NEWSPAGE 19 April
2010

(Photos: eventpolynesia.com)

(Photo: Samoa Government)

SAMOA: Parliamentary Updates
Source: Government Press Secretariat Press Release

Prime Minister to attend the Commemoration of American Samoa’s Flag Day

Cabinet has approved representation by Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and Senior Government Officials of the Government of Samoa to the Commemoration of American Samoa’s Flag Day on 16 - 17 April 2010.

This is an event celebrated every year in the month of April. Programs of the Flag Day include, Fautasi race, Cultural Songs and Dance Competitions. The Don Bosco Boys School and the Samoa Police Brass Band will also be participating in this special event.


The 34th Asia Development Bank Annual Meeting

Cabinet has approved participation by the Samoa Delegation of the 43rd Asia Development Bank annual meeting to be held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan from the 30th April - 5th May 2010.

This annual meeting for member countries of the ADB will discuss the:
• Future of the ADB, its plans and programs for its member countries,
• Opportunities to strengthen communication between registered members and,
• Other important matters in regards to Loans made by countries from the ADB. This includes economics policies and financial issues.

The Samoa Delegation which will be headed by the Hon. Minister of Finance, Nickel Lee Hang includes, Governor of the Central Bank, Leasi Papalii Tommy Scanlan and the ACEO of Finance, Noumea Simi.


MV Lady Filifilia for commercial voyages between Tutuila and Manu’a

Cabinet has approved travel of a Samoa Delegation to American Samoa on the 16th - 18th April 2010 to discuss possible ways for the MV Lady Filifilia to conduct commercial voyages and other shipping services between Tutuila and Manu’a.

American Samoa’s dependency on our boats has prompted the Samoa Shipping Corporation Board of Directors to expand its services to the Tutuila and Manu’a route.

The Corporation is also focusing on establishing a new office in American Samoa, and for one of its ships to be registered and based in the territoty to serve the Tutuila and Manu’a Islands.

Samoa’s delegation include the Minister of Works Transport and Infrastructure, Afioga Tuisugaletaua A. Sofara Aveau; Associate Minister, Afioga Galuvao Sepulona Galuvao and Samoa Shipping Corporation CEO Papalii Willie Nansen.


Workshop on Winning Investment in the Pacific Islands

Cabinet has approved attendance by the Samoa Tourism Authority- Manager, Planning and Development Division, Ms Christina Leala-Gale of the Workshop on Winning Investment in the Pacific Islands to be held in Brisbane Australia on 19 - 22 April 2010.

The meeting is designed for Government officials in the Pacific Islands, working in investment attraction with a particular focus on attracting sustainable tourism investment. The workshop aims at assisting Pacific countries to design and implement sustainable investment promotion strategies in the tourism sector.
 

(Photos: Australia-Pacific Technical College)

AUSTRALIA: APTC Vanuatu welcomes 105 new students
Source: Australia-Pacific Technical College

In welcoming new students to the APTC Vanuatu campus, Mr Nick Cumpston, First Secretary AusAID, encouraged all to make the most of the great opportunity you have been given."

Joining the 118 students already enrolled and continuing courses at the Vanuatu campus, are 105 students drawn from Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Palau and Vanuatu.

The Orientation program included an address by Mrs Adela Aru from the Vanuatu Tourism Office, who gave an overview of tourism industry in Vanuatu, followed by Mrs Delvin Wuti, Senior Inspector, Vanuatu Police Crime and Prosecution Unit, who informed students about police services and security procedures in Vanuatu.

Ms Flora Vano, an ex-student of APTC, shared her experiences with the students, and highlighted how APTC has impacted her life and progressed her career.

The formal presentations were brought to a close by Ms Jan Matheson, APTC Country Manager. After thanking the speakers for sharing their words of wisdom with the students in order to enhance their experience at APTC, Ms Matheson thanked Ronic Joe, APTC Welfare Officer, for all his efforts in organising the Orientation program, which ended with a light morning tea.

Photo Captions:

Photo 1 - APTC Vanuatu Country Manager (back, left) with some of the new students.

Photo 2 - APTC Trainers and students at the Vanuatu Orientation Day.

(Photo: Oceania Football Confederation)

PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Hekari win sets up crucial second-leg final
Source: Oceania Football Confederation Press Release

Papua New Guinea’s Hekari United have stunned Waitakere United 3-0 in the first-leg final of the 2010 O-League at PMRL stadium in Port Moresby on Saturday to set up a crucial return leg at Fred Taylor Park on Sunday 2 May.

Local hero Kema Jack scored a goal in each half while Solomon Islands import Alick Maemae added a third to help Hekari move a step closer to the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2010.

As Papua New Guinea’s first representative in an O-League Final, Hekari stepped up against the two-time champions with a classy display in front of 15,000 partisan supporters while Waitakere struggled in the testing conditions as temperatures rose to 30 degrees.

