NEWSPAGE 22 October
2010

(Photo: Maori Party)

(Photo: Oceania Football Confederation)

SAMOA: Festival of football brings joy
Source: Oceania Football Confederation Press Release

Football-mad youngsters in the district of Aleipata have been treated to a fun-filled festival of the world game.

The 'Fun Football' programme included a series of activities and games and took place on Monday at Saleapaga, before moving on to the village of Lepa.

Around 150 eager youngsters were involved and each learned basic skills like dribbling with the ball before taking part in small-sided games.

On hand were several players from the SamoaTel National League, who volunteered to assist in running the festival.

Saleapaga Primary School teacher Fagaloga Lupesoliai Uelese was delighted to see football being used as a tool to bring joy to the local children.

“This programme is very good for all the children, especially since they suffered from the tsunami last year. It’s a good way for them to recover from their sadness," Uelese says.

The participants were given the opportunity to win new pairs of football boots during a dance competition. They were divided into four different age-groups and the best dancers were then awarded the boots. All the children were also presented with gift packs.

“We here at the Football Federation Samoa (FFS) wanted to show our support to the children of Saleapaga and Lepa, many of whom were affected in last year’s tsunami, by organising this fun day where they were able to interact with other kids by playing football," FFS chief executive Fred Young says.

"We hope that at least for a few hours they were able to forget some of the hardships they experienced from the devastating tsunami and enjoy themselves."

The Fun Football programme was organised by FFS and was made possible with the support of the villages of Saleapaga and Lepa. FFS were given access to the school grounds at both villages to run the event.

For more on Samoa football visit www.footballsamoa.ws 
 

AUSTRALIA: Solomon Islands PM to speak at business forum
Source: Solomon Star

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Danny Philip will be the guest speaker at the second Australia Solomon Islands Business Forum (ASIBF) today in Brisbane, Australia.

This was confirmed by Frank Yourn, Executive Director of the Australian Pacific Islands Business Council, which organised the event.

The Solomon Star understands that Prime Minister Danny Philip was invited to speak at the forum.

And yesterday Mr Yourn said Mr Philip had confirmed his attendance.

“Prime Minister Danny Philip will be one of the guest speakers at the forum,” he said.

Mr Yourn who was in the country early this week to finalise the program left yesterday.

He said more than 60 participants are expected to attend the one day forum.

Mr Yourn said the first of such forum was held in June last year.

He said the intention is to make that forum an annual one.

With Solomon Islands recovering from the ethnic crisis and the return of law and order, such a forum is important to provide avenue for the government and the business sector in Solomon Islands to tell Australian investors about opportunities that are available here.

“The Solomon Islands economy has growing opportunities for Australian business to trade into the market and also for investment in existing and new industry opportunities,” Mr Yourn said.

He explained that this one day Business Forum in Brisbane will feature expert presentations on the current political, economic, commercial and investment climate in Solomon Islands.

“The forum also provides excellent opportunities for contact with a range of senior businesspeople with wide experience of doing business in Solomon Islands.

“There are excellent export opportunities in a wide range of sectors including mining and related industries, education and training, agri-business, building and construction, security products, marine products, food and beverage supply and services, telecommunications and internet service providers, power generation, IT systems, tourism development and services, and more,” he said.

A number of local and Australian business people are expected to attend the forum.

The Australia Pacific Islands Business Council was established in 2000.

The council is a non-profit association of Australia-based businesses with interests in the Pacific island economies.
 

(Photo: Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme)

KIRIBATI: Pacific partnerships combat invasive species
Source: Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme Press Release

The Pacific region is home to more endemic species than anywhere in the world, all of which is potentially under threat from invasive species. The region is working together with partners to protect Pacific biodiversity from this risk.

During the 10th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, Kiribati took the floor on behalf of the Pacific island parties to stress the importance of partnerships.

“Considerable progress has been made through regional partnerships in addressing invasive species at island and community levels,” stated Ms. Ratita Bebe of Kiribati during the Pacific statement.

“Madam Chair, these partnership initiatives came about because of the challenges that we face spread across a large ocean region with limited capacity and resources.”`

The strength of partnerships in addressing invasive species is a success story for which the Pacific island parties are showcasing and willing to share lessons learnt with other global regions.

“We wanted to highlight to the rest of the world the great initiatives undertaken by the region, having regional and international organisations working together well coordinated so that everyone is aware of what is happening and there is no duplication of effort or waste of resources,” said Dr Posa Skelton, the Pacific Invasives Learning Network Coordinator

Dr Skelton has been working with the Pacific island parties, providing technical advice and support at the CBD COP 10

One of the agenda items on the table at the CBD COP 10 is the “Aichi-Nagoya Statement” which is to provide an international plan that will help stem the loss of biodiversity, taking into account the lessons learnt from the 2010 Biodiversity target.

