NEWSPAGE 17 May
2010

(Photo: courtesy of Dave Cameron)

(Photo: Samoa Government)

SAMOA: Parliamentary Updates
Source: Government Press Secretariat Press Release

Hon. Prime Minister travels to the United States of America

Cabinet has approved invitation of the Hon. Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Maleilegaoi, to attend the Season twenty’s (20) finale of the Survivor Television Program, which will be held in New York, United States of America on the 15 - 16 May 2010.

Two parts of this program was filmed in Samoa. The Survivor program had provided a broader advertisement for the Islands of Samoa and has contributed in the economy of the country the second invitation for the Hon. Prime Minister to attend the final show was accepted.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Aiono Mose Pouvi is traveling with the Hon. Prime Minister to attend this event.


Report on the Forth High Level Dialogue of the United Nations

Cabinet has approved the report by representatives of Samoa on the 4th High Level Dialogue of the United Nations General Assembly which was held in New York, USA, 23rd and 24th March 2010.

This meeting discussed ways to fund developments in member countries of the United Nations and also looked into models used by developed and developing countries. Small countries raised concerns at the meeting over issues brought up by developed Nations at the Consensus in Monterrey and the Declaration in Doha which was never practiced or followed by these Nations.

Samoa also presented a paper to inform the participated countries of various developments in the country and the effects of the Global Financial Crisis and last years Tsunami on its economy.

This meeting is part of preparations for the main Conference in September 2010, which will look into measures of the Millennium Development Goals that has so far been achieved.


Contracts awarded for the construction of roads and seawalls

Cabinet has awarded the construction of roads at Leulumoega, Amosa Aleisa, Matafala Maninoa and Papauta; also seawalls at Fagali’i and Uafato Fagaloa to the following contractors.
 

Invitations for bids were advertised for Expression of Interest. Ten bids were submitted. The applications were assessed by a Sub-Committee for the Tenders’ Board.

After assessment, the contracts for Construction of the abovementioned roads and seawalls were awarded to the winning contractors.


Tavita Design & Construction Co. Ltd awarded contract

Cabinet has awarded contract for construction of the Falealili Secondary School Building to the Tavita Design & Construction Co. Ltd.

Invitation for bids was advertised for Expression of Interest. Eight bids were submitted. The applications were assessed by a Sub-Committee and the winning bid was submitted before Cabinet for approval.


Patients approved for treatment overseas

Cabinet has approved the referral of thirteen patients for intensive m medical treatment overseas for the month of April 2010.

There are eight males and five females. Patients’ ages vary from one year old up to eighty five years old.

Varying diseases affecting these patients include, Heart diseases, renal-stone, prostate problems, dialysis, arthritis, and suspected brain tumor. Most of these patients are undergoing treatment in New Zealand while one is being treated in Australia.

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 for by the Government of Samoa.
 

(Photo: Australia-Pacific Technical College)

AUSTRALIA: Tourism graduate reflects on APTC experience
Source: Australia-Pacific Technical College

James Walkerpoo, APTC Tourism Operations Graduate, has arrived in Australia to commence further studies in Tourism Management at Box Hill Institute, Melbourne.

James is originally from a small community in Gia village in the remote Tambul District of Western Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea. Having struggled in various jobs since leaving school in 1993, James eventually landed a position with an inbound tour company where he spent five years working as a clerk before being promoted to the Sales Department.

In 2005 James travelled to Port Moresby, hoping to find fame and fortune (or at least a better job), but to no avail. After struggling for three years James discovered the Australia-Pacific Technical College.

As James says, "As a mature person I had work experience to some extent but my qualification level was low. Therefore, I thought to balance my work experience and upgrade my qualification with the APTC program...so I could deliver efficient tourism services to my clients and industry members where I am involved as a freelance tourism operator in PNG."

James was successful in obtaining a course place in the Tourism Operations class in Samoa, 2008. Commenting on his time with APTC, James believes that "…the courses are well designed with 'on the job' training programs that suit the current employment or job market. I find this interesting as after one leaves studies at APTC, he or she is 'job ready'."

After graduating, James returned to PNG but was left with a strong desire to continue to the next level of higher education. "Considering 'knowledge is vital for success' I was strongly motivated to go for further studies to broaden my skills and knowledge in tourism, especially management," says James.

