NEWSPAGE 14 November
2011

(Photo: Maori Party)

(Photo: Savali News)

SAMOA: Business as usual for nonu
Source: Savali News

It is business as usual for Pure Pacifika - the Reef Group owned company that is contracted to supply huge volumes of Samoan organic nonu juice to the Chinese market and Pure Pacifika is assuring the Samoan government and nonu farmers that its commitment to the trade and supply agreement remains intact.

This follows high level meetings in Hong Kong last week where the importer, Natural Dairy gave its assurance to Pure Pacifika representatives that nothing has changed in terms of its contract with Pure Pacifika Ltd to supply nonu to their beverage factory in China.

The delegation from Pure Pacifika (NZ) included Tupa’imanaia Phillip McNicholl, Savae Michael Jones and Kim Gordon, Director Reef Group Ltd, and Masuisui Jr Pereira, the Country Manager for Pure Pacifika Samoa Ltd.

The delegation met with Jack Chen who is recovering well from a health condition that he was hospitalized in Fuzhou and met top management of Natural Diary at headquarters on Suite 67 at Central Plaza in Wan Chai, Hong Kong.

The delegation also held discussions with the Chairman of the Natural Dairy Board Mr. Wu Nengkun and Board Members.

Mr. Wu gave his full assurance that the Board was well and fully aware of Chen’s actions, including some of the transactions questioned in New Zealand, and that in fact these had been minuted and approved by the Board and disclosed in their Annual Report 2011, which is public information.

The Board also gave their full confidence in Chen and the future of the company including the huge investment in factories where Samoan nonu juice is being processed and blended in Nan Feng for the Chinese and global markets.

The delegation also met Mr. Joseph T. Tong, the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer for Wealth Management and Capital Markets for Sun Hung Kai which is one of the biggest finance companies in Hong Kong that oversees 20 % stock in Natural Dairy. Mr. Tong also has his full support in Natural Dairy and Jack Chen.

The nature and slant of media reports however has thrown doubt on the future of the Samoa nonu trade with China.

Pure Pacifika assures that it has not diverted from its objective of helping raise the village and grassroots economy and why it started collecting nonu from Savai’i in May 2011 when it began operations in Samoa.

“Our heart as a company is to see the benefits of nonu export support our grassroots community in Samoa, through the injection of cash for nonu growers at a fair price, employment in our factory and associated collection operation both in Savai’i and Upolu, plus providing export revenues for the government and investing in the local economy,” says Savae Michael Jones.

Ownership of Pure Pacifika

Pure Pacifika was set up 6 years ago by Reef Group to supply Pacific nonu to the world. So far the company has developed a joint venture nonu plantation and processing plant in Niue, a joint venture with the Government of Niue. Pure Pacifika Ltd have successfully exported Niue non to Japan, China, Korea and New Zealand over the last 6 years. Reef is a well established, credible Pacific company which has been serving the Pacific, primarily in shipping, for over 50 years.

Investment in Samoa

Pure Pacifika has spent nearly WST$5million establishing the Vaitele Plant, the Salelologa Depot and the Pure Pacifika Samoa nonu collection operation to meet demand for NZNatural Dairy’s order as well as other markets around the world.

In under 6 months, the company has directly injected nearly $1 million tala into the local economy through the purchase of nonu. Pure Pacifika sees this as an important means for our people to support their families, aiga and villages.

Sasina Farm & Village Partnership

Pure Pacifika congratulates and deeply appreciates the vision and proactiveness of the Village Council of Sasina village and district in driving the first ever commercial nonu farm on village customary land. The district MP, who is also the Speaker of Parliament, is the Chairman of the Village Development Committee which collectively screens and sanctions any village development project. The Honourable Speaker has no business interests in Pure Pacifika other than the partnership on the farm which we see as a classic business/economic model of a commercial village based development project in partnership with a major supplier and directly into the market.

The farm has been surveyed, the land clearing has commenced for the farm which will employ up to 30 people from the village when it is fully operational.

Since July this year, the village has been developing the Nursery at Letui which now has over 100,000 nonu seedlings ready to plant and planting material will also be available for sale to interested farmers.

The Village Council, through their MP have also extended the greatest honour to bestow the chiefly title Tupa’imanaia on Pure Pacifika’s Phillip McNicholl. The connection therefore is more than personal and well above any efforts to raise the economic standards and lives of the grassroots people not only of Sasina village but the whole of Samoa who are into growing and picking nonu for sale to Pure Pacifika.

Jack Chen’s Role

Tupa’i Jack Chen’s involvement in this deal is simply as a representative of the company purchasing Pure Pacifika’s nonu for their beverage factory in China (where it is turned into a lifestyle drink targeting the growing middle and upper class market). Pure Pacifika’s contract is with NZNatural Dairy, Tupa’i Jack is not a director or employer of NZNatural Dairy or its 100% owners Natural Dairy Ltd. He is the Chairman of the Shareholders Committee.

