NEWSPAGE 12 March
2010

(Photos: Department of Labour)

(Photo: OSM Consultants Ltd.)

SAMOA: Relay for Life - running for a great cause
Source: OSM Consultants Ltd. Press Release

Tonight, the capital will come alive with the sights and sounds of the Cancer Society Relay for Life.

It’s the first time that this major international event will be held in Samoa.

From 6pm until midnight, athletes will be braving the Apian winds and cold to run the race.
A makeshift athletics track will be erected around the Government building at Eleele-Fou, the equivalent of a 400m track.

Organised by the Cancer Society of Samoa, the Ministry of Health, the Cancer Society of Porirua and OneLook Communications, the Relay for Life is primarily an awareness operation.

“We hope that it is through events such as the Relay for Life that we can raise awareness amongst our people about cancer. But more importantly, raise awareness about good health and the need to have regular checkups on our health”, said Vaitimu Darryl Clarke, President of the Samoa Cancer Society.

Highlights of the event include a lap of honour at the beginning of the opening service at 6pm. Invitations have already been sent out to dignitaries, Cabinet Ministers and Members of Parliament as well as cancer survivors and their caretakers to take part in this lap of honour.

This is in honour of all those who have lost their lives to cancer, and all those who are still battling with the disease.

This event is held in conjunction with Relays for Life in other parts of the world such as Brisbane, Japan and the Porirua area in New Zealand.

This means that local runners will be running at approximately the same time that relay runners from these other parts of the world will be doing the same race. Teams of 10 will run the relay all throughout the night.

A number of teams have now registered for the relay. They range from workplace teams to sports teams, family teams and others.

“We are hoping for a strong turnout on Friday night to support the fight against cancer and to remember all those who have lost their lives due to this disease, as well as all the survivors”, said Vaitimu.

“This is ultimately about remembering all those who have suffered and are still living with cancer. It’s a time to think about how we can help them”.

It promises to be a fun-filled evening of activities.

Booths will be erected around the track, offering services such as blood and sugar level checks.
Entertainment throughout the night will be provided by Fresh Productions.

Local and overseas media are expected to provide coverage for the event.
 

AUSTRALIA: Australian and Samoan writers make Commonwealth Writers’ Prize finals
Source: Commonwealth Foundation Press Release

After months of anticipation, the winners for best book and first best book from the South East Asia and Pacific region have been announced and will now go through to the final stage of the 2010 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize in April.

Internationally recognized for propelling authors into the literary spotlight, the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize offers an exceptional opportunity for new writers to demonstrate their talent and for authors already on the literary scene to enhance their reputation. Next month Samoan writer Albert Wendt, with his book The Adventures of Vela and Glenda Guest from Australia for her book Siddon Rock will go head-to head with regional winners from Africa, Caribbean and Canada and South Asia and Europe to compete for global prizes for best book and best first book.

In its 24th year, the critically acclaimed Commonwealth Writers’ Prize has a strong track record of discovering new international stars. The winners of Best First Book and Best Book from South East Asia and Pacific will join some of the biggest names in fiction to have been recognised by the Prize, including Peter Carey and Lloyd Jones.

Presented by the Commonwealth Foundation with support from the Macquarie Group Foundation, the Prize’s final programme, starting on 7 April in Delhi, India will bring together the finalists from the different regions of the Commonwealth, and the two overall winners will be announced there on 12 April.

Commenting today, The Director of the Commonwealth Foundation, Mark Collins, said:

“The level of entries this year has been absolutely outstanding and the competition is fierce. I would like to congratulate Albert Wendt and Glenda Guest in getting through to the final stage and I look forward to welcoming them to India. Once again, the Prize is identifying the best of Commonwealth fiction written in English and in doing so, spotting rising talent and creating new literary heroes from the Commonwealth. Taken as a whole, the eight winning books - from Australia, Canada, Nigeria, Pakistan, Samoa, South Africa and the UK - are reaching out to readers across all cultures. These compelling works that have reached the final stage offer strong insight, spirit and voice about the incredible diversity, history and life of the Commonwealth.”

David Clarke, Chairman of the Macquarie Group Foundation, the main sponsor of the Prize, added:

"The Commonwealth Writer's Prize is unique in giving a voice to authors who throw light on evolving social realities. The Macquarie Group Foundation is delighted to be part of recognising this new literary talent from around the world, and to help support young writers."

Regional Chair Dr Anne Brewster said:

”Glenda Guest’s Siddon Rock takes us into the heart of rural Australia. The fable-like quality of this story captures the laconic mannerisms of Australian rural life and gestures to the styles of the tall tale and bush yarn. In Siddon Rock we revisit the myth of the white child lost in the bush with chilling freshness. The novel achieves great narrative momentum and emotional power which concludes in modest but assured optimism.

