PINA

The UN Resident Coordinator to Vanuatu, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Tuvalu, Sanaka Samarasinha, paid a courtesy visit to Vanuatu Prime Minister, Ishmael Kalsakau, Friday to officially handover US$1.7 million towards recovery efforts in Vanuatu. The funding has come out of UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and will be used to provide life-saving assistance to people in Vanuatu following...

South Africa's Director-general of the justice department advocate Dr Mashabane said on Friday they only just learnt that the Guptas are citizens of Vanuatu in the Pacific islands. “In the communication we received, the judgment makes reference to the Guptas being citizens of a country called Vanuatu in the Pacific islands. “This was a new development for us because previously their...

Fiji’s President Ratu Wiliame Katoniverere Thursday suspended the island nation’s Director of Public Prosecutor (DPP) Christopher Pryde. The President in a letter advised him that a tribunal would be appointed to investigate alleged misbehaviour. He said the convening of a tribunal is in keeping with Chapter 5, Part A, Section 112 (3) of the Fiji Constitution. President Katonivere further informed Pryde that...

Australia's attempt to plug workforce gaps with Pacific labourers has sparked concerns about disadvantage and diplomatic backlash. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's government is introducing a Pacific Engagement Visa to provide permanent residency for 3000 people from the Pacific and East Timor. It believes the scheme will strengthen diplomatic ties and create economic opportunities, with supporters also suggesting it will help counter...

Fiji's deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Cooperatives Manoa Kamikamica received a courtesy call Thursday from the Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shunsuke Takei. Takei's first official visit to our shores this week signifies the strength of Fiji and Japan's cooperation in the socioeconomic development. It also affirms Japan's unwavering support to Fiji and the opportunities for higher...

Pacific Island civil society call for the protection of the Pacific Ocean from deep sea mining and nuclear waste at the Civil 7 Summit in Japan which is an official engagement group of the G7 representing positions from international civil society. On Friday 14 April, representatives of key Pacific civil society organisations will be speaking at the Civil 7 Summit...

China is ready to receive Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape in Beijing for a State visit with President Xi Jinping. Marape is scheduled for a Chinese State visit soon at a date of convenience to be set. But the Chinese government has confirmed they are ready to receive Marape whenever time is convenient. “China and PNG have maintained close exchanges...

The Tongan Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni has launched the Tonga Labour Mobility Supply Management Strategy (TLMSMS), funded by the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations Plus (PACER Plus). The strategy aims to develop a well-managed, coordinated labour mobility supply management programme that is equitable, inclusive, can broaden the range of appropriate and aligned skills for both domestic and international supply. The...

By Shayal Devi A deep care and affection for the ocean is deeply ingrained in all Pacific Island dwellers and they have made combined efforts to sustainably maintain this precious resource for future generations. Today, a widely condemned plan of action adopted by one of Fiji’s longstanding partners threatens to jeopardise years of advocacy and diplomacy. Japan made headlines recently for...

Australia’s Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Pat Conroy has announced Australia’s support of AUD$220,000 (approx. WST 390,000)for the Manu Samoa team ahead of the 2023 Rugby World Cup to be held in France. The Minister was on the final day of his two day visit to Samoa that focussed building on the people-to-people connections that make the Samoa-Australia...