NEWSROOM: 27 January - 09 February 2007

Australia scraps Pacific Solution
09 February 2008 - Source: Radio Netherlands

Australia has scrapped its controversial policy of sending asylum seekers to remote Pacific islands. The last group of 21 Sri Lankan asylum seekers has been brought back to Australia from a camp on the Pacific island state of Nauru.

The so-called Pacific Solution policy was introduced in 2001 by former Prime Minister John Howard in an attempt to make Australia less attractive to growing numbers of boat refugees. Detention centres were established in Nauru and on the island of Manus in Papua New Guinea. Human rights organisations argued that the policy violated international agreements.

The dismantling of the detention centres honours an election promise made by the new Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. However, Canberra says it will maintain a strict asylum seekers policy. The recently opened detention centre on Australia's remote Christmas Island will not be closed.
 

Vanuatu questions Australian over alleged scam
07 February 2008 - Source: ABC Radio Australia

An Australian man has been cleared of involvement in an alleged investment scam authorities believe was aimed at Vanuatu's government.

Trevor Bettet, was questioned by Vanuatu police last week, but has been allowed to return to Australia and no charges will be laid.

Two other foreign nationals, an American and a Briton, have also left the country.

Vanuatu authorities say it is unlikely the pair will be charged, as the alleged plot was in its very early stages when detected.

Trevor Bettet has told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat program the $US10 billion proposal offered to the Vanuatu government is genuine.

Mr Bettet says he works for a Thailand-based firm, which represents a Chinese national known only as "The Doctor", who controls most of the world's wealth.

He says a lot of money is being offered to Pacific islands, Australia and other countries for humanitarian purposes, and to cut their greenhouse gas emissions.

"It is a legitimate deal," he said.

"It is a legitimate offer not only to Vanuatu but it is an offer that has been made to 14 other little countries and islands in the Pacific, as well as Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea."
 

Australia-Pacific Technical College Up and Running in Samoa
05 February 2008 - Source: AusAID

More than 50 students have begun classes at the new Australia-Pacific Technical College (APTC) in Samoa.

Students from Tonga, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Nauru, Kiribati and Papua New Guinea have joined their Samoan classmates at the new campus in Apia.

The Australian Government is funding the four-year A$150 million APTC initiative to address critical skill needs and contribute to growth in the Pacific. The APTC is offering training for Pacific Islanders in tourism, cookery, hospitality, automotive, construction, electrical and manufacturing trades.

Visiting Australian Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance, Bob McMullan, and Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs, Duncan Kerr, today met new students at the APTC training centre at the National University of Samoa.

'The Samoan students are among more than 350 students from around the Pacific starting classes at the four APTC campuses in Samoa, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu,' Mr McMullan said.

'Through the APTC, Pacific Island students have the opportunity to gain internationally recognised Australian qualifications.'

Mr Kerr said students would improve skills and job prospects and contribute to the economic development in the region.

'The Australia-Pacific Technical College provides a pathway to skills and prosperity,' Mr Kerr said. 'It is both practical and symbolic of our close relationship with the nations of the Pacific.'

The APTC started in July last year with its first courses in hospitality in Vanuatu.

Students from around the Pacific also have the opportunity to access the APTC through a scholarship program. Around 150 scholarships have already been awarded to students commencing training this year.

The APTC is working with Pacific Island governments, education institutions and business to ensure graduates are skilled to meet employment needs in the region.
 

Ten Samoan boxing pioneers receive honorary awards
03 February 2008 - Source: eventpolynesia.com

Ten recipients of the Samoa International Pro-Am Boxing Honorary Awards were presented their awards at the Pre-fight Cocktail on Friday 1st February 2008.

According to Mr. Teleiai Su’a Edwin Puni, Managing Director of Event Polynesia, “It is fitting that the pioneers of Samoa boxing are honoured at the inaugural Samoa International Pro-Am Boxing event for their service in boxing. This weekend Samoa will not only host representatives from the four main world boxing bodies, but will make boxing history with local referee and judges officiating the WBO Oriental Cruiserweight title.”

