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PAC – ONLINE SAFETY: PACNEWS PACNEWS 2: Mon 19 Oct 2026
Pacific children face online safety risks as internet access expands
By Pita ligaiula
SYDNEY, 19 OCTOBER 2026 (PACNEWS)—Children across the Pacific need stronger online safety education and protection as expanding internet connectivity exposes them to risks they are not always equipped to manage, a regional study has found.
The study, conducted in Solomon Islands, Kiribati and Papua New Guinea, found that limited access to digital technology has restricted children’s ability to develop the skills needed to identify and respond to online threats.
It warns that as affordable and faster internet becomes more widely available through new cable systems, governments, families, schools and communities must do more to protect children online.
The report, Online Safety in the Pacific, was produced by the Young and Resilient Research Centre at Western Sydney University, ChildFund Australia and Plan International Australia.
Researchers conducted participatory workshops from December 2019 to March 2020 involving 96 children aged 10 to 18, 58 parents and carers, and 50 representatives from government, schools, police, telecommunications companies, non-government organisations and community groups.
The findings show that children value digital technology for education, communication, news and entertainment, but face risks including cyberbullying, hacking, harmful content and exposure to sexual or violent material.
Children also reported concerns about harmful influences on social media, while parents and carers worried about the impact of internet use on cultural values, relationships, health and children’s behaviour.
The report found that girls were perceived as more vulnerable to online risks and less able to manage them than boys, reflecting existing gender norms.
Despite these concerns, children who regularly use the internet generally expressed confidence in their ability to protect themselves. They identified strategies such as blocking harmful users and websites, protecting passwords, avoiding strangers and following advice from parents and carers.
However, some acknowledged they lacked the digital skills needed to keep themselves safe.
The report found that restrictions imposed by parents and schools to protect children could also limit their opportunities to develop the experience and skills needed to manage online risks independently.
“Parents and carers generally believe that restricting their children’s digital technology use best protects their children from online dangers,” the report said.
It found that 15 percent of parents and carers involved in the study prohibited their children from going online altogether.
While parents recognised their responsibility to protect children, many felt ill-equipped to provide effective guidance and support.
Children were most likely to seek help from a parent or carer, usually their mother, when facing an online threat. The study found they could identify few other adults or dedicated services to turn to for assistance.
Access to technology remains another major challenge. Nearly half of the children surveyed said they did not personally own or have regular and reliable access to a digital device.
The report identified the cost of devices and internet data as the main barriers, alongside poor connectivity, unreliable electricity and limited digital literacy.
Researchers said the uneven access to technology also affected children’s ability to understand and manage online risks.
“Limited access to technology has, to date, seriously impeded children’s development of the necessary literacies and protective behaviours to underpin safe online engagement,” the report said.
The study calls on Pacific governments to strengthen legislation and policies protecting children online, improve digital literacy training for parents and teachers, and ensure schools have safe and reliable access to technology.
It also recommends that governments work with technology companies to introduce safety-by-design measures, effective reporting systems and processes for removing harmful online content.
The report urges governments, donors and development organisations to invest in affordable devices, stable internet connections, reliable electricity and support services for children, particularly those in remote and vulnerable communities.
It also calls for online safety education to address gender-based risks and ensure girls and children with disabilities can participate safely in digital spaces.
The researchers stress that protecting children online requires a coordinated effort involving governments, families, schools, religious and sporting organisations, community leaders and technology providers.
The report recommends involving children and young people in decisions affecting their online safety and conducting regular research to track their access to technology, digital skills and experiences of online harm.
It concludes that expanding connectivity must be accompanied by stronger digital literacy and protection measures so children can benefit from technology without being left exposed to risks they are not prepared to handle….PACNEWS
COOKS – WEATHER WATCH: RNZ PACIFIC PACNEWS 2: Mon 19 Oct 2026
Warnings in place as Wati bears down on southern Cook Islands
AITUTAKI, 19 OCTOBER 2026 (RNZ PACIFIC)—Aitutaki saw minor damage overnight as Tropical Cyclone Wati looks to bear down later today.
The category 2 cyclone is forecast to pass over Aitutaki on Sunday local time, tracking over Mauke and Mangaia.
The Cook Islands Meterological Service (CIMS) said this morning that storm force winds of 54 to 76 knots (100 to 141 kmh) were likely, as well as rain – heavy at times with thunderstorms – and moderate to damaging heavy swells.
There is also a risk of coastal inundation, especially during high tides.
It said winds of between 78 and 113 kilometres an hour were blowing on Aitutaki as of 8am Sunday local time. Relatively minor winds of 57kmh were recorded on Rarotonga.
Aitutaki mayor Nick Henry told RNZ Pacific the island had fared well so far, given the circumstances.
“A few homes lost power because debris fell on the overhead cables, and we’ve had a report of a coconut tree fall onto the roof of a home,” he said.
“Fortunately, we’ve got most of our power lines underground along the island, but we’ve got two cases so far where power has been out, and we’ve restored one.”
He said the community is bracing for the worst in the coming hours.
“It feels like she’s gonna come directly over the top of us.
“We have regular patrols going around clearing the roadways … in case we need an emergency to get them to the hospital.”
Wati is expected to be about 40km south-southwest of Aitutaki and 170km north-northeast of Mauke by 5pm Sunday local time.
