NEWSPAGE 17 November
2010

(Photos: New Zealand Kilikiti Association)

(Photo: Australian High Commission)

SAMOA: Australian volunteers helping out in Samoa
Source: Australian High Commission Press Release

Four Australian volunteers arrived in Samoa recently to begin their placements with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Animal Protection Society, Women in Business and the Matuaileoo Environment Trust Inc.

The new volunteers are funded under AusAID’s Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development (AYAD) Program and Volunteering for International Development from Australia (VIDA) and will use their skills and expertise to build and develop their host organisation in Samoa.

Australian High Commissioner to Samoa, Matt Anderson said that 159 youth ambassadors have worked in Samoa since the AYAD program was launched in 1998 and more than 20 volunteers have been placed through the VIDA program since 2005.

“The volunteers from both programs make a great contribution to Samoan organisations through the transfer of their knowledge and skills and they play a major role in building friendships and fostering links with Samoa,” Mr Anderson said.

“There are currently 14 AYADs and 10 VIDAs working in Samoa, immersing themselves in local activities, taking time to learn and appreciate the Samoan culture and way of life.”

Mr Anderson said the AYAD program places skilled young Australians, aged 18-30, on short-term assignments (normally one year) in developing countries throughout the Asia Pacific region. The VIDA program places Australians in volunteer assignments for up to two years. Both programs are additional support given to Samoan organisations on top of Australia’s annual $80 million (A$40 million) aid program to Samoa.


The new volunteers and their Samoan placements are:

Jeffrey Paul, Matuaileoo Environment Trust Inc (METI)
Jeff will be working with METI as a video producer and web designer during his one year AYAD placement. Jeff will be completing the final assignment of three, year-long assignments to support METI’s Permaculture Demonstration and Training Project at Vailele Farm. He will produce a series of educational videos on the demonstration and training of permaculture for farmers around the country and develop a user-friendly website to broaden its reach beyond Samoa. Jeff will also train selected METI staff in video production and web management skills.

John Clark, Women in Business Development Incorporated (WIBDI)
John will be helping WIBDI to carry out an analysis of their project data to evaluate how well their programs have penetrated rural Samoa. This will include evaluating progress made, the number of participants earning incomes through the programs and the programs’ effects on livelihoods. He will also assist WIBDI assess the level of awareness among the Samoan community of organics and fair trade.

Steve Hamlin, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)
Steve is working as a veterinary advisor with MAFF for the next two years, providing vet services for farm animals. He is part of a MAFF team which visits farms to talk with farmers about growing healthy meat. While in Samoa, Steve is training the MAFF team with skills and experience in disease treatment so they can continue to advise farmers on issues like nutrition, welfare, sustainability and the economics of farming. Steve is also responsible for teaching of biosecurity and laboratory testing of animal diseases.

Belinda Hamlin, Animal Protection Society (APS)
Belinda is working as a veterinarian with the APS for two years - the only companion animal clinic and dog welfare organisation in Samoa. Her principal role with the APS is to provide health advice for dogs and cats, with much of her time spent on de-sexing dogs - a crucial factor in achieving a reduced and healthier dog population in Samoa. Much of her work is helping keep dogs healthy and an important part of this is education of dog owners.

Photo Caption: New Australian volunteers Belinda and Steve Hamlin, Jeffrey Paul and John Clark.
 

AUSTRALIA: Australia support schools and community groups
Source: Australian High Commission Press Release

The Australian High Commission has thrown its support behind six schools and ten community groups who sought assistance through the Direct Aid Program (DAP).

The Australian High Commission has awarded 16 organisations a combined total of $120,820 tala to assist them to reduce poverty and boost education and health levels in their villages.

On Tuesday 16 November, Australian High Commissioner Matt Anderson told the successful recipients that they were making a real difference in their communities.

“I am very proud that we can help these schools and these communities to conduct these village-level development activities,” Mr Anderson said.

“Whether it is through providing playground, equipment, school books or furniture or sewing machines, it is an honour to assist so many Samoans to get a head-start in life.’’

Mr Anderson said more projects would be supported this financial year and encouraged villages or community groups to submit DAP applications.

Mrs Reeds Preschool at Papauta was given $10,000 for furniture, computers and educational material.

The Rotary Club of Savaii was given $10,436 to hold a spelling bee competition for school students in Savaii.

Women in Business were given $6,542 to assist them market organic food.

Tiapapata Art Centre was given $7,516 for a paper recycling project.

Vaitele-uta Mafutaga a Tina (EFKS) was given $5656 to purchase sewing machines.

Sapunaoa Preschool was given $7586 to purchase playground equipment, furniture, stationary and educational materials.

Tavana Nurse on Wheels was given $5500 to purchase computer equipment.

Vaigaga Primary School was given $19,000 to purchase new chairs and desks for its students.
Etena Fou Falelolo Preschool was given $8123 to purchase playground equipment, furniture and stationary for the students.

