Welkam to Wantoks International

Welcome to you all,

As you will now realise, the Pasifik Wantoks International, is a new media entity that is legally registered in Australia. The name, Pasifik Wantoks, is derived from two English words: Pacific and One Talk. Putting the two words together mean: "One Language, One Community, One People, One Nation and One Region".



My decision to publish under the name, Pasifik Wantoks International, is an attempt to differentiate my identity from other news media outlets and organisations around the Pacific Islands region. The name Pasifik Wantoks is spelled in Solomon Islands Pijin English, which is also similar in Papua New Guinea (PNG)’s Tok Pisin and Vanuatu’s Bislama.

The content of this weblog will be trilingual: Solomon Islands Pijin, English and my mother tongue, Te Langusi a Mungiki. My decision to publish this weblog is the result of my long term commitment to freedom of expression, in a region where freedom of the media is often facing many cultural and traditional challenges in the hybrid communities of the region.

Based on the above background, I decide to take up the challenge, despite my own discomfort and apprehension of dealing with similar challenges that led to my forced evacuation from the Solomon Islands in early 2001.

It is my sincere hope that this forum will provide an avenue where light minded people, especially in the Melanesian Pijin speaking countries and the Pacific Islands region, will participate in debates and discussions of issues and events without fear of being bullied or threaten by crook political leaders and their cronies in government bureaucracy and private sector.

You are welcome to participate in this forum by penning down your name and address as a mark of your seriousness about accountability. Using fake name or pen names – simply to attack contributors – is an indication of people, who’ve no moral and ethical standard.

There's an exception that is professionally and ethically acceptable in journalism under this category so give me a buzz if you are not comfortable. I will love to hear from you.

Aue kia tekoutou katoa (thanks to you one and all)