A storm warning is in force for Aitutaki, a gale warning for Mauke and Mangaia, and a strong wind warning for the rest of Pa Enua Tonga….PACNEWS
FIJI – CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 2: Mon 19 Oct 2026
SODELPA wants Fiji election delay clause removed
SUVA, 19 OCTOBER 2026 (FIJI SUN)—The Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA), led by Fiji Education Minister Aseri Radrodro, has urged the Special Parliamentary Select Committee and Cabinet to remove a clause in the draft Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2026 that would allow Cabinet to delay a general election by up to 12 months during a state of emergency.
In a statement, the party raised concerns about Section 201(3) and (4) of Bill No. 32 of 2026.
Under these clauses, if a state of emergency is in force when Parliament’s term is due to end, the President can extend the term on Cabinet’s advice.
SODELPA said the 2013 Constitution did not contain such a mechanism.
“In times of national emergency, the electorate’s democratic right to vote on schedule must be protected, rather than deferred by executive discretion,” the party said.
It said Section 201(2) already provided for elections to proceed and called for the extension powers to be deleted.
The party also raised concerns about Section 202, which allows laws made during a state of emergency to limit rights protected under the Bill of Rights.
Freedom of speech, assembly and movement are not included in the list of protected rights, which covers sections 11, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 25 and 29.
SODELPA wants sections 20, 21 and 24 added to the list. The party said this would prevent emergency rules from being used to restrict political activity, public scrutiny or peaceful protest.
The party urged the Government to “tread carefully and cautiously” and keep the public fully informed about the constitutional process…..PACNEWS
PNG – EDUCATION: AAP PACNEWS 2: Mon 19 Oct 2026
Australian approach touted to fix PNG teacher crisis
PORT MORESBY, 19 OCTOBER 2026 (AAP)—Papua New Guinea should look to Australia’s approach to help it solve a looming shortage of its teaching workforce.
A report from the Lowy Institute, released on Monday, said Australia’s closest neighbour would need up to 124,000 teachers by 2033 to be able to teach a growing number of students.
However, training institutions in the country can only accredit 2200 people each year.
The report’s author Serena Sasingian, who has held senior PNG government and non-profit roles, said the island nation had spent more than $1.5 billion (US$ 1 billion) in its most recent budget on education, but it did not address the workforce problem.
Australia has also provided about $1.2 billion(US$830 million) into 170 education projects in PNG between 2008 and 2024.
“Despite this substantial investment, learning outcomes remain weak,” the report said.
“PNG’s challenge is now structural: it must shift from expanding access to delivering learning under a school system that requires far more qualified teachers.”
The Pacific nation, which has an estimated population of about 11.8 million, should develop a 10-year plan to bolster the number of teachers, Sasingian recommended.
It should also carry out steps to make teaching a profession that high-performing students would seek out post-school.
‘Teaching must compete for talented graduates, offering the incentives, status, and career pathways to draw them into serving the population,” the report said.
Australia should be a model for how teacher shortages could be addressed.
“Despite having a highly skilled economy and a much more developed education system, it has treated teacher shortages as a national workforce problem requiring direct financial intervention,” the report said.
“If a high-income country such as Australia considers its teacher shortage serious enough to reduce the private cost of teacher education … PNG’s considerably more acute workforce challenge warrants at least the same policy urgency.”
Compounding the looming teacher shortage was the impending retirement of 20,000 people, meaning the workforce was unlikely to grow.
Sasingian said the number of new teachers being accredited would have to triple in order to keep up with student numbers….PACNEWS
PAC – RUGBY: AAP PACNEWS 2: Mon 19 Oct 2026
Details of drone deal could ‘tip off drug dealers’
CANBERRA, 19 OCTOBER 2026 (AAP)—Australia is handing over maritime drones to Fiji’s military in a bid to bolster Pacific security, but the specifics will be kept under wraps for fear of tipping off drug smugglers.
Domestic-made Bluebottle vessels will be gifted as part of a strengthened military partnership between the two countries.
The drones can provide reconnaissance and surveillance and can stay at sea for more than 180 days, powered by renewable energy.
Giving more detail, particularly about the number of drones being supplied would “tip off drug smugglers”, Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said.
“The beauty of them is that they’re quiet. They’re literally powered by the sun, the waves and the wind,” he told reporters.
“They are virtually impossible to detect unless you get very close to them, so that gives us a real operational advantage.”
The drones will be given to Fiji as part of the Waqa Moana partnership, a Pacific-led security initiative to counter organised crime and drug trafficking in the region.
Australia pledged $600 million(US$418 million) at the Pacific Islands Forum in September to help implement the partnership.
It follows Australia and Fiji signing the Ocean of Peace Treaty in July, which is a mutual defence pact. Just hours after that deal was struck, China conducted a ballistic missile test in the South Pacific.
It was just the fourth alliance Australia has signed – the others being with the U.S, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. It is Fiji’s first.
The Bluebottle partnership coincides with the opening of a manufacturing hub in Sydney for Ocius, the makers of the Bluebottles.
The federal government in March signed a $176 million (US$122 million) agreement to buy 40 more of the maritime drones for the navy, bringing the total in the fleet to 55.
