Pacific news in brief for 26 June
Photo:
ppart/123RF
Tonga's current 17 Peoples' Representatives in parliament will each have TOP $100,000 (approx. NZ$69,000) in constituency funds to spend ahead of the November general election.
This was approved in parliament on 19 June as part of the Community Road Maintenance Fund.
Matangi Tonga
reports this is part of the record TOP $992.8 million national budget Tonga's Legislative Assembly has unanimously approved for the 2025/26 financial year.
The budget includes TOP $749m in cash spending and TOP $244m in donor support, with a deficit of just over TOP $29m paid for through government bonds.
Fiji's Ministry of Foreign Affairs is maintaining active communication with Fijian nationals residing in Qatar and Israel.
The Fijian government said this is happening through the Fiji Embassy in Abu Dhabi accredited to Doha, Qatar, and the Permanent Mission of Fiji to the United Nations.
The ministry also assured the families and relatives of Fijians in Qatar and Israel that they stand ready to provide support.
A 24/7 Operations Cell is in place to track real-time developments and situation reports.
There are concerns in Guadalcanal Province in Solomon Islands at soaring population levels.
The Guadalcanal population is growing at 3.2 percent, higher than the national rate of 2.7 percent.
The Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation reported the rapidly growing population presents a significant challenge with Premier Willie Atu's government having to provide education and health services for all.
The higher growth rate is at least partly due to people from other provinces migrating to Honiara for work, education and business opportunities.
Vanuatu is taking steps to strengthen its disaster and health emergency response, completing its first-ever national evaluation backed by the World Health Organization.
The Joint External Evaluation involved health, disaster and planning agencies working together to identify gaps and improve coordination across sectors.
World Health Organisation Vanuatu country liaison officer Dr Revite Kirition said the evaluations begin with self assesments.
Vanuatu has been through back-to-back cyclones, an earthquake, and disease outbreaks in recent years.
Vanuatu is the eigth country to join the Joint External Evaluation - the first was the Federated States of Micronesia in 2002 and the most recent Cook Island in May this year.
Health Director General Russel Tamata said the review highlights the need for stronger laws and better coordination across sectors.
Officials say the next step is building a national emergency plan and training more frontline workers.
Military personnel from across the world have been working in Papua New Guinea's East New Britain to eliminate explosive ordnances from World War II.
The explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) operators were locating, identifying and planning the disposal of the bombs.
The soldiers involved came from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, France, Japan, Papua New Guinea, the United States and the United Kingdom for Operation Render Safe.
This operation has been targeting explosive remnants for over 20 years.
More than 25,000 people have been injured or killed in PNG by explosive ordnances since the war.
A New Zealand Defence Force spokesperson said over 2800 items of explosive remnants and unexploded ordnance have been found.
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Fiji: 2025/2026 National Budget—A Socially Responsive Budget
27 June The Consumer Council of Fiji welcomes the 2025/2026 National Budget as a timely and decisive response to the financial strain felt by thousands of consumers across the country. This morning's Budget announcement can be seen delivering a meaningful relief through targeted measures that address the persistent cost-of-living pressures affecting households nationwide. A major highlight of today's announcement is the reduction of Value Added Tax (VAT) from 15% to 12.5%—a move set to ease financial pressures across the economy. This cut is expected to lower prices on essential goods and services, providing much-needed relief to households struggling with rising costs. The Council has long championed a fairer, consumer-focused tax regime, and this reform marks a positive shift toward alleviating the cost-of-living crisis. Consumer Council CEO Seema Shandil described the VAT reduction as both bold and necessary. 'This VAT reduction is a bold and welcome move,' she said. 'But now, the real work begins. For a long time, when VAT was increased, retailers were quick to pass on the added cost to consumers. Yet, when taxes are reduced, those savings are not always reflected on the shelves, instead, they're often absorbed as extra profit.' To address this issue and safeguard consumer interests, the Government has announced the establishment of a National Price Monitoring Taskforce. This initiative will bring together key enforcement agencies including the Consumer Council of Fiji, the Fiji Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC), and the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS). The taskforce will be responsible for ensuring that the tax and duty reductions are properly implemented by retailers and that consumers see the benefits of these changes in real terms. 