A view of Bill 17 of 2021
Earlier this month, the government, in the context of its annual budget process, introduced a Bill (“Bill 17”) to amend the iTaukei Land Trust Act (TLTA) – the “iTaukei Land Trust (Budget Amendment) Act,
Politics
Samoa Court of Appeal meets tomorrow
Samoa’s Court of Appeal has set this Friday 16 July for the substantive hearing of the case that could well be the final decider of Samoa’s ongoing political crisis and unresolved election reports Samoa Global
PUNA, Commonwealth speak on Samoa
As Samoa’s political impasse drags on, Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Henry Puna says he’s confident “all parties will work together to convene parliament as soon as possible, in respect of the democratic
Vanuatu PM prevails
Vanuatu’s prime minister Bob Loughman has defeated a motion of no confidence against him in Parliament this morning. The motion was deposited by the opposition leader, Ralph Regenvanu, citing six main reasons for
The Forum after Dame Meg
As Henry Puna takes the reins at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Dame Meg Taylor has ended her term as Secretary General after more than six years in the job. In an interview with Islands Business (subscribers
Samoa HRPP seat declared void; election overturned
A Human Rights Protection Party(HRPP) Associate Minister has had his election in the seat of Sagaga No. 2 declared void by the Samoa Supreme Court following a legal challenge, triggering a by-election. This means
Violence against women in Pacific politics
As with their sisters around the world, many women in the Pacific Islands are victims of violence. While much of this violence occurs within the family, a socio-cultural environment accustomed to violence against women
Vanuatu Education minister now speaker
The Vanuatu Parliament has elected Seule Simeon as the new speaker just hours after Gracia Shadrack resigned from the position. To stand as candidate for speaker, Simeon resigned his education portfolio in the
Hearing on Samoa swearing-in to start next week
A hearing on an application brought by the Samoa Attorney General to stop the ad-hoc swearing-in of a new Government from taking legal effect after the disputed election, will begin next Monday. The Fa’atuatua ile
Managing leadership for Pacific regionalism
If there was a time when leadership was critical for Pacific regionalism, it would be now. A new Secretary General (SG), former Cook Islands Prime Minister, Henry Puna, is taking over the rein of the Pacific Islands
Connected by the ocean and history
The University of the South Pacific has a proud history of student activism. ATOM (Against Testing on Moruroa) formed in Fiji in 1970, and many of its founding members were USP students and academics. In 1975, ATOM
Samoa Chief Justice will hear appeal
A Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) member has failed in a bid this morning to have the Samoa Chief Justice, Satiu Simativa Perese, recused from an appeal on whether she should be granted a seat in Parliament. The
Plaudits for Dame Meg
Forum leaders have thanked former Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General, Dame Meg
University of the South Pacific VC Ahluwalia gets new contract
University of the South Pacific Vice Chancellor to be
Fiame looks forward to leading Samoa, HRPP appeals
Fiame Naomi Mata’afa says yesterday was an “incredible day” and says she looks forward to leading Samoa through challenging times, in a statement that all but claimed victory following two decisive Supreme Court
Samoa Supreme court overrules fresh election order
Samoa's Supreme Court has overruled a declaration by the Samoa Head of State voiding last month's elections as having no legal authority, however caretaker Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi says he will
Samoan Head of State calls for fresh elections
Samoans woke up to the news today that they will go back to the polls in just over two-weeks’ time, on 21 May 2021. Calling for fresh elections was the best legal way forward for the Head of State, Tuimalealiifano
Sope’s history lesson
Vanuatu’s former Roving Ambassador and former Prime Minister, Barak Sope, has disputed claims that the late Sir Michael Somare was a supporter of West Papua. Sope says it is important that original political leaders
Tuvalu ponders relevance of Queen as Head of State
The status of the Queen as Head of State in Tuvalu will again come under scrutiny as the first public consultation for Tuvalu’s Constitutional Review gets underway. “The Constitutional Review process
From our archives: Fiame’s new chapter
As the official vote count continues in Samoa, we revisit our cover story from November 2020. “It’s very liberating. I haven’t felt this excited about politics for a long time,” says Samoa’s former
Worldwide whitewash?
Worldwide anti-corruption rankings – or first world whitewash? Long-standing questions about the fairness of corruption ratings and rankings from Transparency International surveys now have answers. From the Pacific,
Pacific water woes
Earlier this month the world learnt of the plight of Banabans, who had been living without fresh water for a year according to residents. A social media post from an overseas-based Banaban gave a stark insight into the
Who is Henry Puna?
Who is Henry Puna? One vote – and a hundred million, or so, in unaudited assets. Few candidates have as slim a mandate as the new Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum. Just one vote separated him from