The Forum Trade Ministers met in Vava’u, Kingdom of Tonga on 18-19 May 2011. Of the 14 Forum Island Countries, four – Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Tonga – are World trade Organisation (WTO) Members and two Observers – Samoa and Vanuatu – are in the process of acceding to the WTO. FICs who are Read more
Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands have fared poorly in the Amnesty International report on human rights for 2010. The report claims Thousands of people in the Pacific are being denied social and economic opportunity Human rights defenders have been threatened, imprisoned and tortured, and gender based violence is still a major issue in the Read more
The Prime Minister of Samoa, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, who last November told John Campbell of New Zealand’s TV3 that he “had much to learn about good manners” this week displayed a more relaxed a attitude to the media. He suggested that the current storm-in-a-teacup between Fiji and Tonga was a result of global warming. Asked for comment, the Prime Minister Read more
The New Zealand Government’s overseas aid programme was until recently visible, highly regarded in the Pacific and beyond and had reached 0.30 per cent of gross national income, the highest level since 1986. The international target is 0.7 per cent of GNI, so New Zealand has a way to go. After two years of Foreign Affairs Minister Murray Read more
Why did Mara flee? Ratu Tevita Mara himself said he fled because he had witnessed from the inside how power had corrupted and how the main players had forgotten their original objectives. He has criticised Fiji’s attorney general, saying he is the real power behind a “morally and intellectually bankrupt” Commodore Bainimarama. Why did Mara flee? Crosbie Walsh says: Forget Read more
A New Zealand priest, Tony O’Connor, is presently doing up a chapel dedicated to Saint Peter Chanel in Paso Real, Venezuela. Saint Peter Chanel might well be the Proto Martyr of Oceania, revered with affection in the Pacific and rightly so. But he also stepped on to the soil of South America when the first Read more
Thousands of people have to flee their homes in the Pacific every year due to natural disasters. It is important to have comprehensive policies and legislation in place that ensures the rights of internally displaced persons are respected at all times, stated the organisers of a conference and workshop on human rights and disaster-induced displacement. Read more
The Australian foreign policy establishment has been plunged into an agonising debate with the gradual realisation that Canberra’s hardline approach to Fiji has failed. “The bipartisan consensus between Labor and the Coalition that the diplomatic cold shoulder and targeted sanctions would eventually bring the Bainimarama regime to heel has been shattered.” says Graham Davis. “Australia grossly Read more
To celebrate Mothers’ contribution to families Caritas Samoa organised a gathering last week to allow mothers to showcase their work. The gathering was an opportunity for all mothers to make money from their creations, says Caritas’ Communication Officer, Christina Mareko. “The programme started in 2008 and we conducted seminars and training for mothers in the villages,” she Read more
A group of former members of the militants Malaita Eagle Force have been given the opportunity to appear before Solomon Islands Truth and Reconciliation Commission. It was the first time Malaitans have been able to appear before the Commission set up to investigate the causes of the ethnic violence that gripped Solomon Islands between 1997 and Read more