Women’s committees in Lepuiai Manono, Siumu West, Faleu Manono, Saloga, Salelologa, were given about $7000 each for the purchase of sewing machines.

The village of Fatuvalu was given $5861 to purchase the material to construct pig pens.

St Mary’s School Savalalo was given $6950 to purchase playground equipment.


About the Direct Aid Program (DAP):

The Direct Aid Program is an integral component of Australia’s overseas development program and an integral part of Australia’s wider foreign policy concerns and interests.

The purpose of DAP is specifically designed to assist by providing small grants for small scale development activities/projects.

The goal of DAP is to address humanitarian hardship and further strengthen Australia’s commitment to the Pacific.

Activities/projects that can be considered for funding under DAP are projects that alleviate poverty, community health, schools/education, small scale infrastructure, rural development & environment and that can be implemented over a comparatively short period of time.

DAP is meant to create multiplier effects and is an ongoing program.

DAP application forms and guidelines are available from the reception of the Australian High Commission.

For further enquiries, contact Ana Hall, DAP Coordinator, Australian High Commission Apia;
Ph. 23411.
 

(Photo: The National)

PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Fiji top keeper joins Hekari United
Source: The National

Fiji's top choice goalkeeper Simione Tamanisau jetted out of the country last Friday to join Papua New Guinea’s Hekari United Football Club for the FIFA Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, next month.

The Club World Cup is from Dec 8-18.

Tamanisau, who plays for the Rewa Football Club, was approached by Hekari FC after a sterling performance for the Delta Tigers during the Battle of the Giants and Inter District Championship soccer tournaments this season.

Tamanisau made his debut for Hekari against the Solomon Islands champions, Koloale, and helped the home side to an impressive 4-0 victory.

The 28-year-old police officer, pushed first-choice-goalkeeper Gure Gabina to the bench and took control of the goalkeeping duties throughout the 90 minutes of play.

Tamanisau brings to five the number of Fijians playing for Hekari. The others are Pita Bolaitoga, Tuimasi Manuca, Malakai Tiwa and Osea Vakatalesau, who is still waiting ITC clearance to participate.

Rewa president Pranil Singh told Fijilive Sports last month that he was holding negotiations with Hekari officials after confirming that the PNG champions had shown interest in the police officer.

Singh said they were working on details of a possible contract with the PNG champion club.

“Hekari are interested in signing Simione for the Club World Cup which will be played in December and, currently, I am negotiating the deal,” he said.

“The Hekari officials are in touch with me and, if all works out well, then Simione should feature for them in the Club World Cup.

“It will not only be a big break for him but also for Rewa as he will become the first Rewa player to feature in the FIFA Club World Cup.

“His participation should also be a boost for the national team as he is the first choice national goalkeeper,” Singh said.

He has already been registered by Hekari for the 2010-11 O-League and could feature in the regional meet as well apart from playing in the Club World Cup.

Rewa coach Manoj Kumar said this was a milestone achievement for the Delta Tigers goalkeeper who had an outstanding season.

“I believe he will play to his best out there. This will be another opportunity for him to expose his talent. Already he has the experience and I think he will deliver his best at this world event,” Kumar said.

He added that it was a dream come true for Tamanisau, who had worked tirelessly for Rewa throughout the season.

Tamanisau will be under the guidance of Reaz Moorad, the New Zealand Football high performance goalkeeping coach.

Photo Caption: Fijian goalkeeper Simione Tamanisau.
 

(Photo: Solomon Star)

SOLOMON ISLANDS: Operation Kurukuru catches illegal ships 
Source: Solomon Star

Operation Kurukuru 2010, a coordinated maritime surveillance operation in which countries cooperate to detect illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing, hosted by the Pacific Island Forum Fisheries Agency concluded this week with several successful boardings and apprehensions of suspected illegal fishing vessels.

Approximately 550 people were actively involved in Operation Kurukuru 2010 which resulted in locating 195 foreign fishing vessels in the area of operations.

Thirty-five fishing vessels were considered worthy of further investigation after analysis and boarded by officers from the participating nations.

Two vessels, one in Tuvalu and one in Solomon Islands have been apprehended and escorted to their national ports for further investigation.

The vessel investigated in Tuvalu was found to have excessive shark fins and the owners paid a $10,000 fine (USD).

Two other vessels were cited for minor infringements and one in Solomon Islands waters was found not reporting under the vessel monitoring system so this was rectified.

Covering an area of 12 million square kilometres - including the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) of Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Niue, PNG, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu and areas of the high seas - Operation Kurukuru 2010 involved surveillance, police, fisheries and military personnel from all of these countries working together with their counterparts from Australia, New Zealand, France and US over 10 days of surveillance.

840 hours of patrol at sea were provided by the surveillance vessels involved in the operation and the six aircraft undertook a total of 120 hours of aerial surveillance.

