Two die in crash in Tonga while three are in hospital, PNG's vow on sorcery killings, and defective Vanuatu ship grounded
Road toll in Tonga rises after crash kills two
In Tonga two people died in a car crash on Tongatapu's main access road, Taufa'ahau Road, early Wednesday morning.
Police say a car carrying five people was being driven at high speed when the driver lost control.
The other three passengers have serious injuries.
The latest deaths take the tally to date in 2022 to ten, but six have occurred in the past three weeks.
The road death tally for all of 2021 was six.
Deputy Police Commissioner, Tevita Vailea, has urged the public to "value their lives and make responsible decisions, especially when alcohol is involved."
PNG police vow to catch killers
Police in Papua New Guinea's Enga province say they will bring all suspects in recent sorcery-related violence and murders to justice.
Enga Provincial Police Commander Superintendent George Kakas. Photo: google+ / Kakas
Acting Superintendent George Kakas said police investigators are working on two recent cases in which five people were killed.
He said police know the ringleaders and are working tirelessly to apprehend them.
Kakas said police have ample manpower with a company of 120 soldiers from Enga helping to search and arrest the perpetrators.
He said killings blamed on people using sorcery are an evil which will affect everyone if not addressed.
Kakas said the Police Commissioner David Manning recognised the danger for the country posed by sorcery related violence, and has pledged the force's commitment in ending it,
Vanuatu ship grounded
Vanuatu Cargo, one of the country's inter-island vessels, has been detained by Vanuatu Maritime Safety Authority due to multiple deficiencies.
The Daily Post says it will be grounded until all deficiencies have been fixed.
It is an increasing lucrative business for inter-island ships that service the islands, due to the cost of sending freight and travelling by air.
The domestic airline Vanair, which operates under the umbrella of Air Vanuatu, is the only airline that makes money.
Air Vanuatu's International Flag Carrier is in financial trouble for not being up to date with its payments to the American Leasing Company, and its loan from the National Provident Fund.
Port Vila wants deferral of climate justice vote at UN
Vanuatu wants more time to lobby before a vote on its climate justice initiative at the United Nations General Assembly.
Endorsed by the Pacific Islands Forum, Vanuatu is leading the Pacific in a global climate justice campaign to push for a climate change advisory opinion from the UN's highest court, the International Court of Justice, on the responsibilities for climate change under international law.
The Daily Post reports the Head of State, Nikenike Vurobaravu, who is representing Vanuatu at the upcoming 77th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, has conveyed that they will seek a deferral until the end of this year.
He is reported as saying they want more time to lobby for support from other UN states, so they can achieve the required UN simple majority vote.
The President says the issue of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is due to be brought up in the UN agenda on October 27.
He says this deferment is important because with the backing of the Africa, Caribbean, and Pacific group a simple majority may be achievable.
Internet cable will connect Apia with Sydney
An internet cable will be installed to connect Samoa and Australia.
Avaroa Cable is a member of the Manatua - One Polynesia cable consortium, connecting French Polynesia, Rarotonga and Aitutaki in the Cook Islands, Niue and Samoa since 2020.
It is a state-owned enterprise of the Cooks Islands Government, and funded by the New Zealand Aid Programme and the Asian Development Bank.
Under the multi-million dollar deal, Hawaiki Submarine Cable will provide international capacity to Avaroa, from the Manatua cable termination point in Apia to Sydney.
Avaroa said this agreement would further secure trans-Pacific connectivity into the future, provide critical diversity to help drive Avaroa's wholesale telecommunications business, and deliver fast, reliable broadband to local operators in the Cook Islands.
Accused pleads guilty to manslaughter
In Samoa, the man accused of the two deaths on New Year's Day 2021 has pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
Vaotua Auleoleo Neemia was initially charged with two counts of murder as well as two weapons charges, but the charges were reduced following a plea bargain.
TV1 reports defence counsel Mauga Precious Chang has informed the court that her client will vacate his previous not guilty plea to the original charges, and will now plead guilty to the two charges of manslaughter.
Supreme Court Justice, Tafaoimalo Leilani Tuala-Warren, has granted the reduction of the charges as well as the defendant's guilty plea to the new charges.
The defendant's family have since carried out the traditional apology, ifoga, to the families of the victims.
Justice Tafaoimalo has ordered that Vaotuua remain in custody until his sentencing in November.
IMF urges Fiji to raise VAT
An International Monetary Fund report says raising the value-added tax in Fiji would increase earning potential.
The report, which looked into future tax revenue, said many Pacific Island countries do not have a VAT system, and those which have it are not exploiting its full potential.
The IMF said the gap between the current VAT and what they could potentially collect is, on average, about 50 percent.
The report stated raising VAT to 16 percent in Fiji, from the current 9 percent, would see revenue for the country at around 4.7 percent of gross domestic product.
The IMF said VAT rates tend to be low in the region, and VAT tax exemptions and zero rating are widespread.
Equity the focus for Pacific medical conference
Equity in health has been discussed at the annual Pasifika Medical Association conference in Wellington.
The PMA Conference was themed Reconnect, Reflect, Re-frame & Re-energise.
The conversations around the Re-energise theme focused on equity, which included a panel of experts in different fields to talk on the topic.
National Director for Pacific Health at New Zealand's Te Whatu Ora, Ms Meg Poutasi, highlighted that equity in health can be achieved if the community is better involved, as they hold the design and solutions.