NEWSPAGE 28 April
2010

(Photo: Samoa Government)

SAMOA: Parliamentary Updates
Source: Government Press Secretariat Press Release

Webster and Lucky awarded Contracts

Cabinet has approved construction of the Aufaga roads and renovation of the Salani Bridge by the Webster Works and Infrastructure and Lucky Construction Co. Ltd.

These two Constructions were advertised for bids. Seven(7) Companies submitted applications for the Aufaga Road while eight(8) applications were submitted for the Salani Bridge construction. These applications were assessed by a Sub- Committee.

The Construction of the Aufaga road was then given to the Lucky Construction Co. Ltd, while renovation for the Salani Bridge was awarded to Webster Works and Infrastructure. These two Companies submitted lowest bids and also met all requirement for constructions.


Pacific Developments Banks meet

Cabinet has approved participation to the Pacific Development Banks meeting to be held in Pohnpei F.S.M from the 3 - 6 May 2010.

Climate Change Innovative Development Financing in the Pacific is the theme for this meeting. Recent infrastructural developments has caused Climate to change significantly affecting the Pacific. Therefore the Development Banks are made aware of the importance to fund developments that promote and protect the environment.

Samoa will be represented by Ronald Suhren (Board member), Fuimaono F. Lima (CEO Development Bank) and Aukusitino Rasch (ACEO Loans Division).


ADFIP in Asia and Pacific Annual meeting

Cabinet has approved participation by members of the Samoa Development Bank of the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific [ADFIAP] annual meeting to be held in Vancouver, Canada from the 10th - 13th May 2010.

The theme for the meeting is Innovative Financing for a Greener Economy. Issues that will be looked at according to the theme include:

• Financing the Green Economy: Global Trends and Best Practices;

• Implications of a low carbon emission economy for DFIs: Risks and Opportunities;

• Clean Technologies: Role of Innovative Development financing in promoting cleaner Technologies;

• Innovative Financing for the Greening of Cities.

This meeting hopes to design a declaration for the ADFIAP that will be named Vancouver Declaration to reflect the importance of the environment in Economic Development Project by the Development Banks.


Ratification of the Cluster Munitions Convention

Cabinet has approved Samoa’s ratification of the Cluster Munitions Convention.

This Convention was made in Dublin, Ireland in May 2008. In December 2008 Samoa signed the Convention to show support of the International movement to minimize manufacturing of dangerous weapons that are affecting people’s lives, especially mothers and children.

These weapons (bombs) are scattered and plant around war zones and mostly explodes later on when touched or stepped on by civilians when they play around or pass by these areas.

Samoa’s ratification of this international Convention ensures Samoa’s support for the United Nations joint movement to promote global Security.


Stimulus Package programme for replanting of coconut, cocoa and coffee

Cabinet has approved setting in place a Stimulus Package for replanting of crops namely coconut, cocoa and coffee.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries have set up a mixed-farming programme that will involve 1000 acres of land. The programme include the planting together of 50 cocoanut trees, 750 cocoa and 250 coffee trees in a selected area of land. An estimated 500 farmers are expected to register for the programme.

The programme will start during the financial year 2010/2011 and will run for four years at an estimated cost of $4.5 million.

The Government has initiated this programme to revive and develop the replanting of coconut, cocoa and coffee trees and to attract interest from farmers. A small reward will be offered. Registrations for interested farmers starts this month until May.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries will monitor the progress of the programme with the aim that 500 farmers will harvest the fruits of their crops on the fourth year.


J Westerlund Woodview Construction Ltd awarded Contract

Cabinet has approved the construction of Aleipata District Library by the J Westerlund Woodview Construction Ltd.

Invitation for bids was advertised for Expression of Interest. Six bids were submitted for the construction of the project. The applications were assessed by a Sub-Committee for the Tenders’ Board.

After assessment, the Construction of the Aleipata District Library was then awarded to the J Westerlund Woodview Construction Ltd who has satisfied the selected criteria set for the Bids.
 

(Photo: Samisoni Sauni / Secretariat of the Pacific Community)

AUSTRALIA: Determining the real impact of climate change on PI coastal fisheries
Source: Secretariat of the Pacific Community Press Release

When something goes wrong, we have a natural tendency to look outside for a culprit - for something or someone responsible for the wrongdoing - to allow us to avoid questioning our own responsibility.

Is global climate change the real culprit responsible for the diminution of coastal marine resources in Oceania? Is climate change already impacting our coastal resources, or will the effects only be felt in 20 years, by our children and grandchildren, in addition to the effects of ongoing habitat degradation, destructive fishing practices and increased demand for marine products due to rapid population growth?

Surprisingly, there are no easy answers to these questions.

