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(Photos:
New Zealand Defence Force) |
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NEW ZEALAND: NZ Defence Force return from Cook
Islands assistance mission
The New Zealand Defence Force left the Cook
Islands Monday after two weeks of providing
disaster relief in the wake of Tropical Cyclone
Pat which struck the tiny island with
devastating effect just over two weeks ago. The
effects of Cyclone Pat were compounded by
Tropical Depression 11F and Tropical Cyclone
Sarah.
Over 47 personnel from the Royal New Zealand Air
Force (RNZAF) and the NZ Army were deployed in
support of "Operation Cook Island Assist" during
the two week period.
An Air Force C130 Hercules aircraft of No 40
Squadron arrived in Rarotonga during the late
hours of 14 Feb 2010 and began airlift
operations to Aitutaki on 15 Feb 2010. The Air
Force completed four flights to Aitutaki
delivering approx 89,000lbs of aid to the
island. The range of aid included a water
purification plant, two bobcat diggers,
emergency shelters and tents, water containers,
food stuffs, blankets and electrical cabling.
"It was unbelievable when we saw the devastation
to Aitutaki on our first flight in. Debris
strewn throughout the island, houses completely
destroyed, most with their roofs and walls gone"
said the aircraft captain Flight Lieutenant Matt
Walls.
Twelve NZ Army Engineers were also deployed to
Aitutaki. The Light engineering team consisted
of a range of tradesmen including electricians,
a carpenter, plumber, heavy plant operators and
field engineers. Their aim was to assist in the
construct of emergency shelters, assist local
authorities with the restoration of power and
fresh drinking water in addition to completing
essential repairs to the Araura School, the
largest school on the island.
"The locals have been fantastic since we
arrived. Even though they have been though the
cyclone and most have lost everything they have
been offering us food etc. The main power and
water supplies are now almost back to 100%. A
container ship offloaded more food stuffs and
people at least have a shelter above their
heads. It’s good to see they haven't waited for
aid to come to them, they started the clean up
the day after the cyclone hit and progress has
been great" said SGT Glen Abbott NZ Army.
A second Hercules was sent to the Cook Islands
after Tropical Depression 11F struck the island
of Penrhyn in the northern Cook Islands group.
While the damage was less significant than on
Aitutaki, many homes lost theirs roofs including
the school and some government buildings. The
Hercules completed one aid flight to Penrhyn
including emergency shelters, water containers,
kitchen kits and food stuffs for the island.
This Hercules also spent approx two hours in the
air early Sunday morning during the Tsunami
Alert. They patrolled the coastline and provided
early warning of any changes to the sea state.
"It’s been a pretty busy few weeks for the NZDF
Team here in the Cooks. In addition to providing
aid, both the Aitutaki and Penrhyn team has been
on alert for both Cyclone Sarah and the Tsunami
on Sunday. We've been working closely with the
NZ High Commission, NZAID, the Red Cross and
local agencies to focus our efforts and I
believe we are now past the emergency relief
phase. The Cook Islands government has already
begun work on the long term recovery plan so it
all bodes well" said Squadron Leader Kavae
Tamariki, Senior National Officer for Operation
Cook Island Assist.
The NZDF personnel arrived back at Ohakea Air
Force Base late Monday night.
Photo Captions:
Photo 1 - Air Force C130 Hercules
delivers another load of aid to Aitutaki Island
during Operation Cook Island Assist.
Photo 2 - Power Transformer and
electrical cabling being offloaded during
Operation Cook Island Assist.
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(Photo:
Electric Power Corporation) |
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SAMOA: Adjustment to Electricity Base Tariff
rate announced
Source:
Electric Power
Corporation Press Release
The Cabinet has approved an additional
8.5% increase to the base tariff rate, effective
from 1st March, together with the monthly
adjustment of the fuel surcharge.
Base Tariff
The base tariff rate will increase from 64 sene
to 69 sene for 1-50 units and 76 sene to 82 sene
for 51 units and upwards (domestic users) and
1unit and upwards for non domestic users.
The
base tariff was last adjusted in January 2009.