While the result may come as a surprise to some, Hekari coach Jerry Allen says his side were quietly confident all along.

“We were looking forward to this game because we knew we had done everything we could to prepare,” says Allen.

“I’m fortunate to have some very experienced players in my team and they showed their quality today. We’ll be confident now heading into the second leg but of course the colder weather will be tough.”

Meanwhile Waitakere player-coach refused to blame his side’s performance on the stifling conditions.

“The weather is the same, the pitch is the same for both teams so we can’t make any excuses. Hekari just scored three goals today and we didn’t.”

“We wanted to come back with a closer score but Hekari played very well today. So we’ll just have to be at our best in two weeks time when they come to our place.”

Waitakere asserted the early pressure and almost went ahead in the 2nd minute when Neil Emblen’s shot from just outside the box rocked off the crossbar.

Hekari’s Maemae also hit the bar in the 19th minute before Roy Krishna went close a minute later down the other end of the field striking the ball into the side netting.

On 27 minutes, Waitakere goalkeeper Danny Robinson came out to the edge of his area to collect a deep ball over the tap but failed to take it cleanly leaving Papua New Guinea international Jack to run through and score into an open net, setting off wild celebrations from the home fans.

Waitakere nearly equalised just before half-time when Krishna went on another surging run down the left and hit a low cross to Solomon Islands speedster Benjamin Totori whose shot hit the post.

If Totori wasn’t quite on song, his compatriot Maemae certainly was with a quality strike from 25 yards in the 49th minute to double Hekari’s lead. The Solomon Islands international was again in the action in the 73rd minute, this time weaving into the box down the left and putting a low cross in for striker Jack to slot the ball home from the penalty spot.

Both teams now head into the second leg at Watakere’s Fred Taylor Park on Sunday 2 May with Oceania’s US$500,000 playoff spot at the FIFA Club World Cup on the line.

2010 O-LEAGUE 1st LEG FINAL RESULT

Match: Hekari United FC [PNG] vs. Waitakere United [NZL]
Date: Saturday 17 April 2010
Venue: Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Stadium: PMRL Stadium
Kick Off: 15h00 (Local time)

Referee: Gerard PARSONS [AUS]
Assistant Referee: Murray WILSON [AUS]
Assistant Referee: Alex GLASGOW [AUS]
Fourth Official: John SAOHU [SOL]

Hekari United FC: 3 (Kema JACK 27’, 73’, Alick MAEMAE 49’)
Waitakere United: 0
Halftime: (1-0)

Crowd: 15,000+

Hekari United line-up: 20. Gure GABINA [GK], 2. Gideon OMOKIRIO, 4. Cyril MUTA, 9. Tuimasi MANUCA (18. Eric KOMENG 76’), 12. David MUTA (c) (7. Benjamin MELA 87’), 16. Pita BOLATONGA, 17. Kema JACK, 19. Koriak UPAIGA, 25. Stanley WAITA, 26. Alick MAEMAE, 28. Henry FA’ARODO
Substitutes not used: 1. Godfrey BANIAU [GK], 5. Brian TUHIANA, 8. Michael FOSTER, 13. Andrew LEPANI, 23. Samuel KINI
Coach: Jerry ALLEN [SOL]

Yellow cards: Alick MAEMAE 45’

Red cards: Nil

Waitakere United line-up: 1. Danny ROBINSON [GK], 2. Jason ROWLEY, 3. Aaron SCOTT (10. Allan PEARCE 78’), 4. Tim MYERS, 7. Martin BULLOCK, 8. Brent FISHER, 9. Benjamin TOTORI (19. Dakota LUCAS 88’), 11. Neil SYKES (c), 12. Roy KRISHNA, 16. Neil EMBLEN, 21. Jack PELTER (27. Paul SEAMAN 84’)
Substitutes not used: 13. Dimas DA SILVA, 18. Zane SOLE, 20. Ryan DE VRIES, 22. Liam LITTLE [GK], 27 Paul SEAMAN
Coach: Neil EMBLEN [ENG]

Yellow cards: Tim MYERS 34’

Red cards: Nil

Photo Caption: Kema Jack scored a double in Hekari's decisive victory.
 

(Photo: Solomon Star)

SOLOMON ISLANDS: One child laptop project makes positive impact on children
Source: Solomon Star

The One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) trials in Western Province is having a positive impact on children there.

This was stated in a report on the evaluation of the programme, which was released recently and was now with the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development.

The evaluation indicates that the impact of the OLPC programme was “very positive”.

A grade 3 student at Sombiro Primary school in Marovo puts it: “I use the laptop to help me learn more things”.

The Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) was commissioned by the ministry to undertake an evaluation of the OLPC trial in three schools in Marovo Lagoon.

