PINA

Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown has expressed deep concern over the ongoing political situation in New Caledonia. “The political situation in New Caledonia remains deeply concerning to the Forum Family. “I offer our prayers to those affected on the ground, particularly those who have lost loved ones,” PM Brown said in a statement. Brown...

Forum Chair and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown has expressed his condolences following the landslide in Papua New Guinea's Enga Province on 24 May. “The Forum family of our 18 Pacific nations and our dialogue and development partners join us in extending thoughts, prayers, and condolences to the government and people of Papua New Guinea,” he said in a...

The Pacific Islands Forum Chair and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown has welcomed a significant development from the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS). The tribunal recently issued an Advisory Opinion requested by the Commission of Small Island States on Climate Change and International Law. “The Pacific Islands Forum commends ITLOS for this historic Advisory Opinion,” Brown...

Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown has called for countries on the frontlines of climate change to have their national debt forgiven. Stressed during a special panel at the Fourth International Conference on Small Islands Developing States (SIDS4), Prime Minister Brown, also Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, stated this will help improve the socio-economic wellbeing of all Pacific peoples. “Debt...

Empowering decisions through data, was a sentiment echoed by many at the Fourth International Conference of Small Island Developing States currently being held in Antigua. “In an era of unprecedented environmental challenges, data is our most valuable asset. It empowers us to make informed decisions, track progress, and implement effective policies tailored to the unique needs of our Pacific communities”...

The Weather Ready Pacific Programme of Investment, a landmark Pacific Island solution for Pacific Islands challenges to resiliency was magnified at the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States. This Pacific designed initiative that will boost our Pacific Islands Meteorological Services in all ways possible was the feature of a special event in Antigua and Barbuda. Through improved services, increased...

The FijiFirst Party has terminated seventeen Members of Parliament who voted in favour of salary increases last Friday. The seventeen Opposition Members received letters from the Acting General Secretary, Faiyaz Koya of the party notifying them that their seat in Parliament has been vacated. Spokesperson for the members, Jone Usamate said they are disputing the legality of the termination letter. “As far...

Statement by the Forum Chair and Prime Minister of Cook Islands, Mark Brown. The Pacific Islands Forum Chair, Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown, welcomed the latest Advisory Opinion unanimously decided by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), following a Request by the Commission of Small Island States on Climate Change and International Law. The Pacific Islands...

French Olympic surfer, Vahine Fierro, became the first Frenchwoman to win the women’s Tahiti Pro on the waves of Teahupo'o on Wednesday, just two months before the Olympic surfing events to be held on the French Pacific island. Nearly 16,000 kilometres from the French capital, the French Pacific island, despite much previous controversy due to the necessary construction work and...

Climate action taken so far to help fund efforts in cash-strapped small island developing States (SIDS) “does not measure up to what has been said” in the wake of COP28 in Dubai last year. That was the strong message from President of the Western Pacific nation of Palau Surangel Whipps speaking at an Interactive Dialogue on Wednesday during the Fourth...