Bluebottles have been used by the navy from the HMAS Coonawarra in Darwin as part of border security measures…..PACNEWS
FIJI – CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS 2: Mon 19 Oct 2026
UN Human Rights raises concerns over expanded immunity in Fiji draft Constitution
SUVA, 19 OCTOBER 2026 (FIJI TIMES)—The United Nations Human Rights Office has raised serious concerns over proposed constitutional immunity provisions that could extend protection to additional State officials and potentially cover actions taken up to 2031.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) questioned the justification for retaining and expanding immunity provisions under a constitutional reform process initiated by a democratically elected government.
OHCHR said both Fiji’s existing Constitution and the proposed replacement contained provisions inconsistent with the country’s obligations under international human rights treaties.
It emphasised that constitutional reform must be guided by human rights principles.
“OHCHR raised concerns about the proposed expansion of immunity to additional State officials, the justification for retaining immunity in a proposal initiated by a democratically elected government, and the potential extension of immunity from the period between 2006 and 2014 to the period between 2006 and 2031,” UN Human Rights Pacific said in a statement.
The organisation warned that proposed Section 207 could undermine accountability for human rights violations by entrenching immunity and restricting access to legal remedies.
“Proposed Section 207 entrenches immunity, restricts judicial review and prevents State compensation for covered harm, potentially denying victims of human rights violations access to justice and accountability.”
OHCHR said these provisions raised concerns about Fiji’s obligations under international human rights law, particularly the requirement to provide effective remedies to victims of violations committed by people acting in an official capacity.
It referred to Article 2(3) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which requires countries to ensure effective remedies for human rights violations.
The organisation also highlighted Fiji’s obligations under the Convention against Torture.
Articles 12, 13 and 14 of the convention require prompt and impartial investigations into allegations of torture, accessible complaints procedures, protection for complainants and enforceable rights to redress, including fair and adequate compensation.
OHCHR said Fiji had previously received recommendations concerning constitutional immunity from United Nations human rights mechanisms, including the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and the Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review process.
The organisation explained that limited time for oral presentations meant its contribution to the public consultations focused primarily on immunity provisions.
Other human rights concerns arising from the proposed constitutional changes will be addressed in a separate written submission.
The intervention adds to concerns raised during the constitutional consultation process about whether immunity provisions should be retained, expanded or removed.
OHCHR maintained that Fiji’s constitutional reform process must uphold the country’s international human rights commitments and protect victims’ rights to justice, accountability and effective remedies….PACNEWS
NIUE – SELF GOVERNANCE ANNIVERSARY: PACNEWS PACNEWS 2: Mon 19 Oct 2026
U.S welcomes deeper ties with Niue on 52nd self governance anniversary
WASHINGTON/ALOFI, 19 OCTOBER 2026 (PACNEWS)— The United States has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening relations with Niue, marking a milestone in bilateral ties with the appointment of the first U.S Ambassador to the self-governing Pacific nation.
In a congratulatory statement marking Niue’s 52nd anniversary of self-governance, U.S Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the ambassadorial appointment this year built on diplomatic relations established between the two countries in 2023.
Rubio said the United States was committed to deepening its partnership with the people of Niue and expanding cooperation in the years ahead.
He also highlighted cooperation through the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), particularly efforts to advance regional unity and security.
Rubio noted that the U.S Deputy Secretary of State had recently announced support to address the ongoing global energy crisis and combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the Pacific.
“On behalf of the United States of America, I extend my warmest congratulations to the people of Niue as you celebrate the 52nd anniversary of your self-governance,” Rubio said in the statement.
He conveyed his best wishes to Niueans on their Constitution Day and said he looked forward to expanding cooperation between the two countries.
Niue established diplomatic relations with the United States in 2023, marking a step towards strengthening its international partnerships and engagement with Washington….PACNEWS
NIUE – LANGUAGE/CULTURE: PMN PACNEWS 2: Mon 19 Oct 2026
‘Pacific offers solutions’: Collin Tukuitonga leads global charge as Niue Language Week begins
AUCKLAND, 19 OCTOBER 2026 (PMN)—As Niueans across Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific mark the start of Faahi Tapu he Vagahau Niue (Niue Language Week), one of the island’s most distinguished sons is reminding the world that small island nations hold big answers to global challenges.
Professor Sir Collin Tukuitonga, co-director of Te Poutoko Ora a Kiwa at the University of Auckland, says Pacific people are not just victims of climate change or public health crises. He says they are innovators leading the way.
His message lands as Niue Language Week launches with the 2026 theme “Gahua auloa ke fakaako fakamalolō e Vagahau Niue” – Working together to diligently teach and strengthen Vagahau Niue.
“We want to support healthier and more resilient Pacific communities while ensuring Pacific voices help shape the future of global health,” he said in a university report.
Niue lies roughly 2400 kilometres northeast of New Zealand. Today, the diaspora of nearly 35,000 Niueans living in New Zealand far outnumbers the island’s resident population, yet only about 11percent can speak Vagahau Niue, making every effort to hold onto the language vital.
Born in Alofi, Tukuitonga has spent the past year travelling internationally to promote Pacific-led solutions, from climate resilience and health equity to regional marine conservation.
Speaking ahead of COP31 discussions in Fiji, he emphasised that Pacific stewardship and collective responsibility are crucial as the world faces rising temperatures, food insecurity, and health disparities.
His leadership spans major global roles, including his appointment as President-Elect of the World Obesity Federation and his position as Chair of the Pacific Academy of Sciences.
