NEWSPAGE 07 May
2010

(Photos: Resilient Organisations)

SAMOA: New Zealand engineers concerned about Samoa’s recovery
Source: University of Auckland Press Release

A team of University of Auckland engineers is warning that rebuilding after last year’s devastating tsunami in Samoa could leave villagers exposed to future disasters.

A long-term study of Samoa’s recovery is being carried out by the Post-Disaster Reconstruction Research Team in the Faculty of Engineering.

Having recently returned from an eight-day research trip to Apia, they say while aid agencies are doing a terrific job, a lack of engineering expertise on the island means sub-standard buildings and facilities are being constructed.

“Whole villages have moved to higher ground to safeguard themselves against tsunamis, but many new buildings are not cyclone or earthquake proof. An opportunity has been missed to protect these communities against future disasters,” says Associate Professor Suzanne Wilkinson.

“In some cases villagers are being given the resources to build themselves, and they have the capability to do that, but not necessarily the knowledge to mitigate against future disasters. If a cyclone came through their buildings could collapse again.”

The team has also highlighted issues with access to clean drinking water, and the uncoordinated arrival of donated supplies to the island has meant many items have ended up in landfill.

The research team is conducting a long-term study of Samoa’s entire recovery process, which is expected to take several years. The research team currently involves four undergraduate and five PhD students, three of whom are Samoan, and is led by Dr Wilkinson and Dr Regan Potangaroa from UNITEC.

The study aims to gather information about the recovery and reconstruction process to better prepare communities anywhere in the world for when the next disaster strikes.

“Analysis of previous disasters is not done adequately. Our role as a research group is to advise agencies and governments on how to best recover and reconstruct their communities, based on previous scenarios. Gathering information across multiple disasters and seeing patterns in the recovery and reconstruction activities will allow the research to feed into government policy so we are prepared for future disasters.”

Dr Wilkinson says there are lessons for New Zealand in Samoa’s recovery, such as how volunteerism and community cohesiveness could work in New Zealand, and how to better prepare for rebuilding and relocation.

“If a major earthquake or tsunami struck in New Zealand, we may have similar issues in terms of effectively managing volunteers and donated supplies, the need for mass temporary shelters and the hasty relocation of entire communities to new locations.”

The study receives funding from the Foundation for Research Science and Technology and the Resilient Organisations Research Programme.

Photo Captions: UNITEC Post-Disaster Reconstruction Research Team leaders, Associate Professor Suzanne Wilkinson and Dr Regan Potangaroa.
 

(Photo: Australian High Commission)

AUSTRALIA: Defence Cooperation Program talks between Samoa and Australia
Source: Australian High Commission Press Release

Australia continues to support Samoa’s highly successful Nafanua Pacific Class Patrol Boat. The boat, which is manned by an all-Samoan crew, focuses on the prevention of illegal fishing, transnational crime, marine pollution prevention and safety at sea.

At this year’s annual Australia/Samoa Defence Cooperation talks, held on Monday 3 May, both countries agreed to continue to support the operation of the Nafanua and ongoing training at the Australian Maritime College in Launceston, Tasmania.

Nineteen Nafanua crew members received training during 2009 and similar training opportunities are scheduled to be carried out in 2010. This week’s talks marked 22 years service by the Samoan Police Patrol Boat Nafanua, gifted to the Government of Samoa by the Australian Government on 19 March 1988.

The Nafanua, currently under the command of Senior Sergeant Petone Mauga, continues to provide Samoa with a patrol boat capable of enforcing the sovereignty of Samoa.

Recently, Nafanua has been involved in many search and rescues, including the immediate response in the wake of the 29 September 2009 tsunami. Nafanua continues to be involved in regional maritime security operations and provides an important maritime capability for the Government of Samoa.

Samoa was one of the first nations to express an interest in the provision of a multi-purpose vessel under the Pacific Patrol Boat Project which was announced by the then Australian Prime Minister, Bob Hawke, to the South Pacific Forum meeting held in Canberra, Australia in August 1983. During negotiations, the Samoan Public Accounts Committee expressed its concern that the project risked becoming a financial burden on the nation. Australia therefore agreed to help to maintain and support the boats, across the region, and throughout their life.

