FIJI’S Ambassador for Climate Change and Oceans Amena Yauvoli was formally endorsed by the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) as its director-general. Foreign Affairs Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola confirmed this following a meeting of the MSG at the Tanoa Waterfront Hotel in Lautoka. “Senior officials of the MSG met on Tuesday and Wednesday and documented the…
Port Moresby (The National) – AN economist says disruptions to business operations by public protests may incur additional costs to business operators. Institute of National Affairs executive director Paul Barker told The National last week following tension in Port Moresby last week saying the situation would have some impact on investment confidence as well. Commenting…
SUVA, (FIJI TIMES) – The Fijian Government is working on ways to assist people who already received Micro and Small Business Grants (MSBG), but suffered damage in the aftermath of Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston. Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama made this announcement at the MSBG disbursements at the Valelevu grounds in Nasinu. “This includes recipients on…
PORT MORESBY, (POST COURIER) – The Papua New Guinea Government’s immediate task is to salvage the 2016 academic year at State-run universities which have been hit by protests and boycott of classes by students for more than one month, Chief Secretary Isaac Lupari said Wednesday. Lupari warned that if the protesting students did not adhere…
A new survey about asbestos awareness in the Pacific islands has revealed that six in ten people, aged under 30 years, admit to having little or no knowledge about the dangerous mineral and its associated health risks. The survey, believed to be the first of its kind in the Pacific region, has also indicated strong…
PORT VILA, (VANUATU DAILY POST) – The Vanuatu Ambassador to Brussels, Roy Mickey Joy, says the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) is too politicised, has lost its Melanesian integrity and what it stood for. Ambassador Roy made the statement to Daily Post when asked if he was still interested in the possibility of becoming the next…
SUVA, (FAO/UN WOMEN) – Around 1,000 women market vendors – farmers who were adversely affected by Tropical Cyclone Winston have received agriculture supplies that will help in their efforts to replant their crops. The produce will eventually be sold to market. For market vendor-farmer Adi Menani Tabua from Naqoro Village the supplies could not have…
SUVA, (RNZI) – A United Nations official says HIV infections in the Pacific are going down, but there’s still a long way to go. The director of the Asia and Pacific region for UNAIDS, Steve Kraus, said Papua New Guinea still accounts for 95 percent of people living with the virus in the Pacific. He…
NUKU’ALOFA, TONGA – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $3 million grant and a $3 million loan to help Tonga strengthen its long-term economic growth prospects and capacity to respond to external economic shocks. “The grant and loan will fund the first of three subprograms of the ADB-supported Building Macroeconomic Resilience Program for…
PORT MORESBY, (POST COURIER) – Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) members have been urged to cooperate with each other on issues pertaining to trade and economic integration. The call was made by Papua New Guinea’s Trade Commerce and Industry Minister Richard Maru at the recently concluded MSG Trade Ministers’ meeting in Port Vila, Vanuatu. Maru was…