NEWSPAGE 14 January
2011

(Photo: City Gallery Wellington)

NEW ZEALAND: City Gallery Wellington launches Mana Takatāpui exhibition

SAMOA: Catholic church launches television station
Source: Radio New Zealand International

The Catholic church in Samoa has launched its television station called Upu Mana or Divine Word.

The Director of the new TV station, Father Spa Silva, says it has been a dream of the church to set up a television station, to spread the word of God and the Catholic faith.

Talamua online says the church also operates a radio station.

The Upu Mana station is broadcasting from what used to be the Vaiala Beach TV transmission facilities and has limited coverage to some areas in Apia.

Father Spa says this is a small start but the church plans to expand coverage in the urban area and to villages on Upolu and Savaii.

The Seventh Day Adventist Church in Samoa also operates two television stations and there are free commercial TV stations in the country.
 

(Photo: Senior Airman Nichelle Anderson / U.S. Air Force)

AMERICAN SAMOA: Andersen’s Best: Staff Sgt. Mellissa Seumanu
Source: Samoa News

Staff Sgt. Mellissa Seumanu was awarded as one of “Andersen’s Best” here Dec. 16. As 36th Logistics Readiness Squadron deployment manager, Sergeant Seumanu ensures the 36th Wing quickly fills all Air Expeditionary Force taskings providing Pacific Air Power from Andersen Air Force Base.

Recently Sergeant Seumanu worked with 13th Air Force to coordinate two U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemasters III, deploying 27 Airmen and more than 21.3 short tons from the 644th Combat Communications Squadron to the Pacific Air Forces Keen Sword exercise.

Additionally, Sergeant Seumanu led an effort to streamline the deployment processing time for the 36th Contingency Response Group where 101 personnel and 86 short tons of cargo were quickly deployed to simulate a humanitarian exercise. Notably, she revamped the Flight Safety program to ensure full compliance.

“Sergeant Seumanu is a model NCO,” said Capt. Christopher Jacobson, Installation Deployment officer. “As the Deployments NCO in charge, she has a huge scope of responsibility. She is the focal point for our installation to accurately support Combatant Commanders around the world by quickly supporting their personnel and cargo requirements.”

According to the captain, Sergeant Seumanu’s attention to detail is vital to ensuring affected squadrons are quickly notified and personnel arrive on time using approved transportation guidelines.

“Her work ethic continuously impresses me,” Captain Jacobson continued. “She routinely finds projects to improve her section or the office as a whole. When assigned a program I know that she will make it back it better. For this she is a outstanding example of a dedicated Airmen.”

For her outstanding performance, dedication, commitment to excellence and actions above and beyond expectations, the 36th Wing Command Post and wing leadership dub her Andersen’s Best.

Andersen’s Best is a recognition program which highlights a top performer from the 36th Wing. Each week, supervisors nominate a member of their team for outstanding performance and the wing commander presents the selected Airman with an award. To nominate an Airman for Andersen’s Best, the unit chief or supervisor must be contacted explaining their accomplishments.

Photo Caption: Col. Tod Fingal, 36th Wing vice commander, presents Staff. Sgt. Mellissa Seumanu, 36th Logisitics Readiness Squadron deployment manager, with the Andersen's Best award at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Dec. 16. Sergeant Seumanu led the effort to streamline the deployment processing time for the 36th Contingency Response Group, where 101 personnel and 86 short tons of cargo were quickly deployed to simulate a humanitarian exercise.
 

(Photo: Maneesha Karan / Fiji Times)

FIJI: Land Transport Authority goes hi-tech
Source: Fiji Times

There will be new Land Transport Authority vehicles equipped with new technology to retrieve details on drivers and vehicles on the roads in the Northern Division.

LTA launched four vehicles on Wednesday at Civic Centre in Labasa and it expected to receive another two later this week, general operations manager Northern Josefa Vosanibola said.

"These vehicles have inbuilt high technology system which will allow officers to access details on any driver and the vehicle on the spot," he said.

"We needed new vehicles because the existing fleet has been in use the past six years. The new vehicles will also be used for awareness campaigns on road safety."

LTA board member Commander Mosese Sami said the introduction of new technology such as speed and red light cameras and the increase in the number of enforcement officers would improve road safety.

Photo Caption: Commissioner Northern Inia Seruiratu is given a demonstration of the in-built technology in the new set Land Transport Authority vehicles in Labasa.
 

(Photo: opcsoutreach)

PAPUA NEW GUINEA: World Bank to work with Government
Source: World Bank Press Release

The World Bank Board of Directors have approved a US$17 million International Development Association credit for the Urban Youth Employment Project. The project will develop training and temporary employment opportunities for urban youth in Papua New Guinea to improve their long-term prospects. The Board also approved the US$5 million Flexible and Open Distance Education Project which will focus on increasing the number of out-of-school youth who complete recognized secondary diploma and certificate equivalency programs via distance learning.

