The European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Catherine Ashton, will be in the Pacific to attend the 45th Pacific Islands Forum meeting which opens in Koror, Palau, this week. Catherine Ashton will address the plenary session today and will host a Pacific Island leaders’ dinner…
The unmatched natural beauty surrounding Palau’s archipelago is a major driver for ecotourism, which in turn generates long-term social and economic security for the island nation’s nearly 21,000 residents. Monitoring and surveillance is a critical component of efforts to secure a national sanctuary in Palau’s waters, which has been proposed by President Tommy Remengasau, Jr.…
The Honiara city police have mediated a reconciliation ceremony yesterday between the two conflicting parties that were involved in the dispute at independence valley in White River, West Honiara over the weekend. Gabriel Manelusi assistant police commissioner for national capital said representatives from both parties got together to talk and came up with an agreement…
Intense lobbying is underway on the margins of the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting in Koror for the five candidates vying for the position of the Secretary General of the Suva-based Secretariat. PACNEWS has been reliably informed that Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands are going out of their way to campaign for their candidates,…
The British American Tobacco in Papua New Guinea (BATPNG) says illicit tobacco trade in Papua New Guinea will cost the PNG Government almost K100 million (US$40 million) in 2014. It said last year the total revenue loss was K96.1 million (US$39.4 million) The tobacco company in a forum presentation stated that the recent rise in…
Zealand farms are clamouring for more Samoans to come pick fruits in their orchards. And farms which do not have Samoans working in their orchards are quietly relaying to Samoan officials their wish to employ Samoans under the soon-to-be-9000 seasonal worker (RSE) numbers cap. “Our Samoan workers have been a boon for our business,” says…
World renowned marine scientist, Dr Sylvia Earle has urged Forum Island Countries not to drop the ball on the sustainable management and protection of oceans and marine resources. She is delighted with the initiative of the Palaun Government to make ‘Oceans’ the theme of the 45th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting in Koror, Palau this…
With the kick-off of the United Nations post-2015 sustainable development agenda fast approaching, ministers and senior Government officials from across the globe have gathered in Cotonou, Benin, today to discuss how to strengthen the world’s 48 least developed countries to produce more goods and trade in international markets more efficiently. “The conference is an invaluable…
Partnership, consultation and support between the Japan Fisheries agency and the FFA continue to set a positive example to other distant water fishing nations that have vessels licensed to fish in Pacific waters. A just-ended Japan Fisheries-FFA consultation at the FFA’s Honiara-based headquarters provided room for open sharing on key issues and helped clarify new…
SEVERAL families residing at Independence valley in White River, West Honiara were forced to evacuate after their homes were burnt down in retaliation to a swearing incident over the weekend. Reports reaching the Solomon Star said the incident occurred on Sunday after a drunken man allegedly swore at a group residing around the area. In…