NEWSPAGE 24 May
2010

(Photo: Katchafire)

(Photo: Samoa Government)

SAMOA: Parliamentary Updates
Source: Government Press Secretariat Press Release

Samoa’s Accession to the World Trade Organisation

Cabinet has approved participation by the Samoa representatives of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) meeting to be held in Geneva on the 31st May - 2nd June 2010.

This meeting will discuss the report of Samoa’s WTO accession. This report includes all negotiations done on trades from 1998 between Samoa and members of the WTO. Areas incorporated in the report include:
• Reviewing of Intellectual Property Act,
• Relaxing embargoes on some Imported Goods,
• Customs Valuation,
• Tax (VAGST) for Farmers.

This meeting will include members of the WTO from Australia, New Zealand, China, America, Japan, Ukraine, Honduras and European Union. Other members who will be interested will also join the meeting.


Clean up Day for Apia Town Area

Cabinet has approved the 29th of May 2010 as the Clean Up Day for the Apia Town Area prior to the Independence Day Celebrations.

All Government Ministries and Corporations will be allocated to different parts of Apia Town area for cleaning up.


Minister of Women to attend meetings in Geneva and Barbados

Cabinet has approved the participation by the Minister of Women, Fiame Naomi Mataafa to meetings in Geneva and Barbados on 24 May - 9 June 2010.

The Minister will attend the first meeting on High Level Taskforce on the Global Framework for Climate Services in Geneva on 24 -26 May 2010.

The Minister, after this meeting will be accompanied by the Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry, Kuiniselani Toelupe Tago to the 9th Women Affairs Ministers Meeting in Barbados on 7 - 9 June 2010.


Deputy Prime Minister to visit Shanghai Expo

Cabinet has approved the participation by Deputy Prime Minister Misa Telefoni to officially inspect the Shanghai Expo and especially the Samoan Village in Shanghai, China.

The Deputy Prime Minister and his delegation will depart on 21 May 2010.


Regional Workshop on Canine Capability Enhancement

Cabinet has approved the participation by a representative of the Ministry of Revenue to a Regional Workshop on Canine Capability Enhancement workshop to be held in Kashiwa Japan on 24 May 2010.

The programme was initiated by the World Customs Organisation (WCO) for Asia and Pacific Island members. The programme focuses on training officials responsible for the handling of canines in each country.

Representing Samoa is Ietitaia Pila Soliola.
 

(Photo: J. Kneubuhl)

AMERICAN SAMOA: ASCC signs MoU with Environmental Protection Agency
Source: American Samoa Community College Press Release

On October 14, 2009, President Barack Obama signed the Executive Order reestablishing the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI). The Initiative works to improve the quality of life and opportunities for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders by facilitating increased access to and participation in federal programs where they remain underserved. Most of the major departments, agencies and offices in the nation’s capitol are participating in the Initiative, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), who sent a team of representatives to visit locations in the American Pacific. This six-member EPA team reached American Samoa this week, and has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between their agency and the American Samoa Community College (ASCC).

The EPA's own AAPI Initiative sets forth a comprehensive and detailed approach to promote greater access to economic and employment opportunities with the Agency, increase EPA support for AAPI serving institutions or organizations, facilitate access to environmental information, and improve the delivery of programs and services of particular importance to the AAPI community. The MOU with ASCC lists 17 areas of potential collaboration, including student internship opportunities; research opportunities; information and technical assistance; experts and faculty exchange; EPA participation in conferences, lectures, and career fairs; and more.

“This MOU opens up a number of valuable opportunities that can mutually benefit to the College, the community, and the EPA,” said ASCC President Dr. Seth Galea’i, who signed the document this past Wednesday. “Concerns over the protection of our environment continue to increase as time goes on, so we need more students exposed to this area of study. It gives students who show promise in the sciences a potential career focus, as well as enabling collaboration on future ASCC research projects. As we develop our interaction with the EPA on a national level, we hope to provide a resource to assist with the challenging work our local EPA does so well.”

EPA visiting team member Jeanette L. Brown, Director, EPA Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP), explained, “Through the MOU, we hope to increase and enhance cooperation between the EPA and ASCC over the next five years. One component of EPA’s OSBP is the Minority Academic Institutions Program, which was created to increase opportunities for Minority Academic Institutions to participate in federal programs. Increased participation in federal programs will strengthen these schools, and our entire nation, by promoting faculty development, increasing institutional capacity, and fully developing the diverse talent pool that constitutes our nation. Success in fulfilling these critical objectives will help our economy to thrive and keep America competitive in the global market. In order for America to remain strong, all of our nation's schools must be fully developed.”

Brown and her fellow team members kept to a busy schedule while visiting the Territory. Kirk Laflin and Steve Fenton of the National Partnership for Environmental Technology Education gave a two day training on the application process for grants from the EPA and other federal sources. Meanwhile, under the supervision of Piyachat Terrell of the EPA White House AAPI Initiative, a group of students from ASCC and the public schools created a photo essay titled “A Portrait of Our Environment” featuring their original photographs and words, as part of an Environmental Justice workshop designed to engage student in environmental activities in their communities. In collaboration with the American Samoa Small Business Development Center (AS-SBDC), Brown presented a workshop on opportunities for local entrepreneurs to participate in EPA programs and services. In the midst of all this activity, the team also met with local EPA Director Dr. Toa’fa Vaiaga’e.

While the team departed on this past Thursday’s flight, Brown said she looks forward to future collaborations between the EPA and their partners in the Territory. “We enjoyed the warm and welcoming people of American Samoa,” she reflected, “and greatly appreciate the reception we received from the local EPA, ASCC, AS-SBDC, and ASG. The EPA has a consistent demand for highly trained, diverse professionals to fulfill its mission, and ASCC can help us meet our needs to encourage full representation of all citizens. We also hope the participation of Pacific island students can improve through our partnership.”

