NEWSPAGE 26 September
2011

(Photo: 4pi Marketing Communications)

(Photo: Savali News)

SAMOA: Chicken economy for tsunami-struck villages
Source: Savali News
 
Villages affected by the September 2009 tsunami were today provided with materials to build chicken coops, thanks to assistance from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

Said Agriculture minister Le Mamea Ropati Mualia,

“A survey conducted in the aftermath of the tsunami concluded that about $250,000 worth of farms were destroyed.

“FAO then immediately got onboard and provided this assistance. Raising chicken is the ideal platform to improve food security and self-reliance in the villages rather than continuing to depend on imported poultry meats.”

This first phase of the assistance comprised of chicken wire and nails. The second phase will see the provision of live chicken once inspection establishes the construction of chicken houses.

The assistance is largely directed through Church, youth and women groups.
 

AMERICAN SAMOA: Faleomavaega represents American Samoa at first CAPAC meeting

Congressman Faleomavaega announced that earlier today the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) met with President Obama to discuss a range of issues affecting the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities.

The meeting took place in the Cabinet Room of the White House and marked the first official meeting between CAPAC and the President. The Caucus thanked the President for meeting with them, and brought up several points for discussion, including immigration reform, judicial nominations, health disparities, data disaggregation, ways to improve White House engagement with the AAPI community, and issues pertaining to the three U.S. territories in the Pacific: American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands.

According to a release from the White House, the President thanked the Caucus for all the hard work they do in Congress for the American people and the AAPI communities, and said that he looks forward to continuing to work with them. The President also noted that he was proud of his efforts to make the federal judiciary more diverse. Under President Obama, the number of AAPI federal judges has doubled.

The White House also stated that the President thanked the members for their support in passing the Affordable Care Act and for the steps they are taking to help eliminate the disparities that continue to exist in our health care system. The President pledged to continue working with Congress to create an immigration system that works, and noted that his Administration is working to ensure that the current system is streamlined, efficient and fair. The President and the Caucus also discussed the American Jobs Act. The Caucus also thanked the President for bringing attention to the American territories in the Pacific region.

President Obama was joined at the meeting by Cabinet Secretary Chris Lu, Deputy Chief of Staff Nancy-Ann DeParle, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Cecilia Muñoz, and Executive Director of the White House AAPI Initiative Kiran Ahuja.

The following CAPAC Executive Board Members were present at the meeting: Congresswoman Judy Chu, Chair (CA), Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo, Vice Chair (Guam), Congressman Mike Honda , Chair Emeritus (CA), Congressman Hansen Clarke (MI), Congressman Eni Faleomavaega (American Samoa), Congressman Al Green (TX), Congresswoman Mazie Hirono (HI), Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA), Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA), and Congressman Gregorio Sablan (Northern Mariana Islands).

The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) is comprised of Members of Congress who have a strong dedication to promoting the well-being of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. CAPAC has been addressing the needs of the AAPI community in all areas of American life since it was founded in 1994.

“I am pleased to have represented the people of American Samoa in this historic discussion. Our discussion was not only a significant advancement for the voice of the Caucus but also for the entire Asian and Pacific American community. I extend my thanks to President Obama for his leadership in support of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and I also thank him for taking the time to dialogue with CAPAC about our pressing concerns and recommendations,” Congressman Faleomavaega stated.

“As the fastest growing demographic in the nation, the specific needs of AAPIs in the States and the Territories, including American Samoa, must be considered in key administrative decisions affecting our nation, and I am confident that this meeting will serve as a constructive step forward in strengthening the White House’s engagement with our AAPI community,” Faleomavaega concluded.
 

(Photo: United Nations)

FIJI: Fijian leader outlines details of political road map to General Assembly
Source: United Nations

Fiji is about to enter a formative period that will result in the first ever elections based on common and equal suffrage rather than racial categorization, the country’s Prime Minister has told the General Assembly’s annual general debate.

Speaking before the Assembly last night, Commodore Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama - who took power in the Pacific archipelago after a coup in 2006 - outlined the details of a political road map that is designed to culminate in national elections by September 2014.

Between September next year and 2013, Mr. Bainimarama said, a new constitution will be drafted based on principles developed in the People’s Charter for Peace, Change and Progress.

“The road map clearly states that in the process the new Fijian constitution must do away with racial categorization and discrimination, so that for the first time in Fiji’s history, Fijians will go to elections in 2014 on the basis of common and equal suffrage.”

He added that electronic registration of voters for those elections will begin in January next year.

The small country has been marked by recurring tensions between ethnic Fijians and other ethnic groups, and related disputes over the allocation of some parliamentary seats on the basis of ethnicity.

