Forum Chair and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown at the FEMM Opening Plenary session on Wednesday 9 August 2023. Photo: Pacific Islands Forum
Cook Islands - debt management
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown says Pacific's donor partners to change the rules around financing and debt management.
The Pacific Islands Forum chair was speaking during the Forum Economic Ministers meet in Suva.
He said many Forum members have come out of covid with increased debt, with repayments set to spike.
Brown said these donor partners should not pressure Pacific economies to meet debt servicing costs, when there were other areas needing financing.
Islands Business reports him saying he also wants these donors to get behind the Pacific Resilience Facility, the regional financing facility designed to help Pacific nations build resilience in response to climate change.
That fund has a goal of $US1.5 billion, and Brown said the US government's $US2 million pledge towards it, "will help build up and strengthen this particular facility and add some credibility as a viable instrument for donor countries for funding it, to address climate issues," Brown said.
Papua New Guinea - accountability
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape is challenging Provincial Health Authorities to show greater accountability
He told parliament when introducing the Provincial Health Authorities Amendment Bill that sound governance is a pre-requisite for efficient health delivery.
Marape said his government plans on tackling the country's health problems head on by amending the PHA Act.
This revision aims to bolster the overall governance, management, and leadership of PHAs, thereby enhancing the quality of healthcare services in PNG.
He said it would also establish a robust reporting system and foster improved coordination between the Health Department, Provincial Government, and PHA.
Pacific - growth
Tourism, post-disaster rebuilding and infrastructure construction are driving economic growth in the Pacific this year.
That is according to the World Bank's latest economic update for the region which was released on Tuesday in Suva.
The World Bank's economist for the Pacific, Reshika Singh, said for the region the report projects 3.9 percent growth, offset by elevated inflation rates which are expected to sit at around six percent for the remainder of 2023.
In 2024 the bank predicts the Pacific's growth dropping slightly to 3.3 percent before further slowing to a long-term growth trend of 2.6 percent.
Niue - reforms
The Niue finance minister Crossley Tatui says issues raised by the New Zealand auditor general John Ryan about the island's financial accounts apply to earlier governments.
Tatui said some of the issues raised will be dealt in public financial reforms the government is planning.
Ryan was highly critical of the level of what he called 'unauthorised over-expenditure.'
He also spoke of the delays in issuing reports - something which has plagued the island's government for years.
The auditor said funds from foreign donors should not be used to prop up the budget but should go to the projects they are meant for.
Tatui said donor funds are no longer used in this way and as far as he's aware, there is no longer unauthorised expenditure.
Vanuatu - medical ship
People in Vanuatu's capital, Port Vila, are receiving free medical treatment on the Chinese medical ship, Ark Peace, which docked on Wednesday.
Medical services provided include ophthalmology, dental, some surgeries, gynaecology and obstetrics, and dermatology.
The Chinese embassy in Port Vila said the ship and its medical personnel have the capacity to treat 600 patients per day.
Ark Peace is staffed by a team of around 130 medical professionals.
The Vanuatu prime minister, Ishmael Kalsakau, says the Ark Peace visit marks an important milestone in China-Vanuatu relations.
He said this is built on mutual respect, trust, understanding and the extension of goodwill that has contributed to an expanded development programmer between the two countries.
The prime minister said, "I understand that the ship has conducted 10 missions and provided medical services to more than 250,000 people, since its launch in 2007 - a remarkable feat in itself."
Chinese medical ship, Ark Peace, in Port Vila, Vanuatu. 9 August 2023. Photo: Hilaire Bule
Samoa - arrest
Samoa Police have arrested four suspects in relation to a video circulating on social media of a man being assaulted last week in Moto'otua.
The four men have been charged with aggravated robbery with the possibility of additional charges.
In its statement, police said they have zero tolerance for violence and are committed to ensuring justice is served.
More videos surfaced yesterday of another man being brutally attacked, and the Commissioner of Police Auapa'au Logoitino Filipo believes its retaliation from those connected to the first victim.
The Ministry released a statement last night citing that it has come to their attention that members of our community are circulating various video footages on social media showing violent content as a result of differences between the youths.
The Police reminded the community they take these "incidents seriously and are investigating and will be taking appropriate actions."
They have acknowledged the help received from village councils in reporting these incidents and ensuring peace is maintained.
Police say with Samoa about to host a number of regional and international events, everyone's cooperation is needed to ensure the country is safe.