NEWSPAGE 24 December
2010

(Photo: Samoa Observer)

SAMOA: Top commerce students recognised
Source: Samoa Observer

Two top students were rewarded by the Samoa Chamber of Commerce, last Friday.

The Top Commerce Student Award for Year 13 has been an annual project of the Samoa of Chamber of Commerce over the last 30 years.

The Award is given to the most outstanding student with aggregate marks in English, Accounting and Economics.

It has been made possible over time with the generosity and kind assistance of Chamber Members.

Last Friday Executive Officer, Litia Brighouse on behalf of the Executive Council and sponsors, presented the awards.

The first was handed to Palalaua College’s Top Commerce Student, Kasia To’o.

The bright 18-year-old from Fusi Safata came first in Accounting, Economics, Computer Studies and Samoan.

Maryann Lameko-Vaai extended well wishes on behalf of Tuiloma Pule Lameko Accounting Firm, proud sponsor of the prize, to Kasia and her delighted parents, Isaako and Ianeta Fa’apale.

The second recipient was Satia Simi, Top Commerce Student of Vaimauga College.

The young lady from Fagali’i and daughter of Olevia Simi, took top honours in Accounting and Economics. Her Award was sponsored by Supreme Ice Cream Ltd.

The proud parents of both recipients thanked the Chamber of Commerce for this initiative.

Ms. Brighouse wished both young ladies well in their future endeavours.

“Every year these awards are made possible by the patronage and support of our members,” she said.

“This year we were able to obtain sponsorships for 19 secondary schools, from 14 in 2009, and we hope to increase this number in the coming years.

“On behalf of Chamber I would like to thank the schools, principals and teachers, the students and their parents, and especially our Members who donated the prizes this year.

“Without their generosity and kind assistance, this Project would not have been successful.”

Other sponsors included Ah Liki Wholesale, Indoors/Little Penina, National Pacific Insurance, Development Bank of Samoa, Samoa Ports Authority, Tradepac Marketing Samoa, Isikuki Punivalu and Associates, Federal Pacific Insurance, Greg Tilley, Yazaki Samoa, Hotel Insel Fehmarn, Samoa Realty, Commercial Printers, and Tisaan Designs.

Photo Caption: Litia Brighouse with Kasia Too and Proud Parents Isaako and Ianeta Faapale.
 

(Photos: J. Kneubuhl)

AMERICAN SAMOA: Nine ASCC nursing graduates receive caps and pins
Source: American Samoa Community College Press Release

During an evening ceremony on Wednesday, December 15th at the Lee Auditorium, families, friends and well wishers joined the American Samoa Community College (ASCC) Nursing staff, local health care professionals and government officials to celebrate nine students completing the Practical Nursing Program. Students Staniel Vincent Dimaya, Shamarte Qurina Evagelia, Ramona Niusulu, Sandy Nua-Ahoia, Faavae Betty Patane-Laititi, Czarina Marie Roque, Faletuese Tafiti, Ritchell Toribio, and Tiffany Germaine Taumua received their caps and pins to mark their successful completion of their studies. Of these nine students, more than half have already passed the national examination to gain certification as Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), while the remainder will sit the exam in the near future.

Guest speakers at the recognition ceremony included Rev. Ioane Evagelia, Lt. Gov. Faoa Aitofele Sunia and ASCC Acting President Tapaau Dr. Daniel Aga, who congratulated the students for their achievements and their dedication to the nursing profession. Keynote speaker, veteran nurse Mrs. Pouiva Reid, explained that the tradition of local American Samoans being trained as nurses dates back to the era of the Naval administration, and reminisced on the hardships she and her classmates experienced while training as nurses prior to World War II.

“They expected us trainees to act as housekeepers, janitors and even gardeners,” recalled Reid, “and during our first year we had to clean the inside and outside of the hospital every morning. Some of my classmates couldn’t put up with this and quit the training.” Mrs. Reid stuck through the training largely through the inspiration of her housemother, who reminded the trainees that that they were in the nursing profession not to make money but to care for sick people. Her tenacity paid off by her third year, by which time she had risen to the pay scale of $3 a month. “Believe it or not, this was big money back then,” Reid told the astonished audience.

