EFL wanted the adoption of both fixed and variable
A ‘new’ development policy? Or did Australia just miss its moment?
A new development policy for Australia presented an opportunity to reinvigorate a program that has lost its way amid the ambivalence, and occasional outright hostility, shown towards aid by successive conservative
Rewa River Water Supply Scheme to Address Intermittent Supply
The Rewa River Water Supply Scheme will help to resolve the issue of intermittent water supply in certain parts of the greater Suva-Nausori area by expanding Water Authority of Fiji’s (WAF) supply capacity. The
Professor Aqorau inspired by the level of support for SINU
Solomon Islands National University (SINU) Vice Chancellor’s Professor Transform Aqorau is pleased with the level of ongoing support for the University. He made the statement when making his first speech as the new
OEK joint to loan US$20 million approved in Palau
Palau Senate passed a joint resolution authorising President Whipps to execute a loan agreement between the Republic of Palau and Mega International Commercial Bank Co. Ltd. of Taiwan of up to US$20 million to fund
Development, Indigeneity and existing tables
For real and collective development, we must stop insisting on localising strategies, frameworks, tools, or whatever else our Pacific communities keep getting fed with, because it worked somewhere else. We require
Opinion: Penny Wong dives deep into the audacity of the Oceanic Pacific
Nurturing relationships is paramount to break down unequal power dynamics – especially in working for women rights. By ‘Ofa-ki-Levuka (‘Ofa) Guttenbeil-Likiliki From the 1990s to the early 2000s, Oceanic writer
Transformation of a Port Moresby settlement
Joyce Bay settlement, formerly known as Horse Camp, is a notorious settlement in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (PNG). It has been known for criminal activity, and as a place where many criminals live. The settlement is
Lessons in resilience in the Pacific
The global impacts of COVID-19 are unprecedented and extend beyond the realm of health into the social, economic and psychological aspects of people’s lives. Although the number of infections in Pacific Island
Building together: Civil society a key partner in delivering Pacific infrastructure
Building quality infrastructure in the Pacific means going beyond a narrow focus on hard assets, to thinking about the ways that new infrastructure, and accompanying services, will contribute to lasting development
Making every dollar of development aid worthwhile
By Sadhana Sen Is the Pacific an aid-dependent region making endless requests for development assistance but with little care for how effectively and successfully this aid is used? What should be done by Pacific
E-ticketing or e-misery
Outcry over electronic bus fare card in Fiji THE issue of pilferage in the bus industry in Fiji was not a problem that should be passed down to commuters to deal with, says a former Governor of the Reserve Bank of Fiji
Chaotic Melanesia
Is Melanesia the new Asia with its chaotic traffic ills AS an office worker in Suva, Fiji’s capital, Andy is used to spending a good part of her morning and afternoon stuck in bumperto-bumper traffic. “That’s