On 19 March 1988, Maiava Iulai Toma accepted the Nafanua from Admiral Hudson, the then Chief of Navy Staff. This was the fourth of 22 patrol boats provided to 12 nations across the Pacific.

By the time the NAFANUA came into service, Australia had committed to a wider ranging Defence Cooperation Program with Samoa. Over the years this support has grown to include the National Coordination Centre, a Patrol Boat base, Police communications, a dedicated wharf and a new armoury to secure Samoan’s Police and exhibit weapons.

In 2000, the Australian Government agreed to extend the boats operational life by a further 15 years. Nafanua’s Life Extension refit was completed in Australia in 2006, giving her a service life until at least 2021.

Photo Caption: Nafanua patrolling the South coast the day after the tsunami.
 

(Photos: Office of Congressman Faleomavaega)

USA: First GDP estimates for American Samoa and other U.S. territories released
Source: Office of Congressman Faleomavaega Press Release

Congressman Faleomavaega announced recently that at the invitation of Secretary Ken Salazar of U.S. Department of Interior and Secretary Gary Locke of U.S. Department of Commerce, he joined Rebecca Blank, Under Secretary for Economic Affairs at USDOC, Nikolao Pula, Director of Office of Insular Affairs at USDOI, and Kiran Ahuja, Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders at a press conference announcing the first set of estimates of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for American Samoa, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI). Also in attendance were Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo of Guam, Congressman Gregorio Sablan of CNMI, and Congresswoman Donna Christensen of USVI.

“It is hard to believe that after over a hundred years, the U.S. government will finally plan to produce the first report on the GDP for American Samoa,” Faleomavaega said. “American Samoa and our other U.S. Territories have been at a tremendous disadvantage, especially when it comes to determining the most basic data and information on economic statistics and evaluations of the economies of these Territories.”

The data announced in today’s press conference covers the five-year period from 2002-2007. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) who produced the estimates under an agreement signed in March 2009 between USDOI and USDOC, the real GDP (GDP adjusted to remove price changes) grew over this period in each of the territories except for CNMI. American Samoa’s GDP from 2002-2007 grew at an average annual rate of 0.4 percent. By comparison, the average annual growth rate for the United States (excluding the territories) was 2.8 percent over the same period. Furthermore, Guam’s GDP grew at an average annual rate of 1.8 percent, and the USVI’s GDP grew at an average annual rate of 2.9 percent, while CNMI’s GDP decreased at an average annual rate of 4.2 percent.

During his remarks, Congressman Faleomavaega suggested to USDOI and USDOC producing similar reports for Palau, Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM).

“I respectfully suggest to Secretary Locke and Secretary Salazar that future GDP estimates be provided for our three freely associates states, all of whom are also an integral part of the American family. The timely release of this information during Asian Pacific Heritage Month further emphasizes the American spirit that everyone counts in the rich fabric of our American society. With that said, it is my hope that the Bureau of Economic Analysis will broaden their research to our Palauan, Marshallese, and Micronesian brothers and sisters in the near future.”

“Lastly, I would like to take this opportunity to thank President Obama, Secretary Locke, and Secretary Salazar for their leadership in making sure our territories are accounted for in GDP estimates. We may be some of the smallest constituencies, however the tremendous sacrifice by the sons and daughters of American Samoa and our fellow territories in the military is just one example that speaks to our patriotism and dedication to defending this nation. In this, and many other ways, we are as much a part of the American family and deserving of the research and analytical tools to assist local efforts on improving our island economies.”

“Today marked a truly historic occasion for all the territories represented. This data will surely assist each of our territorial governments in crafting policy and implementing significant changes for the future well being of some half a million Americans in the insular areas. I look forward to working with Secretary Locke, Secretary Salazar, and Kiran Anuja and their staffs in the future,” the Congressman concluded.