Following her training period under the Navy, Mrs. Reid moved away from American Samoa and worked at various hospitals on the mainland, returning home after retirement in the late ‘70s to work at LBJ, which by now paid its nurses $4,000 a year. Mrs. Reid retired again in 1992, but before long she was called back to work because of the shortage of nurses at LBJ. “When I came back to work, the nurses were working 12 hours shifts, and that’s still the case now,” she said. Mrs. Reid reminded the students of the theme of the evening’s ceremony, “O le tautua ma le faamaoni” or to serve faithfully, and said she hoped this will inspire the nurses to do their best no matter what the challenges. “As you move forward in your young career, remember that you are here today because of the many sacrifices your family has made for you to reach this milestone,” said Mrs. Reid, who also called on more of the Territory’s young men and women to take up the nursing profession.

In addition to the caps and pins, two awards were presented during the ceremony. Sandy Nua-Ahoia received the American Samoa Nurses Association Award, and also received the ASCC Nursing Department Award along with classmate Ritchell Toribio. ASCC Nursing Department Chair Lele Ah Mu expressed her gratitude for the support the program has received from the local health community as well as the public. Describing how the Nursing curriculum continues to evolve, Ah Mu said that for the spring 2011 activities, she will add Ofu and Olosega to the schedule for the Community Health clinical experience for the Practical Nursing students in NUR180L. “This experience will provide them the opportunity to utilize all of their knowledge from the classroom and basic skills learned from the hospital, and applying it to assisting clients in caring for themselves at home,” she said.

Ah Mu also said that the ASCC Nursing Department will be included in a documentary to be filmed in 2011 by the Pacific Island Network for Nursing Education Directors (PINNED), a partner of Partnerships Investing in Nursing’s Future (PIN). “They have expressed an interest in interviewing Governor Togiola, and also in filming of our students and faculty as they interact on campus, at LBJ and in the community. We expect this will take place sometime in April,” explained Ah Mu.

In addition to Ah Mu, the ASCC Nursing faculty includes Ann Longnecker, CNM; and Adeile Feleti, AS, Office Tech. Adjunct faculty includes Patricia Brooks, MSN, RN; Josephine Fuga, BSN, RN; Aiga Peneueta-Mareko, BSN, RN; Christine Peters, BSN, RN; Toaga Seumalo, MSN, RN; Syliva Tauiliili, MPH, RN; Arizona Ve’ave’a, BSN, RN; and Dr. Evelyn Ah Hing-Fa’aluaso, PharmD.

Photo Captions:

Photo 1 - ASCC Nursing students take their Nurse's Oath during the Cap and Pinning Ceremony held in mid-December. Of the nine students who have completed their studies, more than half have also passed the national examination to be qualified as Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs).

Photo 2 - ASCC Nursing students perform a hymn during the Cap and Pinning Ceremony.

Photo 3 - ASCC Nursing student Ramona T. Niusulu receives her Nurse's Cap from Department
Chairperson Lele Ah Mu during the Cap and Pinning Ceremony.
 

(Photo: Sarah McTee)

HAWAII: Drifting fish larvae benefit marine reserves 
Source: redOrbit

Marine ecologists at Oregon State University have shown for the first time that tiny fish larvae can drift with ocean currents and "re-seed" fish stocks significant distances away - more than 100 miles in a new study from Hawaii.

The findings add credibility to what scientists have believed for some time, but until now been unable to directly document. The study also provides a significant demonstration of the ability of marine reserves to rebuild fishery stocks in areas outside the reserves.

The research was published this week in PLoS One, a scientific journal.

"We already know that marine reserves will grow larger fish and some of them will leave that specific area, what we call spillover," said Mark Hixon, a professor of marine biology at OSU. "Now we've clearly shown that fish larvae that were spawned inside marine reserves can drift with currents and replenish fished areas long distances away.

"This is a direct observation, not just a model, that successful marine reserves can sustain fisheries beyond their borders," he said. "That's an important result that should help resolve some skepticism about reserves. And the life cycle of our study fish is very similar to many species of marine fish, including rockfishes and other species off Oregon. The results are highly relevant to other regions."