Pure Pacifika Ltd were not aware of any of the reported allegations against Jack Chen when they entered into this contract with NZND so were taken by surprise when the initial media reports came out.

Furthermore, Tupa’i Jack Chen is not a shareholder of Pure Pacifika Ltd, Pure Pacifika Samoa, or has any interest in Reef Group. Reef and Pure Pacifika is more than 90% owned by Phillip McNicholl and the remaining ownership belongs to 3 other Kiwi and Samoan shareholders, who all work in the company.

Assurances From Hong Kong

Pure Pacifika Ltd representatives returned from Hong Kong a week ago so as to immediately clarify Jack’s situation. It was necessary for Pure Pacifika to ascertain from the Shareholders and Directors of Natural Dairy, the status of the contract with NZ Natural Dairy and thus the potential and to ensure on going purchasing of Samoa nonu.

Pure Pacifika also wanted to make sure Jack was healthy as he had suffered a minor heart attack whilst in his hometown in China that precluded him from making his appearance in Court in Hong Kong, which then triggered the negative reporting on his situation. Tupa’i said he was deeply touched by the very kind messages of support and well wishes from Samoa he received since the negative media broke relating to his situation.

For Pure Pacifika what has been most encouraging as the company contracted by NZND to supply this order, is that Jack Chen who has been their main point of contact, has the confidence and full support of the Board of NDNZ, they have as public information their minuted support of all Jacks transactions and indeed they received their Board approval.

NZ Natural Dairy are committed to Samoa nonu as per Pure Pacifika’s contract with them, and NZND remain confident that Samoa nonu has a big future in China, so it is business as usual.

Pure Pacifika has been exporting 6 containers of nonu juice a month since September and is exporting 3 containers Wednesday this week for the same market.

Pure Pacifika has a number of potential buyers of Samoa nonu in the pipeline as it has always been part of the company’s strategy to broaden the customer base for Samoa nonu and ensure that there are diverse markets available, although the potential of Asia and India market remain a strategic priority.

Pure Pacifika is also looking to expand its product range produced at Vaitele, including powdered nonu and capsules plus bottled product for export.

Photo Caption: Kim Gordon, Savae Michael Jones, Tupa’imanaia Phillip McNicholl of Pure Pacifika, Joseph T. Tong - Executive Director, Sun Hung Kai Financial, Jack Chen and May Hao at the Sun Hung Kai Headquarters, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, following the high level meetings.

AUSTRALIA:  EIGHT NEW AUSTRALIAN VOLUNTEERS ARRIVE IN SAMOA

Eight new Australian Volunteers arrived in Samoa this week to share their expertise and skills with seven local organisations. They are funded through the Australian Government’s overseas aid agency, AusAID.

The volunteers are part of the Australian Volunteers for International Development (AVID) program and will work in a range of areas, from Government ministries to local non-government organisations and sporting associations.

Australian High Commissioner, Stephen Henningham welcomed the volunteers to Samoa.

“You are here to contribute to Samoa’s continued progress,” Dr Henningham said.

“You will find the generosity you have shown in coming here will be matched by the generosity Samoans will show you. If you immerse yourself in the Samoan culture and way of life, you will find that Samoa will make an important contribution to your experience and understanding.”

“As Australian Volunteers, you will be helping to strengthen Australia and Samoa’s relationship by building strong friendships and connections.”

Australian volunteers first started coming to Samoa in 1972. Until now, there have been 400 volunteers, with the arrival of the eight new volunteers, that total is now 408.

The new volunteers are:

• Melanie Scanes will be working as an organics crop officer for Women in Business Development.

• Nina Lucas will be assisting the Planning and Urban Management Agency as an environmental compliance officer.

• Claire Cutler will be helping Tiapapata Art Centre as an art teacher.

• Nikita Hellmuth will be working as a sports project officer with the Ministry of Education, Sport and Culture (MESC).

• Brian Lewis will be a website development and maintenance trainer with Samoa Manufacturers and Exporters (SAME).

• Christopher Newman will work as a rugby league development officer with the Samoan Rugby League

• David Crane will be assisting the Oceania Academy of Sport (OAS) as a sports conditioning coach.

• Timothy Carter will be joining the new volunteers shortly. He will working for the International Cricket Council East Asia Pacific Development Program as a cricket development officer.

They join the 18 other Australian Volunteers already working in Samoa.
 

(Photo: FBI)

PAPUA NEW GUINEA: FBI agents train police
Source: The National

IMPARTING problem solving skills and techniques is the main focus of a week-long community-based policing seminar under way in Port Moresby.

