NEWSPAGE 03 October
2011

(Photos: eventpolynesia.com)

(Photo: Savali News)

SAMOA: Lamana Group gets Taumeasina Island
Source: Savali News
 
The Lamana Group of Papua New Guinea has been given the green light on their proposed multi-million tala hotel project at Taumeasina Island.

According to Environment and Natural Resources minister Faamoetauloa Taito Faale Tumalii, the previous lease title to New Zealander Gordon Taylor has been terminated.

“We gave Taylor - through his lawyer Trevor Stevenson - up to last August to start work on their hotel project or government will effectively terminate their lease. August has come and gone and they haven’t done anything. In fact they haven’t built anything there for the many years they’ve leased that land.

“We have written to the Lamana Group informing them of government’s decision. We are now in the process of formalizing an agreement with the Lamana Group.”

Faamoetauloa said there were other parties who wrote to government expressing interest in the island, but the Lamana Group was selected because of their development concept and strong financial backing.

The planned Lamana project encompasses an over 100-room hotel complex plus a 100 more luxury bedroom villa suites and standard luxury hotel rooms, water sport and activities areas, conference and entertainment facilities as well as restaurants and cafes.

The investment is tagged at around Aus$60 million (WST$141.1 million) MNRE and the Ministry of Public Works have been conducting field studies at the island this week.


Lamana Group

Based in Papua New Guinea, the Lamana Group has had over 50 years of experience in the Western Pacific. It describes itself as a diversified company involved in property development, civil construction and hotel management.

It also works closely with the cashed-up Papua New Guinea Landowners Trust Groups and Superannuation Funds.

Photo Caption: An artist’s impression of the Lemana Group’s proposed hotel-resort project at Taumeasina Island.

(Photo: Scott Lamond / Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

AUSTRALIA: Pacific guest workers are the future, says fruit grower

A Queensland citrus and table grape grower says a trip to Papua New Guinea last week has secured a workforce for her.

Chief executive of Ironbark Citrus, in Mundubbera, Sue Jenkin, made the trip under the Pacific Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme.

The Prime Minister recently announced an extension of that program to four more Pacific nations, the strongest indication yet that the pilot scheme will become permanent.

Ms Jenkin says the program is the future for horticulture.

"Providing the pilot's given the go-ahead by the government at the end of the pilot program, it's going to be an integral part of my employment, it already is," she said.

"I was actually in Papua New Guinea last week recruiting workers to help me with my grape season.

"So it's already an integral part of my recruitment program for workers here."

But the Federal Government's 'Pacific solution' to farm labour shortages does not appear to be working in North Queensland.

So far, the furthest north any person under the scheme has worked is Emerald, in the state's central west.

Mareeba mango grower Charlie Nastasi says the scheme isn't flexible enough for farmers who need specific skills for limited periods.

"It should be handled by employment agencies sponsored by the government, the same as they sponsor Australian workers," he said.

"They don't want to spend the money. If I go and employ a long-term unemployed person, the government pays thousands of dollars to employment agencies to place those kind of people.

"Now if they're fair dinkum, that's what they should do."

Photo Caption: Tongan workers Devidadukia and Taukave in the citrus orchards at Mundubbera.

(Photo: Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat)

COOK ISLANDS: Rakahanga project: Cook Islands access US$1 million from PEC Fund
Source: Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Press Release
 

Renewable energy is no longer an option, but an imperative for the Pacific region.

The Cook Islands, Japan and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat last week joined forces to send a strong message that renewable energy was no longer an option - but an imperative for the Pacific region.

Speaking at the signing ceremony for the Rakahanga US$1m PV Project, the Forum Secretariat’s Deputy Secretary General, Feleti Teo, Ambassador of Japan, Mr Hideto Mitamura and Cook Islands Prime Minister, Hon Henry Puna, reiterated that for the Pacific region to be true to its words, it must invest heavily in renewable energy - backed up with strong political will.

Mr Teo said Forum Leaders in 2009 declared climate change the greatest challenge of our time, threatening the very viability of some Pacific communities.

“Again in 2011 through the Waiheke Declaration on Sustainable Economic Development, Forum Leaders committed themselves to improving energy security through greater efficiency measures and the promotion of clean and affordable energy, including renewable energy.”

