NEWSROOM: 24 June - 30 June 2007

Pacific Islands Environment Conference
30 June 2007 - Source: SPREP Media Release

Samoa is currently pioneering a cost effective and environmentally superior landfill technology with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environmental Programme and JICA assistance. Mark Ricketts the Solid Waste Officer with SPREP believes this methodology would suit the small islands and towns of the Pacific. A presentation on the opportunities this system presents was made at the San Francisco based 9th region of the US EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), which held a biennial conference for US affiliated countries and territories in Pago Pago in June.

“The current costs and impacts of major landfills in the Pacific is not an efficient way to apportion the environmental budget. SPREP and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas will be discussing the possibility of introducing this groundbreaking technology on the island of Tinian. If the US EPA accepts this methodology, there is a real chance to up-grade the open dumps of the Pacific for a fraction of the cost previously thought necessary,” said Ricketts.

Waste minimization was just one of the issues considered at the conference, delegates also heard reports on issues of financing environmental management, greenhouse gas mitigation, catchment management and bio-diesel.

Recent changes to bio-diesel standards may enable the use of coconut oil as a raw material for the fuel. Bio-diesel made from coconut oil has enormous implications for the Pacific to use the declining coconut plantations for self-generated fuel. Delegates considered it could help reduce the balance of payment problems from increasing fuel costs as well as re-vitalise this resource in most Pacific countries. The employment opportunities for those in the rural pacific areas could prove significant, along with the fact that bio-diesel has much less pollution and health impacts as well.

Focusing on health impacts, America Samoa has successfully tackled the Pacific-wide issue of pig wastes. An extensive public education campaign took place before a series of inspections of all piggeries in the territory. According to regulations, all piggeries had to have installed an approved waste disposal method and also to have moved more than 50 ft (18m) away from a creek. It is hoped this will reduce the incidence of leptospirosis, a bacterial infection that has brought death on the island in the last few years. The public awareness campaign was essential to public support and eventual success of the project.

Other Pacific island countries with success stories include Guam and Kiribati. Used car and car products such as tyres remain a problem for all islands. Processing is expensive and some countries like Guam are introducing a recycling levy to be included with the purchase price. This will fund the subsidy needed to collect, process and recycle these difficult wastes. Guam is following Kiribati’s successful application of this method for other recyclables like cans and plastic bottles also.

It is forecast the next conference will be held in 2009 in Saipan in the Northern Pacific. Next year the directors of various EPA’s throughout the Pacific will meet in Hawaii.

For further details please contact Mark Ricketts
e-mail markr@sprep.org
Phone (685) 21929
Fax (685) 20231
 

Samoa non-government organizations consulted over new land bill
29 June 2007 - Source: SUNGO - Press Release

Samoa's umbrella for non-government organizations or SUNGO in collaboration with the local government this week coordinated a one day consultation for civil society, on the Land Titles Registration Bill 2007.

The consultation aimed to provide a better understanding of the present Land Law vs. proposed Land Titles Registration Bill 2007, in order to provide sound recommendations to the government on a best way forward for Samoa.

SUNGO says it also aims to assess the possible social, economic, environmental and cultural impacts on society and its people.
 

Young Entrepreneurs brush up on Retail Skills
28 June 2007 - Source: Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development

A workshop was conducted for young entrepreneurs interested in strengthening their entrepreneurial and managerial skills. The Young Entrepreneurs' Retail Skill Training Workshop was held from 25-29 June at the FAO Conference Room in Apia. More than 20 young people participated. The opening ceremony kick started the workshop on Monday 25 June.

The Workshop is an initiative made possible through partnership amongst the Talavou Programme of the SPEC, UNDP and Pacific Sub Regional Center, the AVIDAM Group (the Body Shop and Accessories in Australia) and the Commonwealth Youth Programme South Pacific Center. This partnership aims to develop youth entrepreneurship in the Pacific.

The workshop was conducted by senior executives and retail shop managers from the Body Shop and Accessories in Australia. These represent two of the most successful retail brands in the world. In addition, resource trainers from the Commonwealth Youth Programme, UNDP Pacific Sub Regional Center and Samoa's Small Business Enterprise Center will provide the Pacific and Samoan perspective during the workshop.

The Young Entrepreneurs' Retail Skills Training Workshop is one of the best-resourced business training systems available in the region. The workshop will provide hands on learning in a fun environment and participants will have the opportunity to learn from their well-known business advisors. The workshop will look at teaching participants techniques on how to improve sales, increase and keep customers, learn how to plan cash flow and expand business networks.

The workshop is one of Samoa's joint youth programmes aimed at development and enhancing entrepreneurial skills of young people. It is the hope of the Talavou Programme that the workshop will be an opportunity for young people to further establish themselves in the business arena and increase their capacity as young entrepreneurs. This should also address  the government's attempts to implement the millennium development goals, especially MDGs 1 on Poverty Reduction.
 

Health professionals benefit from up-skilling opportunity
27 June 2007 - Source: eventpolynesia.com

There were happy faces all around at the graduation ceremony of senior and middle level management personnel of the Samoa Health Department last Friday to 22 June. They have good reason as 47 of them graduated with Diplomas in Business Management.

The graduates will be the future managers of Samoa's Health Services both in the public and private health sectors. The graduates were managers from both the National Health Department and the privately run Medcen Hospital.

The course will raise the level of management and administration expertise within the Health Sector.

The Diploma Programme in Business Management took 12 months to complete and was a joint programme between the Health Department and the Australian High Commission in Samoa.

The main objective was to provided up-skilling and reconditioning to the management skills of the medical staff across the board, including doctors, nurses and middle and senior level managers.

