Pacific news in brief for October 20

Solomon Islands/Australia – repatriation

Australia has assisted 65 Solomon Islanders in departing Tel Aviv for Dubai, along with Australians and other Pacific Islanders.

Sunday Isles reports the Australian High Commission of the Solomon Islands saying Australia is pleased to have helped the Solomon Islands at this difficult time.

Australia was to also support their return to the Solomons.

The largest Christian event in Israel, the week-long Feast of the Tabernacle, attracted 3000 people from over 80 countries, including delegations from the Solomon Islands.

65 visitors from the Solomon Islands were exploring the nation, taking in historical landmarks, partaking in services and parades, and celebrating their religious beliefs.

Vanuatu – repatriation

18 Ni-Vanuatu are expected to arrived on Port Vila today following their repatriation from Israel.

The Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed their arrival today.

The group was flown to Australia on Wednesday along with over 100 Australians and 65 Solomon Islanders, on an Australian government-assisted flight.

The Vanuatu consul-general in Sydney has thanked the Australian and Vanuatu governments for arranging the flight from Jerusalem to Australia via Dubai.

Several thousands of Pacific people will be offered a path to settling in Australia.

The federal government has given the green light to a proposal to boost regional employment and address shortages.

AAP reports the opposition has refused to support the Pacific visa scheme saying it’s like a “lottery”.

However, the government says this process is used in New Zealand and will reduce processing times and costs.

The scheme will allocate 3000 visas to Pacific people each year through a ballot process across countries.

Those selected will then be able to apply for permanent residency.

To be granted a visa, applicants will still need to meet eligibility criteria including a job offer, health and character requirements.

Kiribati – summit

Kiribati is hosting the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) Leaders’ Summit next week.

The PNA, controls the world’s largest sustainable tuna purse seine fishery.

Radio Kiribati reports Minister for Line and Phoenix Islands Development Mikarite Temari urged the people of Christmas Island to help clean and beautify the island before the arrival of the high-level delegation.

Nine Pacific countries and territories are members of the PNA.

Vanuatu – mental health

The Pasifika Medical Association is sending a mental health specialist team to Vanuatu’s Vila Central Hospital.

This is part of the New Zealand Medical Treatment Scheme funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Association chief executive Debbie Sorensen said mental health in a Pacific context is something they are eager to see strengthened and developed.

Vanuatu’s mental health unit is led by PMA member and the country’s sole psychiatrist, Dr Jimmy Obed.

Dr Obed said mental health work and understanding in Vanuatu is growing and it is important to nurture this growth in the right way.

Samoa – markets

Australia, New Zealand and the UN women programme have announced $US1.4 million to making markets in Samoa safer and greener for women.

The money is for the Fugalei and Savalalo markets on Upolu island and the Salelologa market on Savai’i.

The Samoa Observer reports Australia’s High Commissioner to Samoa, Emily Luck, announced the funding support on the International Day of Rural Women on Monday, October 16.

She said the theme of the day this year recognised the vital role that women and girls played in Samoa’s food systems, especially those from rural villages.

Luck said there are over 15-hundred vendors that frequent the markets in Savaii and Upolu and eighty per cent of these vendors are women.

Fiji – fisheries

Fiji’s director of fisheries Neomai Ravitu says fishermen are developing technologies to bypass rules and regulations.

FBC reports Ravitu saying the Fisheries Ministry is addressing this by exploring new and sophisticated technology.

She said there are boarding and inspection mechanisms for vessels visiting Fiji’s ports, and partnerships with border enforcement agencies.

Ravitu said the Ministry has a draft National Compliance Strategy to address both off-shore and in-shore fishing.

Guam – extinct

The US Fish and Wildlife Service has declared two Guam native species extinct.

These are the little Marianas fruitbat and the bridled white-eye bird.

The Pacific Island Times reports the agency has issued a final rule removing the pair, along with 19 other species, from the list of wildlife protected under the Endangered Species Act, “because the best available information indicates that they are extinct”.

The agency attributed the extinction of the two Guam species to predation by the brown tree snake, alteration and loss of habitat, and increased hunting pressure.

The final de-listing also includes several Hawaiian species, including the large Kauai thrush, the Molokai creeper and the po’ouli.