Fuel Surcharge
The monthly fuel surcharge
applied on the base tariff rate will increase
from 8.37% this month (February) to 8.84% as of
1st March 2010. This is a result of the national
wholesale price increase of diesel effective
this month. The monthly changes in diesel prices
are not applied immediately but have a 1 month
delay in impact.
Total cost per unit (sene)
After taking into consideration the new
adjustments to the base tariff and fuel
surcharge rates, the new total cost per unit (sene)
will be 75 sene for 1-50 units (domestic
consumers) and 89 sene for 51 units and upwards
(domestic consumers) and 1 unit and upwards for
non domestic consumers.
The new electricity
rates will apply to all readable meters read
from this date and include consumption in the
prior months, as well as all cash power
(Prepayment Meters) vouchers purchased from 1st
March 2010.
The Corporation thanks all its
customers for their support.
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(Photos:
David Corrigan / Big Island Video News) |
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HAWAII: Undersea cable strengthens Hawaii,
Tahiti link
Source:
Big Island Video News
It felt like a family reunion between distant
relatives on Ohai’ula, also known as Spencer
Beach, as Hawaii Island welcomed dignitaries
from Tahiti and a new submarine cable linking
the two countries on Monday.
The 3,107 miles of undersea fibre optic cable,
the first of its kind to connect the United
states and French Polynesia, will allow Tahiti
to access high speed internet. Officials hope it
will dramatically improve communication services
throughout all the islands of French Polynesia,
(Bora Bora, Raiatea, Huahine, Moorea and Tahiti)
allowing more affordable international broadband
internet connectivity.
The cable has been named Honotua. “Hono
translates to ‘link’ and Tua translates to
‘backbone, horizon at sea,’” says Francois
Voirin, Chairman of the Board of Office des
postes et telecommunications, in a media
release. “Hawaiians and Tahitians have
established links through voyaging canoes long
before European explorers. Today, Honotua
reestablishes this connection positioning both
countries for improved communication technology
entirely relevant for the information age.”
Tahiti and Hawaii share a legendary common
ancestry. Although the celebration’s welcoming
ceremony had an international feel, there was an
underlying sense that long lost families were
reconnecting; a connection that is deeper than
the 19,500 feet deep Honotua cable.
Edouard Fritch, vice president of the government
of French Polynesia, Maui’s State Senator Kalani
English, and Mayor Billy Kenoi were among the
dignataries in attendance. Kenoi was presented a
buoy, named Kealakahiki (Hawaiian for “the way
to Tahiti”) that symbolized the end of the cable
project.
The Honotua project began 5 years ago. Cable
laying started November 24, 2009 on the island
of Bora Bora for the domestic link. The
international link started on December 19, 2009.
Over $108 million has been invested in the
project.
Photo Captions: Scenes from the welcoming
ceremony to commemorate the completion of the
submarine Honotua fibre optic cable linking
Hawaii and Tahiti.
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(Photo:
Agence France-Presse) |
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NAURU: Changes to Nauru's constitution rejected
at referendum
Source:
Australia Network News
Nauru has rejected a referendum proposing
changes to the country's constitution.
Saturday's referendum came after six years of
discussion and negotiation, and its supporters
were hoping to end the volatile nature of
Nauruan poltics, which has resulted in 36
changes of government in 42 years.
Nauruans were asked to vote yes or no to 30
constitutional amendments, including giving
themselves the power to vote for the country's
President, removing it from members of
parliament.
Amongst the amendments voted on was proposal
that Naurans would vote for the country's
president, who is currently decided just by
members of parliament.
But two thirds of the voters said no and the
changes will not be adopted.
Photo Caption: Nauru has had 36 changes
of government in 42 years.
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(Photo:
Solomon Islands Football Federation) |
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SOLOMON ISLANDS: Solomons Senior national team
training squad named
Source:
Solomon Islands Football Federation via Oceania
Football Confederation
The list of players selected for the senior
national team training squad for 2010 has been
released by the Solomon Islands Football
Federation (SIFF) Technical Department.
This follows more than a week of trials and a
selection process which followed in Honiara.
The list was finalised in a meeting held by the
Solomon Islands Football Coaches Association (SIFCA)
and the members of the National Team Selection
Panel on Thursday last week.
