Page 5 - IB December 2021

A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

December 2021 Vol 47 No 12 It was not until well into our deliberations on the Pacific Person of the Year
that a definite theme emerged: the representation of powerful Pacific women
Managing Director / Publisher in our final list.
Samisoni Pareti
This year we couldn’t separate two people, Samoan Prime Minister Fiame
Managing Editor Naomi Mata’afa and Fiji policewoman and now Assistant Secretary General of
Samantha Magick
the United Nations Department of Safety and Security, Unaisi Vuniwaqa.
Fiame impressed for her conduct during Samoa’s prolonged election contro-
versy and the start she has made in office. Meanwhile Vuniwaqa continues her
climb through the upper echelons of the United Nations after hitting the glass
Designer
ceiling in the Fiji police force. Her willingness to start from the bottom as a
Dick Lee
peacekeeper, and work her way up despite previously having held a senior posi-
tion in Fiji, is a lesson in humility and determination for us all.
Contributors
Bernadette Carreon Honourable mentions this year include the Fijiana Sevens team for their
Dionisia Tabureguci electrifying performances at the Tokyo Olympics and more recently, in Dubai,
Len Garae and the inspiration they are providing for athletes across the region. And in a
Naiqama Lalabalavu year where the COP26 climate talks disappointed, the Pacific’s young climate
Nic Maclellan advocates working on the global stage and at quietly at home gave us hope. We
Rowena Singh profile a handful in this issue, although they represent a much broader com-
Samisoni Pareti munity of young men and women working to ensure their voices are heard and
future is secured.
Also in this issue, Nic Maclellan’s update on the highly-compromised New
Caledonia independence referendum, a look at the potential impact of the
Solomon Islands’ riots on the Pacific Games, and the Fiji National Provident
Fund tackles its ‘zero balances’ problem.
Islands Business is published monthly by
Front Page Pte Limited We also have a series of updates on fisheries resource management from the
Editorial & Advertising Offices
GPO Box 12718, Suva, Fiji Islands. Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, the World Trade Organization
Tel: +679 9719660 and Kiribati’s Phoenix Islands Protected Area.
Finally, a big vinaka vakalevu to our loyal readers this year. We are grateful
Emails
Editorial: editor@islandsbusiness.com for your support. 2021 has been difficult and challenging year for many. For
Subscriptions: subs@islandsbusiness.com those who have lost family and friends to COVID-19, we mourn with you. We
Advertising: marketing@islandsbusiness.com hope the end of this year brings you time to reflect, renew and begin 2022 with
energy and optimism.

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