Transcript
Fiji's prime minister Frank Bainimarama has pledged to redouble his efforts on the international stage as he continues his campaign for action on climate change. But he will have plenty of work on his hands domestically in 2018 as he goes head to head with another former coup leader in the national election, just the second since the 2006 coup.
Sally Round has more:
"Polling day is yet to be announced but political parties and election authorities have moved up a gear in preparation. The incumbent prime minister and 2006 coup leader Frank Bainimarama will be hoping kudos gained as an international climate warrior will send votes his way back home. Facing him, another former military man and leader of Fiji's first coup Sitiveni Rabuka who's made a political come-back leading SODELPA, the biggest opposition party in parliament. The opposition bloc has made little headway in Fiji's newly-fashioned parliament against the numerical might of Mr Bainimarama's FijiFirst party but a shuffling of the cards including some notable defections from the government could boost the opposition's chances this time round. Meanwhile a dispute involving 200 ground staff at the main international airport is casting a shadow over Fiji's all important tourism sector and the government will be hoping to contain the fallout to ensure its chances at the ballot box."
Now to New Caledonia where the French territory's economy hopes to recover with a rising nickel price and avert massive job losses as Vale ponders the future of its plant. Walter Zweifel explains:
"Adding widely felt concern about burgeoning youth crime, the territory is entering its most pivotal year in more than a generation with apprehension about its future. A referendum on full sovereignty will have to be held by November to complete a 20-year decolonisation process that has shifted a raft of powers from Paris to Noumea. Voters will have to decide whether to stay within the French judicial, security and monetary systems or whether to go it alone and become the Pacific's first independent country this century."
2018 is also big year for Papua New Guinea which is to host the APEC leaders summit in November. The summit is a massive undertaking, with leaders from 21 Asia-Pacific countries, including the United States and China, expected to descend upon Port Moresby.
Here's Johnny Blades...
"The Peter O'Neill-led government has been preparing to host APEC for several years and argues that it will help put PNG on the map for global investment and trade. But while it allocated 90 million US dollars in this year's budget for hosting the event, the International Monetary Fund estimates PNG will have to spend billions on APEC. For a country in as tight a fiscal position as PNG has started this year in, this means others have to stump up. Its neighbours Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia are stepping in to help foot the bill for APEC and bolster PNG's security capabilities. Security is a leading concern because as shown in recent months, law and order shortfalls, domestic violence, sorcery-related attacks and abuses by police remain huge problems for PNG. APEC will be the biggest event it has ever hosted but the jury is still out on whether PNG's people will benefit from it."
Now to Tonga where 'Akilisi Pohiva was sworn in last week to continue his reign as Prime Minister, despite last year's dissolution of parliament by King Tupou VI.
Koro Vaka'uta has more:
"The King's move led to the November snap election and came after concerns were raised about the conduct of the previous Pohiva government. This means this year, all eyes will be on how the administration performs during the start of its second consecutive term. Attention will also be on the health of Mr Pohiva as the 76 year old began the year in the local Intensive Care Unit, missing the opening of Parliament but returning for the first sitting of the House where he was sworn in. Local media have complained about the lack of information that's surrounded Mr Pohiva's health and coming off last year's controversial comments and staff changes at the state broadcaster, there will no doubt be further scrutiny of government relationships with the media. The Pohiva government has promised to operate in the same manner, so interesting times are ahead in the kingdom."
And finally to Solomon Islands, which also has an election looming amid reports of more political instability, as Koroi Hawkins explains:
"It has only been two months since the last prime minister was ousted through a motion of no confidence and just last week new reports of an internal plot to overthrow the government of Prime Minister Rick Hou emerged. Mr Hou was himself elected after a successful motion of no-confidence was moved against his predecessor and now deputy prime minister Manasseh Sogavare. This year will also be the country's first full year without the presence of the Regional Assistance Mission which left in June last year after 14 years of peacekeeping and nation building in the wake of a bloody civil war. The national elections are also due this year although some local media report they could be delayed till early next year. Either way the new prime minister has said given the limited duration of his tenure he does not have the time for what he termed 'political gambling'".
Also this year, Nauru will host the Pacific Island Forum amid concerns about its prohibitive visa fees for journalists; The fate of hundreds of refugees and asylum seekers still hangs in the balance on Manus Island in PNG; and Bougainville continues to pursue the resurrection of its Panguna copper mine as it tries to establish some financial autonomy ahead of next year's independence referendum.
