NEWSPAGE 19 May
2010

(Photo: Evotia Tamua)

SAMOA: Savai'i Samoa in late win
Source: Fiji Times

Savai'i Samoa put on powerful effort in the last 10 minutes to snatch victory from Tau'uta Reds 34-23 in the Pacific Rugby Cup at Prince Charles Park in Nadi yesterday.

The Samoans finished off strongly, scoring a brace of tries late in the game as the Reds players seemed to tire in the mid-day heat.

Reds coach Feleti Tui'halamaka said they were unlucky at the end.

"It was a good game but we were unlucky not to pull through for 80 minutes," Tui'halamaka said.

"We started well but made some basic mistakes. The boys lost concentration at the end and this cost us the game."

The Reds opened scoring in the 11th minute with a wonderful individual effort from winger Atelea Okati. The conversion from fullback Fokolulu Taumalolo failed.

The Samoans hit back in the 16th minute with a penalty from Ted Sikovi. Sikovi put the Samoans in front 6-5 in the 25th minute with his second penalty.

Referee Kelekelio Petelo penalised Savai'i Samoan for being off side near their own 22 metre territory in the 31st minute. Taumalolo booted the ball over from in front for the Reds to regain the lead 8-6.

Sikovi kicked a penalty of the stroke of half time. Savaii Samoa led 9-8 at the break.

Sikovi succeeded with his fourth penalty in the 42nd minute. Taumalolo edged the Reds closer with a penalty three minutes later.

The Reds regained the advantage with an intercept try from Uate Tupou. The try was converted by Taumalolo with the Reds in front 18-12. Winger Henry Bryce scored a try for the Samoans in the 65th minute.

Sikovi booted Savaii Samoa back in front with a penalty. The Samoans led 20-18.

The Reds received a penalty inside the Savaii Samoa 22. They surprised their opponents opting for a lineout.

The decision proved to be fruitful as the Reds drove their way over from the throw-in. Prop Viliami Pola dotted down. The Reds went ahead 23-20.

Lack of commitment in defence by the Reds saw the Samoans scoring at the other end.

Bryce went in for his second. Sikovi converted with the Samoans regaining the lead 27-23.

Savaii Samoa went further ahead with winger Michael Tava in injury time. Sikovi converted.

Savai'i Samoa: Naama Leleimalefaga, Ripine Fualau, James Afoa, Ioane Sala, Nissan Aitui, Loleni Tafunai, Rowley Tofa, Vavae Tuilagi, Faatalatala Fagasoaia, Fatu Fanolua, Henry Bryce, Iafeta Laau, David Masoe, Michael Tavae, Ted Sikovi.

Tau'uta Reds: Viliami Pola, Soane Lakalaka, Valenitino Polota, Finau Fakakovikaetau, Isileli Tesimale Fine, Paula Fala Kata, Rodney Mahe, Matini Tupou, Joji Cokanauto Tui'pulotu, Uate Tupou, Atelea Okati, Sione Faka'osilea, Charles Mateo, Tatafu Naaniumotu, Fokolulu Taumalolo.
 

(Photo: Samoa News)

AMERICAN SAMOA: Governor expresses anger, disappointment over StarKist decision
Source: Samoa News

Govenor Togiola Tulafono didn’t hold back his criticism of StarKist Company’s plans to lay off up to 800 workers at StarKist Samoa cannery, saying that he is very angry and disappointed with the company’s decision.

StarKist president and chief executive officer Donald Binotto and two other company senior officials were in the territory last Thursday to make the announcement that the Pittsburgh-based company will eliminate 600 to 800 positions within the next six months to keep up with global competition.

Togiola has not responded to media questions following the StarKist announcement, but on his weekend radio program the Governor, in an angry tone of voice, didn’t hold back his words and blasted the company, who he says didn’t seek out any government assistance in advance of their public announcement.

During the radio program, Togiola repeatedly used words such as very angry, very hurt, saddened, and very disappointed to describe the StarKist decision.

He recalled that he previously informed StarKist to let the government know if there is any way the government can assist the company. However, he said, as of last Saturday he had not received any request.

