PINA

Fiji’s second COVID-19 wave continues to batter the economy, and a series of market updates released by companies listed on the South Pacific Stock Exchange make for sobering reading. None of the listed companies are putting numbers to the impact on their bottom line, although all are assuring their shareholders that they have business continuity and COVID-response plans in hand. Fijian...

Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown has announced a Cabinet portfolio reshuffle today. “With the retirement of the Henry Puna, and the election of Akaiti Puna as the Member of Parliament for Manihiki; and with the new budget to be tabled next – I’ve taken the opportunity to relinquish some of my portfolios, reallocate other portfolios to Ministers and to...

New Zealand has reinforced its involvement in the Five Eyes partnership this week in response to recent conduct from China. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern previously distanced the country’s involvement in the alliance, saying it would not be used for communication outside security matters. Today, Australian Defence Minister Peter Dutton said all countries within the partnership are “on the same page”. “The Five...

Fiji's Public Health Amendment Bill 2021 has been tabled in Parliament today. Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, said the amendment to the Public Health Act is urgent and there are certain public measures and protocols that need to be adhered to as Fiji fights the second wave of COVID-19. This will bring in spot fines for those found in breach of COVID-19...

There is no need for a state of emergency to be declared, Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama told Parliament Wednesday. He was responding to SODELPA MP Niko Nawaikula’s request for Government to look at the option of declaring a state of emergency because of the current situation and the rise in number of COVID-19 cases recorded daily. In response, Bainimarama said...

Pacific countries have the opportunity to bring their strong regional commitments on anti-corruption to this week’s United Nations Special Session of the General Assembly (UNGASS) with online and in-person participation for 187 countries beginning on 02 June, New York time. The United Nations Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption (UN-PRAC) Project has been working with Pacific countries since early 2020 to develop the...

The effects of corruption are “detrimental to all of society”, the President of the UN General Assembly said on Wednesday during the first day of a special session convened to galvanise political will to fight the scourge. “We cannot pretend that there were no issues before the COVID-19 pandemic”, said Volkan Bozkir. “Transnational financial crime and corruption are unfortunately commonplace in...

The United Nations General Assembly Special Session against corruption began at the UN headquarters in New York today with strong calls for the redoubling of efforts aimed at eliminating corruption. Leaders of the world body who spoke at the opening session stressed the importance of meeting the 2030 Agenda of Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations as the COVID19...

Solutions for sustainable waste actions in used oil management, marine debris and disaster wastes will be in place across the Pacific islands through a special project that began in 2020. The Committing to Sustainable Waste Actions in the Pacific Project, also known as SWAP, held its first steering committee in April, bringing seven Pacific island countries together to determine future...

A recession is not the time to cut government spending, it is a time when government is expected to front up and stimulate the economy, writes Prime Minister Mark Brown. What a lot has happened this past fortnight. With the arrival of our first tourists in more than a year two weeks ago, we are already starting to see the...