Surveillance was conducted by individual countries within their respective EEZ’s using 6 Pacific Class Patrol Boats (from Solomon Islands, PNG, Tonga, Tuvalu, Kiribati and Vanuatu), 1 US Coast Guard Cutter, 1 French Frigate and 2 French Patrol Boats.

This was supported by aerial surveillance provided by Maritime Patrol Aircraft (2 P-3 Orions supplied by Australia & New Zealand, 2 Gardians supplied by France, a Hercules C-130 from the US Coast Guard and, for the first time, a Dash-8 aircraft provided by Australia Customs and Border Protection Command).

Operation Kurukuru 2010 was coordinated by a team based in the FFA Regional Fisheries Surveillance Centre (RFSC) Operations Room in Honiara, established by the FFA with funding from the Australian Defence Cooperation Program.

The team consisted of FFA staff and officers from Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga, Solomons Islands, PNG and Australia’s Customs and Border Protection Command.

The Operations Room relies on access to data from all the FFA member countries and the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission.

The RFSC electronic systems collect and analyse fisheries information and displays foreign fishing vessel movements combined with the patrol plans for the surveillance aircraft and vessels over the entire operations area on an interactive computer map display.

This is supplied to participating nations on an external secure website.

By collating information from regional and national licence and suspected illegal fishing lists, the electronic systems can identify and monitor suspicious vessels.

Regional surveillance staff, trained by FFA, prioritise their operations efforts, contact national staff and help make decisions on where to send surveillance aircraft and patrol boats.

By collating information from regional and national licence and suspected illegal fishing lists, RFSC can readily identify and monitor suspicious vessels.

For operations such as Operation Kurukuru 2010, the centre takes on the role of the operational Joint Coordination Centre.

Operation Kurukuru 2010 also involved participation by three military liaison officers from Australia, France and the United States and 3 Australian Fisheries Management Authority officers were on board surveillance vessels involved and one officer at the RFSC was an observers.

Chief of Police from FSM also acted as an observer.

Operation Kurukuru is an activity to meet the broader objectives of sustainable development and regional security of The Pacific Plan.

Operations Commander - Martin Campbell of the FFA said: “Operation KuruKuru 2010 is by far the largest fisheries operation conducted in the region and builds on the continuous regional effort which is being undertaken to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

The successful outcomes of the operation speak for themselves and send a strong message to all fishing vessels which enter this region that they are being closely monitored and any illegal activity will be swiftly dealt with.

However, the aim of the operation was not only to find and prosecute illegal activity but also to build on the interoperability achieved in previous operations in conducting coordinated and cooperative Monitoring, Control and Surveillance to combat IUU.

As such, Operation KuruKuru 2010 has also generated ideas for continued development of an effective national and regional surveillance operations strategy, including building and advancing regional cooperation.

The FFA Regional Fisheries Surveillance Centre was pleased to host Operation Kurukuru 2010 and contribute to cooperative approach in regional surveillance operations”.

Director General of the FFA Dan S’ua: “The FFA is proud to be a part of Operation Kurukuru 2010 which has brought Pacific Island countries and territories together this week to share information and resources to survey our seas and combat illegal fishing.

“This regional approach to the conduct of Monitoring, Control and Surveillance is in keeping with the direction the secretariat has received from the Forum Fisheries Committee Ministers and contributes to the broader MCS Strategy being developed by the FFA membership.

“Operations such as this will continue to build on the excellent relationships which have been established between the FFA member countries and we also acknowledge the invaluable contribution of our regional surveillance partners in the US, France, NZ and Australia”.

Photo Caption: Two boats caught illegally fishing in Solomon waters earlier this year.
 

WORLDWIDE: PIFS-CSO Dialogue on security issues underway
Source: Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Press Release

The third Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat - Civil Society Organisations’ Dialogue on peace, conflict and security issues is being held today at the Forum Secretariat in Suva, Fiji.

The PIFS-CSO Dialogue is the mechanism endorsed by the Forum Regional Security Committee to provide a structured approach for civil society to engage with the Forum Secretariat on peace, conflict and security issues.

Civil society and faith based organisations play an important role in national development, either through the provision of services, or through bottom-up research and advocacy to influence governmental policy agendas and formulation. The Pacific Plan, which provides the overarching mandate for the Forum Secretariat and other agencies of the Council of Regional Organisations of the Pacific (CROP), recognises the importance of involving non state actors in achieving its goals of enhancing and stimulating economic growth, sustainable development, good governance and security.

Forum Secretary General Tuiloma Neroni Slade warmly welcomed this third meeting of the Dialogue and acknowledged that “civil society organisations are key stakeholders in all development efforts and contribute to ensuring consultative and participatory policy-making. The Forum Secretariat therefore highly values this Dialogue, as it also provides the opportunity for CSOs to raise concerns with the Forum and to provide input into policy making through Forum processes, including the Forum Regional Security Committee”.

The PIFS-CSO Dialogue is held twice a year. Past sessions were held on 20 November 2009 and 16 April 2010 respectively.