PINA

The people of Banaba Island in Kiribati are calling for humanitarian intervention from Australia, New Zealand and the international community to an on-going severe drought and water crisis on the island. Community leader, Roubena Ritata speaking to PACNEWS from Banaba said the situation is ‘desperate’ and the 300 residents on the island are ‘dying for clean water.’ Banaba, commonly known as...

The Morrison Government has awarded TAFE Queensland a $36 million (US$27 million) contract to provide mariner training and support to the Navy crews of the Guardian-class Patrol Boats. The funding is being delivered as part of the Morrison Government’s $2 billion (US$1.5 billion) Pacific Maritime Security Programme to strengthen maritime capability in the Pacific. The Acting Minister for Defence, Senator Marise...

By Sarah Boxall The UN theme for International Women’s Day 2021 is “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world” – a celebration of global progress towards women’s equal representation in leadership positions. For the Pacific, discussion of women’s leadership has focused on women’s political representation, which at just 7% is among the lowest in the...

The most senior civil servant in Fiji’s Ministry of Economy, Makereta Konrote, has resigned from the post. Konrote’s resignation comes at a critical time, as Fiji’s Minister of Economy remains in Singapore for medical treatment, and Fiji's economy continues to take a battering from COVID-19 related border closures and Tropical Cyclones Yasa and Ana. Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has been conducting virtual...

The wait for island nations to vaccinate their people may only take a few months rather than years, the Pacific Community says. The UK-based Economist Intelligence Unit had forecast that some Pacific countries may not get to vaccinate majority of their populations until at least 2025. The group said this involved more than 60 percent of people in some countries such...

The official dissolution of the Samoa XVI Legislative Assembly was held this morning bringing to an end a six-week sitting that began on 19 January. The ceremonial sitting was attended by the Head of State, Tuimaleali’ifano Va’aletoa Sualauvi II, diplomatic corps and invited guests. Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Leaupepe Toleafoa Fa’afisi and Incumbent Members of...

When Micronesian leaders broke away from the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) a fortnight ago, after their candidate for secretary general was not elected to the Forum’s top job, it reflected the ongoing erosion of interpersonal relationships at the Pacific’s premier regional body. Strong human relationships and connections have characterised the Forum’s decision-making processes for decades. However, in recent years, the...

Tuvalu’s Opposition Party believes the proposed Tuvalu citizenship and passport investment scheme is very dangerous. Former Prime Minister and Opposition leader Enele Sopoaga says the scheme is ‘unnecessary’ and must go through due diligence on the costs and benefits for Tuvalu. “Critical in this regard are the questions of transparency, verification processes, credibility of the buyers, duties of the buyers,...

Australia will pour hundreds of millions of dollars into strategically important infrastructure across the Pacific over the coming months to compete with China’s decade-long spending spree and help ensure small nations are not saddled with debt. The infrastructure blitz – part of Australia’s Pacific ‘step up’ will include loans and grants for renewable power projects, telecommunications, transport and health facilities...

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister, James Marape, Tuesday expressed sorrow at the recent decision taken by the Micronesian Presidents’ Summit in a Communique to formally exit from the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). “I note this decision, and Papua New Guinea respects completely, the rights of the Micronesian Presidents’ Group, to make such decisions,” said Prime Minister Marape. But in the interest...