SUVA DAILY — 22 March 2026
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Links Vagrancy Act to APEC 2033 Hosting; Fiji Finance Minister Reports 100,000 Skilled Workers Lost to Migration
Fiji Reports 100,000 Skilled Citizens Lost to Overseas Migration
Minister for Finance Esrom Immanuel revealed approximately 100,000 skilled Fijians departed for overseas opportunities, describing exodus as serious national development challenge. Own ministry experiencing workforce shortages from brain drain.
DRIVING THE DAY
SUMMARY: Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James MARAPE announced 21 March plans to expand CCTV surveillance across Port Moresby and introduce tougher penalties for carrying dangerous weapons, Post-Courier reported 22 March, explicitly linking urban safety improvements to the country's ability to host APEC 2033 and National Rugby League matches from 2028 following Parliament's 80-1 passage of the Vagrancy Act championed by National Capital District Governor Powes PARKOP. Fiji Finance Minister Esrom IMMANUEL reported 21 March that Fiji has lost approximately 100,000 skilled citizens to overseas opportunities, describing the scale of migration as a serious challenge for national development and revealing his own ministry was losing staff, The Fiji Times reported 22 March. A flash flood struck a Morobe community early 20 March hitting government staff housing hardest including police houses, health workers' homes and a police station, Post-Courier reported 22 March. Prime Minister Sitiveni RABUKA launched 21 March the Fiji Climate Adaptation Program, supported by a $35 million investment from Australia between 2026 and 2029, to tackle Nadi's vulnerability to devastating floods, The Fiji Times reported 22 March. END SUMMARY.
