Comments

Thanks Stephen for a nice account of what it was and what it would be for post COVID-19 recovery in the Pacific. Australia’s COVID-19 response strategy is looking into the Pacific from the outside and based on Canberra’s recent experience on the pre- and post-COVID-19 pandemic. From the inside looking out, Pacific nations would experience pre- and post-COVID-19 from a much different angle, which may not hold the same view that of Canberra. One matter of fact is this: many assumed that once COVID-19 hit the shores of the Pacific, it would wipe out the entire population. This assumption has proven to hold no water. If Pacific nations could contain COVID-19 and even HIV/AIDS, what more better would Canberra expects. Therefore, Canberra’s COVID-19 response strategy may not include essential details of recovery that should otherwise be included if it looks from the inside. It needs more work along with the Pacific Step-up policy, COVID-19 is a good opportunity.

Thanks Stephen. Very interesting. Does this now mean that Australia intends to reduce its use of sub-contracted service providers like PHD and instead make greater use of national systems? Is there any mention of how the multilateral system will be used in future?

Thanks Dr. Ann for this amazing report regarding Timorese migrant workers working overseas, especially in the UK. I finally found this site as I am going to report on the same topic as well. Nevertheless, I am super excited because that Timorese man is my uncle. This is such an extremely important report for us as the young generation to do research based on Timorese migrant workers overseas. Keep up the good job Dr. Ann. God Bless you🙏.

This is an excellent initiative. Are there more examples, other CSO and NGO communities in the Pacific Islands that are coordinating their responses to COVID? Could they? Could governments with the support of current donor COVID relief programs help, because formal welfare programs and responses to COVID do not reach the greater communities that the CSOs and NGOs can reach?

Thanks Paul for a very fitting and well summised tribute to a humble and wise man. He managed well the pressing political expectations and expenditure appetites during his tenure and it was an absolute priveleged to have worked with him and you at the Treasury

My name is, Joelson Anere, please use correct spelling of a persons name. For your information, by operation of law, James Marape election is a procedural error because of Peter O'Neill withdrawal when nominations had already closed.

I would come back to Fiji under these circumstances.

JK that’s a good point. Also the case Namah is faced with relates to Namah storming the court house to arrest the Chief Justice in 2011. It’s difficult for anyone to face the same court expecting a favorable result. He says he will appeal the case, so let’s see how it goes.

Hi Jelson, thanks for the comments. Basically, we will never know the answers to these questions unless court rules on them. At the moment, each man has his own interpretation 😊

One question. As a layman I am of the view that SC only reviews application made by aggrieved parties of a lower court. In the case of Beldan N tribunal; when the tribunal end a decision for dismissal from office for the member for Vanimo Green, he appealed for a SC review on his dismissal; thus he was successfully granted a permanent stay order pending the review. And he continue to serve as MP for Vanimo Green. In the 29 May SC decision, the SC could refer to the stay order and the pending judicial review then making an outright decision to effect his dismissal. This in my view is tantamount to violation of natural justice and an unprecedented case of a decision made outside the rule of court. What about the permanent stay order and the judicial review currently pending for Beldan N. Some legal expert on this can shed some light here.

Excellent piece! Interesting research findings that rescue women from the victimhood trap, and presents a positive outlook!

Interesting article!