NEWSPAGE 29 August
2011

(Photos: Porirua City Council)

(Photo: Marist St. Joseph’s Sports Club)

SAMOA: Marist Sports elect new leaders
Source: Marist St. Joseph’s Sports Club

The Marist St. Joseph’s Sports Club elected new leaders during its Annual General Meeting on Friday 19th August 2011. This is the first time the Club decided to go back to its usual period for hosting its AGM. During the AGM, Mr. Laulu Seuamuli Henry Taefu was re-elected as President. Mr. Taefu was first elected when long time serving Tagaloa Faafouina Sua stepped down during the AGM in January 2011. When Mr. Taefu was first elected he commits in sending back the AGM to its original date. “I got into office and I really wanted the AGM to go back to our financial year, I am very thankful the Executive supported the decision” comments the re-elect President. The President will try his best to make sure the Club withheld to its objectives as set out by former leaders of the Club.

In other posts, Mr. Seumanu Douglas Ngau Chun was also re-elected as the Club’s General Secretary, Galumalemana Rudolph Moors was elected as Treasurer to replace outgoing Mr. Tavui Mike Lemisio. The Club Patrons still remains to Hon. Tuilaepa Sailele, Seehoy Chan Mow, Seumanutafa Michael Kapisi and Hon. Lepou Petelo. The Vice President post is assigned to former President’s of the Club and they are Muagututia George Meredith, Fuiono Felise Vito, Mulitalo Vui Ricky McFall, Lepale Niko Palamo, Faumuina Wayne Fong, Tualatamalelagi Tom Annandale and Tagaloalagi Faafouina Sua. In the Sport arena, Muagututia Sila Vaifale was re-appointed the Club Head Coach for the next twelve months.

The major challenge for the new Executive will be the 24th Marist Samoa International Sevens scheduled for October 21st and 22nd which will be a back to back tournament with Federation of Oceania Rugby Unions (FORU) Sevens Championship on 28th and 29th October. “We believe many eyes are now on the Manu Samoa fundraising and we are hoping to get more sponsors on board for the Tournament” said the re-elected President. “The back to back tournament will be an exciting two weeks of high quality Sevens and also the finale of the RWC” states the Excited President.

The President and the Executive continues to thank Club Members, the Marist Old Pupils Association, Government of Samoa, stakeholders, family of sponsors and Samoa for the never ending support to Marist Sports.

Photo Caption: Hon. Lepale Niko Palamo (Vice President), Tuilagi Saipele Esera (Fundraising Committee) & La’aulu Seuamuli Henry Taefu (President).
 

AMERICAN SAMOA: $8.3 mil awarded for substance abuse and mental health program
Source: Office of Congressman Faleomavaega Press Release

Congressman Faleomavaega announced last Thursday (August 25, 2011) that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has awarded $8,304,000.00 to American Samoa Government under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Affordable Care Act) to support the Screening, Brief Intervention and, Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) program in the territory.

The award will help establish American Samoa’s O le Alofa SBIRT system of services provided in thirteen public and community-based health settings throughout the territory. Strategically, the approach is to establish an integrated system of early detection and intervention to prevent or reduce behavioral health disorders among adults in the territory. The goal is to reach 80-90 percent of the total adult population or about 53,200 screenings conducted over 5 years.

The award is in line with Congress’ intent and with President Obama’s policy goal under the Affordable Care Act for effective and cost efficient programs to mitigate the rising cost of health care. One of these programs is SBIRT, which has already been established in 17 other states including Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Tennessee, Washington, and Wisconsin.

According to information from SAMHSA, SBIRT is a proactive approach to providing early identification of high risk of substance abuse and providing them with early intervention and treatment opportunities. These programs have shown that they can significantly reduce substance abuse and promote prevention in a very effective and cost efficient way.

“I want to thank Secretary Sebelius and SAMHSA Administrator Pamela Hyde for this funding to provide critical support for substance abuse and mental health services in American Samoa,” Faleomavaega said.

“I also want to congratulate Governor Togiola and the American Samoa Government on this wonderful news. I especially want to commend the leadership of Director Leilua Stevenson and staff of the American Samoa Department of Human and Social Services for all their hard work,” Faleomavaega said.

“I am very pleased to receive this great news. In a time when the nation’s economy is a high priority with some Federal programs facing reduction in funding or elimination, the significant amount awarded to our territory underscores the Federal government’s commitment to provide assistance and critical resources to support the people of American Samoa,” Faleomavaega concluded.
 

(Photo: Gunnar Mjaugedal / Cluster Munitions Coalition)

COOK ISLANDS: Cook Islands ratifies cluster bomb ban
Source: Cluster Munitions Coalition
 

The Cook Islands ratified the Convention on Cluster Munitions on 23 August 2011, becoming the 61st State Party.

“We welcome this positive step by the Cook Islands just weeks before governments will gather in Beirut to discuss implementation of this life saving treaty,” said Ema Tagicakibau of the Pacific Foundation for Women’s Advancement, a Fiji-based member organisation of the Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC). “We now urge all remaining Pacific States to get on board the ban and attend the upcoming meeting in Lebanon.” Seven Pacific Island Forum members have signed the Convention (Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Nauru, New Zealand and Palau and Samoa), four of which have ratified, thus becoming full States Parties: the Cook Islands, Fiji, New Zealand and Samoa.

