Pacific Beat

Fiji's first prime minister of Indian ancestry who was ousted in a coup twenty years ago, plans a return to the political arena with hopes of leading the country out of its COVID-19 economic troubles.

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Papua New Guinea stands at 516 but health experts say that may not be the real picture and are calling for localised research into the spread of coronavirus in PNG, and a high voter turnout as well has having 25 candidates competing for the presidency have forced electoral officials in Bougainville to extend the deadline for counting to September 24.

Despite Papua New Guinea's seemingly low number of coronavirus cases, health experts say more testing is needed to understand the full extend of the impact of COVID-19 especially in the country's larger cities.

Residents in the PNG capital Port Moresby are frustrated after several days of power blackouts and water rationing, and argue it's unacceptable to be without basic services when PNG is in the middle of a COVID-19 emergency.

Coronavirus regulations at Vanuatu's central market have forced some women to find new solutions to earn an income, as business in the capital dries up.

After resigning as Samoa's Deputy Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata'afa tells Pacific Beat she fears her country is 'sliding away from the rule of law', and pressure mounts on the PNG Government to prioritise paid maternity leave for working others.

One of Samoa's most senior politicians, Fiame Naomi Mata'afa has quit the Government and resigned as deputy Prime Minister, telling Pacific Beat she has done so because of her fears her country is "sliding away from the rule of law".

Two years ago the PNG government announced a review into the country's employment act, including maternity leave policies, but so far the public has seen nothing come of it. Some women in PNG say the delay is not good enough.

The Australian miner Malachite Resources is trying to enter Solomon Islands' minerals sector by making deals to acquire two companies for its plan to mine nickel in Isabel Province.

Papua New Guinea has been offered more financial support from Australia and Japan, to help it survive an "economic disaster" the PNG Treasurer said had been brought on by COVID-19.