“Contrary to what most think, it is very hard to raise funds in Samoa to promote boxing and especially to stage international fights here. This is the first and very likely to be the last time Event Polynesia Boxing will bring such an international boxing gathering here to Samoa.”

“Event Polynesia Boxing is committed to promoting Samoan boxers. However, the international title fights will have to be in Auckland where we stage our New Zealand fights because of the huge expenses that we incur to bring such events to Samoa.”

Mr. Puni and boxing officials made a courtesy call to personally thank the Prime Minister, Hon. Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi and to thank the Samoa Government for the financial assistance towards the amateur expenses of this event.

Mr. Reginald Leca, President of Oceania Boxing Association and representative for PABA and WBA at a media conference yesterday, compared Samoa to Cuba as a force in world boxing. But unlike Cuba, Samoa needs to move its amateur boxers to professional boxing earlier rather than very late as is the case with Maselino Masoe.

“This requires amateur boxing to work together with professional boxing in Samoa in association with promoters such as Event Polynesia Boxing, who are helping Samoan professional boxers to get ranking for title fights.”

The 10 recipients of the Samoa International Pro-Am Boxing Honorary Awards are:
Hon Peter Paul – Promoter, Hon Sala Ulugia Suivai – Promoter / Coach,
Savaiinaea Malo Slade – Boxer / Trainer / Coach,
Oscar Meredith – Trainer / Coach,
Hon Fa’asootauloa Sam Saili – Promoter,
Galumalemana Afeleti Betham – Trainer / Coach / Promoter,
Hon Polataivao Fosi Schmidt – Boxer / Promoter / Coach,
Lesa Eric Fatupaito – Trainer / Coach,
Maposua Rudolf Keil – Promoter, and
Ulugia Elijah Stanley – Promoter

Photo #1: Mr. Tuilagi Maiava Saipele Esera (Event Polynesia Boxing) with Mr. Lincoln Hudson, Mr. Lawrence Tauasa and Mr. Ale Vena Ale (South Pacific Boxing Incorporated).

Photo #2: Mr. Reginald Leca and Mr. Charles Baou with Mr. Teleiai Su’a Edwin Puni (Event Polynesia Boxing).

Photo #3: Mr. Walter Pupu’a and Mr. Lawrence Tauasa with Mrs Suia Talosaga (Event Polynesia Boxing).
 

Australia will need to reconsider Pacific guestworkers: World Bank
01 February 2008 - Source: ABC Radio Australia

The World Bank says it is only a matter of time before Australia will be forced to reconsider a Pacific Islands guest worker scheme.

Australia has again ruled out such a scheme, following yet another call for its introduction, this time from Solomon Islands Prime Minister Derek Sikua.

The scheme, which was previously ruled out by the Howard government, has again been dismissed by the new Rudd government for the time being.

But Manjula Luthria, a senior economist with the World Bank, has told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat program an ageing population means Australia will need to consider their position in the future.

"For Australia...the bottom line is that there are worker shortages now for labour intensive jobs, but not too far down the road...the population does age, the workers coming into the workforce begin to dwindle off and the demand for labour intensive services is going to go up way more than the supply is, and that's going to create a real crisis."
 

Australia helps Samoa cope with climate change
30 January 2008 - Source: Radio New Zealand International

Samoa is getting just over 350 thousand US dollars over the next two years from the government of Australia to support community environmental activities to address the impacts of climate change.

The financial aid will be channeled through the United Nations Development Programme or UNDP global environment facility small grants programme.

The agreement was signed by the UNDP head in Samoa and the Australian High Commissioner.
 

Australian PM turns down Pacific guest workers
28 January 2008 - Source: ABC Radio Australia

Australian prime minister, Kevin Rudd, has turned down a call to use Pacific Islanders as guest workers to help ease labour shortages in Australia.

The call has come directly from the new Solomon Islands prime minister, Derek Sikua.

Pacific Island nations have long wanted the Australian government to offer guest worker visas, hoping they would return their wages to their home nations and boost local economies.

The Pacific News Service reports that while Dr Sikua was in Australia last week he pressed Mr Rudd to reconsider creating a seasonal work permit programme.

The Rudd government has reaffirmed that it does not have plans at this stage for a new guest worker system.
 

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