More from Dan McGarry

The recent breakdown of Vodaphone Fiji’s investment in PNG’s BeMobile is just the most recent in a series of missed opportunities in cross-investment that could not only improve small island economies, but mitigate against some of the worst aspects of large-scale development projects in the Pacific.

It’s telling, and rather tragic, that even after the lessons of Wikileaks, democratic governments have still not learned how to deal with secrets. Ask a Pacific islander, and he’ll tell you how. Global villagers could learn a thing or two about information security from Pacific island societies.

Wan Smolbag Theatre Company’s Klaem Long Lada Ia (‘Climb that ladder’) provides shape and substance to Vanuatu’s painful descent from its idealistic beginnings and the inexorable spread of damage caused by venality, expediency and spiraling criminality.