PINA

By Dionisia Tabureguci The Fiji Government’s controversial decision to award the management contract for Fiji Airports Ltd (FAL) to its national airline, Fiji Airways, has intensified fears that a “conflict of interest” will be used to wring higher fees and charges from international airlines that use the facilities. A shocked Association of South Pacific Airlines (ASPA) told Islands Business it...

By John Braddock After four days of talks on 14 July, the leaders of 14 Pacific nations emerged from the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) summit in Fiji declaring “unity.” They launched their “2050 Blue Pacific” strategy, covering the climate crisis, security and political governance. Led by the regional imperialist powers, Australia and New Zealand, “unity,” “regionalism” and the “Pacific family”...

The white sands of Namatakula have nurtured generations of world-class rugby talent but rising sea levels threaten to force the abandonment of the palm-fringed village on Fiji's Coral Coast within a few years. The village is deemed “at risk” by Fiji's government and headman Josevata Nagausaukula contemplates a future in which children now honing their rugby skills have been shifted,...

Current and aspiring Pacific Islands athletes must use the opportunities that ONOC’s roadmap to BRISBANE 2032 will offer in the next ten years. Speaking at the start or Day One of the roadmap on Saturday, 23 July 2022 exactly ten years out from the opening of the BRISBANE 2032 Olympic Games, Karo Lelai, Chair of the ONOC Athletes’ Commission congratulated...

Blues and Panthers hooker Api Koroisau says he would "love an opportunity" to represent Australia at the upcoming Rugby League World Cup. Koroisau's comments come after several players, including his Blues and Panthers teammate Brio Too and Roosters' Victor Radley, pledge their allegiance with Australia's rival nations. Koroisau, who has represented Fiji in past years, joined Triple M's Sunday Scrum where...

Affectionately dubbed the 'smallest nation with the biggest heart' Niue's 15-strong team have set off to Birmingham to face some of the mightiest nations in the 2022 Commonwealth Games that are set to open on Thursday. Team Niue includes 10 lawn bowlers, four boxers and one weightlifter. Among them is Premier Dalton Tagelagi who will be competing alongside his son...

It is with deep sadness and concern that I condemn the recent deaths and escalating violence in Papua New Guinea, including in Porgera and Port Moresby, over the course of the 2022 National Election. My heart goes out to the grieving families in one of our largest Pacific nations. It is a stark reminder of the fundamental responsibility our Leaders hold...

Papua New Guinea Governor General Sir Bob Dadae has advised Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai that any changes in the election –– including the extension of counting –– must be done within the confines of the Constitution. Sir Bob, who was concerned about the election -related violence and ballot hijacking in certain parts of the country and the slow pace of...

New Caledonia's pro-independence FLNKS movement has signed a memorandum of understanding with the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), which wants independence from Indonesia. The deal was signed by Roch Wamytan, the President of New Caledonia's Congress, and the visiting ULMWP leader Benny Wenda. Wamytan told La Premiere both territories are involved in a process of decolonisation and emancipation -...

Samoa might be a small country in the eyes of the world but when it comes to matters of the Ocean, it is a large ocean state. As such, Samoa is home to exceptional habitats such as seamounts, coral reefs, mangroves, and oceanic basins, which contribute significantly to the economy and the identity of Samoan people. That is the message...