PINA

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide a US$6 million grant and the Government of Vanuatu US$1.2 million to establish a network to deliver renewable energy to the people of Malekula and Espiritu Santo islands. The ADB-supported Vanuatu Energy Access Project will help construct a 400-kilowatt Brenwe hydropower plant and extend the two islands’ electricity grids to deliver sustainable, affordable...

Passing the final hurdles As Bougainville marks two years since its historic independence referendum, Pacific leaders must work together to ensure the process does not falter, Ben Bohane writes. There were colourful rallies around Bougainville in late 2019 as people prepared to vote in a referendum they had waited decades for. In the carnival atmosphere, people tooted car horns and...

The Pacific Islands Forum Deputy Secretary General, Filimon Manoni, and Young-kyu Park, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, have Tuesday signed a new project to support coastal and marine planning under the Republic of Korea – Pacific Islands Forum Cooperation Fund. Valued at US$D1.8 million, the three-year project will be implemented by the Pacific Community (SPC), the Korea Institute of...

The Malaita Provincial Government in Solomon Islands is seeking the assistance of the United Nations Security Council to fulfil recommendations in the Townsville Peace Agreement (TPA) for an independent Malaita. Malaita Provincial Premier Daniel Suidani revealed this on Monday during a public address in the provincial capital, Auki. Suidani told the public gathering that the provincial government and Malaita for Democracy...

Ocean flooding for the third straight day hit low-lying islands throughout the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), causing sparse damage but requiring large-scale clean-ups in their wake. Roads by Amata Kabua International Airport in Majuro was down to single lane traffic Monday afternoon as heavy equipment operators moved up and down the long roadway clearing rocks...

There are now three people shaping up to contest for the Tonga prime ministership. Tongans went to the polls last month and elected an all-male parliament, with nine new faces coming in via the 17 People's Representative seats, and three among the nobles. The last day for nominations for the prime minister is Tuesday next week, 14 December 2021, before parliament...

The motion of no confidence and calls for Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare to resign are made against the backdrop of an illegally attempted coup. Sogavare made this comment in Parliament Monday during the motion of no confidence vote against him as Prime Minister. He said what happened on Wednesday 24 November was an attempted coup to overthrow a democratically...

Taiwan's government on Monday denied involvement in the recent bloody riots in the Solomon Islands after the leader of the former Pacific Island ally accused Taipei of being involved earlier in the day. Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare on Monday survived a no confidence motion in parliament, after accusing the Pacific nation's most populous province, Malaita, of being "Taiwan's...

They want to create ‘world class’ surf waves by excavating two channels through coral reef off a pristine Fijian island group. But this Kiwi-led group, backed by some serious heavy-hitters, is being slammed for pushing what’s been described as essentially a dredging project. By Cass Mason and Melanie Reid A New Zealand-registered company is facing intense opposition to its proposal to...

Two Fijian citizens who had travelled back into Fiji from Nigeria on 25 November have tested positive of the Omicron variant. This was confirmed by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services permanent secretary, Dr James Fong who says last week travellers who had arrived from an African state and were undergoing quarantine in a border quarantine facility had tested...