Across all his work, Tukuitonga advocates for research and policies that reflect Pacific values and directly serve local communities.
At the 2026 Te Poutoko Ora a Kiwa Research Symposium, he highlighted how community-driven research is transforming outcomes across the region, from cervical cancer elimination initiatives to mental health support.
“Pacific research is increasingly being shaped by Pacific values, accountable to Pacific communities and focused on real-world impact,” he said.
Beyond global diplomacy, Tukuitonga remains a staunch advocate for equity at home, repeatedly calling for stronger investment in the Māori and Pacific health workforce to address deep-seated health inequities.
Reinforcing the importance of preserving language and cultural identity as a foundation for wellbeing, Pacific community leaders say keeping Vagahau Niue alive in Aotearoa is vital for the 34,944 people of Niuean heritage living in New Zealand.
Ministry for Pacific Peoples representatives also emphasised that language preservation relies on collective community effort across generations.
“Working together to diligently teach and strengthen Vagahau Niue is about ensuring our language, culture, and identity thrive for our children and future generations,” the Ministry said in its launch message.
For the Niuean diaspora, Tukuitonga’s journey demonstrates how culture, service, and leadership interweave on the world stage.
While Niue remains one of the smallest island nations, its voices continue to punch well above their weight globally.
Faahi Tapu he Vagahau Niue – Niue Language Week – runs from Sunday 18 October to Saturday 24 October 2026.
Niue marks Constitution Day each year on 19 October, commemorating the 1974 signing of the Niue Constitution Act and the beginning of self-governance in free association with New Zealand…..PACNEWS
SOL – WEATHER WATCH/ELNINO: PACNEWS PACNEWS 2: Mon 19 Oct 2026
Solomon Islands launches drought relief mission to Rennell and Bellona
HONIARA, 19 OCTOBER 2026 (PACNEWS)—-The Solomon Islands Government is deploying an emergency drought relief mission to Rennell and Bellona Province to address severe water shortages affecting communities on Bellona Island.
The National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) is leading the operation from 18 October to 25 November in partnership with the Australian Government, Australian Defence Force, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Respond Global and provincial authorities.
The mission will prioritise emergency drinking-water production and distribution, improvements to water-storage systems and water-quality testing, particularly for communities, schools and health facilities affected by the shortages.
The operation will also provide medical outreach services and essential medical supplies while assessing water sources on Rennell Island to guide future drought-response measures.
The MV Helper-1, operated by Respond Global, will support the mission with desalination capacity of about 14,000 litres of water a day.
The vessel will help provide emergency water supplies while technical teams assess longer-term water security needs across the province.
The NDMO-led operation aims to support drought-affected communities, maintain essential services and provide information to guide the next phase of response and recovery.
The mission brings together Solomon Islands authorities and Australian partners to address immediate water shortages and assess options for strengthening water security in the province….PACNEWS
PNG – OBITUARY: NBC PNG NEWS PACNEWS 2: Mon 19 Oct 2026
PNG Maprik MP Libert Kapris dies
PORT MORESBY, 19 OCTOBER 2026 (NBC PNG NEWS) —The death of Maprik MP in Papua New Guinea Libert Kapris has been confirmed, sending shockwaves through East Sepik Province and the wider Sepik region.
East Sepik Governor Allan Bird confirmed the tragic news in a media statement, saying he had received confirmation from the Deputy Clerk of Parliament.
Kapris died this morning at PIH in Port Moresby with the cause of death yet to be established, and no further details surrounding the circumstances of his death have been officially released.
Governor Bird described the news as tragic and deeply saddening, saying the Kapris family had suffered significant loss in a short period.
He appealed to the people of Maprik to remain calm during the period of mourning and allow the appropriate arrangements involving Parliament and the family to proceed.
The East Sepik Provincial Government will work closely with the Kapris family and Parliament as funeral arrangements are prepared.
Governor Bird also extended condolences on behalf of the people of the Greater Sepik Region to the Kapris family and their relatives.
Kapris won the Maprik Open by-election in June 2024, representing the People’s First Party, succeeding his father late Gabriel Kapris as Maprik MP.
Further official information regarding the circumstances of his death and funeral arrangements is expected to be released later…..PACNEWS
FIJI – COURTS: FBC NEWS PACNEWS 2: Mon 19 Oct 2026
Former FBC CEO Sayed-Khaiyum, Sagar acquitted for second time in vehicle procurement case
SUVA, 19 OCTOBER 2026 (FBC NEWS)—Former Fijian Broadcasting Corporation Chief Executive Riyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and Chief Financial Officer Vimlesh Sagar have been acquitted of charges linked to the same vehicle procurement case for a second time.
The two appeared in the Suva Magistrates Court this morning over allegations involving the procurement of a 3.0-litre Volkswagen Touareg valued at $207,470 (US$103,735).
Sayed-Khaiyum faced one count of abuse of office and one count of general dishonesty causing a loss.
Sagar faced one count of general dishonesty causing a loss.
The matter was discontinued in May last year before the pair were charged again two months later…..PACNEWS
PAC – TUNA COMMISSION MEETING/WCPFC: PACNEWS PACNEWS 2: Mon 19 Oct 2026
Tuna management and Pacific fisheries conservation set for WCPFC meeting
By Pita Ligaiula
SUVA, 19 OCTOBER 2206 (PACNEWS)— Tuna management, fisheries conservation and climate change impacts on marine ecosystems will be among the key issues at the 23rd regular session of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) in Port Vila, Vanuatu, from 30 November to 05 December 2026.
