PINA

The initial estimate of the recovery cost following Vanuatu's twin cyclone disaster is estimated at six billion vatu (US$50 million). Cyclones Judy and Kevin caused extensive damage and plunged parts of Vanuatu into a state of emergency. However, Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau said the true cost is yet to be determined. He said at the moment he is focused on reinstalling confidence...

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has fired its top official in the Western Pacific after the Associated Press reported last year that dozens of staff members accused him of racist, abusive and unethical behaviour that may have compromised the UN health agency’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. In an email sent to employees on Wednesday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus...

Deep-sea mining will be exempted from environmental impact assessment (EIA) measures established under a landmark international oceans treaty, a move campaigners fear could undermine protection for the seabed. The High Seas Treaty is the first international agreement to protect oceans that lie outside of national boundaries. It creates a legal mechanism for the future designation of marine protected areas and...

The full extent of the destruction caused by Tropical Cyclones (TCs) Judy and Kevin is yet to be determined, as disaster officials are still assessing the impacts. The nation is in a State of Emergency (SOE) after it was slammed by the two powerful cyclones last week. With some areas still lacking mobile networks or road access, assessing the extent...

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is advocating for more investments in small-scale farming communities in the Pacific. With climate change intensifying and more frequent disruptions in food value chains, such investments are critical to fight poverty and malnutrition, and to enable rural populations to grow more food today and in the future. At the Pacific Week for Agriculture (PWA)taking...

Pacific Islands Forum Chair and Cook Islands Prime Minister, Mark Brown has welcomed the conclusion of the negotiations on the key substantive issues that will frame a new International Treaty on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in the high seas. Brown said the finalisation of the BBNJ instrument is a significant step in the right direction for...

Following the devastation of two Tropical Cyclones in Vanuatu, France has sent humanitarian aid from New Caledonia to help. The New Caledonian Army Forces were quick to act, sending a patrol plane last Friday to look at the extent of the damage in Vanuatu. On Sunday the territory's forces arrived on the cargo ship D'Entrecasteaux in the capital Port Vila. A supply...

Kava is a significant commodity for us in the Pacific Islands. For Fiji, much of our rich history, cultural events and traditions are rooted in kava as it carries important value for our region culturally, socially and economically. These were the remarks by the Assistant Minister at the Office of the Prime Minister, Sakiusa Tubuna whilst delivering his opening address at...

Representatives from Australia, the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Japan, Kiribati, Nauru and the United States of America met Wednesday to push forward the delivery of the East Micronesia Cable project. This project, supported by Australia, Japan and the United States, will build an undersea cable to connect the state of Kosrae in FSM, Tarawa in Kiribati, and Nauru to...

By Stephen Howes Tuesday in Australia’s Parliament the Opposition decided to oppose the supporting legislation to implement the Pacific Engagement Visa (PEV), an election commitment of the new government to provide permanent residency to 3,000 Pacific islanders per year through a lottery. Shadow Minister for Immigration Dan Tehan gave a lengthy speech prosecuting the Opposition’s case. His main argument was that...