Pacific links: Manus Island asylum seekers told to move on, the rubbish-filled Henderson Island, PNG's informal economy and more
Henderson Island (Flickr/Robert Levy)
- In this Devpolicy post, David Morris offers proposals for the Pacific region as it considers its place in the Asia Pacific and relationship with China.
- The same David Morris, in his role representing the Pacific Islands Forum was at Beijing's One Belt, One Road summit earlier this week, along with Fiji’s Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama.
- Should PNG political parties consider supporting the informal economy in the lead up to the election? Economist Busa Jeremiah Wenogo argues yes.
- PNG police have turned to the private sector for firearms training after Australian Federal Police in PNG refused to provide the same.
- The 800 asylum seekers on Manus Island still held in the Australian detention centre there have been told they must leave. The ABC was sent a recording of an official informing the 100 men whose claims have been rejected they should agree to return their countries of origin. The 700 who have found to be refugees can choose to relocate to a temporary transit centre on the Island.
- Tonga has announced it is no longer intends to host the 2019 Pacific Games, citing financial concerns.
- The areas of Vanuatu hardest hit by Cyclone Donna, including the Torres Islands, are still recovering and in need of aid.
- A new study suggests the highest density of plastic debris in the world is to be found on the uninhabited Henderson Island in the South Pacific.