The meeting will bring members together to consider the status of tuna stocks, develop harvest strategies and management procedures for key tuna species, and strengthen measures to reduce fishing impacts on non-target marine species.
Submissions for the meeting are due by 31 October 2026, while arrangements for the session remain provisional.
The agenda includes the conservation and management of South Pacific albacore and bigeye tuna, including proposed management procedures and arrangements for their implementation.
Members will also consider preparations for the 2027 review of conservation and management measures covering bigeye, yellowfin and skipjack tuna in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean.
Climate change will feature in discussions, with the commission examining how its impacts can be incorporated into the management and conservation of regional fisheries and marine ecosystems.
The commission is also expected to review reports from its scientific, technical and compliance bodies, alongside work on fisheries monitoring, reporting and enforcement.
Measures to protect marine species from fishing impacts will be reviewed, including safeguards for sea turtles, mobulid rays, cetaceans, seabirds and sharks.
Compliance will be another major focus, with members considering the 2026 Compliance Monitoring Report covering the 2025 reporting year, the compliance monitoring scheme and the proposed 2027 list of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing vessels.
The agenda also includes support for developing states through the 2026 Strategic Investment Plan, the West Pacific East Asia project and an independent review of the implementation of Article 30 of the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean.
Members will consider membership and observer arrangements, applications for cooperating non-member status in 2027, and the commission’s 2027 budget, alongside indicative budgets for 2028 and 2029.
Reports from working groups will cover fish aggregating device management, observer programmes, electronic reporting and monitoring, high-seas boarding and inspection, port state measures and marine pollution.
The meeting will also consider cooperation with other organisations and broader international ocean governance issues.
The WCPFC is responsible for the conservation and management of highly migratory fish stocks in the western and central Pacific Ocean, one of the world’s most important tuna fishing regions.
Its decisions are significant for Pacific Island countries, where tuna fisheries contribute to government revenue, employment, food security and economic development…..PACNEWS
PNG – BUSINESS COUNCIL: NBC PNG NEWS PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 19 Oct 2026
PNG and Fiji business councils target trade growth
PORT MORESBY, 19 OCTOBER 2026 (NBC PNG NEWS)—The Fiji-PNG Business Council and the newly established PNG-Fiji Business Council are working to strengthen trade and business partnerships between the two countries, with a focus on helping small and medium enterprises(SMEs) access new markets.
Chairlady of the Fiji-PNG Business Council, Laisa Digitaki, said there were significant opportunities for Papua New Guinea businesses to increase exports to Fiji, particularly in coffee, vegetables, arts and crafts.
Digitaki was in Papua New Guinea joining the Fijian community in Port Moresby to celebrate Fiji’s 56th Independence anniversary.
In an exclusive interview with NBC Online, she said trade figures for the 2025 financial year showed Fiji exported goods worth about K52 million (US$11.51 million) to PNG, while PNG exported about K37 million worth of goods to Fiji.
This resulted in a trade imbalance of about K15 million (US$3.32 million) in Fiji’s favour.
Digitaki said both business councils wanted to help PNG businesses increase exports and reduce the trade gap.
“The export numbers in dollar terms from Fiji to Papua New Guinea for the last financial year, it was about K52 million(US$11.51 million), and from Papua New Guinea to Fiji, it was less. It was only K37 million(US$8.20 million),” she said.
She identified coffee as one of the products PNG businesses could supply to the Fijian market, supported by local demand and the country’s growing tourism industry.
“Fiji is such a big coffee consumer, and with our tourism industry that has exceeded more than a million visitors, coffee is a big thing,” she said.
Digitake also highlighted arts and crafts as another area where entrepreneurs from both countries could share skills, improve their products and reach more customers.
The Fiji-PNG Business Council was established several years ago and continues to promote trade and business partnerships between the two countries.
Meanwhile, the PNG-Fiji Business Council was launched recently to expand business connections and create more opportunities for local businesses.
Its inaugural president, Vele Rupa, said the immediate priority was to increase membership and bring together small businesses, established companies and corporate organisations.
“Our immediate priority now is to register as many businesses as we can. We want to make sure all SMEs and big businesses participate,” Rupa said.
Founder of the PNG-Fiji Business Council, Sir Mahesh Patel, said many PNG farmers produced quality goods but needed better market connections and support to export their products.
He said his company, City Pharmacy Limited, had supported farmers by buying their produce and selling it through Stop N Shop supermarkets.
“Now, through this council, we want to help them package their produce and export,” Sir Mahesh said.
He acknowledged that packaging, transportation and shipping remained challenges but said the council would work towards addressing them.
Tourism is another area where the two countries can cooperate.
National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop said PNG could learn from Fiji’s experience in developing tourism products, attracting visitors and creating business opportunities.
“Fiji is doing a great job in tourism. PNG must learn more from Fiji in terms of how they package and sell their tourism products,” Parkop said.
The Fiji Week celebrations also provided opportunities for business leaders and community members to connect through meetings, trade and tourism exhibitions, cultural activities and community service.