But later in the program, when a caller asked what the government is doing to help StarKist, the Governor said assistance with electric rates was one of the issues raised by StarKist.

To find a solution, Togiola said he sought assistance from the American Samoa Power Authority board and an agreement has already been made between the two parties based on how much ASPA can help. Details of the agreement were not revealed.

Togiola reminded the public that the cost of electricity is high due to the fact that diesel fuel for generators is imported and the price is out of local control, except for the local factor of a base rate that can be addressed.

If StarKist wants the government to waive all electricity costs, which is in the millions of dollars, the government does not have that ability, he said.

He said the second issue raised by StarKist is that of waste disposal, but American Samoa does not have the proper equipment to provide such assistance.

Togiola said these were the only two issues raised by StarKist although there was also a request for certain tax breaks. He asked StarKist for specific details about the tax breaks, but then the layoff announcement was made, without providing answers to the Governor regarding the tax breaks.

He said his office tried to find out what the company planned to announce prior to Thursday but StarKist refused to provide details before it was made public.

Togiola said he is very hurt that StarKist opted first to implement a reduction in force without even giving American Samoa a chance to come up with alternatives.

He said the people, through the government, have given the company tax exemptions in past years to help them and ensure there are sufficient jobs in American Samoa, because this is a territory without a lot of job opportunities.

The Governor said what’s important is to have jobs, not only in the canneries but secondary businesses.

What will happen now is that once the reduction begins, it will also cause the elimination of jobs in other local businesses— especially those serving the cannery— which will then affect the government and ASG jobs, he said.

The elimination of up to 800 cannery jobs means a reduction in revenue for the government to carry out its operations and this also means an affect on the ASG payroll, Togiola stated, adding that a reduction in revenues means ASG must also look at its workforce and how to deal with it.

The Governor said another reason for his disappointment and hurt about the announcement is that he has requested StarKist time and time again to assist with the territory’s battle to reduce or halt the mandated federal minimum wage increases, but the company said they are not worried about the minimum wage because they are not affected, just the differential.

The big question raised now is that— if StarKist is not affected by the minimum wage hikes— why the reduction in workforce? Togiola said.

Despite cost cutting measures, including previous reduction in force and benefits, Binotto told a Fono briefing last Thursday that StarKist is “still not able to close the gap between cost producing canned tuna in American Samoa versus buying canned tuna from other low cost producing countries.”

“Furthermore, we can no longer make up the difference of wages, that will soon be over 10 times those in other tuna processing countries,” he said, adding that the company has also seen other cost increases such as waste disposal.

“Our competitors have been using a model that moves the labor-intensive fish cleaning process to low-wage countries. We have vigorously resisted this model, but it has become difficult to compete with wages nearly ten times those of Thailand and elsewhere, especially when combined with rising utility and shipping costs and the decreased value of duty protection,” said Binotto in a company statement last week.

On his radio program, Togiola said the company wanted to meet with him after the announcement but he rejected it. He said he didn’t want to talk to the company until they provide answers to questions about the layoff that will be sent to them via an official communication.

The Governor said there are a lot of other ways in which ASG can assist and even Star-Kist itself can assist, adding that the company should look within itself for cost savings measures.

He said they are still giving huge salaries for those off-island and senior officials while paying workers in the territory low wages.

Togiola said he does not want to see or meet with anyone from StarKist unless he is satisfied that the company’s decision was right.

According to the governor’s office, Togiola granted a meeting with StarKist officials for 11:00 a.m on May 12, but they didn’t show up.

Instead the governor was invited to attend, or dial into, a meeting held last Thursday morning, which was attended by two representatives of the governor.

Togiola said on his radio program that it’s true that this is the only cannery in the territory and we don’t want to lose the last remaining cannery. However, he said, that does not mean American Samoa should be on our knees and bow to their wishes.

When StarKist wants to close down due to the drop in profit, they will do so without waiting, he said, adding that StarKist should be honest with what they tell American Samoa and the territory will be honest as well— and in return, everyone benefits.

He said the company only wants what they want, but nothing in return.