“Now is the time to act,” Mr Teo said. “The Rakahanga project is a step in the right direction and I commend strongly the Cook Islands Government for its efforts in the area of renewable energy.”

The Rakahanga project is funded by the Pacific Environment Community (PEC) Fund, a commitment by the Government of Japan of ¥6.8 billion (approx US$66 million) to support Forum Island Country (FIC) projects with a focus on the provision of solar power generation systems and sea water desalination plants, or a combination of both.

Each FIC has an indicative country allocation of US$4 million under the PEC Fund.


Cook Islands’ Rakahanga project

The Rakahanga project will provide significant benefits to the people of Rakahanga by increasing access to a reliable and secure supply of electricity from power generated by solar panels 24 hours a day.

It is expected that the project will displace the need for generator fuel, unless there is an emergency and will result in fuel cost savings. In the long term, the cost savings accumulated will represent significant savings that can be utilised in other priority service areas.

Prime Minister Puna said that in choosing the order of islands for energy conversion, the most vulnerable and most isolated was chosen.

“This is to emphasise that our people’s energy needs - even those islands with the smallest number of inhabitants - represent a genuine concern for us and must be taken care of with a sense of economic and environmental responsibility.”

He said that having lived on an isolated island like Manihiki, a neighbouring atoll to Rakahanga, the economics of doing this made sense.

“The cost of living and doing anything on those islands are dictated by the price of oil. From food to education to infrastructure and doing business - as the price of oil continuously increases, so does the cost of living and doing business. Those who cannot pay the price either leave our shores or abstain from using electricity in their homes.”

He said Rakahanga, like Manihiki, depended very heavily on the health and wellbeing of its lagoon and environment to support livelihoods including pearl farming.

“We know very well that the use of fossil fuels is a big contributor to carbon emission into the atmosphere which is a significant contributor to climate change. Although our emissions are very tiny compared to bigger countries, and the impact of natural disasters are much harsher on us, we all need to work together to do our bit to make sure our environment can sustain us and future generations, and ensure our small islands like Rakahanga stay above water.”

“We all know renewable energy is a necessity for the Pacific, especially for Smaller Island States like the Cook Islands. Pacific leaders have affirmed this many times. It is our lifeline, to save us from the economic and environmental degradation of fossil fuels. I can tell you that the Cook Islands will be quick to take that lifeline, hence the short timeline in achieving our policy targets. What we have done this morning is the start of moving on that journey.”

Ambassador Mitamura said he was delighted that the Cook Islands had become the second country to receive funding among the 14 Pacific island countries. Samoa was the first to access the PEC Fund in June this year.

“I wish success for the implementation of this project, not only contributing to the Cook Islands’ goal of generating 50% of its electricity needs from renewable sources by 2015 and 100% by 2020, but also becoming an example of good practice for future projects to be funded by the PEC Fund, both in the Cook Islands and in other Forum Island Countries,” he said.

With just over US$1m million assigned to the Rakahanga project, the Cook Islands still has an allocation of approximately US$3m remaining in the PEC Fund.

Mr Puna said the Government is now developing two further proposals to utilise the remainder of its indicative allocation.


Japan’s commitment

In May of 2009 Pacific Islands Forum Leaders met with the Government of Japan at the 5th Pacific Island Leaders Meeting (PALM 5) in Hokkaido, Japan. At the PALM 5 Summit, Leaders issued the Islanders’ Hokkaido Declaration which reaffirmed Leaders’ commitment to collaborate and cooperate on a wide range of issues.

A significant part of the Declaration was the launch of the PEC Fund, under which Japan provided a ¥6.8billion (approximately US$66 million) contribution to Forum Island Countries to tackle environmental issues. These funds will be used to support projects with a focus on the provision of solar power generation systems and sea water desalination plants.

A PEC Project Management Unit (PMU) has been set up at the Forum Secretariat in Suva, Fiji, tasked with administering and managing the PEC Fund. The PMU is guided by a Joint Committee (JC), chaired by the Secretary General of the Forum Secretariat. The JC comprises senior representatives of the Japanese Government and the Forum Secretariat. A Technical Advisory Group (TAG) comprising nominated experts in the fields of climate change, renewable energy, water and sanitation has been set up to appraise project proposals and make recommendations to the JC.