He applied for an AusAID Australian Regional Development Scholarship and is now at Box Hill Institute in Melbourne studying for an Advanced Diploma in Tourism (Management), which he expects to complete in December 2011.

James' aim in pursuing further education is to further "develop the PNG Tourism Industry as it is considered a potential industry that could generate mega billions of Kina into the PNG economy." James enjoys working with "people in the remote areas, educating them in setting up a sustainable tourism business and how to nurture it...and how it could sustain them if they take ownership and responsibility for the tourism industry in their community."

James is grateful to the "providers of AUSAID & APTC for being consistent and on track serving internationally recognised education on a 'Golden Plate' to the Pacific Islanders broadening their skills and expertise in their respective fields. Fellow Pacific Island students, it's up to us to decide either to grab it with both hands or to leave it."

Photo Caption: James Walkerpoo enjoying time at the local cafes in Melbourne.
 

PAPUA NEW GUINEA: PM: 9 years of non-stop growth
Source: The National

The country is, for the first time, enjoying nine consecutive years of economic growth, Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare has told Parliament.

“This year itself the economy will grow by about 8.5% for one of the best performance in a decade,” he said.

The prime minister made the statement to parliament after opposition leader Sir Mekere Morauta had asked for a state of the nation address on the likely impact of large-scale extractive projects and warned that the government’s revenue base would become dangerously dependent on the sector.

Sir Michael said that although opinions might differ, the fact was that major resource projects would no doubt have significant economic, social and environmental impacts.
He said that since taking office in 2002, the government had been providing incentives to the resource sector which had earlier been given “the kiss of death” by economists and resource experts.

“At the time, few people could have envisaged the scale of turnaround created by this initiative.
“Three gold mines have opened in the intervening period. The large Ramu nickel project is nearing completion at a cost in excess of US$1.2 billion with an anticipated lifespan of some 30 years.

“It can take a long time before an exploration project proceeds to the mining stage. But as long as the policy environment is good and exploration remains healthy, there will be many more long-life projects in the future.”

Sir Michael said the next few years could see the start of two or three new giant mining projects at Yandera and Wafi/Golpu in Morobe and at Frieda River and the world’s first underwater mining off East New Britain and New Ireland.

On the LNG project, he said the government agreed to offer landowners additional 4.22% equity to take their equity to 7%.

“In addition to benefits derived from the 2% royalty and development levy, the total amount involve will equate to more than K20 billion over the 30-year life of the project.”

He said in terms of fiscal regime, the LNG project would face a normal 30% corporate tax on its profits.

“The LNG consortium has not asked for, and has not received, any tax holiday or other inducements.”

He said as a 19.6% equity owner, the PNG government was privy to all information pertinent to the project.
 

(Photo: Solomon Islands Football Federation)

SOLOMON ISLANDS: New beach soccer event proves popular
Source: Solomon Islands Football Federation via Oceania Football Confederation

The Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) has successfully hosted its first ever national beach soccer competition.

The 4-day competition, held recently at DC Park each of Honiara, attracted 10 participating teams and hundreds of spectators who were treated to the highest level of beach soccer skills ever witnessed locally.

Honiara grabbed the top prize of SBD$8000 and the Our Telekom National Beach Soccer Championship trophy after defeating Northern United by 10 - 2 in the final. More than 300 people turned up to witness the historic final earlier this month.

Northern United were also impressive throughout the competition but in the end had to lay down to the might of the Honiara side who mounted a sustained attack from all corners of the pitch. Northern United received SBD$4000 for their efforts.

The 3rd/4th playoff was won by Western Kikio who beat Makira Ulawa Sharks 5 - 4 to claim the SBD $3000 third-place prize.

The championship was dominated by a strong show of talent and high level of skills from the 120 players that took part.

One of the new stars that arose from the championship was Michael Misitana who scored a total of 18 goals to claim the Golden Foot Award. His average of 3.6 goals per match is commendable by any standards. National beach soccer team member Hickley Rence came second in the golden boot with 17 goals.

A selection panel for the National Beach Soccer Team was also at work during the championship looking for players.