Both councils aim to turn these connections into practical business partnerships that increase trade, expand market access and support economic growth in Papua New Guinea and Fiji…..PACNEWS
FIJI – HEALTH CARE TRAINNING: FIJI SUN PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 19 Oct 2026
Fiji National University partnership targets healthcare skills, national planning
SUVA, 19 OCTOBER 2026 (FIJI SUN)—The Fiji National University (FNU) is looking to strengthen healthcare training and support national development planning through closer partnerships with the private sector.
FNU Vice-Chancellor Unaisi Nabobo-Baba said collaboration with healthcare providers would give students more opportunities for practical learning while helping the university align its programmes with the needs of Fiji’s healthcare sector.
Speaking at the signing of a partnership agreement with Pacific Specialist Healthcare (PSH), Professor Nabobo-Baba said the university could not fulfil its mandate effectively without strong partnerships.
She said students pursuing careers in medicine, nursing, pharmacy and other health professions would benefit from greater clinical exposure through the agreement.
“Our students will have more opportunities for clinical engagement,” she said.
Professor Nabobo-Baba said practical experience in hospitals and communities was essential in preparing graduates for the workforce.
She said teaching could not be confined to classrooms, and students needed opportunities to learn in real healthcare settings and communities.
The partnership could also support pharmacy students through possible sponsorship arrangements, subject to further agreement between the two institutions.
Professor Nabobo-Baba said another potential area of co-operation was the proposed development of a postgraduate programme in cardiovascular studies under FNU’s School of Medical Sciences.
She said the programme could help the university respond to emerging healthcare needs, particularly concerns about heart-related conditions among younger adults.
The vice-chancellor also highlighted FNU’s role in national development planning, saying the university had a responsibility to contribute to the country’s development agenda alongside Government planning and statistical functions.
“So it’s not a new FNU, it’s an FNU that’s also looking after the strategic planning (of) a national development agenda across the country, together within statistics,” she said.
Professor Nabobo-Baba said the partnership provided an opportunity to strengthen links between education, healthcare delivery and workforce development.
“As a national university, our responsibility is to contribute to the development of our country,” she said.
She expressed hope that the agreement would help both institutions achieve their objectives and create better opportunities for students and the health sector….PACNEWS
PACNEWS In Focus
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Fiji triple win in climate data storytelling awards
SUVA, 19 OCTOBER 2026 (SPC) – Three Fiji entries have been recognised in the 2026 Pacific Dataviz Challenge for turning data into stories about climate change, rising sea levels and sustainable development across the Pacific.
Sisters Ruth G. Rabukawaqa and Gabrielle Rabukawaqa, students at St Joseph’s Secondary School in Suva, won the Grand Pacific School Prize for The Development Challenge, exploring the relationship between tourism, energy demand and sustainable development across Pacific Island countries.
Ritikash Chand won first prize in the Pacific Youth interactive category for The Rhythm That Guided Us, a visualisation exploring how changing rainfall patterns are reshaping Fiji’s climate.
Saurab Nand and Mohammed Junaid Hanif received second prize in the Pacific static category for The Island Stays. The Village Goes., which examines how rising sea levels affect Pacific islands and communities differently.
The five Fiji prize recipients received their awards at a ceremony held on 15 October at the University of the South Pacific in Suva. The ceremony was opened by Senivasa Waqairamasi, Fiji’s Director of Climate Change.
Turning Pacific data into stories
Led by the Pacific Community (SPC) and its regional partners, the Pacific Dataviz Challenge invites participants to transform open data into visual stories that make complex issues more accessible and support informed decision-making.
Now in its fifth year, the Challenge brings together students, educators, data professionals, designers, developers and artists to create projects ranging from posters and infographics to interactive apps, games and dashboards.
The 2026 edition focused on climate change, with participants exploring its impacts on rainfall, coastlines, livelihoods and development. This largest edition to date attracted 463 participants from 50 countries and territories, with 16 entries receiving prizes.
Fiji has continued to play an active role in the ChallengeLusiana Boutu andElia Komaitoga, 2025 Pacific Youth prize recipients, both from the Fiji Bureau of Statistics, shared their experience at the launch of the 2026 edition.
“You don’t need to be an expert. You just need to be curious, to ask questions, and to try,” said Boutu, encouraging participants to explore data visualisation.
SPC Deputy Director-General for Science and Capability, Dr Andrew Jones, said the Challenge helped participants move beyond finding data to understanding and communicating its significance.
“Data, in itself, is not enough. Its value lies in how it is understood, and ultimately, how it informs action. The Pacific Dataviz Challenge is a space where people learn not just that Pacific data exists, but how to analyse it, question it, and share it in ways that resonate.”
Exploring climate and development challenges
Chand’s The Rhythm That Guided Us uses more than four decades of rainfall data to illustrate changing weather patterns and their implications for communities and livelihoods in Fiji. The Pacific Youth prize includes a cash award of US$1,000.
Nand’s and Hanif’s The Island Stays. The Village Goes. draws on satellite shoreline measurements from nine Pacific locations to show why the impacts of sea-level rise vary between islands and communities. The Pacific static category second prize includes US$1,000.
The Rabukawaqa sisters’ The Development Challenge examines how tourism-driven economic growth can increase energy demand and complicate the transition to renewable energy across Pacific Island countries. The Grand Pacific School Prize includes US$500.