Accessing the PEC Fund

Access to individual country allocations under the PEC Fund is undertaken in a two phase process. Phase one involves submission of project Concept Notes from FICs to the Forum Secretariat. Once appraised by the PEC Project Management Unit and a Technical Advisory Group (TAG), and if the outcome is positive, the FIC is then invited to progress to phase two which involves the development of a detailed project proposal for consideration and final approval by the PEC Fund Joint Committee.

Photo Caption: (L-R) Ambassador of Japan, Mr Hideto Mitamura, Cook Islands Prime Minister, Hon Henry Puna and the Forum Secretariat’s Deputy Secretary General, Feleti Teo at the Rakahanga Project signing ceremony.

PAPUA NEW GUINEA: New agriculture policy aims to benefit people
Source: The National
 

A new government policy on agriculture will help people realise the potential benefits they can derive from the sector.

The government’s chief secretary Manasupe Zure­nuoc said the Innovative Agriculture for Development policy should have a significant impact on the lives of our people.

He launched the National Agriculture Research Systems policy forum at the Madang Resort Hotel last Thursday (September 29, 2011).

The forum, organised by the Department of Agriculture and Livestock, invites researchers, scientists and experts to share ideas on how best the people can benefit from agriculture.

Zurenuoc said he remained a strong advocate of agriculture and how it could empower people.

He said over the years, many policies and strategies had been discussed but the impact on the people had been minimal.

“After 36 years of independence, it is time for us to try something truly innovative to shift our people from where they are now and play important roles in the programs adopted in our developmental plans,’’ he said.

He said they should look at ways to help people become productive members of society.

When he worked for the Morobe provincial go­vernment, he said they had tried out many programmes in agriculture to improve the lives of the people.

He said the new innovative agriculture concept should be the way forward.

Zurenuoc said if people wanted to have positive outcomes in other sectors like education, health, law and order and service delivery, they could use agriculture as the example.

The forum was attended by the Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Sir Puka Temu, Madang Governor James Gau and donors such as AusAID.
 

(Photo: Oceania Football Confederation)

WORLDWIDE: New coaching scheme lays out pathway
Source: Oceania Football Confederation Press Release

Budding coaches in the Pacific now have a clear pathway to the top after the successful introduction of a new OFC coach licensing accreditation scheme.

OFC President David Chung says the licensing programme is an essential part of the continued development of football in the Pacific and is pleased to see the foundations laid by former technical director Jim Selby being built upon.

“On behalf of OFC, I am delighted to endorse this progressive education scheme,” President Chung says.

“I trust it will be a valuable asset in attracting and retaining quality coaches who can help shape the future of football in Oceania. Most importantly, this process will ensure our youth are given the best possible opportunities to develop and fall in love with the game.”

The scheme has been developed by the OFC Technical Department and is based on those used by confederations in other parts of the world but with a unique Oceania flavour.

It has already been put into practice in several of OFC’s 11 member associations and will be implemented in other countries throughout the rest of 2011 by OFC Technical Director Patrick Jacquemet and Technical Coordinator Didier Chambaron.

Chambaron was responsible for holding the inaugural ‘D’ Licence course, the first step on the accreditation pathway, in Vanuatu recently and believes the scheme will be of great benefit to the development of coaches in the Pacific.

“The players in the region have a lot of potential but we need to improve the level of the coaches,” Chambaron says. “If we can do that then the players will improve very quickly.”

Based on extensive research, the new scheme outlines the necessary requirements for coaches to progress from a ‘D’ Licence to an ‘A’ Licence and covers all levels of the game including grassroots, youth and senior football as well as futsal and beach soccer.

While the programme is closely related to those run in fellow confederations, Jacquemet says the need to tailor it specifically to Oceania was great.

“It’s based on other courses in some regards but we wanted to create our own pathway that is unique to the Pacific. The demands of the countries in this part of the world are different and we have to take that into account," says the former goalkeeper, who played over 300 games for Valence in France before moving to Tahiti to play for Venus in 1992.

“We don’t want to copy Europe or Asia, we need our own pathway, the Oceania way. To follow through on OFC’s aim of capacity building amongst our member associations, we can’t copy anyone else because the game is so different in Oceania.”

The technical department will now have a busy schedule to implement the education scheme and run courses across the 11 member associations.