The original number of 25 players has been
increased to 30 players to provide a buffer in
the case that some players are not able to take
part in matches due to unforeseen circumstances
such as illness.
Selectors are emphasising that the senior
national team training squad is not the final
squad.
“The players named will continuously be
monitored and should they fail the criteria they
will be replaced by players who pass it.
Nobody’s place in the team is guaranteed,”
national team selection program coordinator Noel
Wagapu said.
Selectors are also saying that players who are
based overseas and have not been able to make
the trials are not ruled out. Players like
Benjamin Totori, Richard Anisua and Alick Maemae
were not able to return home to attend the
trials. Test matches later this year may be used
to determine their place in the team.
“Players based overseas who are of a high
quality may still join the team but they have to
compete for spaces with our local players,”
Wagapu said.
With the release of the senior national team
training squad also comes the appointment of the
management team. Former national player and
current KOSSA coach Jacob Moli will be the
national team head coach. His assistant will be
Rex Masuaku.
Both Moli and Masuaku hold Oceania Football
Confederation (OFC) Senior Coaching licences.
The training program for the squad will be
published later this month.
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(Photo:
3 News) |
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TONGA: New Tonga ferry to run from November
Source:
New Zealand Press association via 3 News
Tonga's new inter-island ferry is under
construction in Japan and will start running
from Nuku'alofa in the first week of November.
Naval architect Watanabe Toyonori, consultant
for the Tongan government on the Japanese-funded
project, said that the 53m ferry was being built
at ISB Co Ltd shipyard at the entrance to Tokyo
Bay, the Matangi Tonga newspaper reported.
Mr Toyonori told a press conference that the
construction of the ferry should be completed by
July 6, and then undergo sea trials. He expected
that by September 20 the ferry should be ready
to sail for Tonga.
The new ferry is 4m longer than the old Olovaha,
which became too decrepit to operate safely and
was replaced, briefly, last year by the Princess
Ashika, bought from Fiji. The Princess Ashika
sank on August 5, killing at least 74 people.
The new ferry can carry 400 passengers, 60 more
than the Olovaha and carry 400 tonnes of cargo.
It will have not private cabins but there will
be one big cabin with 28 bunks, and sheltered
areas on deck with seating for passengers.
Meanwhile, the royal commission of inquiry into
the Princess Ashika sinking has finished its
public hearings.
A Scots QC, Lord Ramsay Dalgety, 64, was
arrested outside the inquiry last Friday and is
now under house arrest after being charged with
perjury.
A former director of Scottish Opera, Lord
Dalgety was secretary of the government-owned
Shipping Corporation of Polynesia and twice gave
evidence to the inquiry. Some questions focussed
on his failure to order an independent survey of
a vessel he later admitted was a "rust bucket".
An admiralty law specialist, Lord Dalgety denied
revising a memorandum of agreement for
purchasing the vessel.
"I'm not going to be the fall guy for signing
this contract or agreeing to it," he told the
inquiry.
Other questions were asked about his position as
secretary of the Ocean Pacific Shipping Company,
which he claimed to have given up years ago.
Other evidence at the inquiry showed the company
was 40 percent owned by the ferry company and
that he carried out transactions through its
Tonga-based account in January this year.
Under Tongan law no evidence from the commission
is admissible in a criminal court except
perjury. Lord Dalgety's arrest was the third in
connection with the tragedy.
Lord Dalgety, moved to Tonga in 1991, and in
2008, King George Tupou V made him Lord Dalgety
of Sikotilani Tonga (Lord Dalgety of Scotland),
and he was also appointed chairman of the
judicial committee of the Privy Council.
Lord Dalgety's lawyer, Stanley Afeaki,
complained at the inquiry on Saturday that his
client had been treated in an "outrageous"
manner and the charge "trumped up".
He also accused Australian counsel assisting the
commission, Manuel Varitimos, of providing "a
bundle of information" upon which the perjury
charge was laid. Mr Varitimos is an expert in
Pacific commissions of inquiry and was involved
with the Sandrine Inquiries in Papua New Guinea
in 1997 into the hiring of mercenaries by Sir
Julius Chan's government to quell the rebellion
in Bougainville.
Photo Caption: The Princess Ashika sank
on August 5, killing at least 74 people.
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