Photo Captions:

Photo 1 - Congressman Eni Faleomavaega speaking at the press conference announcing the first set of estimates of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for American Samoa, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI).

Photo 2 - Congressman Eni Faleomavaega with Under Secretary for Economic Affairs at USDOC, Rebecca Blank.
 
Photo 3 - Congressman Eni Faleomavaega with Under Secretary for Economic Affairs at USDOC, Rebecca Blank and Director of Office of Insular Affairs at USDOI, Nikolao Pula.
 

(Photo: Vanuatu Daily Post)

VANUATU: Kaltongga encourages students to follow dreams
Source: Vanuatu Daily Post

Minister of Justice and Women’s Affairs Bakoa Kaltongga has told the students of Ranon Junior Secondary School to dream and follow their dreams, saying the world today has become a global village and it is at their feet to explore it and exploit it for their benefit.

The Minister made the encouragement during a lightning visit to their school on his official visit to open the Lolihor Market House at Ranon which is located just across the creek below the school.

He said Vanuatu has signed the United Nations’ Convention for the Rights of the Child (CRC) along with 150 countries in the world. This means each child has his and her rights to receive good education, good health and welfare services. “These rights are the responsibility of the Government to make sure they are respected, which means that every child must have access to education as well as health services”, he said.

He named John Salong from the area of Ambrym who went to Malapoa College from where he was awarded a world scholarship to study in the United States of America. “He is now Director of VANWODS Scheme which is helping the women in Port Vila to set up small businesses to meet their daily expenses in life”, he said.

He said many people from Ambrym go to New Zealand to work on farms there then return home with money in their hands. “I repeat that the world is at your feet and it is up to you to have a dream and pursue your dream until you achieve it”, he said.

Giving another example from his own busy schedule in Port Vila, he said he had to “take time out” to travel to Ambrym to open the Market House. “If I did not make an effort to visit you, I would never know that you really needed at your school”, he said.

He said it is the responsibility of everyone including the students to make sure they pull up their socks to prepare to take up the challenges that they face along the way.

No doubt he shocked the students by saying that he “studied using a hurricane light” because there was no electricity in his home in Port Vila. He said it was only in recent times that electricity arrived in his home.

Using his own life story, he called on the students to hold their heads high and go for their dreams. In other words, if he could study for seven years in New Zealand then continue on to become the Minister of Justice, then they could too.

Photo Caption: Boys of Ranon Junior Secondary School.
 

WORLDWIDE: Building capacities for change
Source: United Nation Development Programme Press Release

Tolerance, respect and open channels of communication are some of the capacities for peace identified at a peace building workshop, currently underway in Nadi. Capacities for peace building exist at the individual, family, community and institutional levels.

Participants examined the causes of conflict in their communities and identified gaps in capacities for peace. In order to do this, they also identified various actors in peace building and the strengths they had as well as the challenges they faced.

The peace building workshop organized by the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) Pacific Centre is attended by more than fifty participants from Bougainville, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Tonga, who are representatives from governments, non government organizations, private sector and development partners.

The workshop is interactive, with participants breaking into country groups to examine closely the underlying reasons of conflict in their country or a given community.

Reporting back on the discussions of the Tonga country group, Dr Desmond Amosa said the values that once held the community together were being eroded.

“Honesty, respect and collectiveness hold aspects of peace in a Tongan community. The younger generation has slipped away from these values. The events of 2006 in Tonga could have been stopped if these values had not been lost,” said Dr Amosa.

He emphasised that these values and families which serve as a conduit for values, needed to be re-examined.

“Religious groups have a capacity for peace,” said Arieta Tirikula, a member of the Fiji country group.

She said that this was so because of the community outreach and grassroots level engagement of religious groups.

Tony Kaib, highlighted that legal frameworks also had a capacity for peace. He highlighted the specific case of legal frameworks that controlled the spread of arms in Bougainville.

By the end of the first three days of the workshop, participants had analysed different types of conflicts in their communities; identified the actors; as well as the highlighted the capacities for peace. Discussions also highlighted that having identified the actors and capacities for peace, a strategic approach could be taken to peace building.