NEWSPAGE 28 July
2010

(Photo: New Zealand Defence Force)

SAMOA: Political commitment essential to tackling corruption
Source: United Nations Development Programme Press Release

At the close of the four-day Pacific Regional Meeting on the Ratification and Implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), in Apia, delegates expressed their eagerness to report back to their governments on how acceding to UNCAC can support their national efforts at combating corruption.

“We want our members of Parliament to be made aware of UNCAC so that it is not just another United Nations convention to be acceded to by the Marshall Islands” stated Lydia Kaminaga, the Foreign Service Officer from the Marshall Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Pacific delegates identified their national priorities in relation to UNCAC ratification and implementation, as well as their challenges and technical assistance needs. A common priority for countries was the need to assess their current legislative compliance with UNCAC, including identifying gaps in existing legislation and priority areas for reform.

The most significant challenge identified by participants was the need to build strong political will at home to accede to UNCAC. Endorsement by the highest levels of Government was considered crucial, but participants also recognised the need to promote awareness and support across the community. Human and financial resource constraints were also raised as a key issue.

“Our priority will be to get organised and obtain the national Leader’s endorsement. We will make a recommendation to set up an Anti-Corruption Taskforce, who can then lead the process within Government to promote accession”, noted the Federated States of Micronesia’s Assistant Attorney General, Mr. Johnson Asher.

On a positive note, the Director of the Fiji Financial Intelligence Unit, Mr Razim Buksh, noted that while some States in the region suffer from capacity constraints, he was willing and ready to offer other Financial Intelligence Units in the region attachment opportunities as a ‘south-south capacity building initiative’.

The four-day regional meeting, which began on Monday 19 July and ended on Thursday 22 July, was attended by senior government officials from fourteen Pacific Island countries, and officials from the World Bank Stolen Assets Recovery Initiative, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, European Union, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) country offices and regional centre, and the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
 

(Photo: Kerry Ryan)

AUSTRALIA: Salute to an exceptional young athlete
Source: Kerry Ryan

Margaret Satupai is an 18 year old athlete who represented Samoa at the IAAF World Junior Athletic Championships held in Moncton Canada last week.

She finished 5th in the shot put (15.62m) and 7th in the discus event (51.31m) an outstanding effort to be placed in the top 8 in two different events on the world stage. Margaret was the youngest of the finalists in both events. She became her countries first finalist and best placed ever at a World Junior Championship.

After a short break Margaret will get back into training with the Oceania Area Championship held in Cairns Australia in September and the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi India in October her next major competitions.

Biography / Achievements:

Age - 18 years
Resides - Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Events - Shot Put, Discus, Hammer
Coach - Mr Kerry Ryan
Club - Glenhuntly Athletic Club

Margaret has represented Samoa at International level at the following competitions:

2008 Commonwealth Youth Games Pune, India
Silver Medal - Discus
Bronze Medal - Shot Put

2008 World Junior Championships Bydgoszez, Poland
10th - Qualifying round

2009 World Youth Championships Bressannone, Italy
Silver Medal - Shot Put
4th Final - Discus

2010 World Junior Championships Moncton, Canada
5th Final - Shot Put
7th Final - Discus

Current holder of the following records:

International age records - 13 years shot put & 14 years shot put

Samoan National Open age records - Shot Put, Discus & Hammer

Victorian State records - Shot Put & Discus

Australian Little Aths records - Shot Put

Glenhuntly Club Records- all age groups inclusive from u/14yrs to open in both shot put and discus

Current rankings:

World ranking
shot put u/19 yrs - No1
shot put u/20yrs - No6

Pacific Island ranking Open Women
Shot Put - No1
Discus - No1
Hammer - No3

Australian ranking
Open Shot Put - No2
U/20 Shot Put - No1
Open Discus - No4
U/20 Discus - No2

Victorian ranking
Open Shot Put - No1
U/20 Shot Put - No1
Open Discus - No3
u/20 Discus - No2

Photo Caption: Margaret Satupai.
 

(Photo: Fiji Times)

FIJI: PM to head to China to attend Shanghai Expo
Source: Xinhua News Agency

A delegation led by Fiji Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama will be on a mission to attract Chinese investors at the 2010 Shanghai Expo in China.

Commodore Bainimarama confirmed the trip to Fiji media on Monday night, saying it was a worthwhile one.

He said apart from attending the Expo, he would also meet up with potential investors from China willing to set up business in the island nation.

"I will be meeting with some investors in China who have shown their interest to come and set up their businesses in our country, "he said.

A highlight of Bainimarama's trip will also be the Fiji National Day Events taking center stage at the Expo.

Bainimarama jets out of Fiji on Friday while the rest of his contingent will leave Fiji on Saturday morning.

He will be accompanied by Air Pacific chief executive officer and managing director David Pflieger, Expo's commissioner general Sovaia Marawa and the executive chair of Fiji Islands Trade and Investment Bureau Adrian Sofield.