”Albert Wendt’s epic verse novel The Adventures of Vela is an exhilarating read. It follows the tumultuous journeys of the ancient human, Vela, as he chronicles the life of Nafanua, the Samoan goddess of war exiled since the colonial invasion of the Samoan islands. Wendt draws upon the immense resources and creative heritage of Samoan cultural memory and spirituality which he combines with a stinging critique of the various institutions of colonisation. Rage, despair, ribald humour and passionate, creative reflection and regeneration proliferate through these pages. Wendt reshapes the verse novel into a hybrid form, intercalated with traditional Samoan practices of orature, song and storytelling, and with contemporary styles of rock music and hip hop. What kind of relationship can contemporary humans have with this formidable creature? This is one of the many questions that this novel addresses in the course of this deeply-engaging story.”

For information on all eight regional Best Book and Best First Book winners, please visit our website http://www.commonwealthfoundation.com
 

(Photos: Office of Congressman Faleomavaega)

USA: Faleomavaega hosts Close Up students from American Samoa
Source: Office of Congressman Faleomavaega Press Release

Congressman Faleomavaega recently hosted 16 students and 5 teachers from American Samoa during their stay in Washington, D.C. for the Close Up program last week. This year’s group represented the high schools of Fa’asao/Marist, Faga’itua, Kanana Fou, Leone, Manu’a, Nu’uuli Polytechnic, Samoana, and Tafuna.

Their first day with the Congressman began at the brand-new Capitol Visitor’s Center, on Wednesday March 3rd. Honored guests at the first Capitol Hill public viewing of the film Hokule’a - Guiding Star, the students and teachers took their front row seats alongside The Honorable Banny deBrum, Republic of the Marshall Islands Ambassador to the U.S., and Mr. Nikolao Pula, Director of the Office of Insular Affairs at the Department of Interior.

The educational film, brought to Capitol Hill by Congressman Faleomavaega and the Smithsonian Institution, offered the students a cultural perspective of the Polynesian navigators on-board the voyage of the Hawaiian canoe Hokule’a to the island of Rapa Nui. Echoed in the film and throughout their time with the Congressman was the theme of passing on invaluable cultural traditions and insight to younger generations.

After the film the students, dressed in their traditional Samoan puletasi attires, headed directly to the Rayburn House Office Building where they were guests of Chairman Faleomavaega during a hearing of the Foreign Affairs’ Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific and the Global Environment. The hearing focused on the Regional Overview of East Asia and the Pacific. There the students observed witness Kurt Campbell, Assistant Secretary on the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, and his testimony to the Subcommittee.

The next day, the students returned to Capitol Hill for Q & A and lunch with the Congressman as well as a tour of the Capitol. Gathered in the Congressman’s office they went around the room for introductions, sharing their educational interests and plans for the future. Their interests ranged from biology, business, and agriculture to anthropology, math, government and philosophy. Their career goals varied from doctor to engineer. One student shared her goal to major in political science with an emphasis on human rights. Another student shared his plan to study architecture at MIT, while another shared her goal of following her mother’s footsteps to become a pharmacist. From Captain of the soccer team to Student Body President, their various leadership roles and accomplishments reflected their energy and determination to succeed.

Congressman Faleomavaega also fielded questions from the students ranging from healthcare and education in American Samoa, to the war in Afghanistan and immigration policy. The Congressman encouraged the students to always “aim for first place” in their educational pursuits while holding on to their language and respecting their elders - the umbilical chords connecting them to their roots.

Lunch came to a close as the sound of Lo ta nu’u resonated through the halls of the Rayburn House Office Building. The group then began their Capitol tour where they visited the Capitol rotunda and the National Statuary Hall. They also sat in the House Gallery during floor statements in the House Chamber. Finally, the group gathered with the Congressman for a final photo on the steps of the Capitol. The below forty degree temperature outside didn’t stop them from having fun, as they joined Faleomavaega in one more round of singing before their departure to New York City the next morning.

Congressman Faleomavaega expressed his gratitude to the Close Up organizers for continuing to educate American Samoa students through exposure to the nation’s capital. Founded in 1971, Close Up is a nonprofit organization that inspires young people through civic education and gives teachers valuable insights to take back to classrooms nationwide. Using Washington as a living classroom, each program gives students a "close up" personal experience with government and democracy in action.

“I thank our students for continuing to strive for success and representing American Samoa with the utmost excellence. Their inquisitive minds and passion for learning will take them far in their journey. I want their teachers, parents and families to know how proud I am of their accomplishments and goals for the future,” Faleomavaega said.