Reverend Oka Fauolo conducted the sermon to open the graduation programme, while prime minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi gave the keynote address. Tuilaepa thanked the Australian High Commissioner, Matt Anderson, for the opportunity provided with this educational collaboration between his government and the Health sector, which is assisting public sector development in Samoa.

The 47 health professionals that received diplomas included:

Te'o Taito Aliifaalogo Faitele
Maria Ah Dar
Gaugau Mateo Ah Tong
Violet Aita
Darrel Anesi
Leviti Ilaoa Auvaa
Belford James Faaogaina
Kassanda Betham
Faalagilagi Polataivao Dean
Sina Georgina Faaiuga
Sara Asi Faletoese
Dr Farah Fatupaito
Dr Sale Fau
Sara Fautua Filemu
Lemalu Dr Limbo Fiu
Lepaitai Hansel
Dr Letupu Hunt
Dr Sina Ioapo
Tamara Nimarota
Vaomalo Kini
Dr Peniamina Jr Leavai
Siatua Loau
Dr Francis Maru
Gaualofa Matavalea
Remanusina Francine Maua
Andrew Peteru
Dr Monalisa Punivalu
Christine Quested
Tavita Simi
Maatasesa Samuelu
June Scanlan Lui
Ualesi Falefa Siliva
Terenia Simanu
Lemalu Dr Penehuro Tapelu
Manufeao Lameko Tesimale
Moananu Joe Taulapapa
Tagaloa Dr Rorbert Thomsen
Dr Loloma Toelupe Vaitoa Fonoti
Penetekoso Tomane
Sosefina Tepora Talauta
Tulai Tupe
Asomaliu Misi Tupuola
Rube Simeona
Kennedy Vaigafa
Galuafi Vaoga
Lydwina Voight
Apineru Peniamina Wright.
 

Lotopa-Vailoa road and bridge will relieve traffic congestion
26 June 2007 - Source: eventpolynesia.com

A new road and bridge connecting the neighbouring villages of Lotopa and Vailoa, on the outskirts of Apia, has been opened by the government. Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi gave the keynote address at the official unveiling this week.

A sermon delivered at the opening to bless the new structures, compared a completed task to the tree of life, from a Samoan perspective.

Tuilaepa reminded the gathering that the opening of the Lotopa-Vailoa road and bridge was part of a major Government road project, upgrading the 5-mile vicinity around the Apia township ahead of the 13th South Pacific Games in August. Other projects to be completed include the Lepea, Vaimoso and Lalovaea bridges and roadworks which will be opened soon.

The elders and leaders of Vailoa thanked Government and reminded them of the past when hooligan Lotopa youth used to throw rocks across the river. But now both villages are joined by a bridge. In saying that, the elders ensured all that this new road and bride will help bring the two village peoples together as one without any more arguments and brawls between youth across the river.

The Minister of Infrastructure and Works, Tuisugaletaua Sofara Aveau, stated in his project and costing report that it took approximately four months to build at a cost of SAT$393,000.

The new Lotopa-Vailoa road and bridge junction will help alleviate the traffic coming to Apia from Faleata through Lotopa and Lepea and vice versa. It will help take away a lot of the traffic through Lepea from the Airport Road coming into Apia besides the expected games traffic to and from Apia from the East and West of the Faleata Sports Complex.
 

Business Of The Week: Samoa Rugby Union
25 June 2007 - Source: SRU Press Release

Samoa defeated Fiji 24-10 to win the first Tahiti Nui Sevens Pacific Rugby Tournament after eliminating the Cook Islands 33-0 in one semi final match, while Fiji eliminated Niue 39-7 in the other semi-final.

The eight overall teams in the two day tournament were 1) Samoa, 2) Fiji, 3) Niue, 4) Cook Islands, 5) New Zealand, 6) Tonga, 7) Tahiti and 8) Tahiti Barbarians.

This is a great achievement for the boys as the team is made up of new players apart from Alatasi Tupou and Morgan Salesa. The 7s management had decided to give these boys some exposure and what better way to reward the management with winning the overall tournament.

The team is scheduled to arrive back in Apia on Sunday, 1 July 2007, 2.30pm.

The Samoan team:

1. Misioka Timoteo
2. Falealili Afamasaga
3. Meki Purcell
4. Joe Siatuu
5. Iosefo Laupola
6. Reupena Vaeagi
7. Lagolasi Fonoti
8. Tom Iosefo
9. Sitiveni Siaosi
10. Fanuafou Tofi
11. Alatasi Tupou
12. Emile Morgan Salesa
13. Rudolf Moors – Manager
14. Titimaea Tafua – Coach
 

Person Of The Week: Lagi Keresoma
24 June 2007 - Source: eventpolynesia.com

Last week, Ms. Lagi Keresoma took up new employment after two and a half years of being the Samoa senior reporter for Event Polynesia.

"Lagi is an intelligent and determined journalist and photographer. We've had a lot of emails regarding Lagi's excellent news coverage and photos," said Managing Director Teleiai Su'a Edwin Puni.

Lagi joined Event Polynesia from Le Samoa newspaper of Talamua Media & Publications Ltd, owner of the website: www.talamua.com

Ms. Keresoma is a well sought after reporter with a colorful career that started with the Samoana Newspaper.

Recently she has been a regular contributor to other media such as Le Samoa Post, Le Samoa newspaper, Samoa Newsline and Le Foafoa newspaper.

International media such as Radio New Zealand and Television New Zealand have also engaged Ms. Keresoma in the past.

Currently, Lagi is the vice president of the Journalist Association of (Western) Samoa.
 

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