Facilitators, Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) special agents Ronald Curtis and John Gilles and Montgomery county police captain Terry Pierce are in the country at the invitation of the US Embassy in Port Moresby to train local police officers in aspects of community policing.

Curtis, who plays a supervisory role at the International Training and Assistance Unit at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, said the seminar was to “introduce officers to techniques that the FBI uses in reacting to community policing needs”.

He said the techniques were meant to be used as models by those officers taking part in the seminar. He said real cases and experiences would be used as part of the programme.

He said Papua New Guinea was not new to community policing but they were here to impart new techniques to the participants to help them in their work.

A participant Sgt Claire Rambu, said the programme had been an eye-opener for her.

“This is what RCPNG needs more than anything else,” she said referring to the programme.
She said what she learnt was that community policing was about police going right into the community and working with the people.

“It is about identifying the needs of the community in terms of policing and not what the police want or think is right,” she said.

Twenty-one participants from divisions of the police force attended the event, five of whom were female officers.

The seminar was funded by the US Embassy and was coordinated by US regional security officer Dan Bleakmore.

Photo Caption: Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI)
 

(Photo: Solomon Star News)

SOLOMON ISLANDS: Its a win for SI: Sikua
Source: Solomon Star News
 
OPPOSITION leader, Dr Derek Sikua says the resignation of Prime Minister Danny Philip is a triumph for credibility and integrity of leadership and democratic system in the country.

Philip voluntarily resigned ahead of a parliamentary vote of no confidence in Parliament yesterday after the Opposition accused him of abusing his power in office.

One of the allegations was using $7 million of the $10 million of the discretionary fund funded by Republic of China (ROC), Taiwan.

The Opposition Leader when moving the motion asked the Prime Minister to resign to which he did.

Dr Sikua said this is good display of leadership by the PM especially for such a young and growing democratic country like the Solomon Islands.

“It’s a relief especially in a manner which the Prime Minister graciously and honourably decided to tender his resignation, I suppose of going through the motion.

“Having debated it would always have the risks of criticising each other, mudslinging and saying things not forthcoming of Members of Parliament,” the MP for North East Guadalcanal said.

Dr Sikua said he was very happy the Prime Minister agreed to his call to resign.

“It’s a win for our country and I really admire his humility and humbleness,” he said.

Government House has notified the Opposition opens 8am today and closes on Sunday 4pm.

Dr Sikua said their candidate for the PM’s post will be known after their meeting at 2pm today.

He said it’s important especially because of the budget session that is still pending.

However, Philip declared in Parliament that his intention to resign on floor of Parliament was not because of the mover but it was taken collectively.

“Today is 11/11 but it must be done double jeopardy meaning you can get rid of NCRA leader but cannot destroy NCRA,” he said.

“Come back and we form NCRA,” he said.

Philip said he has no regrets for good intentions he displayed during the course of his short leadership.

He warned the Opposition to create a good government and leadership for this country.

PM said he is not seeking re-election but will support NCRA to continue implement its policies for the country.

Photo Caption: Dr Derek Sikua
 

AROUND THE WORLD: Emerging Pacific Sovereigns' Credit Quality Could Suffer Amid Weak Global Growth, Says S&P Report
Source: Standard & Poor’s Report
 
The fragile economic recovery in Europe and the U.S. could threaten the credit quality of emerging Pacific sovereigns, Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said in a recently published commentary titled "Weak Global Growth Weighs On Pacific Countries' Credit Quality".

Furthermore, continued volatility in financial markets arising from Europe debt sovereign issues could worsen the impact on the Cook Islands, Fiji Islands, and Papua New Guinea (PNG).

"The countries' open economies and narrow base make them susceptible to deterioration in credit quality if global growth slows much more than we currently anticipate," Standard & Poor's credit analyst Kyran Curry said.

"The Cook Islands and Fiji Islands depend heavily on their tourism sectors, while PNG relies on export income from its commodities sector for growth. Exacerbating the pressure is persistently high inflation in all three countries."

These risks cap off almost a year of diverging credit trends among Pacific sovereigns. We raised the foreign currency rating on Fiji to 'B' from 'B-', following continued improvements to the country's external position and after the implementation of our revised methodology and assumptions for sovereign ratings, published on June 30, 2011.

Conversely, we affirmed our 'B+' foreign currency rating but lowered our local currency long-term rating on PNG to 'B+' from 'BB-', based on the new methodology that puts more weight on the development of local currency debt markets, which are shallow in PNG. This factor, in combination with very limited monetary flexibility, required an equalization of the local and foreign currency ratings on PNG.

The Cook Islands, on the other hand, remains at 'BB-' but with a negative outlook, reflecting the risks of a downgrade if its fiscal settings do not improve with greater political stability and fiscal discipline.