“I also want to thank Paulo Salave’a, coordinator of the Close Up program in American Samoa, and the high school teachers - Salote Aoelua-Fanene (Faga’itua), Dora Samuelu (Leone), Brenda Aisoli (Samoana), and John Maiava (Tafuna) for the fine work they are doing in our high schools. Lastly I want to thank the Close Up Foundation for hosting the students and allowing our office to be a part of their ‘living classroom’ in Washington,” Faleomavaega concluded.

Note: The students who participated in this year’s Close Up program are listed below.

 

Photo Captions:

Photo 1 - Following the adjournment of the Foreign Affairs’ Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and the Global Environment hearing, Chairman Faleomavaega is joined on the dais by the Close Up students and teachers.

Photo 2 - Faleomavaega and the Close Up students and teachers on the steps of the Capitol.
 

(Photo: Vanuatu Daily Post)

VANUATU: Course endorses ‘Melanesian Council of Chiefs’ initiative
Source: Vanuatu Daily Post

An important familiarisation course for the representatives of Honiara Municipal Council and chiefs of Honiara organised by the members of Port Vila Community Council of Chiefs and Ministry of Justice in the Peace Embassy, went without much publicity last December.

However one of the resolutions they put forward to the Government was a unanimous call for the Ministry responsible to recommend to the next Melanesian Spearhead Group to discuss the importance of having a Melanesian Council of Chiefs to deal with the traditional affairs of member countries.

The idea was initiated by the Mayor of Honiara who is the former manager of the once famous Le Flamingo Night Club in Port Vila.

No doubt the Solomon Islander who is reported to be married to a woman from East Ambae, might have observed the important role that custom chiefs played in the lives of people in Vanuatu and believed his people would benefit from the same cultural system if only they could set up a similar institution for the people of the Solomons in Honiara.

The Spokesman from the Course, Chief Wreath Bule said the Mayor arrived in Port Vila to sign a sister city agreement with the Mayor of Port Vila last August. It was during the trip that he was reported to have first discussed the need to organise a course to familiarise the chiefs of the Solomons on the roles of chiefs in Port Vila. Bule said a Melanesian Council of Chiefs could meet before or during or after the Melanesian Arts Festival.

Then Director General of Justice Joe Ligo also addressed the course and the Minister of Justice closed it.

A representative of West Papua also attended the course.

The course also endorsed the call for the remaining colonised peoples in the world including the people of West Papua, Aceh, Maluku and New Caledonia to be freed from colonial bondage.
 

Photo Caption: Participants of the course.
 

WOLDWIDE: WTO workshop for Forum Island Countries officials
Source: Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Press Release

The move towards strengthening regional capacity in World Trade Organization (WTO) General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) and services negotiations took another step forward with the conclusion of a three-day workshop held in Nadi, Fiji from 8 -10 March 2010.

The workshop, jointly organized by the WTO and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, was attended by trade officials from the Forum Island Countries (FICs). It was conducted by WTO Secretariat trade in services experts with regional speakers invited from the University of the South Pacific and Institute of International Trade at the University of Adelaide, Australia.

According to the Secretary General of the Forum Secretariat, Tuiloma Neroni Slade, “the workshop was very timely and provided an opportunity for the FICs to familiarize themselves with Trade in Services negotiations as well as associated technical aspects of the trade in services negotiations.”

The workshop informed trade policy makers and negotiators about issues related to services trade under different modes of supply, the interpretation of individual GATS provisions and developments in the on-going services negotiations. It also covered techniques used in the scheduling of specific commitments under the GATS,” Mr Slade added.

“As is common among Small Island States, policy makers in our region are faced with limited capacity and a diverse set of development priorities and challenges, amidst the multiple and increasingly complex negotiations on trade in services liberalization,” said Mr Slade.

Mr Aik Hoe Lim from the WTO agreed that “services component of FIC economies, for both developing and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) is gaining importance in terms of its contribution to employment, enhancing competitiveness and foreign exchange earnings.”

“As such,” Mr Lim said, “the GATS will have implications for the development and growth prospects of the Pacific region through its impact on poverty reduction, human development, including gender, as well as for attainment of regional integration on the whole.”

Mr Dale Honeck from the WTO highlighted the careful balances built into the GATS structure for example between protecting the trade interests of domestic and foreign services suppliers, and guaranteeing that the governments retained the essential rights to regulate.

The skills acquired through this workshop would assist those FICs that are engaged with the WTO to fulfill their respective WTO trade in services obligations and clarify issues related to WTO accession negotiations. It will also develop FICs capacity with respect to trade in services related engagement in the context of the Pacific Island Countries Trade Agreement (PICTA), Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relation (PACER) Plus negotiations.