Unearthing stories that matters |
by Georgina Maka’a Samoan Jerry Brunt flew out of the country this afternoon after submitting an affidavit to officials investigating the alleged rigging of last Saturday night’s Miss Pacific Islands Pageant results. Brunt, a lawyer and hotelier, and the man at the centre of the allegation, was refused departure on…
by Georgina Maka’a Government “stop notices” were issued against all four regional judges not to leave the country after last Saturday night’s pageant crowning event. This is so that they could remain here while it investigated allegations that the Miss Pacific Islands Pageant results were rigged. But only two were stopped at…
Six Years on….Rennell Landowners Seek Justice by Georgina Maka’a In a first-of-its-kind claim in both collaboration and magnitude, landowners of Kangava Bay, East Rennell, are seeking at least USD$38,145,275 in compensation over the 2019 oil spill that left their coasts and sea covered in oil for weeks. The claim was…
AAP – Just one woman has been elected in Vanuatu’s election, which looks likely to have returned the previous government prior to the snap poll. A five-way coalition government featuring caretaker prime minister Charlot Salwai, climate advocate Ralph Regenvanu and popular force Jotham Napat is likely to form in the coming…
PORT VILA, Vanuatu (AAP) – Voting is beginning in Vanuatu’s snap election, remarkably going ahead despite the turbulence of a severe earthquake one month ago. Thursday has been declared a public holiday in the Pacific nation, when roughly 315,000 registered voters will have the chance to vote to send 52 MPs…
Australian rescue teams are set to depart for Vanuatu with fears the death toll will rise on the South Pacific island nation following a devastating earthquake. At least 14 people were killed and hundreds injured after a magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck about 30km west of Port Vila at lunchtime on…
BenarNews – Witnesses have appealed for help, describing chaotic scenes, widespread damage and people trapped in the rubble. A strong 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Vanuatu on Tuesday, U.S. geologists said, severely damaging a number of buildings in the capital, crushing cars and briefly triggering a tsunami…
Australian security capabilities were on display during a high-level visit from Jimson Tanangada, Minister of Police, National Security and Correctional Services, to Australia. Tanangada was joined by Stephen Kumi, Member of Parliament for Temotu Nende, Morris Toiraena, Member of Parliament for East Honiara, Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) Commissioner…
Brisbane (AAP) – A coordination and training centre for Pacific Island police has been opened as Australia seeks to counter China’s growing security influence in the region. The Pinkenba Hub in Brisbane will act as a central base for deployments of Pacific police when countries request help for major events…
Canberra (AAP) – A small autonomous region that hopes to become the world’s newest country is calling for energy investment as it moves to boost revenue and prop up its economy. Bougainville overwhelmingly voted for independence from Papua New Guinea but negotiations on the transition remain ongoing years after the referendum,…
