Features Archive November 2021

The political process has yet to deliver answers to Solomon Islanders who feel disenfranchised and marginalised. Leader of the Opposition, Mathew Wale, has filed a vote of no confidence against Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare.

Peace Unravels in the Solomon Islands

By Anna Powles and Jose Sousa-Santos
On 25 November, a day after the riots in Honiara, Australia announced it would deploy police and military personnel following a request for assistance from the government of the Solomon Islands. This is fast shaping up to be a regional response to the unrest in the Solomon Islands.
Yesterday’s protest is said to have been instigated by supporters from Malaita, but the frustration with the national government, the attitude of the Prime Minister and ministers to provincial governments and provincial politicians, and the sense of alienation and disenfranchisement, is arguably shared across a wide spectrum of the country.

Solomon Islands’ Slippery Slide to Self-implosion

By Transform Aqorau
The riots in Honiara yesterday, disturbing the city’s normally quiet atmosphere, were unexpected but not surprising.
Downtown Port Moresby, the capital of PNG.

Everyday Corruption in PNG: A Way of Life

By Teddy Winn
Over the past decade, researchers (see article on Devpolicy.org for links to related research) have illuminated the various ways Papua New Guineans understand corruption.
The Acting High Commissioner for Australia to Solomon Islands, Sally-Anne Vincent (left) and the Minister for Education and Human Resources Development, Honourable Lanelle Olandrea Tanangada share their experiences as women leaders and their respective career progressions.

Women in Justice Sector Agree on Coordinated Efforts to Boost Gender Equity

Over 60 women representatives from the justice sectors who attended the two-day Women in Justice Forum in Honiara agree that there is a need to promote policies that eliminate gender disparities and stop gender stereotypes.
The last four elections in Tonga have never resulted in more than 8% female representation in parliament, and often, as this time, it has been zero. We need significant change. We must aim for at least 30% or more by taking legislative action.

No Women Elected in Tonga: Time to Change the Story

By ‘Ofa-Ki-Levuka Guttenbeil-Likiliki
As in 2008, 2010 and 2014, none of the female candidates standing in Tonga’s 2021 general election were successful.
Nearly two-thirds of the 6000 Pacific Islanders who responded to a survey earlier this year said they believed corruption was a significant problem across their governments and businesses.

Corruption, 'Dirty Money' Limiting Pacific Nations COVID Recovery: Transparency International Australia

By Sarah Basford Canales
Billions of dollars in federal government aid and infrastructure projects sent to Pacific Island nations are at risk of being misused as transparency experts warned bribery and corruption were devastating the region's post-COVID recovery.
Alok Sharma’s remarks at the COP26 Closing Plenary.

China and India will Have to Explain Themselves on Coal, COP26 President Says

The president of COP26 said Sunday that China and India will need to explain why they insisted a crucial passage of the U.N.-brokered climate deal was changed at the last minute.
Hon. Minister Simon Kofe filming a video statement in Tuvalu on climate mobility.

Tuvalu’s Future Now Project: Preparing for Climate Change in the Worst Case Scenario

By Simon Kofe
Wednesday 27 October marked the official national launching of Tuvalu’s Future Now Project (or Te Ataeao Nei Project in Tuvaluan), a new initiative by the Ministry of Justice, Communication and Foreign Affairs.
"The Centre is critical to our science-policy interface for more informed decision making to build a resilient Blue Pacific,” said His Excellency Fatumanava Dr. Pa’olelei Luteru, Permanent Representative of Samoa to the United Nations in his opening remarks.

Capacity Building Efforts Towards Climate Investment Showcased At COP26

The Pacific Climate Change Centre (PCCC) showcased the outstanding outcomes of its training programmes of adaptation, mitigation, and access to climate finance to increase climate investment in the Pacific during a COP26 side event “Strengthened Resilience to Climate Change in the Pacific: from Capacity Building to Climate Investment”.
In the absence of vaccinations, Papua New Guineans have turned to three main methods of treatment: prayer and healing, organic remedies, and reliance on a claimed strong natural immunity to disease.

Just 1.7% of People in PNG are Vaccinated Against COVID. Why is Resistance so Fierce?

Only 1.7% of Papua New Guineans have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
The paper discussed the importance of Ocean Dialogue and submissions and its necessity to implement strong stewardship and good governance of the blue planet in a disrupted climate.

Publication Highlights Importance of Ocean Dialogue in Strong Stewardship of the Blue Planet

The University of the South Pacific (USP) has made an outstanding contribution in a new publication titled, “A new way forward for ocean-climate policy as reflected in the UNFCCC Ocean and Climate Change Dialogue submissions” in time for the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26).

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