Togiola said the company has made public that they want to work jointly with the governor and Congressman Faleomavaega Eni to find a solution.

However, the governor said the worst solution made by StarKist is a reduction of workers which is not the way to address problems. He said eliminating jobs and then planning to work jointly with the governor, is very wrong.

Togiola maintained that he will not meet with StarKist for any discussions until the company provides thorough answers to his questions, via letter that is to be sent right away.

Hopefully they will come back with a reply that the company has lowered salaries of senior officials and removed their bonuses as part of cost cutting measures, he said, adding that if there are bonuses, they should be halted before laying off people.

He said he does not take lightly public concerns that the company might leave the territory, but at the same time, there should be solutions in place to benefit both American Samoa and StarKist.

After reviewing records of the past 40-years where the government provided tax exemption, Togiola noted the amount was in the millions of dollars, which could have helped the government.

The Governor said these millions of dollars in tax breaks were an investment by the government in StarKist to ensure that jobs were maintained for the local workforce.

He said American Samoa is not a rich territory and most of the help for the cannery was through the federal government since they are responsible for changes such as elimination of tax breaks, increased minimum wage and other issues— which are all out of our control.

Togiola said all American Samoa can do is argue, oppose and make our point to ensure the territory is not affected, but Congress has the final say. He said American Samoa does not have much to offer but can work with StarKist to ensure there are jobs available in the territory.

Photo Caption: StarKist employees going to work on Thursday, after the announcement of cutbacks.
 

(Photo: New Zealand Defence Force)

COOK ISLANDS: Orion finds Cook Islands' castaways
Source: New Zealand Defence Force Press Release

The crew of an Air Force Orion aircraft found four men marooned on Manuae Island (near Aitutaki) in the Cook Islands after they had been reported missing for five days. The 12m longline fishing vessel "Gypsy Trader" left Rarotonga on the 5th May and was due back 9th May. The well equipped vessel had a communications system, EPIRB emergency beacon, life jackets and dinghy and an outboard motor. The alarm was raised when a crew member's wife contacted Cook Island authorities when they did not return or make contact.

Cook Islands authorities diverted a scheduled Air Rarotonga flight to the Gypsy Trader's last known position but they found no trace of the vessel. The authorities then contacted the Rescue Coordination Centre in NZ and a P3 Orion aircraft from No 5 Squadron, RNZAF was dispatched during the early hours of Saturday 15 May 2010. The Orion crew found the four men (two of whom hold NZ passports) on Manuae Island when they spotted a dinghy and a blue tarpaulin set up as shelter on the beach. An emergency pack was dropped to the men which included a radio and confirmed that they were from the Gypsy Trader.

Commanding Officer No. 5 Squadron Wing Commander Nick Olney said, "It was a great result for our Orion crew who are trained to think of all possibilities when a vessel goes missing, including the possibility that the people on board may be at a remote land location, rather than being at sea."

It appears that the four men moored the vessel and then went ashore. The vessel then slipped its mooring approximately 10 days ago and drifted off in a southerly direction. They had been marooned on the uninhabited conservation reserve ever since. A patrol boat from Rarotonga uplifted the four men on Monday.

Photo Caption: Four men marooned on Manuae Island in the Cook Islands are spotted by a Royal New Zealand Air Force P-3K Orion.
 

(Photo: Alofa Tuvalu)

TUVALU: International Year of Biodiversity - Alofa Tuvalu plunges into the water!
Source: Alofa Tuvalu Press Release

Global warming affects Tuvaluan marine life as surely as sea-level rise threatens this South Pacific micro-nation with disappearance within the next few decades. As the main source of protein to the Tuvaluan people, the ocean that surrounds the archipelago is home to a vital marine biodiversity whose size and nature is still largely unknown.

For 3 years, the French and Tuvaluan NGO, Alofa Tuvalu, has been leading « Tuvalu Marine Life », an extensive study and documentation project aimed at reinforcing Tuvalu’s capacities to survey, monitor and manage its marine resources, along with increasing its local and scientific knowledge of them.

