NEWSPAGE 17 October
2011

(Photos: New Zealand Defence Force)

(Photo: Savali News)

SAMOA: Agriculture’s show and go
Source: Savali News
 
Farmers have come out in force at this year’s two-day Agriculture Show currently underway at the Faleata Racing Grounds.

Hundreds of stalls have been set up displaying all manners of fruits and vegetables, livestock of fishery resources. Staff of Agriculture and Fisheries have were also on hand to explain the different sectors and programmes.

Thousands of people - including several schools - have been visiting the Show sampling anything from fresh fruits to Tilapia dishes, vaisalo and fa’ausi dishes.

Popular with the kids is the livestock area showcasing live cattle, pigs, sheep and poultry.

Delivering the keynote address yesterday morning, Agriculture and Fisheries minister Le Mamea Ropati Mualia delivered the stern message,

“We’re showing you here the benefits of agriculture. Now go out and farm.”

Le Mamea said that too many people have become dependent on remittances from overseas. “

Many of our young and strong have run away to town, being idle and causing a nuisance in Apia. They should be in the villages, using their time and energy more productively.”

Le Mamea said that overseas markets are opening up and the country cannot meet supply.

“For instance a 14-kilo barrel of nonu is fetching $9 tala for the Chinese market. An acre of nonu trees can fetch a farmer an average $22 a year. That’s excellent money.

The last nonu shipment and the biggest by far we had - last month - was around 144,000. Now the Chinese have come back and want another 634,000 litres before Christmas. They want a projected 5 million litres in 2013. That’s huge money.”

The Agriculture minister added that the Chinese are also experimenting with Samoan cocoa, coffee, honey and ava.“

There is every possibility that markets for these produce will also open up soon.”

Le Mamea said a sector recent study (June, 2011) revealed that only 18 percent of the country is involved in the Agriculture industry.“

That’s 18 percent feeding the other 82 percent of the country. That is exactly why we keep importing a lot of foodstuff. Because we don’t have sufficient hands to work the land and produce enough food to meet local consumption levels.”

Government, he said, already had in place several programmes to help and encourage farming. “

For instance, we have the matching grant scheme where up to 50 percent of a farm loan is written off is the farm is doing well.” Le Mamea said Samoa is blessed with favourable year-round whether and arable lands conducive to farming.

“The bonus is on people to make economic use of it.”

This year’s Agriculture Show wrapped up with the prize giving this afternoon. Savaia village in Lefaga took out the village top prizes for agriculture and marine conservation.

Popular in the 1980s, the show in recent years was replaced by the Talomua programme. The last two day’s massive turnout at Faleata is an indication that farming and Agriculture fairs are still popular in the country.
 

AUSTRALIA: Australia and EU Pledge Support for NDS

Australia and European Union have pledged commitment to ensure Solomon Islands achieve the objectives of the Solomon Islands National Development Strategy, NDS.

In a media conference Australian Deputy High Commissioner Doctor Dave Pebbles, and European Union Ambassador to Solomon Islands, PNG and Vanuatu Doctor Martin Dihm, said Australia and the European Union want to cooperate with the Government to promote a peaceful and prosperous Solomon Islands.

Dr. Pebbles said, to honour its commitment, the Australian Government is providing over AU$260 million dollars in bilateral aid to Solomon Islands.

Meanwhile, representing the European Union, Dr. Martin Dihm assures Solomon Islands of EU's assistance worth EU$120 million dollars to support the Solomon Islands Government achieve the fundamentals of the National Development Strategy.

The pledge from Australia and EU came about after the Solomon Islands Government and its development partners held high level consultation meetings in Honiara last week.

A statement from the Planning Ministry says the meeting was organized to build consensus and to reinforce collaboration between the government and its development partners to implement the Solomon Islands National Development Strategy 2011-2020.

The consultations included presentations from the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank, the Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance the Ministry of Development and Director of Strategic Planning Division and the Permanent Secretary of Infrastructure development among others.

The meeting also acknowledged that the newly launched National Development Strategy sets out the national roadmap for achievement of development aspirations of people in the country.

The government and its development partners also agreed to intensify mutual collaboration for the purpose of the meeting's theme - "serving Solomon Islands through inclusive development better coordination and genuine partnership."
 

