NEWSPAGE 16 June
2010

(Photo: City Gallery Wellington)

(Photos: Australian High Commission)

SAMOA: Australia gives $2.8 million funding boost for education buildings
Source: Australian High Commission Press Release

Australia will provide a further $2.8 million (A$1.4 million) for the completion of the new Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture Headquarters in Apia as well as to support the construction of 11 secondary schools, mainly in rural areas.

The Upolu-based schools to be supported include: Fagaloa CLC (Fagaloa), Avele College (Vailima), Aleipata Secondary School (Mutiatele), Lefaga Secondary School (Savaia), Safata Secondary School (Sataoa), Aana No. 1 Secondary School (Faleolo), Samoa College (Vaivase Tai) and Sagaga Secondary School (Tuana’i). The Savaii-based schools to be supported include: Alofi o Taoa (Safune), Itu o Tane Secondary School (Avao) and Savaii Sisifo Secondary School (Saleilua).

Australia provided an initial grant of US$2.64 million to help fund the new buildings in a joint partnership with Samoa, the Asian Development Bank and New Zealand. The new funding of $2.8 million is in addition to this grant.

Australia’s Foreign Minister Steven Smith joined Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Lupesoli’ai Sailele Malielegaoi, the New Zealand High Commissioner and a representative from the Asian Development Bank for the ground breaking ceremony in June last year for the new US$9.2 million state-of-the art education headquarters.

Australian High Commissioner to Samoa, Matt Anderson said that the additional funding will ensure the timely completion of the new education building and progress on the much needed schools.

“The new Education headquarters building at Malifa is well underway and due to be opened in November this year. The additional funding will ensure that the building remains on track for the November opening,” Mr Anderson said.

Mr Anderson said $8 million for Education had already been given this year under the Samoa- Australia Partnership for Development.

“This will boost teacher retention through the completion of the National Teacher Development Framework, has allowed research on teacher supply and demand, supported the implementation of the Technical and Vocational

Education and Training component of the Samoa National System of Qualifications, kick-started the five year inclusive education disability program and assisted access to free education for all children through the School Fee Relief Scheme.”

“This additional funding complements Australia’s ongoing support to education in Samoa. Australia already makes an annual grant of $5.8 million (A$ 2.9 million) to Samoa’s education sector to improve the quality of education through better curriculum, assessment procedures, learning materials and teaching practice.”

While visiting Samoa last year, Mr Smith said education is a fundamental springboard for development.

“Australia is one of Samoa’s key development assistance partners and one of the key strands of the Partnership for Development is our contribution to the education of young Samoans,” Mr Smith said.

“Of all the things you can do for a son or a daughter, of all the things you can do for the young citizens of your nation, giving them the chance of a quality education is perhaps the best and most important.”

“The multiplier effects of education are enormous. Universal primary education is now achievable and the difference between the number of girls and boys attending Samoan schools has been significantly reduced.”

“Our support for education in Samoa reflects the warm and friendly relationship that our two countries enjoy. Our partnership for development underpins our joint efforts to promote social and economic growth in Samoa, with Australian assistance tailored to promote jobs, private sector growth, improved law and justice, good governance, health and importantly, education,” Mr Smith said.

Photo Captions:

Photos 1 & 2 - Work underway at the new Education Headquarters.

Photo 3 - Australia’s Foreign Minister Steven Smith joined Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Lupesoli’ai Sailele Malielegaoi and New Zealand High Commissioner to Samoa, Caroline Bilkey for the ground breaking ceremony in June last year for the new US$9.2 million state-of-the art education headquarters
 

AMERICAN SAMOA: Wentworth Military Academy thanked for tsunami relief donation
Source: Office of Congressman Faleomavaega Press Release

Congressman Faleomavaega recently expressed his greatest appreciation to Wentworth Military Academy and the local community and businesses in the surrounding area of the Academy that helped raise a grand total of $32,200 towards tsunami relief efforts in American Samoa.

Upon receiving news of the devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit American Samoa last September, Superintendent Colonel Lierman and staff met with all of our American Samoan cadets. They talked and prayed with them daily as the cadets awaited updates from their families and friends. Like many organizations and community members across the nation, the Academy wanted to show their support for our cadets and contribute to the families affected by the disaster.

Colonel Lierman and his staff worked with the cadets as well as the local Samoan and Pacific Islander community to organize a luau fundraiser. Many local companies and organizations also assisted and some of the funds were contributed to the families of the cadets while some went towards purchasing plane fares for the cadets to visit their families during Christmas. The balance, $15,500, was donated recently to American Samoa Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (ASVOAD) which is under the chairmanship of Reverend Samuel Tialavea to help with ongoing relief efforts in the Territory.

“I would like to take this opportunity to extend my deepest gratitude to Superintendant Colonel Lierman, President Colonel Sellers, faculty, staff, and administration at Wentworth Military Academy for their unending support for our American Samoan cadets. I also thank the 130th Corps of Cadets, their families, and the community members from Lexington, Independence, and Kansas City who were very supportive of this event,” Faleomavaega stated.

“The devastation that struck our homeland last September affected Samoans around the world and I am very grateful for the caring educators at Wentworth Military Academy and community members who provided our cadets with much-needed emotional and spiritual support. I also thank Colonel Lierman for taking the initiative to work with our cadets to organize a positive outlet and contribute towards relief efforts. Wentworth Military Academy has truly become a second home to our young Samoan cadets, and I believe that the support they gave is something for which all Samoans, and Americans, can be thankful,” the Congressman concluded.
 

