NEWSPAGE 29 March
2010

(Photos: Del Abcede / Pacific Media Centre)

(Photo: Samoa Government)

SAMOA: Parliamentary Updates
Source: Government Press Secretariat Press Release

Government Internet and Electronic and Mail Acceptable Use Policy

Cabinet has approved the Policy for use of Internet and Electronic Mail by Government Employees submitted by the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology.

This Policy reflects the need for Government to protect its Government owned Computers from being destroyed or damaged by viruses and also the abuse of the use of internet and e-mail in making money (personal affairs) and for personal use. The Policy also specified that the uncontrolled use of internet and e-mail for personal affairs by its employees has inflicted high costs on the Government.

Some of the cost-cutting measures in the Policy include:
• Denying Internet and E-mail access to most employees;
• Accessing Internet for a limited space of time (e’g 1 hr per working day)
• Blocking certain undesirable and non-related websites;
• Installing Software programs to monitor level of user usage.

This Policy requires all Government Organizations and employees to comply with the acceptable use provisions. All Government Organizations subjected to this Policy include:
• All Government Employees,
• All employees working under Consulate Generals and Embassies of Samoa,
• Government Casual Workers, and
• Government Volunteers


Patients approved for treatment in New Zealand

Cabinet has approved referral of thirteen patients for intensive medical treatment in New Zealand.

There are six males and seven females. Patients’ ages vary from 2months old up to seventy two years old. There are different diseases which are affecting these patients, this includes, Congenital left neck cystic mass, Cervical Spine Injury, Cardiac Disease, Large Staghorn Calculus and Brain Tumor.

The Government of Samoa continues its policy of sending patients overseas for treatments if they cannot be treated in Samoa. All costs for these treatments are paid by the Government of Samoa.


Companies awarded contracts for construction of access roads in villages affected by the tsunami

Cabinet has approved Contracts awarded to Companies for the Construction of access roads in villages affected by the tsunami.

Invitations for bids was advertised for Expression of Interest. Applications were given to twelve contractors and only ten companies submitted applications. After assessments of applications by the Sub-Committee, a recommendation was given to the Tenders’ Board for Companies who have satisfied the selected criteria and were able to meet all requirements set for the Bids.

These Companies are mentioned as follows:
 

Government to give Financial Assistance to Fiji

Cabinet has approved financial assistance of FJD$20,000.00 to help the people of Fiji that has been affected by Cyclone Tomas early last week.

Cyclone Tomas has been ranked fourth in the scale of strong cyclones. Tomas devastated most areas of Fiji, especially the Lau and Lovaiti areas who were affected by strong winds of 200 kilometers per hour. According to the reports from Fiji, there has been three (3) confirmed deaths from the disaster, while most houses and other personal properties including plantations were being destroyed.

The Government of Samoa tries its best to lend a helping hand to all countries that are affected by natural disasters especially the Pacific Countries. As other Governments assisted Samoa after being hit by the Tsunami last year, our Government is willing to do the same by donating money to help the victims.


Tourism Marketing Taskforce meets in New Zealand

Cabinet has approved the participation by the Tourism Marketing Taskforce to a meeting in Auckland New Zealand, on March 31 2010.

This meeting will discuss Marketing Programs and Promotions. It will also look into Financial year ending 2009/2010 and beginning of the next Financial year 2010/2011 for Polynesian Blue, Air New Zealand, Air Pacific and the Hotel Association.

This Task Force Committee was established five years ago to discuss ways to promote and share issues concerning the economy of countries where tourists originate from. Participants at the meeting include members of the Tourism Marketing Taskforce, representatives from Airlines and the Hotel Association.

Representative from the Samoa Government include, Deputy Prime Minister, Afioga Misa Telefoni; Samoa Tourism Authority General Manager, Matatamalii Sonja Hunter; and Head of the STA Marketing Team.
 

