Search results

Since independence, Pacific Island Countries (PICs) have remained heavily dependent on industrialized countries for their economic survival. PICs suffer from many disadvantages: a rising sea level, the tyranny of distance, a poor resource base, etc. Unequal political, economic and human resource capacities prevent PICs dealing on equal terms with their bilateral and multilateral counterparts. These have contributed to some PICs becoming ‘failed states’. Australia and New Zealand are addressing these issues in cooperation with PIC leadership. However, everything is not bleak in the long‐run. Technology has started opening up avenues to harvest chemical, food and mineral resources from the sea. A group approach is required to take advantage of benefits of emerging opportunities, lest others will outmaneuver them: there is no short cut.

Good governance and administrative reform issues now form an integral part of the development debate. Multilateral agencies (e.g. World Bank, UN) and bilateral donors insist that issues such as market accessibility, competition, human rights, financial accountability are integral parts of this debate. The South Pacific Island countries cannot divorce themselves from the overall thrust of these issues. The paper argues that their geography, unique socioeconomic features and global political situation must determine their reform agenda. Issues which are appropriate for other countries may not necessarily be the best option for them. These unique features (e.g. tribal nature of their societies, existence of non‐monetised economy, little on‐shore natural resources in many countries, small size of their domestic economies, locational disadvantages) should determine their reform strategy. Failure to do so would not provide them with an administrative structure suitable for their sustainable development needs. They must not blindly follow reform agenda of other countries.

States that the health of a population is determined by different socio‐economic, locational and cultural factors in society. Uses Bangladesh as a case study, showing how its health is affected by factors such as economics, food and nutrition, social factors, political issues, environmental issues, healthcare facilities and international issues. Concludes that the health of this nation is in a dismal state, with a population victim to food shortages, limited income and little healthcare access.