(Photo: Oceania Football Confederation)

PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Ambitious PNG eye further growth
Source: FIFA via Oceania Football Confederation

As far as achievements go, a position of 187 on the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking is unarguably humble but for Papua New Guinea it merely marks the first step towards planned incremental development.

In fact, September marked a return to the global listing for the Oceania nation following a lengthy period of inactivity.

Papua New Guinea's matches at the XIV Pacific Games during August and September were their first since July 2007, with the four-year hiatus the reason for the nation’s disappearance from the world ranking. A successful return to the international arena in New Caledonia indicates Papua New Guinea have genuine reason for optimism.

Though missing out on a berth in the latter stages of the Games, Papua New Guinea will take solace from their performances amongst the region’s most experienced nations. Competing were eight of OFC’s 11 member associations, namely American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tahiti and Vanuatu, with New Zealand the only major absentee.

Papua New Guinea secured a victory over Cook Islands, and also against OFC associate member Kiribati, a result that didn’t accrue points towards the ranking. There was also an impressive 1-1 draw with Tahiti, who went on to win bronze at the tournament. The only defeat was a 2-0 reversal against Fiji, a nation with long-standing pedigree in the Pacific. But that defeat proved costly with the team edged out of the semi-finals on goal difference, with Tahiti holding a two-goal advantage.

Fiji will be the scene of Papua New Guinea’s next major landmark with Oceania’s second round of 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ qualifiers. Papua New Guinea received a bye through the opening stage but have been dealt no favours by the draw for next June’s tournament, which doubles as the OFC Nations Cup, with the victor qualifying for the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup.

Papua New Guinea’s primary objective however will be to reach the third and final round of Brazil 2014 qualifying in the Oceania zone. To do that, they must complete a top-two finish in a group which also includes South Africa 2010 participants New Zealand, host nation Fiji, and former OFC Nations Cup finalists Solomon Islands.

While the national team may have been in mothballs for several years, growth in other areas has been undeniable. Most notably, Hekari United, based in the capital Port Moresby, achieved the unthinkable by winning through to the FIFA Club World Cup. With a team comprising players from a diverse group of Pacific Island nations, the club became the first from outside New Zealand to win the O-League, the Pacific's premier club competition, and, with it, thereby securing an appearance at UAE 2010. Not only did Hekari’s run attract much attention in a highly rural nation where rugby league has traditionally been the number one sport, but it allowed national team personnel to gain invaluable international experience.

Papua New Guinea also issued a statement of intent by securing former Australia coach Frank Farina as national team mentor last February. Alongside New Zealand’s Ricki Herbert, Farina, who spent part of his childhood in Papua New Guinea, is the most experienced national team coach in Oceania having guided the Socceroos between 1999 and 2005, leading the team through two FIFA World Cup qualifying campaigns and two FIFA Confederations Cup tournaments.

Papua New Guinea’s brief FIFA World Cup history follows an unusual pattern, having recorded stunning results in their only two previous campaigns for France 1998 and Germany 2006. Indeed, their first FIFA World Cup qualifying attempt included what is surely their greatest ever result - a 1-0 home victory over New Zealand in 1997. Their performances four years ago were again competitive and included a draw against Vanuatu. The coming 12 months will reveal all but the portents suggest Papua New Guinea are capable of taking their place alongside the continent’s elite.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: RAMSI and students talk transition
Source: Islands Business
 

It was back to school for a group of RAMSI officials as they met with 50 Form Six and Seven students from Honiara High School, in the first of a series of forums with senior high school students throughout the Solomon Islands. Thomas Perry from RAMSI Public Affairs was there.

Held on campus at Honiara High School, 50 students took the opportunity to meet with RAMSI officials and share their views on the future of Solomon Islands.

The meeting saw students divide into groups to discuss a series of topics, including how things had changed since RAMSI’s arrival in 2003, and the areas in which the students believed more work was needed.

Each group then presented their thoughts, with many highlighting ‘freedom of movement’, ‘improvements in communication’ and the fact that the community now felt far safer than during the tensions as key changes since RAMSI’s arrival.

Presenting the results of one group’s discussion, 20-year old Clay Ata said the restoration of law and order and improved housing for police were areas they believed the greatest gains had been made.

However, the illegal sale of alcohol and the negative impacts of nepotism amongst police and government were areas that still needed a lot more attention.

Discussions then turned directly to the topic of ‘transition’, an issue which had been touched on earlier in the session by many of the participants.

