Pacific Waves for Wednesday 30 July 2014

3:06 PM.Palau opens Pacific Islands Forum with call for leaders to get to work; Fiji Electoral Commission a 'no show' to panel discussion; NGO says Tonga raising its drinking age is not the solution; Vanuatu… Read more Audio

3:05 PM.A Pacific leaders' summit has begun in Palau with its host calling for leaders to pull up their sleeves and get to work to protect the region's ocean and fisheries. Audio

3:04 PM.Fiji's Electoral Commission was missing from a panel discussion on free and fair elections, despite being invited to attend in Suva on Tuesday. Audio

3:03 PM.A Tonga youth worker says raising the drinking age will have little effect on the country's drinking problem. Audio

5:06 AM.Vanuatu celebrates 34 years of independence; A casino proposed for Tahiti is criticised; Forum leaders asked not to smoke in Palau; New Zealand says big decisions will be made at the Pacific leaders'… Read more Audio

5:05 AM.The Vanuatu Prime Minister says the country's Independence Day today is a good time to reflect how far the nation has come and what needs to be done to make it stronger in the future. Audio

5:04 AM.A journalist in Tahiti says the building of a proposed new casino will do nothing to improve French Polynesia's tourism woes. Audio

5:03 AM.Health authorities on Palau have asked Pacific Island Forum leaders to lead the way and not smoke during this week's summit. Audio