Features Archive August 2022

(L-R) Russ Comeau, U.S. Chargé D'Affaires for Solomon Islands, Manasseh Sogavare, Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands, and Capt. Kim, mission commander of Pacific Partnership 2022.

Pacific Partnership 2022 Kicks off in Solomon Islands

Pacific Partnership 2022 kicked off in Honiara, Solomon Islands, August 29, 2022.
“The recent surge in fuel price recently has seen SICCI receiving grave concerns from the business houses who are prone to bear the brunt of the higher price pressure impacting budgets and affecting purchasing power regardless of their income group,” a SICCI statement said.

Local Businesses Will Suffer If Fuel Price Continue to Rise: SICCI

Local businesses in Solomon Islands will be severely impacted if fuel price continues to increase in the next six months, a survey conducted by the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) revealed.
Provincial Minister for Finance and Treasury, Guadalcanal Province Hon. Andrew Tahisihaka, Hon. Deputy Premier for Guadalcanal Province, Lazarus Alfred Rima, Minister for Justice and Legal Affairs, Hon. Clezy Rore, UNDP Acting Country Manager, Ms. Grace Kiernan and Public Solicitor of Solomon Islands, Mr. George Gray outside the new office.

Securing Justice in Marau - New Public Solicitor's Office Branch Opens its Doors

Over 15,000 people will now have access to legal information, advice and representation as the Public Solicitor’s Office (PSO) opens a branch in Marau.
Downtown Port Moresby, the capital city of Papua New Guinea.

Why are Chinese companies in the Pacific so quiet?

By Huiyuan Liu
During my research on Chinese companies’ engagement in the Pacific Island countries, I have met many people living in Australia or the Pacific who have shown a strong interest in this area, including students, academics, businesspeople, media reporters, government officials, and even taxi drivers.
The actual explanation for PNG's electoral woes is more prosaic, and also probably harder to address. It stems from the country's political economy, and the voter-politician relationship. When they are free to choose who to vote for, most voters in PNG vote for candidates who they think will help them, their family or their community directly.

What Went Wrong With the 2022 Elections in PNG?

By Terence Wood
The dust is still swirling, far from settled, and already people are calling the 2022 elections the worst in Papua New Guinea's history.
The potential gains of creating a family accompaniment option within the PLS should not be understated. The social implications of family separation in the PALM scheme are a longstanding topic of discussion across the Pacific.

Pacific Migrant Workers and the Social Costs of Family Separation

By Matt Withers
Australia’s stance on Pacific migration is again at a turning point, with key features of the temporary ‘guestworker’ model being reconsidered as Labor envisions a more humanitarian approach to regional integration.
Dr Togamana acknowledged the substantial financial support of AUD$70 million (over SBD$400 million) received to date as direct budgetary support and performance-linked funding, under the Ministry’s current Health Sector Support Program (HSSP3) 2016-2020.

Australia Praised for Its Support to the Health Sector

Australia’s Minister for Defense, Industry, International Development and the Pacific, Hon. Pat Conroy MP and his delegation, met with Solomon Islands Health Minister Hon. Dr. Culwick Togamana and officials which included Permanent Secretary Mrs. Pauline McNeil, Deputy Secretary Dr Gregory Jilini and Director Planning and Policy Mr. Ivan Ghemu.
Watching daily life adjust to election processes was also fascinating. Classes at universities and work activities around Port Moresby (and indeed the country) were cancelled repeatedly following delays with voting in the National Capital District, and the need for many to travel back to their villages to vote.

Reflecting on Two Months in Port Moresby

By Alyssa Leng
Recent events in Porgera and Port Moresby have not helped Papua New Guinea’s international reputation for crime and danger.
In recent months the Solomon Islands has further developed existing links to China, which the Australian Broadcaster Corporation argues is indicative of authoritarian and anti-journalist developments in Solomon Islands’ leadership.

Solomon Islands: Prime Minister’s Office Orders Censorship of SIBC

The Government of the Solomon Islands has ordered the national radio and television broadcaster, the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC), to censor its programs of anti-government voices on August 1.

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