NEWSPAGE 13 June
2011

NEW ZEALAND: Grey Lynn adopts Samoa as second team for Rugby World Cup

(Photo: eventpolynesia.com)

SAMOA: Boxing in Samoa will come alive if done properly
Source: eventpolynesia.com

Managing Director of Event Polynesia, Pa’u Fereti Puni, is adamant that boxing in Samoa will come alive if done properly.

If the close to full capacity at Faleata Gym # 1 during the Samoa Independence Pro Am Fights is to go by, then boxing in Samoa has certainly made a come back.

Especially with a strong attendance by the business community led by champions of Samoan sports Tupua Fred Wetzell, Lealiie’e Rudy Ott, Francis Craig, Tuatagaloa Joe Annandale and Alaiasa Schwartz Hunt joined by local companies Pacific Aluminum, British American Tobacco, PacificEzy Money Transfer, Latu Law and KEW Consultants.

However Pa’u cautions that the perception by many that boxing promotion in Samoa is a money making business is far from the truth.

“It’s funny how after the boxing promotion, the only thing people say is how full the event was instead of commenting on how the tournament and local boxers have developed over the years. All they were thinking about is how much money was made on the night,” said Pa’u.

The truth is, without the support of Government through TAB funding, SSFA and media support by TV3, TV1, Radio 2AP and Samoa Observer in the last four years, the SPAF tournaments would not have been viable.

And without sponsorship by local businesses like Hennie’s Sports Bar & Motel and Motor 1 Samoa, also the kind donations from Samoa Commercial Bank, Samoa Builders Supplies & ACE Hardware, Maota Samoa and South Seas Pictures, Komiti o le Faleula every year, and individuals like Papalii Morris Scanlan, Toleafoa Elon Betham, La’auli Alan Grey, even reverend ministers there would not have been any professional boxing development as you see it today.

The recent Sagaga Le Falefa electoral petition filed against Tuisa Tasi Patea brought to light a glimpse of the extent of the work behind the scene resulting in the current resurgence of professional boxing in Samoa.

Event Polynesia however can take some comfort from the Rachael Hunter shampoo TV commercial, “It’s not going to happen over night, but it will happen.” That is so true with the results to date.

• The growing popularity of the Samoa Pro Am Fights (SPAF) established four years ago by Event Polynesia in conjunction with South Pacific Professional Boxing Incorporated (SPBI) and Samoa Amateur Boxing Association (SABA) now features the PM’s Cup during the Independence promotion while the December SPAF includes the Honorary Awards presentation for service to boxing.

• The establishment in April of a High Performance Academy (HPA) for professional boxing in Samoa. But without its own facility, the training program with twenty two (22) professional boxers is only made possible though the kind assistance of JP Fitness.

• Collaboration with the New Zealand boxing fraternity has enabled Event Polynesia to stage promotions in New Zealand; also enabling local boxers to train and fight out of New Zealand in the last three years. This is a much needed step for local professional boxers to be ‘culturelised’ overseas and be mentored in the business side of boxing. But being non New Zealand residents, they have to return to Samoa after every fight which is a very costly exercise.

• Successful negotiations with New Zealand promoters have opened the door for local boxers to fight on major cards being televised internationally like the David Tua vs. Demetrius King promotion, the New Zealand 2011 Last Man Standing promotion and the recent Sonny Bill William (SBW) and Anthony Mundine promotion. Team Samoa’s record so far this year is eight (8) fights, seven (7) wins and one (1) draw. Of the seven (7) wins, four (4) are by way of KO.

• Successful inclusion of Samoan professional boxers to participate in tournaments in China, the centre of world boxing in the Asia Pacific region, with Samoan Middleweight champion Pele Faumui being the first last year, winning by unanimous decision.

• Samoan champion Vaitele Soi now ranked number three (3) in New Zealand in the cruiserweight division behind Muyoyo Mensah (WBO # 12) and Shane Cameron. On Sunday, Samoan Light Heavyweight champion Warren Fuiava claimed the best fight of the night after knocking out Australian title contender Daniel Baff in the fifth (5) round on the SBW and Mundine promotion.

• Negotiations are underway to see the establishment of a Team Samoa camp in Las Vegas later this year to enable one or two more local professional fighters to join Leti who is trained by one of America’s best trainer, Mr. Kenny Adams. Leti’s professional record is five fights, winning all by KO.

“This year’s annual challenge for the Prime Minister’s Cup was a heated fixture with Samoa taking back the cup from last year’s winner American Samoa. The inclusion of the SPAF event as part of the official Samoa Independence program starting last year is a real boost to the development of the sport in both Samoa.”

Deputy Prime Minister Fonotoe Nuafesili Lauofo presented the cup on behalf of the PM.

As the Samoan saying goes, “E ta’aalo lava tama a o le uso.” Such was the spirit of sportsmanship emulated with the two amateur teams marching side by side the following morning together with all the professional boxers who fought each other the night before, and officials during the march pass at Tiafau.