Inspiring the next generation of Pacific data storytellers
Pacific Dataviz Challenge lead Léo Cann-Polydor says that Fiji’s profile in the Challenge reflected the strength and breadth of Fijian data storytelling.
“The three Fiji-winning projects demonstrate how data visualisation can connect regional trends with the experiences of Pacific communities, helping audiences better understand the challenges facing the region.
“Through its focus on open data, creativity and storytelling, the Pacific Dataviz Challenge supports a new generation of Fiji’s data storytellers in exploring the issues shaping their region’s future,” he said….PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Pacific Islands join global negotiations to take action for nature
SUVA, 19 OCTOBER 2026 (SPREP)—The Pacific islands are uniting with the world as over 190 governments come together to take stock of its actions to achieve the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) that aims to halt, and reverse, biodiversity loss. The year 2026 provides this decisive moment to take stock of progress in implementing the KMGBF.
For the Pacific Island region our biodiversity, that is all living things including all living organisms, is significant.
It’s our biodiversity that underpins our Pacific way of life, traditions and customs, as well as many livelihoods for Pacific people. The accelerating decline of our biodiversity poses a profound risk to our people’s well-being, long-term security, sustainable development and economic stability. Nature constitutes the ecological foundation of our respective economies including food systems, water security, and environment health, amongst a few, that are underpinned by resilient ecosystems.
Across a two-week period in Yerevan, Armenia, the Seventeenth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity will take place of which 14 Pacific Islands are parties to the CBD. The theme for the global biodiversity negotiations this year is “Taking Action for Nature”, known as COP17, it runs from 19 to 30 October.
“This is our opportunity to negotiate a way forward that reflects our Pacific Island priority and concerns in the agreed global pathway ahead,” said Amena Yauvoli, Director of Biodiversity Conservation at the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).
“We’re uniting here as one Pacific voice, so we are heard clearly as we call for more action globally to address the Triple Planetary Crisis of biodiversity loss, climate change and pollution. We’ve shown leadership with the Môo Mâ Awé Declaration, that confirms our Pacific commitment to Nature Conservation and Protected Areas. Playing our part, we’re keen to see that others are too.”
The Pacific Islands region is home to over 70 percent of the world’s tuna stocks feeding millions of people globally, it is also rich in biodiversity with New Caledonia as a globally biodiversity hotspot with approximately 74 percent of its flora being endemic and Solomon Islands is home to rich coral reef diversity with over 1,000 reef fish species.
The fight to reverse, and halt, biodiversity loss in the Pacific Islands is ingrained in our Pacific culture, history and identity.
The Micronesia Challenge, a commitment by the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Republic of Marshall Islands, Guam and Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands to conserve 30% of near shore marine resources and 20% of its terrestrial resources was established in 2006. It celebrates 20 years of conservation spanning an area of over 2.5 million square miles, this year.
While this is at the regional level, there are also actions taking place at the national level.
The Cook Islands has an Other-Effective area-based Conservation Measure (OECM) 155 hectares of a locally owned Conservation Area, the very first for our Pacific islands region.
“This is a very important meeting, not only for the world but also for the Pacific and the Cook Islands. It is an opportunity for us to strengthen our collective commitment and work together to halt and reverse biodiversity loss,” said Elizabeth Munro of the Cook Islands delegation.
“For the Cook Islands our biodiversity is who we are as a nation, it is the foundation of our culture and our livelihoods. Protecting our bond is more than just an environment responsibility it is the responsibility to our people our ancestors and future generations.”
COP17 brings together Parties to the CBD as well as indigenous peoples, local communities, civil society, scientists, youth, businesses and other stakeholders to advance global action for biodiversity. It’s the very first meeting since the Global Biodiversity Framework was adopted in 2022. It’s the opportunity to assess collective progress, strengthen cooperation and accelerate action towards the biodiversity goals for 2030.
“We have a very crucial two weeks ahead,” said Yauvoli.
“Our Pacific Islands region can demonstrate its progress. We look forward to hearing what the world has done to meet the GBF.”
The Seventeenth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP17) is held in Yerevan, Armenia from 19 to 30 October 2026. The Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu are Pacific Island Parties to the CBD….PACNEWS
For more information please visit: https://www.cop17yerevangreenzone.com/about-cop17
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Holding power accountable: A journalist’s journey through assaults and censorship
Written by Shalveen Chand
RAROTONGA, 19 OCTOBER 2026 (COOK ISLANDS NEWS)—Exposing autocracy from military-ruled Fiji to democratic Samoa, seasoned journalist Shalveen Chand has faced cell blocks, state censorship and physical assaults for holding Pacific powers accountable. Now joining the Cook Islands News as senior journalist, Chand, the former editor of Samoa Observer, brings a relentless commitment to press freedom, warning that democracy collapses when watchdogs are silenced.
I have encountered two types of dictators in the Pacific. The first was in my home nation when a military leader overthrew the government at gunpoint and ruled with an iron fist, his rule spanning from 2006 to 2014.
The second is a democratically elected leader whose rule highlighted the blatant lack of accountability and transparency. His grab for power literally defines the phrase ‘absolute power absolutely corrupts’.
There is definitely a difference in how Fiji’s Voreqe Bainimarama and Samoa’s Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt have come to be in power, but what makes them similar is the blatant disregard for accountability and transparency – the ‘my way or highway’ attitude – sacking of people who do not agree with their goals, disregard for the rule of law and, above all, media censorship and attacks on journalists.
