NEWSPAGE 25 May
2011

(Photo: Passion PR)

NEW ZEALAND: New scholarship fund aims to build Pacific leaders

(Photo: Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme)

SAMOA: Climate change lessons learnt for future action
Source: Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme Press Release

The start of the “Lessons for Future Action Conference” in Apia on Monday (May 23, 2011) heightened the urgency to address issues of climate change adaptation and future decisions affecting Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

The threat of natural disasters is becoming increasingly clear both in terms of their impact on SIDS, and of their personal vulnerability. A strong message during the opening ceremony was the need for immediate action, in cooperation with others, as we cannot do it alone.

The Prime Minister of Samoa, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, opened the conference calling upon participants to share the lessons learnt so we can strategise for a better future in the face of climate change.

“What is needed now in the pacific and elsewhere is more climate change project implementation, and this is the single most important action for the future, I will urge you therefore as stakeholders of climate change and disaster risk management to share the lessons learned to date”.

The issue of partnership was echoed by Mr. David Sheppard, Director of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP). He shared SPREP’s continuing focus of strengthening partnerships and the critical need to work together without competition or duplication.

“We have limited resources and capacity, so let’s work together and better utilize resources and avenues that have been established-both within and between our regions”.


“While there are differences between and within regions in terms of size, capacity, levels of development and geography, I have always been impressed by the level of solidarity and cooperation that exist between small island states. This is exemplified by the work of the Alliance of Small Island States, AOSIS”.

The Prime Minister of Samoa also reiterated the support the Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) needs from the international audience.

“One of the biggest challenges as you all know has been to get the voice of Alliance of Small Islands States member countries heard. We collectively want a 45 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 based on 1990 levels. I think we may now have the man power and the skills to fund the determination and the technological means to achieve this”.

James Bartley, Deputy Director General of AUSAID acknowledged the importance of productive means to assist the Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

“The issue is not simply one of the amount of resources available to address climate change around the world, there‘s a real issue of how effectively those resources are used most efficiently, most productively and indeed in ways that are not counterproductive”.

Over the next two days participants will deliberate over a range of different issues including capacity development, strategies and on-ground options, community based responses to climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction as well as information and awareness raising. By sharing the lessons learnt in these areas during panel discussions and presentations, it is hoped a path forward will be forged.

Photo Captions: Prime Minister of Samoa, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi delivering his opening speech at the “Lessons for Future Action Conference” in Apia.

(Photos: J. Kneubuhl)

AMERICAN SAMOA: ASCC ROTC hosts commissioning ceremony for alumni
Source: American Samoa Community College Press Release

Three American Samoa Community College (ASCC) alumni received their commissions as Second Lieutenants in the US Army during a Commissioning Ceremony hosted by the College’s Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Department this past Friday. Cadets Valentino Pase, Liko S.F. Sasagi and Galo Tuiolosega all got their start in ROTC training at ASCC, and completed their BA degrees and ROTC training in Hawaii. The Commissioning Ceremony gave the three former Cadets a chance to not only share the special occasion with family, friends, and local dignitaries, but also to serve as examples for current ROTC Cadets at ASCC and young people in American Samoa considering a military career.

Valentino Pase graduated from Tafuna High School in 2004 and attended ASCC from 2005 to 2009. He completed his BA in Political Science this year at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. The son of Apineru and Latasi Pasi, Valentino currently serves in the Army Reserve but will soon go on active duty. Liko S. F. Sasagi, son of Fua and Tunoa Sasagi, was born and raised in Fagasa, and graduated from Samoana High School in 2006. He earned his Associate of Art Degree in Liberal Arts while attending ASCC, and his BA in Political Science this year at UH Manoa. Liko is currently on active duty in the US Army as an Ordnance specialist. Galo Tuiolosega is the son of Trevor and Tala'u'ula Masoe Tuiolosega of Pava'ia'i. He is a graduate of Samoana High School, where he played football as a quarterback and wide receiver. He completed his BA in Business Administration from Chaminade University this year and serves in the Army Reserve.