AMERICAN SAMOA: ASCC institutes energy saving initiatives
Source: American Samoa Community College Press Release

In an effort to gain maximum use from its resources, the American Samoa Community College (ASCC) has recently taken a close look at ways to conserve energy. “With the ongoing world crisis over fuel prices, coupled with advances in technology over recent years, we’ve begun to formulate ways of ‘going green’”, explained Vice President of Administration and Finance Mikaele Etuale. “These changes will take place over time, as we have the means to incorporate them, but for now we’ve taken a very basic step to initiate the energy saving approach.”

The first step in the College’s Energy Conservation Initiative involves a voluntary shut-down of all electrical appliances in offices and classrooms during lunch hour three days a week. While essential services such as the security center, cafeteria, and bookstore remain lit, ASCC faculty and staff now turn off their lights, computers and air conditioners between noon and 1 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday as they take their lunch break on or off campus. “This may seem like a small amount of time to ‘go dark’”, said Etuale, “but from our calculations we anticipate that just those three hours per week, when most of us leave our offices anyway, will result in a substantial savings in our electricity costs.”

Other areas of energy conservation ASCC has looked into include the external lighting maintained for security at night. On a trial basis, the College has replaced one of its traditional “streetlight” type of external lights with a far more energy efficient model, and plans to use the lower energy cost that will result to illustrate the long-term advantage of refitting the whole campus with similar lights. Several faculty members have also begun an informal dialogue with the Territorial Energy Office (TEO) about doing an “energy audit”, in which the energy use of a building or an entire infrastructure undergoes an analysis aimed at increasing efficiency.

“We know that the ‘green movement’ involves a lot of principles new to American Samoa,” said Etuale, “and by taking the initiative at ASCC to make the best use of our energy resources, we hope to set an example that other government agencies will find useful.”
 

(Photo: Cook Islands News)

COOK ISLANDS: New Secretary of Foreign Affairs wants ‘clear’ foreign policies
Source: Cook Islands News

Jim Gosselin officially took up his new post as the new secretary of foreign affairs last week.

Until this month, Mike Mitchell had been acting secretary.

Gosselin, who has been a resident of the Cook Islands for over 30 years, speaks Pukapukan and Rarotongan dialects and has occupied various Cook Islands government posts since 1972. Gosselin was most recently based in Suva, working for the Commonwealth Secretariat as regional trade policy advisor.

Before he filled that position in 2003, he was international legal adviser and international affairs adviser for the Cook Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Immigration for just over 15 years.

Gosselin has plans to update and Cook Islands foreign, trade and immigration policies to fit into a 21st century context.

He did say, though, that the Cook Islands have managed to maintain a favourable position on the international scene, an accomplishment with which most Cook Islanders are not familiar with.

“Despite its size, the Cook Islands has long played a positive role in international decision-making, especially at the regional level,” Gosselin said.

“It has, as an old saying goes, ‘box above its weight’. Unfortunately, this has not been well-known to many in the Cook Islands and we would like to address that problem through a more active information dissemination programme.”

He also intends to focus on staff training and development within the ministry and has pinpointed improving the effectiveness of overseas offices as a priority objective.

He said that another important initiative will be outlining a clear and comprehensive foreign policy.

“The Cook Islands relationship with New Zealand remains a cornerstone of this country’s foreign policy. At the same time, however, the Cook Islands has developed a wide range of other relationships and broadened its participation in numerous regional and global organisations, all with the intention of promoting the Cook Islands’ interests abroad,” he wrote.

A foreign policy, then, should reflect the recent expansion of national foreign interests and should establish government priorities and provide “direction for the future”, Gosselin added.

He intends to promote the country’s participation in international trade in goods and services, which he believes will contribute to “sustainable development, overall economic growth and strengthening of the private sector”.

He promises to encourage trade agreements that will deliver “genuine benefits” to the country - those that allow government to facilitate productive trade and that encourage the private sector to take advantage of it.

Gosselin has a doctorate of philosophy in international law and master’s degrees in international law and socioeconomic anthropology. He is also the father of the current Miss Cook Islands, Engara Gosselin.