“It was good to see Hon. Tolofuaivalelei Leiataua, co-chair of the Samoa Independence Committee, attending with fellow Members of Parliament to witness the potential of the SPAF tournament as a major sport fixture for Samoa’s 50th Independence celebration,” said Pa’u.

The addition of Government organizations that used the SPAF event to promote their services to the community was another great addition. Other Samoa sports bodies can also take a leaf out of the support of Rugby League Samoa and Football Federation Samoa to boxing on the fight night.

“With cold Vailima draught running out before the Leti verses Waru main event, it sure was a affirmation of the interest in corporate hospitality now added to the boxing entertainment, something that is very popular overseas.

According to Pa’u, “Next year’s Independence promotion is the right time to bring a World Boxing Organisation (WBO) regional title fight back to Samoa. That time, one of the local professional boxers will be ready to take that belt.”

Photo Caption: (L-R) Deputy Prime Minister with boxers Jamie Waru and Leti Emelio Leti, Hon. Tolofuaivalelei Leiataua and Hon. Sooalo Meni.

(Photo: Gregory Nelson / Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

AUSTRALIA: Nauru could take asylum seekers 'within weeks'
Source: ABC News

The Federal Opposition says asylum detention facilities on Nauru could be re-opened within a "matter of weeks" and the tiny Pacific island is an even better option now than it was 10 years ago.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott and Coalition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison have travelled to Nauru to meet president Marcus Stephen and inspect former immigration detention sites.

The Coalition would like to see the Government reopen the Nauru facilities rather than pursue its proposed deal with Malaysia.

Both Mr Abbott and Mr Morrison have toured the centres used to detain asylum seekers for up to five years as part of the Howard government's Pacific solution

Mr Abbott says he has seen excellent school and police facilities and a local hospital. He says they would all be available for any asylum seekers sent sent to Naru.

Other sections of the old immigration detention sites are overgrown and the unused buildings are run down.

Mr Morrison says while the buildings do need work, they could be made ready for asylum seekers within weeks.

He says Nauru's electricity and other infrastructure is much better than it was under the Pacific Solution, which would make it cheaper to restart the centres.

"Ten years ago, when this facility was first opened in Nauru, it was in a very different position than it is today," he said.

"Nauru has advanced since then, particularly in the area of its infrastructure."

Mr Abbott says reopening facilities on Nauru is a better option than the Government's proposed deal with Malaysia.

He says he is satisfied with the facilities on Naru, and he does not think the Prime Minister could say the same for Malaysia.

"Compared to Malaysia, Nauru is humane, cost-effective and it's proven," he said.

"That's why I say that the Prime Minister should pick up the phone to the president of Nauru and reopen this centre."

He says Julia Gillard is being stubborn on the matter.


Regional support

But Federal Defence Minister Stephen Smith has criticised the Opposition's policy, saying the Government will not reopen detention facilities on Nauru.

Mr Smith told ABC TV's Insiders program that using Nauru was a failed effort to stop people smuggling.

He says asylum seekers were detained there for long periods under the Howard government and they were almost all resettled in Australia.

"It's not supported in any regional sense. It's not supported by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees so that's not an option that we're proposing to take up," he said.

"We want to make sure we've got regional support for what we do. We want to make sure that we've got the support of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees."

Meanwhile, a federal Labor backbencher says he does not think the Malaysian asylum seeker agreement should be discussed by the Caucus before it is announced.

The Government is working to finalise the deal to send 800 asylum seekers to Malaysia in return for accepting 4,000 refugees.

Some Labor MPs have raised human rights concerns about sending people to Malaysia for processing.

But Labor Caucus chairman Daryl Melham has told Channel Ten that finalising the deal is a matter for the leadership team.

"I've been there for 21 years. The problem for some of the newer people is that they think everything should come to caucus before it's announced that's not the way it works, that's not the convention," he said.

"People will have their say at relevant stages of a particular process. Sometimes it's before an announcement, sometimes it's after."

Photo Caption: Tony Abbott and Scott Morrison attend mass in Nauru.
 

(Photo: Handy Shipping Guide)

PAPUA NEW GUINEA: PNG road freight gets lift from funding boost
Source: Handy Shipping Guide

The World Bank has approved a US$43 million credit for the Papua New Guinea Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Project II (RMRP II), which looks to provide a boost for road haulage operators in the country.

Building on the success of an earlier project, which is set to close in December 2011, the RMRP II is a five-year initiative that is designed to support the rehabilitation, upgrading and maintenance of high priority national roads and bridges in the country.

The project, which will be implemented by Papua New Guinea’s Department of Works and will run from the latter half of this year until 2016, will rehabilitate 150 kms of roads and bridges in several provinces, beginning with upgrading segments of the Hiritano Highway to pavement. This will complete the full paving of the highway across both the Central and Gulf provinces.

Lack of reliable roads in the country has severely affected PNG’s connectivity and economic growth, particularly in regards to impeding trade through making road freight - for much of the country the only viable transport - extremely arduous.

However, continuous investment in the nation’s roads since 2002 has seen great improvements made. To date $77.3 million has been spent, and the funding for RMRP II should benefit thousands of people.