Special guests at the ceremony included Governor Togiola Tulafono, Board of Higher Education Chairman Uta Dr. Laloulu Tagoilelagi, ASCC President Dr. Seth Galea’i, (R) LTC Mapu Jamias, and keynote speaker Colonel Randy A. Hart of the US Army. Colonel Hart is a graduate of Army Management Staff College, Command and General Staff College, Combined Arms Services Staff School, Civil Affairs Advance Course, Adjutant Generals Basic and Advance Courses, and Airborne School. His awards include the Bronze Star, Global War on Terrorism, five Meritorious Service Medals, four Army Commendation Medals, and three Army Achievement Medals. Also on hand were Col. Evelyn Langford, who provided the Distinguished Military Presentation, and Army Reserve Chaplain Asiata Fouvale.

Current ROTC head instructor 1Lt. Filimatasina Vaiau said the three ASCC alumni being commissioned from Cadets to Second Lieutenants serve as an inspiration to her current students. “You not only have to make it through the ROTC program, but also complete a four year degree to make it to this final step,” she explained. In general, 1Lt. Vaiau describes the current ASCC ROTC program as “flourishing”. “Our enrollment has increased and many who come through our program most definitely continue with ROTC after they leave ASCC,” she said. “ROTC offers scholarships for Cadets interested in pursuing a four year degree as well as a career in the US Army as officers. Given our current economic status, this is a great opportunity, but it demands a lot. We teach Army values and leadership skills that prepare the Cadets for the next higher level.”

1Lt. Vaiau, herself a former ASCC student, reflected on returning to campus as an instructor. “This is my first year as an ROTC instructor and let me say that teaching is the hardest job,” she said. “It involves so much nurturing, mentoring, and counseling because it’s a family oriented and student centered program. I joined the program when it was first established and received a scholarship from the ROTC program as well as an ASG scholarship, so by working as an Instructor at ASCC, it’s like giving back to the community. I look at the cadets and I want to move mountains for them because they’re great students.”

While she has enjoyed working with the local Cadets, 1Lt. Vaiau explained that her recent re-assignment to the University of Hawaii at Manoa means she will bid farewell to the ASCC ROTC program before the next semester begins. “This is my last semester on my current assignment to ASCC,” she said, “but it was truly a memorable experience.” 1LT Vaiau said 2LT Maryjane Porter will return to ASCC in July as head of the ROTC program at the College.

Photo Captions:

Photo 1 - Three former ROTC cadets at ASCC who received their commssions as Second
Lieutenants in the US Army are congratulated by Retired Lt. Col. Mapu Jamias following a ceremony held this past Friday at the College. (L-R) Liko Sasagi, Valentino Pase, LTC Jamias, and Galo Tuiolosega.

Photo 2 - Governor Togiola congratulates former ROTC cadet and ASCC alumnus Galo Tuiolosega on his commission to Second Lieutenant in the US Army. Liko Sasagi and Valentino Pase, also former ROTC cadets at the College, were also commissioned during a ceremony this past Friday at ASCC.

(Photo: Associated Press)

FIJI: Fiji Rugby Union want answers from IRB over travel bans
Source: The Telegraph

Fiji, still the biggest draw card in sevens, is threatening to withdraw from the New Zealand and Australian legs of next year's competition unless those nations lift their travel ban on Fijian players linked with the existing military regime.

The Fijian military is traditionally a big source of the player talent in Fiji but both New Zealand and Australia are insisting that following the Military coup by Voreque Bainimarama in 2006 members of the the Fiji Armed Forces are no longer welcome in their countries.

That ban extends to this year's World Cup in New Zealand and although Fiji insists it will not withdraw from the fifteens World Cup, they have a much stronger hand to play in the Sevens game in which no tournament is really complete without their presence.

