World Bank country director for the Pacific Islands and Papua New Guinea Stephen Ndegwa (second left) and FSM President David Panuelo in Pohnpei on 29 March 2023. Photo: Twitter / Stephen Ndegwa
Pacific - debt distress
A World Bank report suggests six Pacific countries are at a high risk of debt distress.
The report, named Raising Pasifika: Strengthening Government Finances to Enhance Human Capital in the Pacific is a public expenditure review for Kiribati, Nauru, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
The report's executive summary says the Covid-19 shock, combined with overlapping shocks from natural disasters and global inflation, risks reversing a decade of progress in building human capital across the Pacific.
It said fiscal consolidation is required to protect medium-term financial sustainability.
The report makes several recommendations across several sectors including health, education, and social protection.
Cook Islands - dead chicken mystery
New Zealand officials are helping the Cook Islands figure out why so many chickens are suddenly dying.
The Cook Islands News reports a high number of the animals have dropped dead and an investigation is underway to find the reason.
The Ministry of Agriculture said it has reached out to New Zealand's Ministry of Primary Industries Animal Health for help.
One resident said online that in the past two weeks they found over 25 dead chickens next to their house.
The person noted it did not look like they were attacked by an animal.
Some people have linked the sudden deaths to chemicals used by farmers on their crops.
Samoa - drugs in schools
Samoa's chief of police says educators need to do a better job keeping drugs out of schools.
This follows confirmation from Pouu'amea Tuaolo Supapo that marijuana was confiscated from Samoana High School students.
Drugs were also found at Tafuna High School.
Pouu'amea called on school administrators to find better ways to stop drugs from entering school campuses, even if they have to search each student.
French Polynesia - drug bust
Methamphetamine destined for French Polynesia has reportedly been intercepted in Mexico, hidden in replica turtles to be sold as trinkets to tourists.
Reports say about 40 sachets of the banned drug were discovered by sniffer dogs at a mail centre in the central Mexican state of Queretaro.
Mexican police have opened an investigation while investigators in French Polynesia want to identify the expected recipient of the drug shipment.
It's not known how much of the drug was seized, but it is said to sell in Tahiti for $US2500 a gram.
Last year, French Polynesia's president said methamphetamine posed a threat to society as there are an estimated 10,000 users of the drug in the territory.
Tonga - police
Australia is to provide more than $US1.8 million in financial assistance to Tonga's police force.
The support covers maritime police capability, information and case management systems, custody facilities, uniforms, and equipment.
A signing ceremony, formalising the agreement, took place last Friday in Nukua'lofa between Tonga's Finance Minister Tiofilusi Tiueti and Australia's High Commissioner Rachael Moore.
Tongan police said the funding addresses critical resourcing gaps.
Cook Islands - smoking
The Cook Islands has set a goal of making three of its southern group islands smoke free by 2025.
Secretary of Health Bob Williams said the smoke-free programme started in late 2019 but was put on hold because of Covid-19, and has been picked up again this year.
Williams said a new public health bill has new rules around smoking and he hoped it would be put before parliament next month.
He said the islands could be considered smoke free if less than five percent of the population on the island smoked.
French Polynesia - food culture
French Polynesia's new president says a priority of his government is to reform of the agricultural and fishing systems in order to increase the territory's self-sufficiency.
In outlining policy priorities, Moetai Brotherson has told the newly elected assembly the food culture needs to change, which involves education.
He said children need to learn to eat better and do more sport.
Brotherson said the main challenge, however, concerns the environment as a rise in temperatures will impact all human activity, agriculture and fishing.
Samoa - festival
Motherland Samoa, one of the largest music festivals in the country, is set to feature during Samoa's independence celebration at Apia Park.
Leading the group of Pacific artists is F1J1, international star J Boog, and a strong contingent from both Australia and New Zealand, including HP Boyz, Lisi, Savage, DJ Noiz, Kennyon Brown, Tomorrow People, and Wayno.
Established and emerging local artists will also be performing, such as Mautoatasi & Matalena, Zipso, and the Pacific Love Band.
PacifiCast founder Julius Tuigamala says this festival was built from the heart to serve both the Pasifika community and extremely talented artists.
