NEWSPAGE 18 May
2011

(Photos: Pacific Youth Awards)

NEW ZEALAND: Applications called for PM’s Pacific Youth Awards

(Photos: Savali News)

SAMOA: EFKS museum opens at Malua
Source: Savali News

Another reason to visit Samoa was launched on Saturday when the EFKS Museum at Malua opened its doors to the public.

The $5.7 million facility will house some of the finest artwork from the Pacific.

Thanking the Congregational Christian Church in Samoa - the largest denomination in the country - Acting Prime Minister Tuiloma Pule Lameko, described the project as “the Church’s biggest contribution to the tourism and economic development” in the country.

“Perhaps the mythical fale (house) at Amoa looked something like this. It is truly a magnificent building. Not only will it be a money spinner for the country but it will also serve as an archive for church documents and church history.”

Also on display are the old printing presses that were used in the early days of the church.

“These printing presses were used to translate the bible and put Samoan language in writing. This is how Samoa learned to read and write thanks to the work of the early missionaries who established the Samoan alphabet.”

Tuiloma said the museum will be a regular stop for tourists traveling from Faleolo Airport to Apia.

The project began in 2008 with the insistence of the late CCCS chairman Reverend Elder Atapana Alama. The museum was proposed due to the growing volume of artwork by the fledgling Leulumoega School of Fine Arts that was deteriorating quickly because there was no proper storage for it.

“This is Reverend Alama’s dream we’re seeing today.”

Special thanks was extended to designer and builder Mr Lale Ieremia Jr and his construction company Arrow International Ltd. They undertook and completed the project free of charge.
 

(Photo: Australia-Pacific Technical College)

AUSTRALIA: APTC Australian Alumni Fellowship begins
Source: Australia-Pacific Technical College

The APTC Australian Alumni Fellowship began with a very successful first day with visits to the Sunshine Coast Institute of TAFE and University of Sunshine Coast. Chapter Chairs and Executive members from 8 Pacific island countries are participating in the five day fellowship which has been organised so Alumni members can observe how successful Alumni Associations in TAFE Colleges and universities in Australia are operated.

The day started with a warm and encouraging welcome from Ross Hepworth, Director SCIT at a morning workshop, convened at SCIT. Staff representatives from SCIT and Box Hill TAFE led a very interactive morning of presentations and discussions.

In the afternoon delegates visited the University of the Sunshine Coast to hear from Anita Edmonds and Andrew Pentland on how the University organises its Alumni activities.

Yesterday the delegation moved to Brisbane for a visit to the Queensland University of Technology.

Photo Caption: Alumni Fellowship delegates at SCIT.
 

TONGA: Tonga hosts Forum Trade Officials and Ministers
Source: Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Press Release

The Forum Trade Ministers’ Meeting (FTMM) was held in Vava’u, Kingdom of Tonga on 16-17 May 2011.

Forum Trade Ministers and Officials received updates on regional work programmes including the operations of the Office of the Permanent Delegation of the Pacific Islands Forum to the World Trade Organisation in Geneva, trade promotion work undertaken by Pacific Islands Trade and Invest, progress made on regional work to develop frameworks for the protection of Traditional Knowledge and Intellectual Property, progress on the PACER Plus negotiations and efforts to improve trade facilitation between Forum island countries and Australia and New Zealand.

Forum Trade Officials convened over the two days to discuss trade matters and develop recommendations for consideration by Trade Ministers later in the week.

“Ministers and Officials have an important and challenging task ahead of them next week, and we look forward to their guidance on issues that will shape the nature of trade in our region,” said Forum Secretary General, Tuiloma Neroni Slade. “At this Meeting, Ministers will consider a range of issues and make decisions which will help their communities benefit more fully from trade.”

Adds Mr Slade: “Increased international trade has the potential to support the region’s aspirations under the Pacific Plan and advance achievement of the Millennium Development Goals by creating opportunities for employment and enterprise. Trade also generates income for governments, which can fund improved education and health services.”

Trade Ministers will communicate their decisions to Forum Leaders for consideration at their Summit in Auckland in September.

To improve the opportunities for trade for their producers, Tonga will host the Pasifiki Trade Fair: Vava’u Lahi 2011 at Neiafu, Vava’u in the margins of Forum Trade Ministers’ Meeting. The Fair is an annual event organised by Tonga’s Ministry of Labour, Commerce and Industry in partnership with the Tonga Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Attending the Fair this year are Pacific Islands Trade and Invest’s Trade Commissioners from China, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, who will help Tongan businesses to promote products in their respective markets.
 