In 2009, the project’s first phase consisted of summarizing existing data and identifying gaps in knowledge. After consultations with the project’s stakeholders, 3 out of 9 islands of Tuvalu have been chosen to host the needed remaining investigations : Funafuti (the capital atoll, at the center of the archipelago), Nanumea (to the north) and Nukulaelae (to the south).

Alofa Tuvalu’s experts in marine biodiversity, Sandrine Job, Daniela Ceccarelli, Semese Alefaio, are carrying out this second phase in partnership with Tuvalu fisheries (Tupulaga Poulasi and Nikolasi Apinelu), the environment office, local governments, the NBSAP program (National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan), New Zealand Aid, University of South Pacific and others.

Data will be analyzed and shared with other existing networks. Communication tools will then be produced : a reference and patrimonial book about Tuvalu’s biodiversity and traditional knowledge, along with useful materials for local communities.

Implemented under the aegis of Unesco, the Tuvalu Marine Life project is supported by the Total Foundation for Entreprise and CRISP (Coral Initiative for the Pacific, French Agency for Development).

* The project is an integral part of the « Small is Beautiful » plan : helping Tuvalu -- the first sovereign nation threatened to be wiped off the map due to the effects of climate change -- survive as a nation and to preserve its identity and culture. These goals are addressed via a range of concrete, reproducible actions (biodiversity, energy, waste) in Tuvalu and their promotion elsewhere in the world. (www.alofatuvalu.tv)

More details about the project :
http://www.alofatuvalu.tv/US/05_a_tuvalu/page_05_us.html#tuvalumarinlife
 

(Photo: Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat)

WORLDWIDE: Auditors-General from Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu share experiences
Source: Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Press Release

Public auditing standards in three Smaller Island States have been given a significant boost.

Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu have reported positive progress one year into the Sub-Regional Audit Support (SAS) Programme.

Auditors-General from Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu and development partners met this week in Suva, Fiji, to discuss progress, challenges and a way forward for the SAS Programme.

“The SAS Programme is the first of its kind in the region,” explained Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Tuiloma Neroni Slade.

“It aims to increase public auditing capacity in Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu to uniformly high standards.

“This will in turn contribute to good governance through improved accountability and efficiency in providing audit scrutiny and oversight over the use of public resources of these three countries,” Mr Slade added.

The SAS Programme was setup under the Pacific Regional Audit Initiative (PRAI) which is a priority in the Pacific Plan. The initiative was endorsed by Forum Leaders in 2005 and subsequently supported by Forum Economic Ministers. It seeks to strengthen regional support to audit services within the region to improve integrity and financial scrutiny.

“We are greatly encouraged by the results from the first year of the SAS Programme, and look forward to further tangible in-country results during future stages of the initiative,” said Executive Director of the Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institutions (PASAI), Mr Eroni Vatuloka.

The SAS Programme’s first year covered both training and fieldwork experience for civil servants and State Owned Enterprise (SOE) staff in Tuvalu, Kiribati and Nauru.

“A key element in this project’s success is to ensure that there are local champions to see continuation of the project in absence of the SAS team,” said SAS Programme coordinator, Mr Alex George.

Mr George and SAS Audit Expert, Ms Beulah Daunakamakama, spent the last year coordinating the implementation of the SAS Programme in Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu.

Auditors-General welcomed the SAS Programme, also highlighting the need for a sustainable approach to public auditing capacity building.

“Overall I saw an improvement in our office following the assistance of the SAS Programme, even when the SAS team departed” said the Auditor-General of Tuvalu, and Chairperson of the SAS Committee, Mr Isaako Kine. “We greatly welcome closer and longer association with the Programme. Sustainability will be a crucial element in mapping out a way forward.”

The Pacific Regional Audit Initiative was developed under the guidance of the Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institutions (PASAI), with support from ADB and AusAID, under the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat’s co-ordination, given the interest of Forum Leaders on good governance, as articulated in the Pacific Plan.

Photo Caption: (L-R) Mr Subhas Joshi, PFTAC Public Financial Management Advisor and Mr Isaako Kine, Auditor-General of Tuvalu and Chairperson of the SAS Committee, at their meeting in Suva this week.