The findings were based on the creation in 1999 of nine marine protected areas on the west coast of the "big island" of Hawaii. They were set up in the face of serious declines of a beautiful tropical fish called yellow tang, which formed the basis for an important trade in the aquarium industry.

"This fishery was facing collapse about 10 years ago," Hixon said. "Now, after the creation of marine reserves, the fishery is doing well."

The yellow tang was an ideal fish to help answer the question of larval dispersal because once its larvae settle onto a reef and begin to grow, they are not migratory, and live in a home range about half a mile in diameter. If the fish are going to move any significant distance from where they are born, it would have to be as a larva - a young life form about the size of a grain of rice - drifting with the currents for up to two months before settling back to adult habitats.

Mark Christie, an OSU postdoctoral research associate and lead author of the study, developed some new approaches to the use of DNA fingerprinting and sophisticated statistical analysis that were able to match juvenile fish with their parents, wherever they may have been from. In field research from 2006, the scientists performed genetic and statistical analyses on 1,073 juvenile and adult fish, and found evidence that many healthy juvenile fish had spawned from parents long distances away, up to 114 miles, including some from marine protected areas.

"This is similar to the type of forensic technology you might see on television, but more advanced," Christie said. "We're optimistic it will help us learn a great deal more about fish movements, fishery stocks, and the genetic effects of fishing, including work with steelhead, salmon, rockfish and other species here in the Pacific Northwest."

This study should help answer some of the questions about the ability of marine reserves to help rebuild fisheries, the scientists said. It should also add scientific precision to the siting of reserves for that purpose, which is just one of many roles that a marine reserve can play. Many states are establishing marine reserves off their coasts, and Oregon is in the process of developing a limited network of marine reserves to test their effectiveness. The methods used in this study could also become a powerful new tool to improve fisheries management, Hixon said.

"Tracking the movement of fish larvae in the open ocean isn't the easiest thing in the world to do," Hixon said. "It's not like putting a radio collar on a deer. This approach will provide valuable information to help optimize the placement of reserves, identify the boundaries of fishery stocks, and other applications."

The issue of larval dispersal is also important, the researchers say, because past studies at OSU have shown that large, fat female fish produce massive amounts of eggs and sometimes healthier larvae than smaller fish. For example, a single two-foot vermillion rockfish produces more eggs than 17 females that are 14 inches long.

But these same large fish, which have now been shown to play key roles in larval production and fish population replenishment, are also among those most commonly sought in fisheries.

The study was done in collaboration with the University of Hawaii, Washington State University, National Marine Fisheries Services and the Hawaii Department of Natural Resources. It was funded by Conservation International.

"The identification of connectivity between distant reef fish populations on the island of Hawaii demonstrates that human coastal communities are also linked," the researchers wrote in their conclusion. "Management in one part of the ocean affects people who use another part of the ocean."

Photo Caption: Studies done with this tropical fish show that fish larvae can drift with ocean currents and repopulate fisheries some distance away.
 

(Photo: Solomon Star)

SOLOMON ISLANDS: Maeoli is the new city boss
Source: Solomon Star

Honiara City Council has a new mayor.

He is Israel Maeoli of Rove/Lengakiki ward.

Mr Maeoli polled eight votes to seven against his opponent, Jonathan Zama of Vavaya ward after the second round of voting inside the Council's chamber yesterday morning.

Both candidates locked at 7-7 in the first round of voting before Member of Parliament for Central Honiara, Moffat Fugui arrived later to decide the game.

Under the HCC Act, the three Honiara MPs and Guadalcanal premier can cast their votes as ex-officio members.

MP for East Honiara, Douglas Ete, Mr Fugui and Guadalcanal premier, Anthony Veke all turned up to vote but West Honiara MP Namson Tran did not.

Tran is with the Prime Minister Danny Philip in Western Province for his constituency visit.

Delivering his keynote address after his victory, Mr Maeoli said his government’s first agenda was to set the "house in order."

"We'd like to see this forgotten area is prioritised on the list," he said.

"The restructuring of all levels of wages, better incentives and living standards for all city council workers.

"Right now, most of the places they call home are below the level of human standard," he said.

Mr Maeoli also promises to look at improving health, education, infrastructure and social services for people in the city.

He also said his government would be embarking on the war against corruption at all levels not only the council but the country as a whole.