“This has been a great experience for us because the talent in the teams is simply amazing,” said Moel Wagapu, head of the national beach soccer selection panel.

“We certainly have our work cut out for us in coming up with the final list of selected players.”

SIFF General Secretary Eddie Ngava said that the competition is a success in that it has brought to the surface more beach soccer players that have the potential to represent the country.

“I must say that I was very happy with the enthusiasm of the players and how they adapted into playing this new code,” Ngava said. “I believe that the national championship will be the catalyst for widespread adoption of beach soccer in rural Solomon Islands.”

The first edition of the National Beach Soccer Championship was sponsored by a major local football partner Our Telekom.

Award Winners

Winners: Honiara
Runners-up: Northern United
Third: Western Kikio
Fourth: Makira Ulawa Shakrs

Fair Play Award: Northern United
Golden Foot Award: Michael Misitana (Honiara) scored 18 goals
Player of the Tournament: Coleman Kabini (Honiara)
Golden Glove Award: George Lifu (Western Kikio).
 

(Photo: Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme)

WORLDWIDE: Helping Pacific communities adapt to climate change impacts
Source: Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme Press Release

The Region is breaking new ground with the Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change Project (PACC) which brings in over US 13 million dollars to help countries adapt to the impacts of climate change.

The project is the first of its kind in the region that has 13 Pacific islands countries implementing ‘on the ground’ adaptation projects in any of the three key affected areas; food security, coastal management capacity and water resource management.

In Tonga it is planned that the project will assist stakeholders in the Hihifo district to develop and implement ways to better manage and sustain their water resources. These may include supporting alternative water retention and supply systems to ensure that the people are better able to cope when drought do occur now and into the future.

Coastal management capacity is the key area that Vanuatu is focusing on. The island nation is implementing a very innovative project to involve communities in the design and relocation of road infrastructures in Epi, in the Shefa province which has been devastated by strong storm surges.

Palau will be working with stakeholders and the local communities in Ngatpang State to design methods that improve the resilience of their coastal food production systems to the impacts of climate change in the medium to longer term. One of these methods will include introducing a variety of taro that is salt water tolerant in order to address the issue of salt water inundation in taro patches.

Now one year old the PACC project is commemorating its first year with a review with all key stakeholders to reflect upon the lessons learnt and the successes of year one of a five year project.

“The PACC project cannot fail and we should not. There are ample resources and technical support present at the national and regional level through the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and other regional organisations to ensure that we do not fail,” said SPREP Director David Sheppard at the opening of the PACC multipartite review meeting.

“I know that it is not easy to implement a project like PACC. It is large, it is challenging, and it is ambitious. There are donor requirements that we have to follow in the preparation of reports such as annual work plans, quarterly financial reports and quarterly narratives, audits, monitoring and evaluation. Given that we are breaking new ground with this project there are many eyes looking at this project - from within this region and globally.”

During the one week gathering in Apia, Samoa, there are PACC milestones being celebrated which outline the successes in the first year of the regional project funded by the Global Environment Facility and delivered through a partnership of the United Nations Development Programme and SPREP.

There are now 13 signed Memorandum’s of Understanding with the Pacific islands countries that outlines how all parties will work together to carry out PACC projects in each of the countries. There are 12 coordinators on board who will oversee the project in these countries and a Project executive committee has been formed.

“The meeting we are having now is a very important one,” said Taito Nakalevu the PACC Project Manager.

“It’s our first real opportunity to meet with all the PACC coordinators in one setting. So far I am amazed and impressed at the level of progress with these projects at the national level. It’s a very excellent start for this project.”

Nakalevu is also thankful to the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, University of the South Pacific and the Applied Geosciences Commission for the partnership and assistance provided in the first year of PACC implementation.

“Given the successes and progress the Pacific has achieved together over the first year of the PACC, we will strive to increase project delivery so that communities would see for themselves the benefit of this project.”

The workshop took place from 10 to 14 May and has two representatives from each of the 13 Pacific islands countries and territories; Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu along with development partners and stakeholders. The PACC multipartite review meeting is held at the SPREP compound, in Apia Samoa.

Photo Caption: Representatives from each of the 13 Pacific islands countries and territories, attending the workshop at the SPREP compound, in Apia Samoa.