PINA

By Richard Naidu Leading Pacific tuna industry expert, Dr Transform Aqorau, has drawn from the region’s experiences with its massive tuna fisheries industry to sound caution in the development of the “next frontier” of deep seabed mining. Speaking at the Fiji National University in Suva last week, Dr Aqorau said while the potential for economic benefits from seabed minerals is...

Pacific civil society groups have joined others from around the world in an open letter calling on trade negotiators at this week's World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ministerial to ensure that any outcome on fisheries subsidies targets those fleets most responsible for overfishing, protects small-scale fishers and doesn't stop small-island stated from developing their own fishing fleets. The WTO Ministeral starts...

Op-ed by Bo Li and Marshall Mills Pacific Island countries are renowned the world over for their unique geography, populations, cultures, and way of life. This uniqueness presents myriad opportunities to boost growth and wellbeing. It also exposes these countries to distinctive challenges. For the past three decades, the IMF has been engaged in the Pacific Islands region on...

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape says the Opposition is more than welcome to attempt a vote of no confidence (VONC) against him when Parliament resumes in May. Parliament rose Thursday and adjourned to May, acting speaker Koni Iguan said the motion of no confidence against Marape did not qualify to be listed on the notice paper. Marape denied that...

Pacific Ocean Commissioner, Dr Filimon Manoni has highlighted the significance of the OACPS as a vital partner for Pacific countries, stressing the importance of effective implementation of the Samoa Agreement. He emphasised the critical global issues facing the Pacific region: climate change and the ocean. “The Samoa Agreement and the Pacific Protocol underscore common interests and priorities with our region, particularly...

Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General, Henry Puna has highlighted the Pacific's important role in the success of the 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) in Geneva in 2022, in his address to the Pacific ACP WTO Trade Minister Meeting this week. He acknowledged the delivery of the Geneva package, including the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, and commended the efforts of the ministers,...

The Papua New Guinea Parliamentary Private Business Committee (PBC) has denied the notice of the motion of the Vote-of-No-Confidence (VONC). In advising Parliament, Acting Speaker Koni Iguan said, “The PBC deliberated on the motion Wednesday at 12:30pm at the Speaker’s lounge after the notice was given by the 14 February.” “The committee is of the view that this motion will not...

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 with political instability and a fast-rising cost of living is widespread in the archipelago nation of more than 300,000 people. But there are also concerns that outlawing changes...

Tuvaluan members of parliament are likely to elect a new prime minister on Friday (23 Feb) according to a senior electoral official, and a frontrunner has reportedly emerged. Senior electoral officer Semi Malaki told the ABC that a vote is likely to occur by Friday or shortly after, as bad weather that prevented elected members of parliament from traveling to...

Fiji's Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has clarified Fiji’s position on the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution titled: “Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. Rabuka said Fiji’s intended presentation at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague specifically responds to the December 2022 United Nations General...