"There will be setbacks and oppositions," he said.

"There are many who won't agree with every decisions or policy we make as an executive.

"Also we know that we can't solve every problem.

"But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face.

"And above all, I want to ask you to join in the work of making Honiara a better place for our children and generations to come," he said.

Mr Maeoli comes from East Fataleka in Malaita Province.

He was a former police officer and nursing officer.

Prior to his election as mayor, he was a security officer at Honiara Casino.

Photo Caption: New mayor of Honiara, Israel Maeoli.
 

(Photo: Oceania Football Confederation)

WORLDWIDE: Teams get set for tournament
Source: Oceania Football Confederation Press Release

The ten Pacific teams competing at next year’s OFC U-17 Championship in Auckland have revealed the players they hope will take them to the FIFA World Cup Mexico 2011.

The Oceania qualifiers will take place from January 8 to 19 and the winner will book themselves a berth in Mexico. The tournament was scheduled to be held at Trust Stadium’s Douglas Field in Henderson but has now been moved to Albany’s North Harbour Stadium, the venue of the OFC Women’s Nations Cup 2010 and several other recent OFC tournaments.

New Zealand swept all before them at the Women’s Nations Cup and their youthful male counterparts will be hoping to do likewise at the same ground in January. The Young All Whites
are the defending champions and coach Steve Cain has named a strong, attack-minded squad which he hopes will justify his side’s tag as favourites.

The squad is largely made of up players who have starred for ASB Youth League sides this season while several have even featured in ASB Premiership senior squads. Youth League champions Waitakere United lead the way with four players, including captain Luke Adams and striker Tim Payne, who made his national league debut for Auckland City last season at the tender age of 16.

Fellow Waitakere youngster Jordan Vale could be another to watch. The talented midfielder is the son of former national women’s team goalkeeper Yvonne Vale and trialed for the U-15 side of English Premier League club Aston Villa as a 14-year-old.

“We’ve got some very talented and pacey players in this squad,” Cain says. “We hope to go at teams and we know we’ll be up against some pretty solid and well-organised opponents. We’re looking to impose our game on them.”

The 13th edition of the tournament is set to be the most competitive yet and New Zealand are expected to face tough challenges from the likes of Vanuatu, Fiji, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea.

Academies for players aged between 13 and 16 have been established in Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and New Caledonia, and many of those young stars have now come through the ranks and will represent their countries in Auckland.

The Vanuatu players have plenty of experience under their belts after being involved in the previous OFC U-17 Championship in 2009. An U-15 side was sent to that event and coach Wilson August hopes the lessons learned then will hold his charges in good stead.

August has named star midfielder Abraham Roquara as his captain and, if the 16-year-old’s footballing genes are anything to go by, he will be one to keep an eye on. The young skipper’s older brother Nemani is in the Vanuatu U-20 set up while his father Simeon is a former national team player who now works for the government’s Youth and Sport Department in Port Vila.

Fiji coach Hussain Sahib also has plenty of talent at his disposal and believes his team are in good spirits.

“The boys have gelled well,” he says. “The bonding is there and they are well aware of what needs to be done.”

The Fijians will be keen to follow in the footsteps of their 1999 and 2007 predecessors, who finished as runners-up and third respectively.

The Solomon Islands squad, known in the football-mad nation as the Katukatus, consists mainly of players who won the TVL International tournament for their country in Vanuatu early this year but a number of young futsal stars have also made the cut.

Coach Christopher Asipara is putting a big emphasis on defence as he feels getting that part of the game right will be a key component to success.

“I want my players to be able to defend from anywhere on the field as soon as we lose the ball,” he says. “With this ability we can set up counter attacks against our opponents.”

The French Polynesian pair of Tahiti and New Caledonia will also pose a threat after finishing second and third respectively two years ago. The other sides involved in the ten-team tournament are American Samoa and Cook Islands.

The latter will be aiming to repeat the efforts of the last side from the nation to be involved in an OFC tournament. The Cook Islands put in a fine showing at the Women’s Nations Cup to earn a third-place finish, the country’s first ever medal at an international tournament.

Photo Caption: New Zealand celebrate winning the last OFC U-17 Championship in 2009.