The Nagoya biodiversity negotiations have provided the Pacific island parties with the opportunity to remind the world that island countries are vulnerable to both marine and land based invasive species. Further to this Climate change and invasive species together is a deadly duo to Pacific biodiversity, which must be addressed at all levels.

“The Pacific Island Parties urge Governments and partners to address Invasive Alien Species as a significant driver of biodiversity loss in the CBD Strategic Plan and post-2010 targets, and to allocate adequate and timely funding to prevent, control and manage Invasive Alien Species,” read Ms. Bebe in making the Pacific statement on Invasive Species.

“Needless to say, Climate Change and Invasive Species are the Deadly Duo to biodiversity and must be addressed at all levels and in particular regional and inter-regional collaborations. Management of both threats is also critical for successful implementation of the CBD’s island biodiversity program of work.”

Photo Caption: Ms. Ratita Bebe of Kiribati, delivering the Pacific statement on behalf of the Pacific Island parties to stress the importance of partnerships.
 

USA: Small Business Jobs Act to benefit American Samoa
Source: Office of Congressman Faleomavaega Press Release

In response to public inquiries regarding federal financial assistance available for small businesses in American Samoa, Congressman Faleomavaega recently reissued his Press Release that was initially sent on September 29, 2010, titled “President Obama Signs Small Business Jobs Act of 2010.”

“I want to emphasize that although Congress authorized this as a non-competitive formula grant, ASG must submit an application to the U.S. Treasury with plans for an access credit program for small businesses in American Samoa. Access credit program may include loan guarantees, loan sharing, or collateral programs that already exist in other states to help small businesses. Failure to submit an application in a timely manner may result in the loss of funds,” Faleomavaega said.

“The primary objective of the Act is to help small businesses gain access to new credit line and critical capital that will spur job creation so I am hopeful that ASG will follow up with the U.S. Treasury immediately so our local businesses in American Samoa can soon enjoy the benefits offered under this Act,” Faleomavaega continued.

Following is a complete copy of the Press Release issued on September 29, 2010;

Congressman Faleomavaega today announced that President Barack Obama has signed into law the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 to help small businesses gain access to new credit line and capital investments that will spur job creation.

“Two principal programs— the State Small Business Credit Initiative Program and the Small Business Lending Fund—provide the basic tenets of the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010,” Faleomavaega added.

“The purpose of the State Business Credit Initiative program, which will be administered by the Secretary of Treasury, is to provide funding to assist local governments in designing credit access programs for small businesses. Under the formula-based program, American Samoa is eligible for a grant of no less than $13.5 million. To receive the funds, the local government is required to file an application with the Secretary, including an implementation plan and program design, which may include loan guarantees, loan sharing, or collateral programs that exist in other states and territories.”

“In addition, $30 billion is authorized to establish a Small Business Lending Fund to make capital investments in eligible banks. Data from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) suggests that ANZ Amerika Samoa Bank is a potential candidate to apply for the fund under this program,” Faleomavaega described.

“Other Small Business Administration (SBA) programs and tax provisions in the new law are also applicable to American Samoa. Small businesses that qualify for loans from banks in American Samoa or elsewhere, such as in Hawaii or Guam, will be eligible for numerous incentives and tax breaks created in the new law.”

“The Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 underscores a commitment to make small business a top priority and I want to thank by President Barack Obama, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid for their leadership on this issue. Small business is essential to our economy as a major source of employment, and I am pleased that the benefits under this new law will be available in American Samoa” Faleomavaega concluded.
 

(Photos: Australia-Pacific Technical College)

WORLDWIDE: Vanuatu Tok Tok Tourism Tradeshow
Source: Australia-Pacific Technical College

"There were a lot of comments coming back to us about our food. We were very proud to hear that. Good for us, good for our teacher also."

"We had positive feedback from the participants. They really enjoyed their meals…so we are very, very happy, and our teacher was also really glad."

"I liked the way me and my colleagues work as a team. I really enjoyed this day because I learned all new things, such as serving customers at the buffet table."

These are just some of the enthusiastic comments made by APTC students after taking part in this year's Vanuatu Tok Tok Tourism Tradeshow on the island of Santo. The Certificate III class created and served a buffet lunch at the Beachfront Resort to international travel industry stakeholders and local hoteliers.

''The students spent the two weeks prior to the event discussing menus and deciding upon the dishes that would best represent the finest of local cuisine,'' said APTC Trainer, Donna Chamberlin. "One of the students, Primrose, made baskets to serve the food from, and these were decorated with flowers to give that bright, Santo Island feel.

"The students fed more than a hundred people with local dishes and food cooked on the barbeque. They also served at the buffet table.

"What was really great was, that on the day, the first group of Hospitality -Operations students who have completed the course on Santo came back to help their colleagues still in training, and worked with the current class to set up the buffet tables and serve the food," concluded Donna.

Photo Captions:

Photo 1 - The students' barbeque was popular with the guests.

Photo 2 - The students after their successful day.