RAMSI’s Culture and Community Outreach Coordinator, Chris Tarohimae asked the room to raise their hands if they believed it was time for RAMSI to begin to leave Solomon Islands.

While the majority remained still, it was four shy female students who raised their hands to eloquently explain why they believed it was time for RAMSI to leave.

“It’s time for Solomon Islanders to take responsibility for themselves,” said Mary Toata, a 19-year old student in Form 7 at Honiara High. “We don’t want to rely on RAMSI. Our people need to step up and lead on their own.”

Her comment was echoed by fellow student, Losalini Gamasi, who told the group that Solomon Islands was at risk of becoming too dependent.

“RAMSI has been here for eight years and we need to get our own people doing a lot of this work. If RAMSI stays, we won’t have the confidence in ourselves. We don’t want to become dependent on them.”

Other students said they agreed Solomon Islands needed to step up, but said it was still too early for RAMSI to leave.

“The reconciliation process is not finished,” said 20-year old Albert Nori.

“If RAMSI leaves, I think violence would return. We need to learn more, and need more time.”
In his closing remarks, Tarohimae thanked the students and said that Solomon Islands was now entering an important new phase in its life as a nation.

“RAMSI won’t be leaving today, tomorrow or even in the next 12 months,” he said. “But the time for Solomon Islanders to step up and take greater responsibility is right now, before the opportunity we have is no longer here.”
 

(Photo: United Nations Development Programme)

WORLDWIDE: Facing droughts, Pacific Islands need urgent risk mitigation steps
Source: United Nations Development Programme Press Release

Amid growing concerns about drought crises in some small island States of the Pacific, the United Nations today called for comprehensive risk reduction steps to be put in place to protect vulnerable populations living in delicate ecosystems.

“It really is time to assist Tuvalu and Tokelau to increase storage capacities and manage their resources sustainably, including more effective warnings for drier spells,” UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) head of policy John Harding said, referring to two of the region’s island States and territories.

“With climate change predictions pointing to more acute La Niñas in the futures, plans must also include assistance for communities that will be displaced if existing freshwater is not sufficient,” he added, referring to the weather pattern characterized by unusually cool ocean temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific that can bring abnormal conditions to widely separate areas of the world, from floods to droughts to below- or above-normal temperatures.

On the positive side Mr. Harding noted that the strong correlation between drought and La Niña could be a blessing in disguise, since the phenomenon is increasingly predictable and climate experts can inform decision-makers weeks and even months in advance, allowing for increased storage or stockpiling of emergency supplies in advance of a crisis.

The UN Office of the Coordinator of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA) has identified solar powered desalination units and improved rain catchment and water storage as longer-term mitigation measures against future droughts.

Tuvalu, a collection of far-flung atolls with a population of some 12,000, today began a three-week needs assessment of water, agriculture and health facilities. The most affected areas are the capital city of Funafuti, as well as Nukulaelae and Nanumaga. Australia is covering the fuel costs for the assessment of eight outer islands.

Also affected by the severe drought are Kiribati, with over 112,000 people, the Cook Islands, a self-governing democracy in free association with New Zealand with a population of about 12,000, and Tokelau, a New Zealand territory with about 1,500 inhabitants.

“The critical low levels of freshwater in Tuvalu and Tokelau are just further wake-up calls about the vulnerability of SIDS [small island developing States] to the threats posed by increasing demands on natural resources and development practices that are not sufficiently in tune with these emerging risks,” Mr. Harding said.

“Small island States such as Tuvalu and Tokelau have access to a finite amount of water, mainly from groundwater and rainfall. Managing these resources in the face of increased and diverse demand is a challenge that authorities now face on a daily basis.”

Tuvalu and Tokelau have declared a state of emergency and are receiving emergency assistance from the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and Australia, New Zealand and the United States, including freshwater, water tanks, portable desalination units and personnel to operate the additional units and fix existing ones.

Many SIDS used the pulpit offered by the General Assembly’s annual general debate last month to call on the world to pay greater attention to their vulnerability to climate change, warning that the international community was not moving quickly enough to either mitigate the effects of the change or support the poorest countries as they tried to adapt. They stressed that sustainable development would not be possible as rising sea levels threatened to swamp them.

Photo Caption: Water levels are receding in Pacific islands.