Solomon Islands is the first country which designed an evaluation framework for the OLPC in the Pacific Region.

An evaluation was considered very important in order to take well informed decisions about expansion of the project, the approach, its sustainability and the financial and technical support.

The key objectives of the framework relate to raising awareness about the project and assessing impact in a range of areas.

ACER’s evaluation has focused in particular on the impact of the OLPC programme on teaching and learning, while also considering the other objectives stated in the framework.

The evaluation was conducted in September 2009 and consists mainly of interviews with teachers, students, parents and community members, together with a questionnaire distributed to a small number of MEHRD officers and other OLPC personnel.

The key purpose of the evaluation was to identify the impact of the OLPC programme and its strengths and weaknesses as implemented in the three schools.

On the basis of the information gathered, ACER identified the improvements and recommendations contained in the report.

The OLPC programme is based on the concept of providing low cost and durable laptops to children in developing countries.

The intention of the OLPC program is to encourage learning by engaging students in a range of educational activities via their own laptop.

These activities are installed on the laptops prior to deployment and this content can be used as it is by teachers, adapted to suit local needs, or supplemented by wholly local content.

The OLPC is one of three programmes carried out under the Pacific Plan Digital Strategy with the support of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.

Three trial projects began in July 2008.

The schools in the trial were Sombiro, Batuna and Patukae Primary Schools in Marovo, Western Province.

The evaluation was carried out over two months in late 2009. Local interviewers were trained in workshop sessions as part of the evaluation.

Interviews were conducted with students, parents, teachers and community members.

Consistent interview questions, tailored for each group, were used.

The evaluation indicated that the impact of the OLPC program has been very positive.

The evidence to date indicates that it has largely met the objectives of the programme as outlined in the framework.

This is despite some of the important questions to what extent the OLPC has contributed to higher enrolment and to positive impact on teaching and learning could not be measured completely as no base line data were collected to compare before and after OLPC-situation.

However, parents, students, teachers and community members see major benefits in the programme.

MEHRD officers also see clear potential benefits for schools.

The provision of the laptops has been greatly appreciated as a step in improving learning for students.

This appreciation was repeatedly expressed in interviews.

The report highlighted that while there have been some difficulties of a technical nature, such as battery charging of the machines in some instances, the new technology has been embraced by the schools and communities.

The report recommended that the programme will be strengthened by the provision of more technical and preferably local support, by further training for teachers, and by training for parents and community members with an ongoing programme of training, monitoring and evaluation also important.

Based on the positive outcome of the report the Ministry of Education is now focusing on the way forward.
 

WOLDWIDE: Pacific countries prepare to report on 2010 Biodiversity targets
Source: Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme Press Release

11 Pacific island countries are to meet in Samoa next week for a workshop to assist them in completing their fourth National Reports to the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD).

The CBD is an international treaty that sets out commitments for maintaining the worlds’ biological diversity. 14 Pacific islands countries are contracting parties to this convention, of which three have completed and officially submitted the necessary fourth National Reports; Niue, Samoa and Tuvalu.

These reports outline national progress towards meeting the commitments of the CBD and it is crucial that the outstanding Pacific island fourth National Reports are completed within the next couple of months, in anticipation of the upcoming Conference of the Parties to the CBD in Nagoya, Japan in October this year

This particular Conference of the Parties is of significant importance given that this is the International Year of Biodiversity and a time to monitor and evaluate the global progress towards meeting the 2010 Biodiversity target.

“There is an urgency to have these reports completed and submitted, they will be extremely useful in terms of helping provide information on the status and trends of biodiversity in our region, as well as by giving a regional picture of the progress that the Pacific is making in terms of the 2010 Biodiversity target,” said Vainuupo Jungblut of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).

All parties to the CBD have committed themselves to achieve by 2010 a significant reduction of the current rate of biodiversity loss at the global, regional and national level as a contribution to poverty alleviation and to the benefit of all life on Earth. National country reports are one method to measure progress.

The workshop next week is one step to ensuring that these reports are completed and submitted. As a follow up to the workshop, SPREP will continue to work with the 11 Pacific island countries to assist with the completion of these reports.

“The workshop next week will involve the sharing of experiences, lessons learnt by those that have completed their national report as well as hands-on practical activities which will enable countries to update their reports and get direct assistance from resource people. The National Reports to the CBD will also provide countries with the opportunity to show case and highlight some of their success stories as well as challenges that they face in meeting their biodiversity targets”

The workshop will be held at the SPREP Compound in Apia, Samoa from 19 to 22 April. The countries participating are Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu.

This workshop has been made possible through the kind support of the Government of Japan, the United Nations Environment Programme, the Global Environment Facility and through the close collaboration between the CBD Secretariat and SPREP.

Value Islands Biodiversity - It’s our life.