PINA

The Heads of Customs administrations in the region are holding their annual conference virtually today to discuss challenges in the region and possible solutions as well as adopt the Pacific Harmonised Commodity Description and Coding System (PACHS) 2022, which comes into effect from 01 January next year. "COVID-19 is continuing to disrupt our daily lives and if we thought 2020...

Kiribati is the latest country in the Micronesia sub region to officially communicate its intent to withdraw from the Pacific Islands Forum on 23 July 2021. The formal communication was made to the Government of Fiji as the depositary of the 2000 Agreement Establishing the Pacific Islands Forum. In a statement, the Kiribati Government said the decision to withdraw from the...

New Zealand’s director general of health has condemned “gutless” racism against Pacific communities, as the Covid-19 outbreak continues to grow. Announcing case numbers on Wednesday, Dr Ashley Bloomfield said the ministry of health had seen racism being directed at Pacific New Zealanders, and that those racist remarks were “disappointing – and frankly, gutless”. “I’m asking everyone in the country to be...

With over 80 percent of Palau’s populations, over 97 percent of adults fully vaccinated, President Surangel Whipps Jr said that Palau is protected from the feared effects of COVID-19 virus, which are severe illness, hospitalisation and death. Dr Thane Hancock, Medical Epidemiologist from U.S Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said Palau has “put in place…a huge foundation for...

Samoa's Director General of Health is concerned that there is not enough commitment for people to complete the second dose of Covid-19 vaccination. Leausa Dr Take Naseri said that only around 37,000 have completed their second doses, from the over 87,000 who already had their first jabs. “If we look at the 37,524 who have completed their second doses, its percentage...

After three-and-a-half years of legal proceedings in the Court of Disputed Returns, the National Court Tuesday ruled in favour of petitioner Pastor Bernard Peter Kaku and nullified Southern Highlands Governor William Powi’s declaration as Governor in the 2017 National General Elections for the Southern Highlands Provincial seat. The court found that Powi was not duly elected and ordered a recount...

The Republic of the Marshall Islands is now working on updating their 2016 State of Environment (SOE) report. This year, the 2021 SOE has a focus on multi-stakeholder engagement and input during its preparation. The SOE Reports provides a status of the environment, helping policy and decision-makers make informed decisions when it comes to environmental impact. Developing the 2021 Report...

Vulnerable communities will now be able to access affordable climate and disaster risk insurance following the launch of Fiji’s first-ever Parametric Microinsurance Product. For $2 (US$1) a week, low-income Fijians will be able to access up to $1,000 (US$500) after a flood of cyclone. Minister for Economy, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said climate emergency is here and the government saw climate and disaster...

Papua New Guinea COVID-19 National Pandemic Response Controller and Police Commissioner David Manning has expressed anger and disappointment at the way in which India’s High Commission in Port Moresby deliberately participated in the deception that resulted in unauthorised passengers, including four infected with COVID-19, arriving in PNG. Manning said the behaviour of those involved in the dishonest process compromises the...

Fiji has recorded 302 new cases of COVID-19 and nine new deaths Tuesday, increasing the total number of cases to 44,420 and 451 deaths since the outbreak in April. Ministry of Health permanent secretary Dr James Fong said 148 cases were from the Western division and 154 cases from the Central division, in Vitilevu, Fiji’s main island. Dr Fong also reported...