With funding assistance from the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), and in relation with an ongoing assessment of the vulnerability of coastal fisheries to climate change, the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) has launched a two-year project to assist Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs) to design and field-test monitoring pilot projects to determine what changes are occurring in the productivity of coastal fisheries and to what extent they can be attributed to climate change as opposed to other causes.

In order to identify the optimum design for monitoring projects that can be implemented in PICTs, a group of 20 experts from the region, including oceanographers, modelers, biologists, socio-economists, remote sensing and fisheries specialists, participated in a four-day workshop in Noumea to share their expertise with SPC and help choose monitoring methodologies that are rigorous and can be implemented by national services with some initial support from SPC.

Because monitoring over a long period and with standardised protocols is required to determine what changes are occurring due to climate change, simple data collection methods and easily deployable equipment (temperature loggers, photo transects) have been proposed by experts in order to get the maximum information despite the limited resources of most PICTs to do in-water field work.

Long-term surveillance of sites will be conducted through surveys every 4-5 years if no major change is reported by communities or after destructive events (cyclone, coral bleaching).

The work will be conducted at a national level in locations still to be determined according to a set of survey design criteria and willingness of governments. It will be strengthened through collaborations and data sharing between organisations, research projects and national services. Participants expressed their willingness to contribute actively in such a network.

For further information, please contact:

Workshop facilitator
Dr Johanna Johnson (C2O Consulting)
Partner and Senior Scientist
C2O Consulting
9 Coral Sea Crescent
Wulguru QLD 4811
Australia
Telephone: (61) 418 760 225
Email: [email protected]

Coordinator Vulnerability & Adaptation of Coastal Fisheries to Climate Change project
Franck Magron
Reef Fisheries Information Manager
Division of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems
Secretariat of the Pacific Community
Telephone: (687) 26 20 00 / 26 54 76
Fax: (687) 26 38 18
Email: [email protected]

Photo Caption: Resurveying the same location every 4-5 years could be part of the actions taken to monitor climate change.

(Photo: Minako Ishii Kent)

HAWAII: Lei makers compete for cash on Saturday
Source: Honolulu Star Bulletin

One-of-a-kind flower lei creations will compete for cash awards in the Saturday Lei Day celebration at Kapiolani Park.

The island floral spectacular, with musical entertainment from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Hawaiian craft exhibits and demonstrations and food booths, is expected to draw a large crowd because Lei Day falls on a weekend this year, said Kaiulani Kauahi, city Parks and Recreation Department culture and arts coordinator.

Lei queen Jamie Kaohulani Detwiler, a social worker with the Army at Schofield Barracks, will be crowned at the opening of the festivities. To be invested as princesses are Lauri-Ann "Kaui" Quihano, rental manager with Hawthorne Pacific, and Marie Paresa, a counselor at Farrington High School. This year the members of the Lei Day court were selected in the makua age category between 31 and 54 years of age. In alternate years the court is chosen from young adult candidates, the makua age group and senior citizens.

Cash awards ranging from $60 to $250 are presented in several categories of neck leis and hat leis. The mayor's grand prize for best in the show brings a $500 award. There is a category for beginners.

Entries must be delivered between 7:30 and 9 a.m. Saturday at the park. Information on the contest is available at the city website: www.honolulu.gov/ parks under "park events and activities" or by calling Todd Hiranaga at 973-7250.

The Royal Hawaiian Band will open the Lei Day program at the bandstand at 9 a.m., and entertainment throughout the day will include performances by Kapena, Na Wahine o ka Hula Mai ka Puuwai, Maunalua, Polynesian Cultural Center dancers, Halau Hula o Hokulani, Super B. Boy Crew, Kolohe Kai and Nesian N.I.N.E.

Musicians in the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association will play from 12:15 to 3 p.m. in the lei exhibit area.

A Tutu Hale for children will be open from 1 to 5 p.m. with storytelling, lei making and other crafts taught by kupuna.

The 83rd annual event is supported by sponsors Hawaiian Electric Co., Times Supermarket and a grant from the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

Photo Caption: This year's Lei Day court members are princess Marie Paresa, left, lei queen Jamie Kaohulani Detwiler and princess Lauri-Ann "Kaui" Quihano.
 

(Photos: Tongan Government)

TONGA: Prime Minister farewells Talisker Bounty boat and crew
Source: Prime Minister's Office Press Release

The Prime Minister, Dr. the Hon Feleti Vaka’uta Sevele, farewelled the Talisker Bounty Boat and Crew from Nuku’alofa in a short ceremony at the Touliki Naval Base last week, before they departed for the volcanic island of Tofua from which their re-enactment of the mutinied Captain William Bligh’s epic voyage begins today (April 28, 2010), the exact same day on which the actual voyage started 221 years ago.