For the full text of President Obama’s White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, visit: www.epa.gov/aapi/ and click on Related Links.

Photo Caption: ASCC President Dr. Seth Galea'i (seated, right) signs a Memorandum of understanding with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) whiie members of the ASCC administration and EPA visiting team look on. EPA team leader Jeanette L. Brown is seated on the left.
 

FIJI: PIFS and PINA renew MoU
Source: Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Press Release

The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) and the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) have renewed a Memorandum of Understanding first signed in 2007 formalising the working relationship that exists between the two organizations.

The new MoU was signed in Suva, Fiji on 20th May by the Acting Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Mr Peter Forau and the President of PINA, Mr Moses Stevens.

“The Forum Secretariat is very happy to continue with the working relationship that has been established with PINA, the premier regional media association, over the years for the benefit of the two organisations’ membership in the Pacific region,” said Tuiloma Neroni Slade, PIFS Secretary General.

“We are committed to cooperating with PINA to co-ordinate current activities and consider new initiatives that will build the capacity of the Association’s membership to ensure that they keep the region informed of decisions made by Forum Leaders and PIFS’s implementation of the decisions.”

Mr Slade urges PINA “to continue to practice responsible, impartial journalism and maintain ethical journalistic standards in its own reporting, and will promote and encourage such practices and standards in the work of all its members.”

“PINA welcomes the continued recognition of the Association by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, as the only Pacific wide news association that represents media outlets in the Forum member countries,” said Mr Moses Stevens, PINA President.

Mr Stevens added: “The signing of the MoU is a clear reflection of PIFS continued recognition of PINA as an important player in the promotion of good governance among its member countries through training of its membership and the protection of the freedom of the media.

“PINA is focusing on developing partnerships with regional governments most of which are members of PIFS, through the national media associations. PINA believes that mutual understanding between regional governments and the media in regards to their respective roles in promoting development is significantly important.”

Mr Stevens concluded: “The PIFS-PINA MoU contemplates an extensive range of co-operative activities. PINA is confident that with our concerted efforts, the MoU will deliver the benefits it promises.”
 

(Photo: Solomon Star)

SOLOMON ISLANDS: Work on new building at SICHE to start soon
Source: Solomon Star

Construction of a new building for the School of Natural Resources will start soon.

This followed a ground-breaking ceremony conducted at the site last Wednesday.

The new building, funding by the Government, will cater for the Certificate of Environmental Studies programme.

This is a new course the school, which is part of the Solomon Islands College of Higher Education (SICHE) is offering.

Head of School Connelly Sadakabatu said the ground breaking ceremony comes three years after they first planned the new programme.

He said the new building is estimated to cost about $400,000.

“Construction should complete by October this year,” Mr Sadakabatu said.

He said the up to 30 students have enrolled for this new course and their classes will start in the second semester this year.

Classes will be conducted in a temporary classroom until the new building is completed.

Most of the students are being sponsored by the Ministry of Environment and Conservation.

“We are grateful to the ministry for recognising the need of our school.”

“This is really important in order to educate our youths on the importance of conserving and utilising our environment in a proper way.”

“This school deserves recognition as it plays an important role in the country,” Mr Sadakabatu said.

The ministry’s under-secretary Chanel Iro thanked the school for introducing this important programme.

He said the ministry will do all it can to ensure the programme is successful.

Mr Iroi said the building project will not only benefit the study program but the whole School of Natural Resources because it is experiencing classroom shortage.
 

(Photos: Sgt. 1st Class Christopher DeHart)

WORLDWIDE: Celebration honours Soldier diversity
Source: United States Division - South Press Release

Many nations, many cultures, one celebration honouring those who serve in and support the Army from the South Pacific regions, no matter what generation they represent.

This was the goal of the 2010 Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebration scheduled May 15, 2010, at the Contingency Operating Base Adder Memorial Hall.

Music and dancing was offered to all, as well as food steeped in rich cultures from the Pacific Islands. Hawaii, Tahiti, Fiji, New Zealand (Aotearoa) and Samoa were all represented during the celebration by Soldiers, Airmen and contractors with heritage from the Pacific Island region who performed.

“This (event) is about sharing our culture and who we are with everyone who wants to take part,” said Sgt. John Yang, a native of Sinamoga, Western Samoa, and the supply non-commissioned officer-in-charge for Company C, 412th Aviation Support Battalion, Task Force 12.

Yang explained that most people from the island region are extremely tolerant and very open and inviting to all, no matter whom they are or where they are from. Feasts of food, games, sports and all manner of social mingling can be found at virtually any celebration they host.

The heritage celebration was expected to be an inviting and enjoyable time for all who attended and a chance to partake in true Pacific Island hospitality and culture.

Photo Captions:

Photo 1 - Dancers and performers get into traditional dress before practicing their dances May 4, 2010, in preparation for the big celebration May 15 at Memorial Hall on Contingency Operating Base Adder, Iraq.

Photo 2 - The male performers help one another get into traditional garb during their practice.

Photo 3 - Charlene Maneafaiga places a necklace, called an “ula nifo,” on one of the dancers May 4, 2010, before their practice in preparation for the big celebration May 15 at Memorial Hall on Contingency Operating Base Adder, Iraq. The ula nifo is a traditional Samoan necklace; 'ula' meaning 'necklace' and 'nifo' meaning 'tooth'. Traditionally, these necklaces were made from the teeth of sperm whales that were split and ground down into curved and pointed pendants.