The 2008 Convention comprehensively bans the use, production, stockpiling and transfer of cluster munitions, sets strict deadlines for clearance of contaminated areas and destruction of stockpiles of the weapon, and includes ground-breaking provisions for assistance to victims and affected communities. A total of 109 countries have joined the treaty, which entered into force as binding international law on 1 August 2010. The Convention’s Second Meeting of States Parties is scheduled to take place from 12-16 September 2011 in Beirut, Lebanon, a country which has significant cluster bomb contamination. “We look forward to having the Cook Islands attend the 2MSP in Lebanon,” Mrs Tagicakibau added.

The Cook Islands participated in the Oslo Process that established the Convention and supported efforts to establish a strong treaty text during the formal negotiations in Dublin in May 2008. The Cook Islands has not used, produced, or stockpiled cluster munitions.

The Cook Islands will formally become a State Party on 1 February 2012 after the waiting period mandated by the treaty.

Photo Caption: The Cook Islands signs the Convention on Cluster Munitions on 3 December 2008 in Oslo, Norway.

(Photo: Fiji Broadcasting Corporation)

FIJI: Alisi to do her best for Fiji
Source: Fiji Broadcasting Corporation

Miss Suva City Council Alisi Rabukawaqa was crowned the Vodafone Miss Fiji Hibiscus Queen 2011 at Albert Park in Suva on Saturday night.

Rabukawaqa beat 14 other contestants to claim the crown - handed over by last year's Hibiscus Queen - Miss Suva City Council Sera Tikotikoivatu.

Speaking after her crowning - Rabukawaqa promised she will do her best for the country.

"It is so exciting. I'm lost for words but ican guarantee all off you that we will do our utmost to uphold all the issues we have advocated on and it is not just for the Hibiscus week but for the whole year up un til next year when we have to pass on this crown - we will do our utmost to serve the people of Suva and also Fiji."

Rabukawaqa also scooped the Best Dressed Award and Miss Photogenic Award. Miss Viti Spinal Injuries Association was the first runner-up.

She was also crowned Miss Charity earlier yesterday. She also scooped the Miss F1 Mobile Internet Award. Miss Fiji Broadcasting Corporation - Amrita Priyadarshni was crowned the second runner up.

She also took out the Miss People's Choice Award. Miss Satish Motor Mart Rental - Mere Komailevuka was third runner-up and Miss Youth Champ - Koini Vakaloloma was fourth runner up.

In the King's category Mr Youth Coalition - Peter Waqavonovono was crowned the Vodafone Hibiscus King 2011.

The second runner up title went to Mr Rentokil Initial - George Nacewa whilst Mr Jokhan Realtors - Jeremy Wong was the 1st runner up.

Photo Caption: Vodafone Miss Fiji Hibiscus Queen 2011, Alisi Rabukawaqa.

(Photo: Government of Solomon Islands / Government of Timor-Leste)

SOLOMON ISLANDS: Solomon Islands makes landmark announcement endorsing EITI
Source: Government of Solomon Islands / Government of Timor-Leste Joint Press Release

On August 26, 2011 at the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative Regional Conference, hosted by Timor-Leste, one of the first countries in the world to become EITI compliant, Solomon Islands made the landmark announcement to endorse the EITI as a cornerstone of transparency in the management of the country’s growing mining sector. The Minister of Finance, Gordon Darcy Lilo noted “As a country emerging from conflict, we are determined to use our mineral resources to improve the well-being of all citizens, rather than allowing these resources to become a source of future conflict.”

The Minister of Finance of Solomon Islands was accompanied by a delegation, which included the Honourable Moses Garu, Minister of Mines, Energy, and Rural Electrification and the Honourable Steve Abana, Member of Parliament.

The country joins 58 other countries in various stages of implementing EITI. Timor-Leste’s Minister of Finance, Emilia Pires and host of the conference noted, “On behalf of my Prime Minister, H.E Xanana Gusmão and my Government, we are privileged to have provided the opportunity for our friends and colleagues from the Solomon Islands to have made this announcement and look forward to further sharing our experiences, lessons learned, successes and challenges with each other as members of the g7+. From the People of Timor-Leste to the People of the Solomon Islands, we congratulate you and your Government on this milestone.”

Solomon Islands is also a member State of the g7+. The g7+ is a forum of 17 fragile and post conflict nations assembled for the first time in history to present a united voice in order to promote peace, deter conflict, reduce poverty and reform aid. Timor-Leste and Solomon Islands are also two of only seven countries that represent the region at the International Dialogue for Peacebuilding and Statebuilding. Through the Dialogue process it has been agreed that best practice resource and revenue management will be one of the five principal peacebuilding and statebuilding objectives adopted by both countries and development partners as critical components to emerge from fragility and conflict. Solomon Islands endorsement of EITI represents an important commitment to the continued statebuilding and peacebuilding process.

With endorsement of the EITI, Solomon Islands will now begin the process of gathering the Government, operators, civil society and citizens to join in the process of EITI implementation and validation to reach compliant status which will further benefit the state and their people in the spirit of unity and inclusivity.