PINA

by Tarcisius Kabutaulaka The tumultuous dispute over the selection of the Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), which led to Micronesian countries deciding to withdraw from the premier regional organisation, provides an opportunity to re-examine the idea and vision of Pacific regionalism and the concept of the “Pacific Way”. The Micronesian countries argue that according to an unwritten convention,...

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare was the first in line to be vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccine in Honiara, Wednesday, 24 March 2020. https://twitter.com/ginakekea/status/1374541645098541059?s=20 He becomes the first Pacific leader to take the first jab - as a show of political leadership in light of opposition to the AstraZeneca vaccination programme, rolled out in two Pacific Island Countries. Fiji is the...

A partnership agreement signed today between the Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC) and the Pacific Community (SPC) has set the stage for the Pacific’s sporting sector to strengthen career pathways, technical expertise and administration skills across the region. The Memorandum of Understanding commits ONOC’s Oceania Sport Education Programme (OSEP) to accredit its courses against the Pacific Qualifications Framework (PQF). The...

The International Federation of Journalists expresses solidarity with journalists and their sources in Samoa who are being subject to legal threats and investigations that seek to prevent them from reporting on the truth. This statement was originally published on ifj.org on 16 March 2021. The Office of the Attorney General of Samoa threatened the Samoa Observer with a legal investigation...

Nigerian authorities are being encouraged to investigate a threat received by Haruna Mohammed Salisu, the owner of "WikkiTimes". This statement was originally published on cpj.org on 23 March 2021. Nigerian authorities should thoroughly investigate the threatening message received by journalist Haruna Mohammed Salisu and ensure his safety, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On March 13, at about 9 a.m., Salisu,...

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare was the first in line to get the jab as Solomon Islands started its COVID-19 vaccine rollout today. “Well first 15 minutes and I am over the moon. I feel good as there is no side effect. I just feel so normal,” PM Sogavare told SIBC Prime Minister Sogavare said the war against COVID-19 is...

Palau has started the official withdrawal of membership from the regional body, as a show of disappointment to the selection process of the Secretary-General. The Palau government sent a diplomatic note and a statement of denunciation to Fiji, the PIF’s host on 16 March to begin the one-year exit process. The withdrawal will take effect on 16 March, 2022 “To address...

Member of Parliament for Mauke Tai Tura was last night sworn in as the new Speaker of Cook Islands Parliament at a special ceremony held at the Queen’s Representative Sir Tom Marsters’ residence in Titikaveka. The Member of Parliament for Mauke had held the role of Deputy Speaker for nearly 10 years – since the time of the former Speaker,...

Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr, who is scheduled to visit Taiwan next week, said Monday that he has informed Beijing that Palau cherishes its relations with Taiwan and that no one should ask Palau to cut ties with Taipei. In a special interview via videoconferencing, Whipps said Beijing had contacted him last year after he won the presidential election, trying...

School children in cyclone affected areas will benefit from an additional F$15 million package of support that was announced today by Australian High Commissioner to Fiji, John Feakes. The new package of Australian support will assist the Fijian Government to reconstruct schools damaged or destroyed by Tropical Cyclones Yasa and Ana. High Commissioner Feakes said Australia is pleased to be able...