Press Release – Pacific Islands Forum

Tuvalu will access US $4million from the Pacific Environment Community (PEC) Fund to set up desalination plants and solar-power generation for the small island nation in crisis. Read more »

Flashback to Nuku'alofa 2006 ... Pacific-wide fear of rioting, fuelled by jobless youth. Photo: SMH

THE 42nd Pacific Islands Forum came and went, but Pacific youth advocates are pleading with leaders to wake up to the increasing number of young people involved in crime and violence in the Pacific.

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Christopher Chang

At 3:30pm on 16 November 2006, the first stone was thrown in Nuku’alofa, Tonga. Within three hours, rioters had tipped over cars and looted shops.

The Pacifica Royale hotel and ANZ Bank crackled under the blaze of fire. Eight people were killed.

The rioters were of all ages, but most were young males. It is a situation that Pacific youth advocates are still fearful of, five years on. Read more »

Press Release – Pacific Islands Forum

The challenges and a new direction for including persons with disabilities in the Pacific region’s education system will be discussed at a meeting of Pacific Islands Forum Directors of Education in Nadi, Fiji, 19 – 21 October. Read more »

Press Release – Pacific Islands Forum

Renewable energy is no longer an option, but an imperative for the Pacific region. The Cook Islands, Japan and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat last week joined forces to send a strong message that renewable energy was no longer an option – but … Read more »

Press Release – Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat

(Suva, Fiji, 22 September 2011) Forum Island Countries (FICs) are progressing the conclusion of the trade in services arrangement under the Pacific Island Countries Trade Agreement (PICTA). Read more »

Press Release – Pacific Media Watch

As Pacific correspondent Sean Dorney reports, those who oppose Bainimarama are not allowed any media coverage in Fiji. SD: If you lived in Fiji and your only source of information was a single local national newspaper, the Fiji Sun , you would soon … Read more »

Press Release – Pacific Media Watch Read more »

East Timorese President Xanana Gusmao ... under fire. Photo: Pagina Global

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By PMC news desk

East Timor’s opposition has called for Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao to step down as his cabinet faces scrutiny over corruption claims ahead of elections, reports Agence France-Presse.

The anti-corruption commission said yesterday it had handed six dossiers to the Attorney-General’s Office, which has since called on two cabinet members for questioning.

“Because of his mistakes, I ask Xanana to step down so that we can eradicate corruption in the government. If we can’t, then we are stealing our people’s money,” Fretilin secretary-general Mari Alkatiri told party members at a congress meeting. Read more »

Article – Victoria Young

The dominance of men at the Pacific Islands Forum is a“scandal” that highlights the absence of Parliamentarian women, say women’s groups. Victoria Young reports. Dr Meredith Burgmann, President of the Australian Council for International Development … Read more »

Press Release – Pacific Islands Forum

Pacific Islands Forum Leaders have endorsed Tuiloma Neroni Slade of Samoa as their Secretary General for a second term. Forum Leaders made the decision at their retreat held yesterday on Waiheke Island in Auckland, New Zealand. Read more »