The Shanghai Expo theme is "Better City Better Life."

Bainimarama said this represents the common wish for human kind -- that is a better living for the future of the urban areas.

He said a lot would be expected from the trip because he would also discuss Fiji's reforms with potential investors.

Close to 1 million visitors visited the Fiji Pod in the Pacific Pavillion since the Shanghai Expo started in May.

At the Fiji pod, elegant tapa, was introduced along with exquisite handicrafts and natural products for visitors from China and from around the world.

Photo Caption: Fiji Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama.
 

(Photo: Ruth Berkowitz)

TAHITI: Upoo Tahiti outrigger blessed in Huahine before continuing Pacific voyage
Source: YachtPals
 

By Ruth Berkowitz

On July 20th, we watched the people in Huahine bless the rudder of the traditional 15 meter outrigger canoe docked in the town of Fare. This special catamaran called Upoo Tahiti, which means “Head of Tahiti,” had a piglet, rooster and plenty of bananas and taro on board. She is one of many outrigger canoes sailing west across the Pacific to China. Captain and designer, Clement Pito, has been imagining this voyage for the past 20 years and his dream had finally come to fruition.

Pito, bare breasted with two bands of tatoos on his arms, a traditional skirt and a seaweed of necklace, hopes his sailing expedition will bring Polynesians closer to their ancestors who bravely left their homes in Asia and sailed east to settle in the Pacific islands. In the traditional fashion, Pito’s crew will navigate by the stars. They have an outboard Yamaha motor just in case, but they don’t plan on using it much.

Unfortunately, last week when Upoo Tahiti sailed 90 miles from Papeete to Huahine, the strong seas damaged the boat’s rudder and delayed their departure in Huahine. Five days later with lots of help from the locals, they repaired the boat and set sail again.

Before they untied their dock lines, the town gathered to give them a serious send off and to bless the new rudder. Exquisite dancers came to the dock, wiggling their hips in a sensuous manner all in sync with the musicians, who pounded their drums and strummed the ukuleles. Politicians, sailors and others showered the Upoo Tahiti crew with gifts and blessings, to make sure that the seas would treat them kindly and that their bellies would be filled with local food.

The numerous tikis (spiritual wooden statues) on board also served as guardians. My favourite was the fishing tiki who undoubtedly helps bring in the fish. Perhaps we need to acquire a tiki to improve our fishing. The port side tiki on the bow was equally intriguing.

The ceremony was fantastic and made me a tid-bit envious of the send-off. The town of Sausalito didn’t gather on the docks and serenade us when we left more 22 months ago. Next time, they’ll have to study the Polynesian way.

Photo Caption: Upoo Tahiti shortly before departing Huahine.
 

(Photo: Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme)

WORLDWIDE: SPREP Launches study on regional financing for climate change
Source: Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme Press Release

The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) has commenced a study with a view to establishing a regional Climate Change Fund or other mechanism. It will aim to help Pacific island countries improve access to and management of the various financial resources being committed globally to combat climate change.

The study responds to recommendations of the Pacific Climate Change Roundtable held in the Marshall Islands in 2009. Delegates to the Roundtable meeting had expressed concern that, while millions of dollars in climate change funding are currently available at the global level, the Pacific region faces challenges in the ability to access this funding. There are also the added difficulties with effectively managing and implementing many of the projects under current funding arrangements.

The lack of human resources to design and develop proposals and general limitations in technical expertise are major challenges. Compounding the issue are the different expectations and reporting requirements of the different donor organisations.

“There is a need to develop a process that will help countries access funds that can be mobilised in a timely fashion to meet their priorities in mitigation and adaptation,” said SPREP’s Climate Change Adviser, Mr Espen Ronneberg.

At the same time, it is recognised that countries also require assistance in implementation and management of mitigation and adaptation initiatives and in ensuring timely reporting to donors.

“The funding mechanism will need to also address this issue and provide some form of technical backstopping for those countries requiring this additional assistance,” said Mr Ronneberg.

The study will assess resources currently available to Pacific Island Countries for Climate Change initiatives and will identify likely new funding.

“This information will help guide future national and regional responses and policies, including coordination arrangements,” explained Mr Ronneberg.

The SPREP-commissioned study is timely with climate change financing set to dramatically increase as a result of the Copenhagen Accord, which includes a collective commitment by developed countries to provide new and additional resources approaching US$30 billion for the period 2010 - 2012.

The Copenhagen Accord, which was the outcome of the 10th Conference of Parties to the 2009 UN Climate Change Convention, also commits developed countries to jointly mobilise US$100 billion a year by 2020 to address the needs of developing countries.

“The outcomes of the study will help ensure that Pacific requirements are well-articulated and that current challenges and barriers to accessing available climate funds are minimised under current international financing mechanisms,” said Mr Ronneberg.

The results of the study will be presented to the SPREP Ministerial Meeting in Madang, Papua New Guinea in September this year.

Photo Caption: Coastal erosion in Aitutaki, Cook Islands.