The Hon Prime Minister recounted how he had been contacted at the beginning of the year by Tonga’s Consul General in Sydney, Louise Waterhouse, about the requests for information and assistance from the Talisker Bounty Boat’s captain, Don McIntyre, for their voyage. “The more I read the information I was receiving from Don the more I realised that this was not only a re-enactment of an epic voyage but more importantly, this was a recreation and celebration of Tonga’s history and culture!” voyage to tofua

The Hon Prime Minister thanked the Tonga Visitors Bureau, Tonga Defence Services, the Prime Minister’s Office, the management of the Royal Sunset Resort at ‘Atataa, and other tourist industry operators in Tonga for assisting the Talisker Bounty Boat and Crew ever since they arrive in Tonga. To Don McIntyre and his crew the Hon Prime Minister said, “You sail today with our blessings, with our hopes and our good wishes!

In his farewell speech, Don McIntyre said, “We have all been touched by what a magic place Tonga is. The people are very friendly, and they have extended to us their hospitality and warmth. Tonga is different to Fiji, Hawaii and other Pacific Islands. It is totally unique. It is beautiful. And we will be back.” He also expressed his delight that he and his crew were granted an audience by His Majesty King George Tupou V at very short notice.

voyage to tofuaThe Chaplain of the Seafarer’s Mission in Nuku’alofa, Rev Dr. Tevita Koloamatangi, of the Anglican Church, concluded the ceremony with a Special Prayer of Commission for the Talisker Bounty Boat and a Special Prayer of Protection for its crew, before they departed the Touliki Naval Base for Tofua.

For further info on the epic voyage check out www.tongaholiday.com
 

(Photo: Greenpeace)

WORLDWIDE: Historical decision by Pacific nations to close portion off Pacific Ocean
Source: Greenpeace Press Release

A decision to set aside 4.5million square kilometres of international waters in the Pacific as off-limits to purse seine fishing for tuna represents one of the largest ocean protection moves in history said Greenpeace. (1)

In congratulating the leaders who orchestrated this as a component to the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) (2) meeting in the Marshall Islands last week, the international environmental group said Pacific Island Countries have shown exceptional and much needed leadership in defending the Pacific ocean at a time when it is needed most.

“By taking protective moves to rescue the region’s declining tuna stocks and to protect the broader marine biodiversity, the people of the Pacific are one step closer to sustainable fisheries and a healthy Pacific,” said Duncan Williams, oceans campaigner with Greenpeace Australia Pacific.

In addition to these proposed areas, the PNA countries previously pushed for almost complete protection of two large high seas areas in the western part of the Pacific Ocean (3).

The PNA has also taken progressive steps to reduce the use of fish aggregation devices (FADs) by fishing operations. Purse seine fishing vessels using FADs results in large amounts of unwanted by catch, including juvenile tuna, sharks and turtles: rendering its canned tuna products unsustainable. These deadly fishing magnets are partly responsible for the sharp decline in valuable big eye and yellow fin tuna stocks in the Pacific.

“The necessary next step to ensure sustainable fisheries in the Pacific region is to extend the closures in the high seas to also include long-line fishing for tuna and a complete ban on purse seine fishing using FADs,” added Mr Williams. The region is well placed to reap large economic and environmental benefits by embracing sustainability.

“Time and tuna are running out and East Asian fishing nations must now agree to these proposals at the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) meeting in December and close the high seas enclaves of the Pacific to all fishing activities,” concluded Mr Williams.

The high seas enclaves are areas of the Pacific rich in marine biodiversity including deep-sea corals, turtles and sharks. These areas are also an important migratory route for the region’s tuna populations and are targeted by wasteful and destructive as well as illegal fishing operations, including purse seine fishing vessels, which use FADs.

Greenpeace is campaigning for a global network of marine reserves to cover 40 percent of our oceans, areas off limits to harmful fishing, mining, drilling and other extractive activities. With marine reserves, our oceans and fish stocks can begin to recover.

Notes:

(1) The closure is a unilateral move by eight Pacific Island countries who are part of the PNA i.e.; Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu; to sustainably manage tuna. The closure will be implemented via licensing conditions for fishing in the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ’S) of the PNA countries. Vessels not licensed to fish in the waters of PNA countries but members to the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) can still continue to fish in the areas.

(2) PNA countries own waters that supply 25% of the world’s tuna, an estimated $2 billion worth of fish every year.

(3)Weblink to map: http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/oceans/marine-reserves/pacific-tuna-need-marine-reserves

The 5th annual meeting of the WCPFC meeting in Busan, Korea in 2008 agreed to the closure of high seas 1 & 2 to Purse seine fishing.

Photo Caption: The orange areas on the map are the proposed marine reserves. The grey areas are the exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of the nations, and the green represent the islands themselves.