PINA

With the founding members of FijiFirst exiting the party, renowned academic Professor Steven Ratuva said they had not only “abandoned the sinking ship, but also deliberately scuttled and sunk it”. Prof Ratuva said the mounting issues had become untenable and unsustainable. “It’s the end of the party,” he said as FijiFirst is expected to be deregistered. Prof Ratuva also said the stress...

By Charley Piringi The Rennell landowners are questioning the government again about the status of their royalty payments for the 33 bauxite shipments worth millions and their compensation claims for the Kangava Bay oil spill in 2018. Furthermore, Penrose Palmer, a Land Acquisition Officer who falsified documents for land acquired for mining on Rennell Island in 2015 was identified as the...

Andrew Abdo has emphasised the NRL must believe a Papua New Guinea team can be genuinely competitive before it is given the green light to enter an expanded competition. The league will take the next step towards expansion in coming weeks, with a bidding process to be unveiled following the next ARL Commission meeting on June 26. NRL officials have eyes...

Samoa Sailors Eroni Leilua and Vaimo’oi’a gearing up to make a mark on the global stage at the Olympic Games in Paris. The two have qualified to compete in the International Laser Class Association (ILCA) 7 and ILCA 6 in sailing and will compete in the upcoming Olympics. The two will be up against some very experienced sailors who are way...

Fiji's Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has signaled the possibility of forming a government of national unity. Currently, the Coalition government is comprised of three parties: the People’s Alliance, the National Federation Party (NFP) and the Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA). The FijiFirst Party constitutes the opposition. Should a government of national unity be formed, it would mean incorporating members from all major...

A man in his thirties who was shot amongst the New Caledonia rioting has died of his wounds. He was allegedly shot by a gendarme who responded after being targeted, according to initial investigations, the public prosecutor said at the end of May. franceinfo reports this is the ninth death since the beginning of the unrest. The French territory's future is in...

The 2024 Papua New Guinea National Population Census is on track and ready to kick-off next week Monday, 17 June 2024. The minister for Administrative Services Richard Masere and the stakeholders of the National Census 2024 in a press conference reaffirmed the country that census is on track to conduct the event. “I’m privileged to announce to Papua New Guinea that...

Vanuatu Finance Minister John Salong has condemned the Opposition’s demands for the Prime Minister’s resignation, labelling them as “irresponsible” and “unwarranted.” The controversy centres around the recent voluntary liquidation of Air Vanuatu (Operations) Limited, a move Minister Salong described as a necessary step to address longstanding issues within the airline. “It is an irresponsible comment from the Opposition, to demand the...

By Nic Maclellan  Despite weeks of rioting and clashes between police and protestors in New Caledonia, French authorities in Noumea decided to proceed with elections for the European Parliament on Sunday, a poll open to all French nationals living in the Pacific dependency. For most New Caledonians, especially indigenous Kanak and other supporters of independence, there was little reason to vote...

Papua New Guinea Opposition has filed its Supreme Court reference Tuesday. They are basically seeking an interpretation of Speaker Job Pomat’s decision on the motion of a vote of no confidence (VoNC). Among the reliefs that they are seeking is for Parliament to be recalled. Opposition leader Douglas Tomuriesa confirmed that Opposition lawyers have filed the case and are hoping the Supreme...