Pacific news in brief for 14 May
Photo:
Jose Fontano / Unsplash
Papua New Guineans have been dealing with flooding in several areas.
The
Post-Courier
reported several parts of Zifasing village, gardens, and cattle grazing areas have been affected.
Primary school head teacher, Andipas Joseph said classes were suspended indefinitely last Thursday when the flood started.
He said there were concerns about the pit toilets being flooded.
Kaviananga Primary School's classrooms and teachers' houses have also been affected, as has Obo Health Center, and the Wagol community within Madang Town.
A second seismic monitoring station has been mounted on Mt Bagana in central Bougainville.
Mt Bagana is one of the most active volcanoes in Papua New Guinea, most recently erupting two years ago, resulting in the displacement of several thousand people.
A first monitor was put in place in March.
The Bougainville Government said having the two seismic monitoring stations at Mt Bagana is a milestone achievement in the region's disaster preparedness efforts.
A team from Auckland University has completed a mental health survey in Tokelau.
The survey is part of a Pacific-wide study led by Professors Sir Collin Tukuitonga and Jude McCool.
Sir Collin said more than 300 people on Tokelau completed the surveys.
The first surveys were done in Sāmoa and Tonga two years ago, and found a notable prevalence of mental health distress.
Sir Collin said anxiety disorders and depression appear to be quite common.
The head of the Mental Health Unit in Sāmoa, psychiatrist Dr George Tuitama, said it is the first time Tokelau has participated in a mental health awareness project.
He said there has been high demand for the researchers to attend groups and deliver awareness talks.
The Cook Islands Investment Corporation has announced the appointment of former Pacific Islands Forum secretary general, Henry Puna, to the Board of Cobalt Seabed Resources (CSR).
CSR is a joint venture between the Cook Islands government and Global Sea Mineral Resources of Belgium.
It holds exploration licences in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone as well as within the Cook Islands' exclusive economic zone.
Puna served as prime minister of the Cook Islands from 2010 to 2020, and also held various ministerial portfolios, including foreign affairs, marine resources and energy.
Cook Islands News
reported him saying CSR is uniquely placed to make advances for the people of the Cook Islands.
Sustainable management of Pacific tuna fisheries is a key issue in front of fisheries officials meeting in Niue this week.
It's the 138th meeting of the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA).
Officials will deliberate on several key issues, including progress on the review of the FFA Strategic Plan, the independent review of FFA, and updates on regional fisheries policies.
Niue's Natural Resources Minister Mona Ainu'u is championing the Ocean Literacy Initiative.
"My concern is that our people, especially our young people and children must understand how international and regional decisions affect their livelihoods," she said.
"Our children will inherit the seeds we plant today. They will eventually take over from us, and so we need to invest now through our school curricula and outreach programs."
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