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Pacific Islands Development Program, East-West Center With Support From Center for Pacific Islands Studies, University of Hawai‘i

$21 million aid package attached to fishing agreement

By Fili Sagapolutele

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa (The Samoa News, Feb. 2, 2016) – Because the Pacific Islands Forum Fishery Agency (FFA) is no longer issuing fishing licenses to the US fleet, a California congressman has introduced federal legislation prohibiting the US government from using Congressionally approved funds as aid to Pacific Island countries who are parties to the South Pacific Tuna Treaty.

US Rep. Duncan Hunter, a Republican, last month threatened to introduce such a measure following the impasse surrounding the Tuna Treaty payment from the US fleet to FFA, which administers the Treaty for 17 Pacific island countries. The FFA has not issued any fishing license for some 30 US vessels under the Treaty.

Introduced Monday in the US House, the Fairness to...

Pacific Islands Development Program, East-West Center With Support From Center for Pacific Islands Studies, University of Hawai‘i

Public servants must quit job 3 months before elections

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, Feb. 3, 2016) – A Nauru opposition MP says a new law that requires public servants intending to stand for parliament to quit their job three months before the election is designed to eliminate political rivals.

The bill was passed during a sitting of parliament last week, with the government justifying it by saying public servants who continued to work could abuse their position while campaigning.

But a former president Sprent Dabwido, who has been suspended from parliament since the middle of last year, said three months is too long for many people to go without an income.

The public service is Nauru's largest employer, and Mr Dabwido said the new rule is designed to put many people off contesting the...

Pacific Islands Development Program, East-West Center With Support From Center for Pacific Islands Studies, University of Hawai‘i

Mental health of raped 5-year-old to be ‘taken into account’

By medical reporter Sophie Scott and political reporter Dan Conifer

MELBOURNE, Australia (Radio Australia, Feb. 3, 2016) – The Government will consider medical advice before deciding whether to deport a five-year-old boy allegedly raped on Nauru back to the Pacific island, Immigration Minister Peter Dutton says.

Doctors have detailed their concerns about the child to the ABC, along with worries about the wellbeing and safety of about 160 other children held in Australia's detention centres.

The boy could be returned to Nauru, where his alleged attacker remains, after a decision is handed down today by the High Court about the legality of detention on the island.

Paediatrician Karen Zwi, speaking out despite the threat of jail, said the boy suffered...

Pacific Islands Development Program, East-West Center With Support From Center for Pacific Islands Studies, University of Hawai‘i

Regional shipping, logistics provider managed by parent Neptune

APIA, Samoa (Talamua, Feb. 2, 2016) – Polynesian Shipping Line and Pacific Forum Line, two respected brands in the Pacific island shipping and logistics industry, have merged to form one entity, trading as Pacific Forum Line.

The merge has been announced by Neptune Pacific Line and their partners in Pacific Forum Line, the Government of Samoa, advising customers, partners and service providers, that agreements have concluded to merge the Neptune owned Polynesian Shipping Line (PSL) business with Pacific Forum Line Group (PFL), effective 31st January, 2016.

Neptune’s Managing Director, Rolf Rasmussen said that the Pacific Forum Line will continue to be managed by Neptune.

"Over the coming months, the various interests across our islands network will merge...