Auckland University Pacific Studies specialist Steven Ratuva says the United States' decision not to reopen its aid office in Fiji is a snub for the regime of Commodore Frank Bainimarama.
United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton last year announced the United States' main development agency would be returning to the region after fifteen years.
She said then that it would be set up in Suva, but Radio New Zealand understands the office is now destined for Papua New Guinea.
Dr Ratuva says that's a logical move.
"PNG is the growing economic power in the Pacific because of the mining and the resources in PNG. Economically and politically, I think it is a snub for Bainimarama>"
Steven Ratuva of Auckland University's Centre for Pacific Studies.
