Pacific news in brief for 9 March

Samoa

Samoa's FAST Party has two more seats in parliament following by-elections in Vaisigano 2 and Safata 1.

Motuopua'a Henney Papalii won Vaisigano 2 - the district he resigned from in January as an independent, to join the FAST Party.

Tunumafono Clare Tai Tin narrowly took the Safata 1 seat.

Talamua Online reported the results also required the formal writ from the Head of State.

Palau

Palau has distanced itself from an oil tanker formerly on their ship register after it was struck by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz.

Palau said the MT Skylight was deregistered at the beginning of January 2026.

The tanker has been sanctioned by the US and is understood to be servicing Iran as part of Russia's "shadow fleet".

Shipping registry Equasis lists the Skylight's flag status as unknown.

Fiji

Australia's High Commissioner in Suva says his country is committed to standing with Fiji in its fight against drugs.

Peter Roberts' comments come after a major talanoa in Fiji on the country's response to what authorities are desribing as an "escalating drug crisis".

Roberts said the talanoa showed there's huge political will in Fiji to combat the problem.

He said Australia stands with Fiji on this serious issue which is a shared challenge that requires a shared response.

As well as an Australian Federal Police base in Suva, Australia works closely with Fiji on financial intelligence and maritime surveillance to track drug deals and trafficking.

Samoa

A 300-metre radius around the wreckage of the HMNZS Manawanui in Samoa has been declared a no-go zone.

Samoa's government has announced that the area is prohibited for safety reasons, until the wreckage of the New Zealand naval vessel, which sunk in late 2024, is secured.

The ban includes ships in the area and aircraft, which must fly more than 500 feet above sea level within the zone.

The hazards listed include structures prone to collapse, sharp metal edges, ropes and cables, and disorientation or entrapment from loss of visibility.

Fiji

Fiji's Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) wants the removal of the two-year residency requirement that bars some overseas-based Fijians from contesting elections.

The Fiji Sun reported chairman Ratu Viliame Seruvakula confirming the GCC passed a resolution urging the Government to amend the Electoral Act 2014, and remove the residency rule for those registered in the Vola ni Kawa Bula, the official register of indigenous Fijian bloodlines.

Under the Electoral Act 2014, anyone wanting to stand in elections must have lived in Fiji for at least 18 months out of the two years before nominations.

Ratu Viliame says the requirement was preventing capable individuals from standing for office.

However, opposition MP Premila Kumar has warned that removing the two-year residency rule for overseas-based iTaukei candidates could open the door to outside interference.

MP Kumar said while she understands the intent, eliminating the rule could open the door to undue external interference or granting undue advantages to privileged expatriates.

Solomon Islands

The parliamentary opposition group in Solomon Islands is calling on the government to sort out delays in the confirmation of national scholarships.

Acting leader Dean Kuku said this is resulting in students starting their studies late, struggling to secure accommodation, and missing critical academic instruction.

Kuku said the government must finalise all outstanding scholarship awards, sort logistics for affected students, and provide remedial academic support for those who have missed commencement dates.

Tonga

Tonga has begun discussions with the United States to support marine scientific research, to inform seabed exploration.

The two governments issued a joint statement, outlining plans to strengthen collaboration on advancing the "responsible exploration of seabed mineral resources".

Pacnews reported the two governments saying they're also looking at the development of global regulatory frameworks and standards.

Both governments say they are committed to responsible and transparent exploration.

Solomon Islands

The Solomon Islands government says the country will again contribute to United Nations peacekeeping efforts, this time to South Sudan in mid-March.

The Permanent Mission of Solomon Islands to the UN has confirmed that eight Solomons police officers have been selected for deployment.

The government said prior to deployment, the officers completed pre-deployment training in Australia, with support from the Australian Federal Police, and undertook all mandatory UN pre-deployment assessments.

Solomon Islands previously deployed police officers to UN peacekeeping missions in 2016, 2017, and 2018.