(Photo: Vanuatu Daily Post)

VANUATU: North Efate tourism association formed
Source: Vanuatu Daily Post

Tourism operators across north Efate’s offshore islands have successfully formed a local tourism association to represent their islands’ industry interests and needs.

The Nguna Pele Emau Tourism Association has elected its executive with a good mix of experienced and new tourism operators representing each island.
The Association was developed as part of a recent SHEFA tourism development workshop on Nguna and Pele, which was organised in conjunction with an Australian volunteer with the Nguna-Pele Marine Protection Area and the MPA Chairman Tatupe Joesph.

The SHEFA Tourism Development office spent three days talking with and exploring the tourism opportunities across these islands in a workshop designed to raise awareness in the community about the tourism industry, and to provide business development coaching to existing tourism operators.

As the community plays an important role in the development of tourism product, the initial session provided information to the community about the importance of working together and realising the greater community economic and cultural benefits that tourism can bring to their islands.

“In Vanuatu the number of tourists that visit the islands outside of Efate, Santo and Tanna could be increased to provide tourists exposure to our unique culture and customs as well as providing much needed income for ni-Vanuatu tourism operators, and their communities.

“The islands of Nguna, Pele and Emau are in a prime position to take advantage of this as the islands are all close to Port Vila and there is easy access for both international and domestic tourists from Port Vila” said Max Aru, SHEFA Tourism Development Officer.

While there are some very good existing tourism operators across these islands, the challenge for the Tourism Association is to work together to increase the standard of tourism product and to take advantage of marketing opportunities in the future. It is anticipated that the Nguna Pele Emau Tourism Association, through its Executive will work with the SHEFA Tourism Development Office to achieve this objective.

Photo Caption: The newly formed Executive of the Ngunga Pele Emau Tourism Association; (L-R) Leitonga Cyrus (Treasurer), Emau, Emma Sisi (member representative) Nguna, Jason Carlos (Vice-Chairman) Pele, Kristina Tasong (President) Nguna. Absent Kenneth Tarisu (Secretary) Pele.
 

(Photo: Dr Jill Key)

WORLDWIDE: PILN highlighted as a model for South-South cooperation
Source: Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme Press Release

Seven-years since the Pacific Island countries requested for its set up - the Pacific Invasives Learning Network (PILN) will be showcased at a South-South Cooperation meeting in Korea from 18-20 May.

PILN which was endorsed by the SPREP member countries at its 15th meeting held in French Polynesia, started as a two year pilot project supported by eight environment organisations providing funding support and expert advice.

PILN is a network of national and local agencies working on invasive species in 13 Pacific Island countries and territories. The agencies from different government departments, the private sector and non-governmental organisations form teams to coordinate invasive species planning and to undertake field work.

PILN exists to address important issues that characterise the Pacific island countries, such as the limited resources in terms of human capacity, skills as well as financial and geographic isolation. Professional isolation is also another factor that if not addressed can lead to invasive species workers feeling helpless.

“PILN is about training our people on skills they need to do the job. When we trained them, we want them to go back and apply their new knowledge”, says the PILN Coordinator, Dr Posa Skelton.

“We are there to encourage them to apply that knowledge and to assure them of the support from the rest of the network. The network is also there to share their achievements and to celebrate their successes”.

Today 15 PILN teams are working on priority invasive species issues on their islands. Some of these teams have developed their invasive species strategy and action plans and they are in the implementation phase.

Capacity has been built on a wide-range of issues including strategic planning, eradicating pests from islands to developing awareness information for their communities.

The Convention on Biological Diversity is holding a meeting in Incheon, Korea to share capacity building experience from around the world focussing on developing countries, or south-south cooperation.

The South-South cooperation describes how information, knowledge, technology and resources are shared amongst developing countries.

The Pacific islands have a strong history of south-south cooperation especially in the environment field, which led to the establishment of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).

The Pacific Invasives Learning Network, which is an important component of the SPREP invasive alien species work, will seek partnership opportunities with other capacity building initiatives from around the world.

Photo Caption: PILN Paticipants - Moorea, Tahiti.