Samoa cuts back on independence celebrations

This week Samoa marks 62 years of independence. The celebrations were reduced compared to previous years, following the Government’s decision to hold major celebrations only every five years.

The fallout from the Fiji First party’s decision to recall seventeen of its MPs for advocating a pay rise in parliament continues. It comes amid a public outcry over their support for a bill that imposes a whopping 130% increase in MPs’ salaries.

Counting of votes has begun for Vanuatu’s first national referendum on changing the constitution – linking MPs to political parties.

A political analyst says France risks increasing unrest in New Caledonia if it cannot keep its security forces under control. Last week, three municipal police officers in Nouméa were investigated after footage of them violently arresting a Kanak man went viral online.

World War II pilot Richard Bong is considered by many to be America’s greatest fighter pilot. He flew over 200 missions during WWII, many from the cockpit of his famous P-38 “Marge”. But his plane never returned from the war. It crashed near Madang in PNG while being flown by another pilot. Now, after 80 years, the plane has been found.

Every year, thousands of men and women from the Pacific region travel to Australia and New Zealand to work in farms, meat processing, aged care and various other industries. Although they provide a better income for workers, their absence has created a labor shortage in their home countries.