PINA

As the World Health Assembly meets to consider pandemic preparedness and response, in the face of the new Omicron strain of COVID-19 and at the start of the Pacific cyclone season, Forum Foreign Ministers have released a Joint Statement on Blue Pacific Leadership in Disaster Preparedness Planning. Forum Foreign Ministers voice deep concern over the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic...

Op-ed authored by Sanaka Samarasinha, UN Resident Coordinator to Fiji, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu & Vanuatu. During natural disasters and emergencies, women and girls are more at risk of experiencing violence, exploitation and abuse. Simultaneously, emergencies weaken national systems, including health and legal systems, and community and social support networks. This breakdown of systems can reduce access to health services, including...

Today, a contingent of 50 Republic of Fiji Military Forces(RFMF) personnel depart Fiji to assist in the restoration of security and stability in the Solomon Islands. This after Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama assured his Solomon Islands counterpart of our support should they need our assistance. The request was accepted and the troops were prepared. Commander RFMF Major General Jone Kalouniwai in...

The Pentagon will focus on building up bases in Australia and Guam to better prepare the U.S military to counter China, a senior defence official said. The moves have been prompted by the U.S Department of Defence's global posture review, which President Joe Biden ordered Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin to undertake shortly after taking office in February. Austin started the...

Wellington has appeared slow to respond to a crisis in Solomon Islands where once it would have been a regional leader. By Robert Ayson The prophecy was delivered in 2014. “It is likely that over the next ten years,” Wellington’s Defence Assessment foretold, “New Zealand will deploy military and other assets in support of a Pacific Islands Forum member in crisis...

The road to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 for OFC hopefuls is now set after the completion of the preliminary competition draw held Tuesday at the Home of FIFA in Zurich, Switzerland. The OFC qualifiers will be played in a mini-tournament format featuring eight teams and consisting of a round-robin group stage, semi-finals and the final. Prior to this, a...

Papua New Guinea Police Commissioner David Manning says the country’s engagement in the Solomon Islands is critical with emphasis on protection of several Government properties, including the Henderson International Airport. Prime Minister James Marape said the deployment of a 37-member security team to the Solomons on Friday followed a request from his counterpart Manasseh Sogavare after recent protests, unruly behaviour...

The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) 2021 meeting begins 29 November, as it faces the expiration of its Tropical Tuna Measure guiding fishing controls for bigeye, skipjack, and yellowfin tuna in its jurisdiction. The regional fisheries management organisation, which oversees the conservation and management of highly migratory fish stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean, will meet...

Making sure the tuna fisheries of the Western and Central Pacific remain sustainable is one of the driving aims of Pacific Island Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) members heading into WCPFC18 this week. “As FFA members have continued to highlight throughout this year, Pacific Island people are dependent on the tuna fishery, therefore management action to ensure the sustainability of our...

Royal New Zealand Navy ship HMNZS Wellington has rendezvoused with Republic of Fiji Navy Ship (RFNS) Savenaca to carry out coordinated patrols as part of the South Pacific maritime border patrol Operation Calypso. The two ships were also able to conduct exercises to improve interoperability as they sailed from the area around Kadavu Island out into the Fiji Exclusive Economic...