Reports Tonga PM has resigned from Defence to ‘appease’ king says government source
The Tongan Independent has reported that Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni and Minister Utoikamanu of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had resigned from the portfolios. Senior sources within the Tongan
Nauruan president starts six-day China visit
Nauru President David Adeang arrived in Beijing on Sunday, embarking on a six-day state visit to China from Sunday to 29 March. It marks the first visit by a Nauruan president after the two countries resumed
Opinion: Tonga MP Piukaka’s rhetoric about the King hand picking Noble MPs is a serious threat to our half-cooked democracy
Member of Parliament Piveni Piukala’s proposal to revoke Tonga’s current nobility electoral system to allow the king to hand pick them for Parliament would be a fatal blow to Tonga’s fragile democracy. It flies in
Vanuatu referendum seeks to instill stability after revolving-door governments
An upcoming referendum in Vanuatu to outlaw political-party hopping by legislators has sparked lively debate in the Pacific island country, which has faced three changes of government in the past year. Dissatisfaction
Opinion: The politics of riots in Melanesia
The riots that erupted in the Papua New Guinea capital, Port Moresby, on January 10 have left a trail of destruction likely to have severe political ramifications. Such disturbances in Melanesia’s major cities are not
Opinion: The standoff between Tonga’s King and government
Tonga: Early last week, the Secretary of Tonga’s Privy Council wrote to the Chief Secretary (Secretary to Cabinet and to the Prime Minister), saying: “I have the honour to inform you that His Majesty in Council’s
Call for King to ‘urgently’ refine Tonga democracy
Tongan Democrats in New Zealand have called on the King to urgently refine what they describe as the country’s fragile democracy. They said the memorandum King Tupou VI sent withdrawing his consent to the appointment
PNG PM Marape addresses Opposition’s vote of no confidence motion with confidence
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister, James Marape has openly welcomed the Opposition’s motion for a vote-of-no-confidence against him. This announcement came after the Acting Speaker, Konie Iguan, briefed Parliament
PNG PM Marape describes challenge as ‘frivolous’ and ‘opportunistic’
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister, James Marape has described planned attempts to challenge his government in a vote of no confidence motion as “frivolous and opportunistic”. The traditional 18-month grace period that
Three PNG MPs defect government amidst vote of no confidence agenda
Three members of Papua New Guinea parliament have defected from the government to join the opposition as moves aimed at throwing out the Pangu-led government. The vote of no confidence agenda is high on the table as
13 Political Parties to contest Solomon Islands Election
Thirteen political parties are slated to participate in the upcoming General Election in the Solomon Islands scheduled for April this year. Registration of a new political party does not have a time frame that depicts
PNG coalition intact, no split in government
Papua New Guinea Justice Minister and Attorney-General, Pila Niningi has brushed claims of a “split” in the coalition government, saying it is intact with the ruling Pangu Pati’s 53 MPs united. “So much rumour
Calls for confidence vote in PM Marape after deadly riots in PNG
The political fallout from the deadly riots in Papua New Guinea continues, including calls for a vote of no confidence against Prime Minister, James Marape. Six MPs in Marape’s government have resigned following
PNG counts cost of riots as PM vows Cabinet reshuffle
Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister has promised a cabinet reshuffle as businesses reckon with the cost of looting and rioting last week that inflicted heavy damage on the impoverished Pacific Island country’s
Taiwan congratulates Hilda Heine as RMI new President
Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has extended Taipei’s congratulations to new Marshall Islands’ President, Hilda Heine. Heine assumed the presidency following a vote among newly sworn-in legislators
Nauru cuts ties with Taiwan in favour of China
The Government of Nauru has switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China. In a statement yesterday, the government announced its allegiance to the “One-China Principle, which recognises the People’s
Opinion: One year down, a mixed bag of results for Fiji’s coalition
When Sitiveni Rabuka narrowly won the parliamentary vote to become Fiji Prime Minister a year ago on Christmas Eve 2022, his position looked extremely precarious. With only a one-seat majority, the new coalition
National Referendum in six months: Vanuatu PM
Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai announced in Parliament Tuesday that a national referendum is expected to happen within the next six months. This announcement followed the unanimous approval of the
Sir Collin Tukuitonga resigns from NZ government roles, citing ‘no confidence’
One of New Zealand’s most prominent Pacific health leaders says he has “no confidence” in the Government after stepping down from almost every advisory role. Long-standing champion for health Sir Collin Tukuitonga
Opinion: Basic but essential: Vanuatu’s proposed political integrity legislation
Vanuatu has had three different prime ministers since 4 September, and weathered several court challenges as politicians and parties battled for parliamentary supremacy. Vanuatu’s citizens have expressed their
House welcomes first Bougainville woman MP
The people of Bougainville have set a record when they for the first time in the 48 years’ political history of this country voted a women leader to the National Parliament, newly elected Member for North Bougainville
1,816 sign petition as effort to end Vanuatu political instability
Over 1,816 citizens representing different sectors and voices, going under the Movement Red, have signed a petition urging parliamentarians to urgently discuss and pass Bills addressing political integrity. 164 people
Apia hosts signing of new EU-ACP Samoa Agreement
More than two decades ago, the European Union and a group of African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states were due to meet in Suva, to sign a new partnership agreement. But the ceremony, scheduled for June 2000, never
