NEWSPAGE 22 August
2011

(Photo: UNICEF)

SAMOA: IRB funded Samoa High Performance Facility opens its doors
Source: International Rugby Board Press Release

A major milestone for Samoan Rugby has been reached with the official opening of the Samoa Rugby Union (SRU) High Performance Facility in Faleata.

Works on the first phase of the impressive state-of-the-art complex have been completed in time for the Samoa national team to fine tune preparations for Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand and is the first facility of its kind in the country.

The Facility boasts a High Performance gym, recovery and rehabilitation centre, two new training pitches, accommodation for up to 90 athletes and a dedicated and centralised administration centre for SRU staff.

The opening represents an important milestone for the SRU High Performance Programme, which is underwritten by International Rugby Board strategic funding generated by the commercial revenues from Rugby World Cup.

The International Rugby Board has contributed over GBP 1 million to the project, which has been delivered in partnership with the Samoan Government who has donated 36 hectares of land at the Faleata Sports Complex.

IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: "The IRB is committed to the development of Rugby throughout Oceania in order to increase competitiveness and is investing GBP 17 million in the Region between 2009 and 2012."

"The opening of the first phase of the High Performance Facility represents a significant boost for the development of Rugby in Samoa, underlines the IRB's commitment to increasing competitiveness and comes at a time when Samoan Rugby is on a high."

"Samoa’s High Performance programme continues to achieve success in Fifteens and Sevens with the senior national Fifteens side recording an impressive victory over Australia in Sydney in July."

"It is fitting that the Facility will be ready for Manu Samoa to complete their Rugby World Cup 2011 preparations and we are delighted to be entering an exciting new era for Samoan Rugby."

“This project would not have been possible without the significant support of the Samoan Government, and on behalf of the IRB I would like to extend our gratitude to the Prime Minister and his Government for the donation of land on which this impressive Facility is being constructed and for the support that they have shown throughout the process."

Rugby is the national sport in Samoa and as excitement builds with the start of Rugby World Cup 2011 less than a month away, the SRU High Performance Facility is central to the Union’s Sevens and Fifteens aspirations over the next decade.

IRB Council Member for Oceania, Tauili’ili Harry Schuster said: “This has been a combined vision and partnership for the IRB and the Samoa Rugby Union (SRU) and we are proud that today we are turning that vision into a reality. The ultimate goal of the High Performance Facility is very simple, to produce world class Rugby talent with the highest potential to succeed at international level.”

The Facility will be put through its paces by Manu Samoa, who begin their RWC 2011 campaign against Namibia on September 14.

Chairman of the Samoa Rugby Union, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, said: "For our team to experience first-hand the fruits of the High Performance vision on the eve of their Rugby World Cup journey is extremely motivating, and one which will hopefully inspire them to great things in New Zealand."

"The reality of the High Performance vision can now be clearly seen by all, which will hopefully serve to inspire the future generation of Rugby players, both men and women in Samoa."
 

(Photo: World Bank Group)

AUSTRALIA: Banks to support high-speed Internet in Tonga
Source: World Bank Group Press Release

The World Bank Group and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) intend to support the Pacific Island nation of Tonga gaining high-speed internet access for its population of 100,000 people through an underwater fiber optic cable.

The move was announced after a meeting in Sydney today between World Bank Group President Robert B. Zoellick and Tongan Prime Minister Lord Tu’ivakano. Prime Minister Lord Tu’ivakano will meet ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda later this week.

“Access to high-speed internet links will vastly improve opportunities for the people of Tonga to connect to the world, provide information needed by business to expand jobs, and allow people to more easily and inexpensively keep in contact with families overseas,” Zoellick said. “It will also make it easier for Tongans living abroad to remit money home - critically important as remittances comprise about a third of GDP.”

“The underwater fiberoptic cable will connect Tonga up to the Southern Cross Cable, the main trans-Pacific link between Australia and the United States,” said Mr. Kuroda. “This critical link will connect Tonga firmly with the rest of the world, generating huge economic opportunities from early 2013 when the cable should be in place and marking a key step in Tonga’s international connectivity.”

The high-speed internet connection to Tonga will build on the successful telecommunications reform over the past five years in the country, which has resulted in a six-fold increase in mobile phone coverage in the same period. Market opening and the introduction of new private sector service providers, along with financing from the World Bank’s private sector arm, IFC, have helped increase mobile phone coverage rates from less than 10% to over 60% of the population.

“I am pleased that the World Bank Group and ADB are significantly boosting support for Tonga, and across the Pacific islands more generally,” said Tongan Prime Minister Lord Tu’ivakano.

As well as the broadband cable, the World Bank and ADB will support improved transport links, increased renewable energy generation, urban infrastructure, climate change adaptation, and Government reform efforts in Tonga.

“While the island states of the Pacific face considerable challenges because of their vulnerability to global economic shocks and climate change, we in Tonga are committed to strengthening education for our children and services for the neediest, and undertake necessary reform to improve transparency and create jobs,” said Lord Tu’ivakano.

Out of the total $34 million cost of the broadband cable, the World Bank anticipates providing $17.2 million, ADB expects to provide $9.7 million pending consideration by their Boards of Directors, and the Government of Tonga will commit the remaining funds. The project will go before ADB’s Board of Directors for consideration on August 23, 2011 and to the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors on August 30, 2011. The funds from both the World Bank and ADB will be on 100% grant terms.
 