Young people under the age of twenty account for almost half of Papua New Guinea’s total population and constitute a disproportionate part of the urban poor. In Port Moresby, the country’s capital, young people between the ages of 15 and 29 represent over one third of the population, compared to about a quarter nationally. It is estimated that the country’s youth population will grow by at least another 13 percent by 2015. A large proportion of out-of-school youth lack the publically recognized certification that would allow them to qualify for higher levels of education or to meet the minimum education requirements of some employers.

“By developing these projects the World Bank and Government of Papua New Guinea are making a major investment in not only the country’s young people but also its future,” said Ferid Belhaj, World Bank Country Director, Papua New Guinea. “Young people are powerful agents for change and I know that given opportunities to develop their skills, young Papua New Guineans will achieve remarkable things."

The Urban Youth Empowerment Project aims to make a difference in the lives of 17,500 young people in Port Moresby, between the ages of 16 and 25. It will support the National Capital District Commission to secure job experience opportunities for youth in the public works sector. The project will give those in need a second chance to gain work experience and acquire skills that will help them realize their potential and prepare them for the workforce. This will help improve not just their employability, but their lives in general.

The Flexible and Open Distance Education Project will support the College for Flexible and Distance Education (FODE) to improve education outcomes. The project will increase opportunities for out-of-school youth to gain recognized qualifications and improve the performance and services of those students enrolled in FODE courses. It will focus on improving the quality of the equivalency curriculum and provincial support services; increase tutor-student contact hours in the provincial centers; introduce new technologies that would improve efficiencies and reduce costs; and improve the quality of student assessment.

Photo Caption: World Bank Country Director, Papua New Guinea, Ferid Belhaj.
 

(Photo: Oceania Football Confederation)

WORLDWIDE: OFC U-17 Championship - Day Six Review
Source: Oceania Football Confederation Press Release

Two of the tournament’s underdogs posted losses on day six of the OFC U-17 Championship but the nature of the defeats couldn’t have been more different.

Cook Islands bounced back from their 8-1 setback against New Caledonia to restrict Tahiti to a narrow 1-0 victory while Tonga endured an even worse day than their last outing - an 8-0 defeat to Tahiti - as they shipped 15 unanswered goals against a rampant Solomon Islands side.

Coach Tuka Tisam must have feared the worst for his Cook Islands charges against Group B leaders Tahiti but a stoic defensive effort helped them go into the sheds on level terms with the scorers yet to be troubled.

Tahiti finally found a way through a backline well-marshalled by skipper Ant Samuela when a hopeful Gianna Manca cross eluded goalkeeper Rangi Piri and found its way to Ahonui Tahi at the back post in the 59th minute. He wasn’t about to pass up such a gift-wrapped opportunity and tucked the ball into the empty net.

There was a danger the goals may have kept coming as they did against New Caledonia but Tisam’s team were determined not to let that happen again and defended doggedly for the rest of the match.

They did not create much in an attacking sense but Tisam was delighted to see his defence perform so well and says the loss felt more like a win. Judging by the cheers from the Cook Islands bench that greeted the final whistle, that was a view shared by the rest of the camp.

“I am very happy with the result and it is a good one to send back home," Tisam says. "They brought a lot of heart and pride into the game today and I thought their performance was outstanding.

“We’ve got Tonga next and hopefully we will get three points from them. We will look to be more attacking in that game because we need to get forward and into dangerous areas more often.”

Although they might have hoped to have tucked more goals away, the result keeps Tahiti at the top of Group B with a perfect three-from-three win record. Their remaining group match is an all-important clash with French Polynesian rivals New Caledonia that could well decide who tops the pool.

But Solomon Islands also have every chance of securing that honour after handing out a footballing lesson to Tonga during their 15-0 triumph.

The Katukatus, as they are known in their football-mad nation, got off the mark in the 18th minute when Gabriel Bosi made progress down the left and squared for Alex Waimora, who would go on to score three more times, to finish off at the second attempt.

It was 8-0 before half-time and the goals continued to flow in regular fashion after the break. Solo Kuki also notched a hat-trick, while Bosi and John Bitiai helped themselves to two each. Jimmy Raremane, Harrison Mala and Maeron Fa’arodo got in on the act, as did Tonga defender Saimone Pahulu when he diverted the ball past overworked goalkeeper Rangi Piri for an own goal.

Coach Chris Asipara was delighted with the clinical attitude shown by his team and says it was the perfect tonic after their previous 2-1 defeat against Tahiti.

“We were very down after that loss but we managed to regroup and take as many positives as we could out of that experience. Solomon Islanders have a lot of passion for football so we said, ‘Well, let’s go out there and play with passion’, and that’s what we did.”

It was a long day for Tonga counterpart Chris Williams but he again emphasised that development rather than results is his primary focus.

“It’s about the experience,” he says. “We have never played against teams like Tahiti or Solomon Islands, whose players have been coached since they were six years old. It’s a good lesson for us and hopefully they can take that on board.”

Tonga’s best chance of getting a good result was always going to be against Cook Islands but Williams says bagging any points from that match will be far from straightforward.

“They’re a good team and did really well against Tahiti today. We’re going to have to be a lot better and need to have a think about the way we approach that game.”