Commentary

17th Congress of the FSM just concluded Fifth Special Session focused mainly on an important subject: tax reform, which is now at a crossroad. Tax reform anywhere is an arduous task. In the FSM this has been exacerbated by the federal nature of the country.

A PNG Government announcement last week signals the beginning of a new path towards the states ownership of a national oil company. PiPP’s Dulciana Somare-Brash writes that the PNG’s National Petroleum Company will drive domestic development

The Federated States of Micronesia conducted an election on March 5, 2013 to choose members of the 18th Congress. A closer look at FSM's election results raises concerns that overseas voters who do not know local conditions are determining the outcome of elections.

The dynamics of Pacific politics and the internet are in some respects reflections of Pacific politics writ large, but in others they closely mirror strategic trends whose impacts are beginning to be felt globally. Dan McGarry takes a look at the inextricable link between government policy and the health of the internet in the Pacific

Commodore Bainimarama addressed Fiji March 21st, informing the nation that the draft constitution had been released, reiterating his commitment of holding elections in September 2014 and stating that the constitution would be completed by April 12th of this year. Toby Ley teases out some of the implications in Voreqe Bainimarama’s address to the nation.

West Papuan independence figure Benny Wenda’s recent visit to Vanuatu’s Parliament –an historic first– seems to have left echoes within its halls. One thing is clear: Issues such as the plight of West Papuans can no longer be brushed off as entirely domestic in nature.