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Meanwhile, frozen fish, including salmon, and canned fish products will also see duty eliminated entirely. Ms. Shandil emphasized that these reductions have the potential to significantly improve household nutrition and food affordability. 'These are real changes with the potential to impact the nutritional security of families. With key staples now cheaper to import, we expect retailers to bring down prices accordingly, and we will be watching closely.' In addition to food and tax relief measures, the Budget also includes targeted support in other areas that directly affect consumers. A ten percent bus fare subsidy can also be seen to help ease the financial burden on daily commuters and support lower-income earners who rely heavily on public transportation. This subsidy acts like a small "pay raise" by reducing their cost of living. A 10% reduction directly cuts daily transport costs, leaving more money for other expenses. Furthermore, a VAT refund scheme has been announced for residential construction projects valued up to $120,000. This measure is expected to reduce construction costs and encourage more families to invest in building or upgrading their homes. The newly implemented progressive measures, designed to support vulnerable populations and foster healthier living, represent a positive step forward. A 5% monthly increase for social welfare recipients and government pensioners will enhance financial resilience amid rising living costs. Simultaneously, the elimination of the 15% duty on no-sugar-added juices makes nutritious beverages more affordable, encouraging healthier consumption habits. Conversely, the new 15% duty on unhealthy processed snacks like puffed chips serves as a deterrent against excessive consumption of these foods. 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Pacific news in brief for 26 June
Photo: ppart/123RF Tonga's current 17 Peoples' Representatives in parliament will each have TOP $100,000 (approx. NZ$69,000) in constituency funds to spend ahead of the November general election. This was approved in parliament on 19 June as part of the Community Road Maintenance Fund. Matangi Tonga reports this is part of the record TOP $992.8 million national budget Tonga's Legislative Assembly has unanimously approved for the 2025/26 financial year. The budget includes TOP $749m in cash spending and TOP $244m in donor support, with a deficit of just over TOP $29m paid for through government bonds. Fiji's Ministry of Foreign Affairs is maintaining active communication with Fijian nationals residing in Qatar and Israel. The Fijian government said this is happening through the Fiji Embassy in Abu Dhabi accredited to Doha, Qatar, and the Permanent Mission of Fiji to the United Nations. The ministry also assured the families and relatives of Fijians in Qatar and Israel that they stand ready to provide support. A 24/7 Operations Cell is in place to track real-time developments and situation reports. There are concerns in Guadalcanal Province in Solomon Islands at soaring population levels. The Guadalcanal population is growing at 3.2 percent, higher than the national rate of 2.7 percent. The Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation reported the rapidly growing population presents a significant challenge with Premier Willie Atu's government having to provide education and health services for all. The higher growth rate is at least partly due to people from other provinces migrating to Honiara for work, education and business opportunities. Vanuatu is taking steps to strengthen its disaster and health emergency response, completing its first-ever national evaluation backed by the World Health Organization. The Joint External Evaluation involved health, disaster and planning agencies working together to identify gaps and improve coordination across sectors. World Health Organisation Vanuatu country liaison officer Dr Revite Kirition said the evaluations begin with self assesments. Vanuatu has been through back-to-back cyclones, an earthquake, and disease outbreaks in recent years. Vanuatu is the eigth country to join the Joint External Evaluation - the first was the Federated States of Micronesia in 2002 and the most recent Cook Island in May this year. Health Director General Russel Tamata said the review highlights the need for stronger laws and better coordination across sectors. Officials say the next step is building a national emergency plan and training more frontline workers. Military personnel from across the world have been working in Papua New Guinea's East New Britain to eliminate explosive ordnances from World War II. The explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) operators were locating, identifying and planning the disposal of the bombs. The soldiers involved came from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, France, Japan, Papua New Guinea, the United States and the United Kingdom for Operation Render Safe. This operation has been targeting explosive remnants for over 20 years. More than 25,000 people have been injured or killed in PNG by explosive ordnances since the war. A New Zealand Defence Force spokesperson said over 2800 items of explosive remnants and unexploded ordnance have been found.