He has previously held posts as secretary of external affairs, chairman of the CI tourist authority, secretary of planning and external affairs, chief planning officer, chief electo- ral officer, director of outer island affairs and chief administration officer for Pukapuka and Nassau.

Meanwhile, Mitchell has moved onto his new post as Cook Islands High Commissioner to New Zealand in Wellington.

Photo Caption: New Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Jim Gosselin.
 

(Photo: Fiji Times)

FIJI: Timely backing ensures Fiji will play in Pacific Cup
Source: Fiji Times

Life Insurance Corporation of India (LICI) has rescued Netball Fiji and it will now be part of the Pacific Cup in Cook Islands.

The insurance company gave more than $6000 to clear out the subscription fees owed to the Oceania Netball Federation and Cook Islands Netball Association.

LICI is no stranger to netball in the country after sponsoring the U21 netball team to the World Youth Championship last year. Fiji Netball Association president Milika Munivai said: "it's a great relief, after all this time when the fees were due earlier this month. It's very fortunate and I want to thank to LICI for being grateful coming on board to rescue us".

The national team was given their LICI T-shirts after their training session on Thursday afternoon. Yesterday, at Nehru Memorial Primary School, the national team, led by coach Unaisi Rokoura, conducted a development clinic for young netters.

Munivai said LICI would be the official sponsors for the development program in Suva. "They (LICI) are not only paying for the subscription fees but also our development program and some other gear."

FNA will have to raise $50,000 to cater for their Cook Islands expenditures in June.

"There are few sponsors in line now, I'm positive that we can raise $50,000 which will cover all our accommodation travelling expenses. We're working on it," Munivai said.

"We're just thankful, our sub fee is cleared and now we'll try to focus our attention on the travelling expenses."

The national team will name its final 12-member squad on May 1.

Photo Caption: Some national netball reps with students of Nehru Memorial Primary School and an LICI representative.
 

(Photos: International Rugby Board)

WOLDWIDE: Rampant Samoa win Hong Kong Sevens
Source: International Rugby Board Press Release

Samoa defeated New Zealand 24-21 in the final of a superb Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens to clinch their second title here and their third successive IRB Sevens World Series Cup crown.

In doing so the islanders take a first ever lead in the World Series, three points clear of New Zealand heading into the final two events, in London and Edinburgh in May.

Samoa head the list of countries with 124 points ahead of New Zealand (121), Fiji (94), Australia (78) and England (74).

Hosts Hong Kong delighted the packed 40,000 strong crowd by defeating sporting giants Russia to win the Shield 19-17. Australia beat South Africa in a Plate final for the third time this season and Canada saw off Wales to win the Bowl.

Day three reaction:

Stephen Betham, Samoa coach - Cup winners

"It's indescribable, it tops it all. A different feeling altogether.

"(At 14-0 down) I sent a message onto the guys that as long as we got points before half time we were still in with a chance, and just to keep their cool. Twenty minutes is a long time and I take my hat off to them.

"(Composure) it's something that was missing before in Samoan rugby but we're working on their mental abilities, especially to overcome mental barriers, and we're slowly achieving that.

"We've still got two to go, still a long way to go, but we'll enjoy the win."

DJ Forbes, New Zealand captain - Cup runners-up

"Not taking anything away from Samoa but we've beaten ourselves again. We were just pushing those 50-50s and paid the price.

"It's heart-wrenching. We had some good support here and a good team. No superstars, just a bunch of hard-working grafters and that was probably the pleasing thing.

"We lost a few guys that supporters probably thought we relied on and to show that we fronted up was an awesome feeling for the boys and obviously we'll take that into the next two tourneys."

"They've got that mental edge on us now but Sevens can go any way. We're still in the hunt, that's the main thing, and we've got two more tournaments to front up. It's going to be a long break to make sure we dig deep and come out firing in London and Scotland.

Photo Captions:

Photo 1 - Samoa won their third successive IRB Sevens Cup title of the season to lead the World Series for the first time.

Photo 2 - The magnificent Hong Kong Stadium by night.