Photo Caption: (L-R) World Bank Group President Robert B. Zoellick and Tongan Prime Minister Lord Tu’ivakano.

PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Central government buys tools for schools
Source: The National
 

The central government has shown its support for education in the province by buying tools for four vocational schools in the province.

On Thursday (August 18, 2011),  the central provincial administration handed over to the school representatives at the provincial headquarters at Konedobu in Port Moresby a truckload of carpentry and gardening tools worth K20,000.

The four recipients are Saint Peters Vocational Centre, Keakalo Vocational Centre, Kwikila Vocational Centre and Woitape Vocational Centre.

It said 40% of the school fee subsidy for the vocational centres was allocated for the purchase of the materials while the remaining 60% would be given to the schools.

Education adviser Titus Romano Hatagen said the initiative was to see real effect from the subsidies the provincial budget provided.

“The central government wants to see tangible outcomes. So, instead of just giving money, we give what that money can do for the schools,’’ he said.

“The main focus of the provincial government is to deliver education services to the people, and the purchasing of the tools is yet a show of support from the provincial government.”

Supporting education in a target of the 2007-16 provincial plan.

It was not the first time the provincial government had helped schools in the province.

Elementary, primary, and secondary schools had also benefited.
 

(Photo: Solomon Star)

SOLOMON ISLANDS: ADRA organise program for rural youths
Source: Solomon Star

A four day training workshop targeting youths in Guadalcanal and Malaita successful ended on Friday (August 19, 2011).

Adventist Development Relief Agency (ADRA) organized the event under the Youth Engage Livelihood Project (YELP) at the Maranatha Hall where the youths camped together for the past four days.

The training kicked off Monday with a reconciliation ceremony where shell money between the youths were exchanged to say sorry for past problems which had affected the two islands.

Topics covered during the training included gender, accountability, disability, educational talks, and financial management.

There were open dialogues, group discussions and a drama show.

The project was funded by AusAID and implemented by ADRA.

From North Malaita youths attending the program came from Musukui, Bina, Fouia, Adagege, Gwaunasuu, Kwailabesi, Ngaliwawao and Lumaluu communities.

While from North East Central Guadalcanal youths came from Geza, New Tenabuti, Tumbosa, Kaio, Tau, Bemuta, Doe, Buvi and Vasakiki communities.

Each community has 6 Participants represented their communities which totaled up to 120 participants.

Assistance project manager Patrick Mesia said it is a five years program that aims to mobilize rural youths to share their learning ability, past challenges in communities and focused on Strength Base Approach (SBA).

He said they have introduced the SBA to youths living in rural areas so that youths may understand how to manage themselves.

“Most youths have skills to do things but lack of knowledge and this program is designed to impart important skills to utilizes their resources in their own village so that they may not rely on Parliament Members (MP) and other people,” Mr Mesia said.

Huka Geneses from Vaskiki village in Guadalcanal said the program is an eye opener for him.

“I have learned alot of new issues from this program and also develop friendship.

“I usually hear about strengthen base approach but following this training I now understand the concept and idea how to go about the using my skills and resources in my communities.

“Coming to this program is not a mistake but it is a vision for me to gain some new and fresh ideas to share with my communities.”

The program ended yesterday with a display of what the youths have been doing over the past days.

Participants have also thanked ADRA, AusAID and facilitators for the training.

Photo Caption: Youths performing in the drama at the ADRA workshop.

(Photo: Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme)

WORLDWIDE: Pacific emerging environmental leaders’ symposium to be held in Apia
Source: Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme Press Release

The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) is seeking applications to attend an inaugural symposium for young professionals who are emerging as environmental leaders in the Pacific islands.

The five-day symposium, to be held in Apia, Samoa from the 15-21 October 2011, will kick-start the Pacific Emerging Environment Leaders’ (PEEL) Initiative, a longer-term programme aimed at supporting action by young professionals for environmental management and leadership.

Ms Seema Deo, SPREP’s Education and Social Communications Advisor, said the PEEL initiative will help bring together young Pacific Islanders (20-35 years) who are committed to improving the state of the environment in their countries, no matter what their area of work.

Ms Deo said: “The main focus of the symposium is to encourage the spread of an environmental ethic across all sectors of society. We hope to create a dynamic, self-motivated group, capable of thinking beyond barriers and can contribute to good decision-making for real sustainable development.”

“Young people need support and mentoring during the early stages of their working life to encourage commitment to sustainable lifestyles and choices in their work and personal situations.”

“The Symposium will serve as a platform for visioning and building innovative solutions to improve environmental management and sustainable development and, hopefully, provide opportunity to rethink the way we do business,” she said.

Individuals from the fields of business, arts, academia, civil society, media, education, science, politics and the public sector, who have already shown significant levels of achievement in bringing environment issues to the forefront of their own areas of influence are being encouraged to apply to attend the symposium.

Participation in the PEEL Initiative will be merit-based. To be considered, potential participants will need to complete an application form and explain why they make a good leader and what contribution they are already making to environment and sustainable development in their workplace or community.

“By participating in the symposium, you are taking on the responsibility of future action, committing to implementing a project and maintaining links with other participants,” said Ms Deo. “We know from past experience that follow up after a forum tends to be limited and we want to make sure we select those individuals who are most committed to and capable of staying the course.”

Applications close on 5 September 2011 and further information, along with the application form is available at www.sprep.org

Photo Caption: SPREP Education and Social Communications Advisor Ms Seema Deo.