“Over the past decade we have seen how good roads can change people’s lives in Papua New Guinea: children can get to school on public transport; ambulances can take people to hospitals and businesspeople can send their goods to markets,” said Ferid Belhaj, World Bank Country Director for Papua New Guinea.

“Through this project we will continue to work with the Government of Papua New Guinea to rehabilitate roads and transform people’s lives by connecting them to the things they need most,” he added.

(Photo: Solomon Star)

SOLOMON ISLANDS: 2010 records big number of enrolled students
Source: Solomon Star

The number of students attending primary schools has increased significantly since 2010.

This was revealed by a high placed source within the Ministry of Education.

The source who wishes to remain anonymous said since last year the number of students enrolled in primary schools had increased compared to previous years.

“About 90 percent of children are attending school and we suspected that it was because of the introduced free education policy,” the source said.

“The Ministry of Education is yet to do assessment and monitoring to check whether the free education policy was the reason for the high number of enrolled students.”

The source said every year the Ministry of Education collected data from schools of how many children are attending school and last year was exceptional.

The free basic education was introduced in 2009 for primary school children and students from form one to three.
 

(Photos: Pacific Islands Applied GeoScience Commission)

WORLDWIDE: High level meeting shows way forward for seabed mineral mining
Source: Pacific Islands Applied GeoScience Commission Press Release

Delegates at the three-day Deep Sea Mineral Mining “high level” workshop have identified key issues that need to be addressed towards the commercialization of deep seabed mining in the Pacific Region.

The workshop was held from June 6-8 in Fiji.

The workshop, organised by SPC/SOPAC, and funded by the EU, focused on legislative, regulatory, capacity requirements, and the environment, all pertaining to deep sea minerals and mining, in its roster of issues.

It is part of a four-year EU-funded project, headed by Deep Sea Minerals Project Leader, Akuila Tawake that will develop the legislative and technical framework to help countries in the region implement laws to regulate seabed mining.

Deep sea mining has become a major topic in the region with the announcement that Nautilus Minerals is expected by the end of 2013 to begin the mining of the Seafloor Massive Sulphide system in 1500 metres of water off the coast of New Ireland in Papua New Guinea - the first deep sea mineral mine in the world.

The importance of the mine development was reflected in the workshop discussions, where world-leading specialists on issues pertaining to deep sea minerals made presentations that highlighted the many aspects related to mining the seabed, including environmental and conservation, legal and regulatory, fiscal, and technologies.

The specialists included: Michael Lodge, Legal Advisor for the International Seabed Authority; Dr James Hein of the US Geological Survey (USGS); Dr Linwood Pendleton, Director of Economic Research, Duke University, USA; Dr Yannick Beaudoin, Head of the Marine Programme at UNEP/Grid-Arendal; Daniel Dumas, Head of the Commonwealth Secretariat Economic and Legal Section; Graeme Hancock, formerly of the World Bank; Dr Sven Peterson, a mineralogist at the Leibniz Institute of Marine Studies; Professor Chuck Fisher, a biologist at the Pennsylvania State University in the United States, and Dr Samantha Smith, Environmental and Community Manager for Nautilus Minerals.

They lent their expertise to the more than 100 delegates from around the region, many of whom had little knowledge about the mineral resources that are located in the seabed in many of their Pacific Island countries.

In opening the workshop, SPC/SOPAC Division’s Director, Dr. Russell Howorth reminded the delegates that the specific purpose of the workshop was “to strengthen the system of governance and the capacity of Pacific ACP states in the sustainable management of their potential deep-sea mineral resources.”

He encouraged delegates that the correct way forward in the workshop was strategic, built on inclusiveness and interactive dialogue, which would then lead to incremental actions.
“In these ways,” he added, “sustainable use of deep sea minerals can proceed for the benefit of all within known levels of acceptable risk.”

Towards the conclusion of the workshop, delegates were asked to define the issues challenging seabed mining. Once they return to their home countries, delegates are being asked to review and amend the meeting outcome’s results, which will be used as a resource material in the development of the regional legal and technical framework.

As part of the Project a further two-day Steering Committee Meeting will be held from June 9 and 10 at the same venue where participants will commence to make an assessment of Pacific marine minerals and deep sea mining, based on past scientific studies.

Many of the specialists will be a part of the Steering Committee meeting.

“This meeting is part of the SPC/SOPAC Division and the Norway based UNEP/GRID-Arendal, (the United Nations Environment Programme information office) partnership,” said Akuila Tawake, Deep Sea Minerals Project Team Leader. “It is expected that the outcomes from this assessment will take one year to complete.”

Countries that are participating in the Project are the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
 

Photo Captions:

Photo 1 - Deep Sea Minerals Project Team Leader Akuila Tuwake speaking at the workshop.

Photo 2 - Delegates listen to the presentation in the conference hall.

Photo 3 - Dr. Russell Howorth (left) speaks to Charles Roche. Executive Director of the Mineral Policy Institute Australia during the Deep Sea Mineral Mining workshop.