Mr. Bainimarama said the road map “will undo decades of undemocratic laws and policies inherited from our colonial past and entrenched in past constitutions, which have impeded our nation’s progress.

“This is a determined move to create a society based on substantive equality and justice, and respect for the dignity of all Fijians.”
 

Photo Caption: Prime Minister Josaia V. Bainimarama of the Republic of Fiji.

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NIUE: New visitors centre big step in Niuean tourism development plan
Source: 4pi Marketing Communications Press Release
 

Niue Island is celebrating the opening of their unique new visitor centre which is one-of-a-kind in the South Pacific reflecting the continued growth in the island’s tourism

The interactive new centre is a welcome addition to the island for both locals and tourists providing them with a one-stop location for information and bookings, cultural experiences and shopping.

The visitor centre features an exhibition space for regular cultural performances and offers a place for local craft groups who will be able to sell their products at the centre. The Niue Tourism office will also be based in the building.

The visitor centre opened this week to a full house of tourists and has enjoyed a steady flow of enthusiastic visitors in the days since.

Early feedback from visitors to the centre has been “Wow, I wasn’t expecting this.” reflecting the under-promising and over-delivering that people enjoy on the island.

Niue Tourism Development Manager Hayden Porter says “There has been a fantastic turnout at the visitor centre so far and we immediately saw a big lift in the tours being booked and merchandise purchased. The centre will be beneficial to local businesses giving them a place to promote their products and services six days a week and in a beautiful environment.”

The large new centre is in a historic Niuean building which has been fully renovated over a number of months.

The initiative is part of the island’s tourism development plan to increase visitor satisfaction following unparalleled growth of tourist numbers in recent years. In addition to the new visitor centre, Niue is working on a number of other infrastructure and accommodation upgrades including a full refurbishment of the Matavai resort and the building of new boutique properties.

Mr Porter says “Visitors to Niue love this place so much because it is undiscovered and unspoiled. While the island is getting an upgrade in services and facilities, it hasn’t lost its charm and we won’t let it.”

Niue Island is renowned for its marine life and activities. Because the island is an atoll it has very deep, very clear waters close to shore. Each year from July to October Humpback Whales migrate through Niue’s waters and the island is one of the only places in the world where you can swim with them and whale watch from land. Niue also has exceptional adventure activities like snorkeling, diving, fishing, caving, cycling and hiking which can be enjoyed all year round.
 

WORLDWIDE: Secretary General congratulates Palau on treaty signing event
Source: Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Press Release

The Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General, Tuiloma Neroni Slade, joined the President of the Republic of Palau H.E Mr Johnson Toribiong and his delegation on Tuesday, 20 September as the President signed eight international human rights instruments at the UN Headquarters in New York:

i) International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR);
ii) International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR);
iii) Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW);
iv) Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (Convention against Torture);
v) International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD);
vi) International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (MWC);
vii) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD); and
viii) International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance

Secretary General Slade offered warms congratulations to the President of Palau and commended the people and Government of the Republic of Palau in expressing their support and commitment to relevant international human rights law and the protection of human rights in general.

“I applaud and commend the Government and people of Palau for their demonstrated commitment and proactive efforts in the promotion of human rights, particularly after the review of its human rights situation in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process of the United Nations’ Human Rights Council in May of this year. Palau has now established for the Pacific region a new benchmark and direction on the promotion, respect for and protection of human rights,” said the Secretary General.

“Universal expressions of respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms is already recognised in the Forum Leaders’ Pacific Plan Vision of 2004. As framed by Forum Leaders “we seek for the Pacific a region of peace, harmony, security and economic prosperity, so that all of its people can lead free and worthwhile lives”,” said Mr Slade.

The Leaders’ Vision seeks a Pacific region that is “… respected for the quality of its governance…the full observance of democratic values, and for its defence and promotion of human rights.”

Initiative12.5 of the Pacific Plan supports the “appropriate ratification and implementation of international and regional human rights conventions, covenants and agreements, and support for reporting and other requirements”.

“At their meeting held in Nadi in 2006, Forum Leaders agreed that greater attention be given to implementing international conventions on human rights (Pacific Plan Initiative 12.5) as essential tools to underpin improvements in institutional governance,” explained the Secretary General.

Palau also signed the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization to the Convention on Biological Diversity (Nagoya, 29 October 2010) on 20 September at the UN Headquarters in New York.

Palau and several other United Nations Member States signed, ratified or acceded to various international treaties during the annual treaty event held at this year’s sixty-sixth session of the General Assembly. The President of Palau addressed the UN General Assembly on Thursday, 22 September.