Just to underline the point they absolutely hammered New Zealand, the current IRB world series champions, 42-19 at Twickenham in the semi-finals of the London Emirates Sevens, the London leg of the IRB World series.

FRU chairman colonel Mosese Tikoitoga said he had written to the International Rugby Board (IRB) telling it Fiji may pull out of the tournaments if it could not send its best team.

"Next year, we may have to forego the New Zealand and Australian legs," Tikoitoga told the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation confirming that he had emailed the letter to the ITB offices in Dublin.

The current ban prevents all players and officials with ties to Fiji's military from travelling to Australia and New Zealand, meaning Tikoitoga would also be unable to attend the events in Brisbane and Wellington.

He said he had told the IRB that barring players from military backgrounds amounted to interference in team selection. The World Sevens Series is due to open in Australia's Gold Coast in late November this year, with the Wellington leg in February 2012.

Photo Caption: No pushovers: Fiji's Watisoni Votu in action at Twickenham.
 

NIUE: Niue plans changes to tax system
Source: Radio New Zealand International

The Niue government is planning personal income tax cuts while also extending the reach of the island’s National Consumption Tax, which is imposed on all goods and services.

Last week, Toke Talagi was reconfirmed as premier for a further three-year term and he’s planning to drop the threshold at which businesses must register for NCT to those with an annual turnover of 75,000 New Zealand dollars.

Previously it only applied to businesses with turnover of over 200,000 dollars a year.

Mr Talagi says the proposed changes still need to be worked through to measure what revenue they’ll generate.

“With the increase in the number of tourists that we are hoping to achieve I’m hoping that that will contribute to more NCT by way of services that tourists use and so on. In some respects it’s a careful approach, it’s a conservative approach but at the same time looking at opportunities that are available to us that we can take advantage of and increase our revenues even more.”
 

(Photo: Tuna Seiners)

WORLDWIDE: Waters closed to purse seiners to protect tuna fishery
Source: Fish Info & Services

Officials from the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) have met with government authorities to hold talks on a key decision Solomon Islands made on the sustainability of tuna: the country is temporarily closing its waters to foreign purse seiners.

PNA runs a Vessel Day Scheme for purse seiners that involves setting a total number of days for fishing in the PNA area and splitting them between the eight PNA countries -- Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Solomon Islands and Tuvalu -- which can also trade the number of days with each other.

Each PNA ocean state has a Party Allowable Effort (PAE) of days: if they use up their days they must close the fishery and buy fishing days from another country; the system is meant to keep fishing efforts in the area sustainable.

Last year, PNA committed to setting strict limits on fishing starting this year, which should not be exceeded by any Party.

This month, the Solomon Islands will use up all its fishing days allocated under the Vessel Day Scheme. The country will thus have to close the fishery activity and purchase further days to comply with the scheme.

In the meeting between Solomon Islands Prime Minister Danny Philip, PNA Chair Ludwig Kumoro and PNA Director Dr Transform Aqorau, Philip was briefed on the situation. The Solomon Islands Cabinet decided it may close fishery to foreign purse seine vessels while the country looks to buy more fishing days.

“All the PNA ocean states are committed to their goal of creating the world’s largest sustainable tuna purse seine fishery. To do this, sometimes they must face difficult decisions to limit overall fishing effort,” Kumoro said.

In 2010, Nauru faced the same issue and purchased fishing days from the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) to re-open its fishery and continue licensing foreign purse seiners to operate. PNG also bought all fishing days Palau has in 2011 under the scheme.

“Last year the PNA was able to assist Nauru to find a solution after it used up its fishing days. This decision also benefited Marshall Islands, which had under-used its allocation of fishing days,” Kumoro continued. “The PNA will continue to brief government decision-makers about the Vessel Day Scheme and its options and provide any assistance Solomon Islands need to take the Cabinet directions forward.”

PNA countries control 25-30 per cent of the global tuna supply and collaborate to sustainably manage and develop this fishery activity.

Photo Caption: On board deck of tuna purse seiner.