Results for Pacific Islands

Fiji’s Prime Minister, Commodore Josaia Ovrequ Bainimarama, this week told Pacific Islands leaders at the Sheraton Fiji Resort that he believed that ordinary people had been excluded from the decision-making process in regional government.

Chief executive officers, cabinet secretaries and leading administrators from Commonwealth Pacific member states are meeting in Nuku’alofa this week to come up with an agreed plan of action on how to better support the political and administration environment at the centre of Government.

A highly anticipated meeting between Pacific Island countries, on climate change and disaster risk management concluded yesterday in Nadi, Fiji, in a new joint effort to represent the concerns of the countries in a region that is most vulnerable to the effects of climate change and sea level rise.

The New Zealand government has suspended its promised multi-million dollar aid to develop tourism in Tonga, over safety concerns around the new Chinese-made MA60 aircraft that the Tonga government plans to use for the domestic inter-island service.

Ten days of medical and civic assistance to Tonga that concludes on Friday, June 21, under the Pacific Partnership 2013 organized by the Pacific Fleet of the United States Navy, has involved personnel from over ten countries working together under the humanitarian assistance programme. A reception attended by HM King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau'u last night, June 19, was hosted by the Japanese Ambassador to Tonga HE Dr Kazuchika Hamuro who said he was appreciative of the United States efforts to lead and continue the multilateral exercise initiative. Photos by Linny Folau.

Scientific and public health experts including Tonga's Chief Surgeon and former Minister of Health Lord (Dr) Viliami Tangi is part of a new Scientific and Technical Expert Group of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community's Public Health Division that met in Noumea on June 17-18.

The Pacific Patrol Boat Training program that includes Tonga will run for a minimum of four years after the Australian Maritime College Search won a $10 million Commonwealth contract to continue the program, with an option for extension.

The University of the South Pacific (USP) has renewed the contract of its current president and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Rajesh Chandra, who will continue his position for a term of four years.

Defence Ministers from Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea arrived today to hold the first defence and security talks with France, Chile and Tonga, while the United States and United Kingdom join as observers.