Bainimarama was clear and deliberate about restricting media freedom. He set up censors in newsrooms who would stop the publishing of articles that would be deemed anti-government and later enacted the draconian media law that governed media in Fiji. That law, repealed in 2023 by the current Fijian government, led to the persecution of journalists and the self-censorship mentality that is still practised in some newsrooms in the country.
Laauli, on the other hand, made a promising start when he was elected prime minister in September 2025. In his first press conference, he made a promise to be transparent and accountable. A promise that he never intended to keep, which has now resulted in the banning of Samoa’s only independent publication from government events, government officials not being accountable to the media, bullying and assault on journalists, including on me in front of his house.
This intimidation was among the reasons I left Samoa and my job there to join Cook Islands News as a senior journalist.
There have been serious breaches of due process, including in top-level government appointments. It is worrying when merit is no longer a requirement to hold a top civil service position. Nepotism is rife, and his own children are acting as if the nation were the family business. This was seen a few weeks ago when Laauli’s son snatched a camera off a reporter and deleted photos, saying it was against the law to photograph his father. Last time it was checked, no such laws existed.
While Bainimarama used guns and the might of the military, Laauli uses a new tool: social media. Fake accounts carry out his propaganda and target journalists and their families with attacks. My toddler and wife have often been victims of these attacks, even though my spouse’s political allegiance is with Laauli. Yes, she’s Samoan, and she occasionally reminds me of how ‘Sleeping with the Enemy’ can be viewed in a whole new context. But I am thankful that despite being critical of the media, she has always stood up for me whenever I have been targeted, either physically or on social media. People have approached and questioned me on why I was against their prime minister. It is hard to make some people understand that it was no personal attack on the leader but a journalistic attempt to keep him honest, accountable and transparent. Many times, these physical confrontations have been met with my personal bodyguard, my wife, willing to throw a few combinations like David Tua.
Similar attacks have been levelled against journalists who were part of the newsroom I managed in Samoa. Their families and children were targeted and sometimes maligned to their worst.
One of the things that sadden me the most is how the rule of law has been compromised in Samoa. Corruption was already rife; however, when you add in a leader who believes he is above the law, the rule of law starts becoming non-existent. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation has dubbed Laauli as the ‘Trump of the Pacific’, and his behaviour often mirrors that of the American.
Thankfully, one of the arms of the Samoan government, the judiciary, remains uncorrupted and has stood as the final wall in the attack against the rule of law, media freedom and the rights of citizens.
However, the judiciary is powerless when the enforcement agency does not do its work. Such was the case when I was assaulted outside Laauli’s house by a relative of his. A police complaint filed on 14 November 2025, the day of the incident, has not moved forward because the police officers who witnessed the assault do not want to give a statement for fear of retribution or losing their jobs.
I clearly remember the attack. The demeanour of the prime minister’s relative and his henchman gave away what they were going to do next as they rushed outside to where I was standing on the roadside. I came to drop off a camera lens for my journalist, who was trying to get comments from Laauli. The newly elected Samoan leader had just spent several weeks in New Zealand on a medical trip without communicating with the people of Samoa after photoshopped images of him were published by the Samoan government.
The two men rushed towards me. Their body language and aggression had been something that I had experienced during Fiji media’s dark days when the nation was under the control of the military junta. The haunting assaults and bullying by the security forces, and then having to spend a few nights in a police cell for highlighting a miscarriage of justice, came rushing back.
I braced for impact and told myself not to retaliate. The relative of the prime minister shoved me twice, trying to force me into my car. This was followed by him pushing the car door at least three times in my face. While he carried on, his short and fat henchman, probably another relative of the prime minister, held me by the collar and threw a few slaps. A police officer aided the two relatives as well, shoving me into the car while throwing punches to my abdomen. All this was witnessed by at least six other police officers, my young journalist and a senior travel writer from the British Broadcasting Corporation. The words of the journalists were not enough to lead to any formal charges – instead, the young journalist was charged with criminal trespass.
This was the start of Laauli’s restriction on free and independent media who were trying to hold him accountable and get him to talk. This has now led to the continued ban on Samoa Observer and attacks on its journalists. It was also surprising that there were people who still support the Samoan leader’s actions. Many are hoodwinked by the social media propaganda. This was reflected when Samoa slumped to 59 out of 180 in the World Press Freedom Index.
There are still a lot of people who do not realise that freedom of the press is a right and that a government should not interfere with this freedom or censor media critical of state power. For years, freedom of the press has been an essential part of democracy. A democracy cannot exist when people’s voices are stifled.
A free press fights for the truth, whether it is Fiji, Samoa or the Cook Islands. A free press uncovers the truth. A free press holds power accountable. Many entities can benefit from the truth staying hidden, including governments. One of the free press’ main missions is to serve as a watchdog on power. The press is the bridge between the people and powerful entities. If the press is not free but instead beholden to power, it simply serves as an extension of that power.
As I begin a new chapter with the Cook Islands News, I hope that the weight currently being accorded to media freedom and accountability in this nation only improves. This is one of the best ways a government can serve its people…PACNEWS
Shalveen Chand is a former editor of the Samoa Observer and now works for Cook Islands News as senior journalist