FIJI: PFIP provides support for Pacific participants' microfinance training
Source: United Nations Development Programme Press Release

Five representatives from the Reserve or Central Banks in Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu and two representatives from microfinance institutions in Fiji will be the first group of Pacific Islanders to attend the Boulder Institute of Microfinance training that will be held in Turin, Italy from July 19th to August 6.

The Pacific Financial Inclusion Programme (PFIP) has provided funding for travel and accommodation for the seven participants, who had benefited from scholarships to support their tuition. The bank officials’ tuition cost was provided by the European Union while the MasterCard Foundation provided scholarships to the representatives of the microfinance institutes. PFIP made a special effort to sponsor female microfinance managers from around the Pacific region. Both PFIP supported applicants were extended scholarships, as well as all PFIP Reserve bank partners.

The 16th annual Boulder Microfinance Training Program is often cited as the primer Microfinance training in the world, and has a strong focus on sustainability, management, policy and regulation. The training provides an excellent opportunity for learning, dialogue, and debate with expert faculty and microfinance professionals from leading institutions around the world.

The seven participants supported by PFIP include Owen Kose (Bank of Papua New Guinea), Iosefo Bourne (Central Bank of Samoa), Noel Vari (Reserve Bank of Vanuatu), Neumi Usumaki (Reserve Bank of Fiji), Raynold Moveni (Central Bank of Solomon Islands), Lavenia Baro (Fiji Council of Social Services Microfinance Unit) and Dorinda Work (Microfinance West, Lautoka).

“The Boulder institute attracts some of the best minds in the microfinance business and they have a dedicated set of courses for MFI managers and regulators. We are very grateful to our friends at MasterCard Foundation and the European Union for their strong support of the Pacific. This will be the first group of Pacific Islanders to attend and we are sure they will return energized and prepared to help the unbanked gain access to the financial services they require,” said Tillman Bruett, Regional Advisor of PFIP.

PFIP is a Pacific-wide programme helping to provide sustainable financial services to low income households. It is funded by the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), the European Union and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and operates from the UNDP Pacific Centre.
 

(Photo: BBC News)

TUVALU: Low-lying Pacific islands 'growing not sinking'
Source: BBC News

A new geological study has shown that many low-lying Pacific islands are growing, not sinking.

The islands of Tuvalu, Kiribati and the Federated States of Micronesia are among those which have grown, because of coral debris and sediment.

The study, featured in the magazine the New Scientist, predicts that the islands will still be there in 100 years' time.

However it is still unsure whether many of them will be inhabitable.

Prognosis 'incorrect'

In recent times, the inhabitants of many low-lying Pacific islands have come to fear their homelands being wiped off the map because of rising sea levels.

But this study of 27 islands over the last 60 years suggests that most have remained stable, while some have actually grown.

Using historical photographs and satellite imaging, the geologists found that 80% of the islands had either remained the same or got larger - in some cases, dramatically so.

They say it is due to the build-up of coral debris and sediment, and to land reclamation.

Associate Professor Paul Kench of Auckland University, who took part in the study, published in the journal Global and Planetary Change, says the islands are not in immediate danger of extinction.

"That rather gloomy prognosis for these nations is incorrect," he said.

"We have now got the evidence to suggest that the physical foundation of these countries will still be there in 100 years, so they perhaps do not need to flee their country."

But although these islands might not be submerged under the waves in the short-term, it does not mean they will be inhabitable in the long-term, and the scientists believe further rises in sea levels pose a significant danger to the livelihoods of people living in Tuvalu, Kiribati and the Federated States of Micronesia.

One scientist in Kiribati said that people should not be lulled into thinking that inundation and coastal erosion were not a major threat.

Photo Caption: Low-lying Tuvalu is one of many Pacific states worried by climate change.
 

(Photo: Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme)

WORLDWIDE: Council of Regional Organisations meet in Samoa
Source: Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme Press Release

The 25th meeting of the Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific took place in Apia, Samoa last week. The event was hosted by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme, and chaired by Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Tuiloma Neroni Slade.

The meeting is an annual event which brings together the executive leadership of key regional inter-governmental agencies to discuss their collective priorities under the Pacific Plan and working together to respond to the most pressing challenges facing the people of the Pacific. Executives will cover a wide range of area, from economic development, climate change and fisheries.

“We at SPREP are pleased to host this very important gathering, there are ten inter-governmental agencies in the CROP all aiming to promote harmonisation and collaboration in all areas of our work,” said David Sheppard, Director of SPREP.

“For SPREP, climate change is an important overarching issue that impacts upon all areas of life for Pacific people, it’s at this gathering that important discussions will lead to ways we can better assist Pacific communities.”

Secretary General Slade stated that the meeting is an important opportunity to review collective efforts towards regional integration under the Pacific Plan.

“This meeting highlights the importance of ongoing collaboration and inter- agency coordination to tackle the challenges facing the Pacific.”

The two day meeting was preceded by a site visit to the tsunami affected areas in southern Upolu. This allowed selected heads of CROP agencies to view first hand the impact of the disaster and the process of recovery.

Executives expressed their sincere thanks to the Government of Samoa and SPREP for organising this important event. They noted the impressive recovery efforts and acknowledged the need to continue supporting the healing processes for people most affected.

The CROP regional inter-governmental agencies attending the meeting are the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Forum Fisheries Agency, Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme, South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission, Pacific Islands Development Programme, University of the South Pacific, Pacific Power Association, Fiji School of Medicine and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.