Pacific corruption scores continue to stagnate: Urgent action required
Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index adds Fiji as a fourth Pacific nation, as stagnation demonstrates the critical importance of corruption reform in the region to secure basic rights and freedoms.
Australian Seasonal Worker scheme ‘rife with abuse’: Inquiry
Supermarket shelves are filled with fruit and vegetables but the people who harvest them are sometimes being paid just A$100 (US$71) for a 64-hour work week. On Wednesday, seasonal workers detailed exploitation at the
Stan and the Earth Force talk Vanuatu music
By Rowena Singh Stan Antas, founder and lead singer of Vanuatu’s Stan & the Earth Force, says music has always been part of his life, and part of Vanuatu’s culture. “We're big on reggae here and our local
Opinion: Europe’s efforts to vilify Vanuatu’s Citizenship Program are tone deaf, protectionist and foolish
In a press call on 12 January, the European Union announced that it may look to suspend its bilateral agreement with Vanuatu, which allows citizens of the Pacific nation to enter, visa free. This obstruction—which
Vanuatu students learn to farm and save
By Len Garae Vanuatu’s government would like to see all Agriculture Farming Rural Training Centres copy the approach of NAPIL Farming Rural Training Centre, a rural community agriculture school where it is compulsory
Pacific leaders join call for delay in New Caledonia referendum
In a significant intervention, former Pacific island presidents, prime ministers and senior officials have written to French President Emmanuel Macron, urging him to delay the next referendum on self-determination in
Insuring against disasters
As November nears, the thoughts of many Pacific islanders turn to preparations for the South Pacific cyclone season. Are there matches and candles, batteries and bottled water in the house? Are the hurricane shutters in
Visiting gentle Yasur
By Len Garae. Photos: Kersom Richard The closure of borders has seen many Pacific islanders explore their own backyards. For more than one hundred of Vanuatu’s senior public servants, this year’s National Week of
American Samoa, Fiji, Guam, Palau, Samoa, Vanuatu remain on EU tax blacklist
Six Pacific Islands are on the EU tax blacklist, remaining listed an “non-cooperative”. They are American Samoa, Fiji, Guam, Palau, Samoa and Vanuatu. The European Union blacklist was set up in 2017 to
Reeves Envico supports a COVID-safe environment in the Pacific
Reeves Envico is committed as an employer in supporting a healthy and COVID-safe environment across all our project sites and in the local communities we operate in. Our recent initiatives have helped workers access
A trip to Tanna
By Len Garae The thousands of people who converged on Laminu Stadium on Tanna Island for the recent National Week of Agriculture were living proof that Vanuatu is ready to produce, value-add and market its agricultural
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.
Vanuatu at 41
Vanuatu was again able to throw the need for social distancing and mask-wearing to the wind as its people sang and danced to celebrate 41 years of Independence on July 30. Unlike its neighbours—Australia, New
Nurturing the seeds of MSMEs
Economists used to say that micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) were the backbone of Pacific Island countries. But as the impact of COVID-related border closures deepens almost 18 months into the crisis,
Nurturing the seeds of Pacific MSMEs
Many new MSMEs have sprung up in the wake of COVID, but how can they remain
Kava: brewing up a storm
There’s a storm brewing over the Pacific as a Queensland town mayor suggests kava could be grown in
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
USP’s regional students struggle to study
By Leila Parina Regional students studying at the University of the South Pacific’s Laucala campus in Fiji have had another difficult semester. The COVID-19 outbreak which began in April this year and has claimed over
‘Tiny’ but tasty: Aelan’s global success
By Samantha Magick Vanuatu chocolate maker, Aelan hopes to launch a regional chocolate and cacao competition this year as a way of promoting high-quality chocolate from across the Pacific Islands region. “We're
ICC needs to become more egalitarian says Vanuatu Cricket President
Mark Stafford is a man who has seen plenty of Associate cricket up close. He has completed a staggering 30 years as President of Vanuatu Cricket Association (VCA), after being appointed in 1991. He is also the VCA
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
2400 Vanuatu workers to go to NZ
300 workers from Vanuatu will be sent to New Zealand for work under the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) Scheme every month until March next year, the NZ government has revealed. This will make a total of 2,400
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