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

Fishing day scheme doesn’t return full value of resource

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, Jan. 8, 2016) – The owners of American Samoa's second largest cannery say the treaty which allows US fishing boats to fish in waters of Pacific island countries is obsolete and needs to be revamped.

Last week, the US fishing fleet reneged on its treaty with the Forum Fisheries Agency, which declined to issue licences as the US failed to pay its 17 million US dollar fee.

Tri Marine International says the treaty in its current form fails to retain the most value for the resource owners because the Vessel Day Scheme places value on fishing days alone, rather than the tuna itself.

According to Tri Marine, calculating value based on fishing days is a shortsighted economic equation that doesn't represent the...

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

At least two more minister lose their seats

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, Jan. 8, 2016) – Two more Kiribati government ministers have lost their seats in the national election.

Preliminary results from the second round of voting show that the labour minister Martin Moreti and the environment minister Tiarite Kwong failed to be re-elected.

19 seats were filled in last week's first round and the remaining 25 were voted on yesterday.

A former president, Teatao Teannaki, lost his seat on Abaiang, where Dr Teuea Toatu and Tekena Tiroa were elected as new MPs.

Another former president, Ieremia Tabai, retained his seat.

On Onotoa island, Kouraiti Beniato was re-elected while on Maiana island new MPs David Collins and Kaure Baabo were elected.

In North Tarawa, Boutu Baterikiand...

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

MMR campaign looks to ‘correct misinformation’ about EU deal

By Florence Syme-Buchanan

RAROTONGA, Cook Islands (Cook Islands News, Jan. 7, 2016) – The Ministry of Marine Resources is set to embark on a spending spree to woo support from fishermen, especially in the northern group, for a purse seining agreement with the European Union.

A sum of $300,000 [US$200,000] has been set aside for the exercise. It will include MMR visits to the Pae Tokerau to give presentations on the purse seine fishery and supposedly "…correct some misinformation" that the ministry believes exists amongst the northern group people.

Each of the five northern islands will also get a "gift" of $10,000 [US$6,660] that will be given to fishing clubs which will also decide how it is spent.

This information is revealed in a leaked email from...

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

Substantive hearing about no-confidence motion to come in mid-February

By Jacob Pok

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (PNG Post-Courier, Dec. 8, 2016) – Anderson Agiru will remain Governor of Hela Province, the National Court ruled yesterday.

The incumbent was successful in his application to be recognised as Governor pending the substantive hearing on February 19.

Justice Derek Hartshorn accepted Agiru’s application to restrain Komo-Margarima MP Francis Potape from assuming the role as governor.

The ruling means that Mr Agiru would continue as Hela Governor while other issues pertaining to his overthrow by Mr Potape and some of the provincial assembly members would be determined properly through the court process.

While an elated Mr Agiru welcomed the ruling in Port Moresby, Mr Potape, also in Port Moresby...