NEWSPAGE 18 November
2011

(Photo: Maori Party)

(Photo: Pure Pacifika)

SAMOA: Pure Pacifika sponsors the Miss South Pacific
Source: Pure Pacifika Press Release

Samoa's major exporter of organic nonu juice, today launched a $100,000 tala sponsorship of the 2011 Miss South Pacific.

The Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Tuilaepa Fatialofa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi accepted the funds from Pure Pacifika's Country Manager, Masuisui JR Pereira this morning in the presence of the CEO of the Tourism Authority and members of the 2011 Miss South Pacific Pageant Organising Committee.

The Prime Minister acknowledged Pure Pacifika's financial support which gives the company the naming rights for the 2011 Paegant and congratulates the company on its efforts in Samoa and the Pacific.

Pure Pacifika's Masuisui JR Pereira says the support is in line with the company's vision and drive to develop and promote Pacific island trade and exports for the world markets and supporting a unique Pacific brand like the Miss South Pacific, adds an edge to its line of products.

The regional Paegant will be hosted by Samoa 4 - 10 December and contestants representing American Samoa, Aotearoa NZ, Cook Islands, Fiji, Hawai'ian Islands, Niue, Tokelau, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Solomon Islands will vie for the title.

The current Miss South Pacific - Ms. Joyana Meyer of the Cook Islands will hand over the Crown to the new Pure Pacifika Miss South Pacific at the finale of a weeklong competition in Apia next month.

A market display of cultural arts and crafts from the participating countries is being organised by the Women in Business infront of the Government Building during the Pageant Week.

The event has drawn the commitment of major media and marketing companies in New Zealand, Australia and Japan including live streaming or delayed broadcast on the internet for a global audience.

Tagata Pasifika and Fresh TV Programmes out of New Zealand will cover the event and will enable TVNZ to place footage on their satellites for any regional TV station to download for airing and also the Samoa Tourism Authority to load onto websites after the pageant.

The Miss South Pacific was established by the Government of Samoa as a regional event to recognise and promote the attributes, intelligence, talents, cultures and traditions of young Pacific island women to be ambassadors of their countries and the Pacific region.


Photo Caption: Smiles as PM Tuilaepa Fatialofa Sailele Malielegaoi accepts the $100,000 tala cheque from Pure Pacifika's Masuisui JR Pereira as the CEO for the Samoa Tourism Authority Matatamali'i Sonja Hunter looks on.

(Photos: Australia-Pacific Technical College)

AUSTRALIA:  APTC army do a working bee at the Aged Care home

An army of over 50 enthusiastic APTC students and staff volunteers recently descended on the Mapuifagalele (Vailele) Aged Care home run by the Little Sisters of the Poor. The students cleaned the chapel, weeded the vegetable garden and cooked nutritious and interesting meals that could be frozen for the residents.

Some of the trade students visited the home during the week before the working bee and were able to repair and service wheelchairs and do plumbing work. Hospitality Students Stephanie Eta & Elizabeth Forest said "We love doing this as our contribution to the elderly people in Samoa.

We are used to doing this kind of work (cleaning the chapel) back home in the Solomons so we are happy to do it for the aged in Samoa."

Sister Malia Alosia is the sister-in-charge at the Mapuifagalele (Vailele) Aged Care home. She said to APTC "we thank you for your charitable service to the elderly of Samoa and God will be glorified and you will get the everlasting blessing from God. "

The working bee was organised by the APTC student representative group and the Student Services Officer Muta Isara. It was a way of saying thank you to Samoa for hosting them during their studies in Samoa.

The students are from PNG, Solomons, Tonga, Fiji, Kiribati as well as Samoa. They are studying APTC courses in Tourism, Hospitality, Cookery, Fitting & Machining, Welding and Fabrication, and Plumbing.

APTC Cookery student Pulono works as a cook at the home. He was delighted when the APTC students volunteered to do the working bee. He said "I am learning so much about cookery at APTC in my course and I know other students are the same in their courses. Working here at the aged care home I have seen lots of things that needed to be done by skilled people. My fellow students from across the Pacific have been able to use their skills to get lots of these extra jobs done and we have had fun while we are doing it. Some of my fellow cookery students from PNG and the Solomons have been coming here as volunteers every weekend since they have been in Samoa".

After the work was done the students shared a short service with the residents and the sisters and then met many of the residents over lunch.

APTC is currently taking applications for all courses including new courses in Aged Care, Youth Work and Disability Work. Other courses include Trades and Technology, Tourism and Hospitality and Community Work. Contact APTC on 26844 or call at the office on the campus of NUS for information about how to apply.

Photo 1 - Sister Malia Alosia, sister-in-charge at the Mapuifagalele Aged Care home.

Photo 2 - APTC students from PNG, Solomons, Tonga, Fiji, Kiribati as well as Samoa.
 

KIRIBATI: Open race for the presidency in Kiribati
Source: Islands Business

The stage is set in Kiribati for major jockeying for power and the top job among the major parties and their preferred presidential candidates following the general elections on 21 and 28 October that have left the race for the Presidency wide open—unlike the 2007 one which was a foregone affair in favour of President Anote Tong and the Boutokan te Koaua Party (BTK).

The current perilous position of BTK follows the first round elimination of one minister and some stalwarts of the ruling BTK, the struggle of four ministers to win in the second round, the defection of one minister, the loss of three ministers in the second round and the loss of about seven BTK supporters.

Ministers Natan Teewe (Finance), Toakai Koririntetaake (Education), Amberoti Nikora (Environment) and Temate Ereateiti (Transport and Communications) lost their seats to new Opposition members.

Ministers Dr. Kautu Tenaua (Health), Kouraiti Beniato (Internal and Social Affairs), Tawita Temoku (Line Islands) and Kirabuke Teiaua (Works) had to struggle to win in the second round.

BTK heavyweights Anote Tong (President), Taberannang Timeon (Fisheries and presidential potential) and Teima Onorio (Vice President) easily won their seats in the first round.

All party leaders bar one breezed through in the first round. BTK’s Tong scored a comfortable 74% of the votes from Maiana. Opposition parties’ heavyweights got through in the first round.

Dr. Tetaua Taitai of Tabiteuea scored 61%, former president Teburoro Tito of South Tarawa won 53% and Rimeta Beniamina of Nikunau won with 59% of the votes cast.

Tito and Beniamina won in the first round, upping their 2007 election performance when they had to go into the second round. The only party leader to lose his seat was South Tarawa’s lawyer Banuera Berina of the Maurin Kiribati (MKP).

His private law practice may be a factor here where, by necessity, he finds himself or his associates working in a divisive manner defending his clients against others.

The other factor that is compounding Tong’s worries in his bid to seek a third and last term is the choice of many newcomers like Makin’s Pinto Katia, Kuria’s Tom Murdoch, Aranuka’s Martin Mooreti, Abemama’s Tiarite Kwong, Abaiang’s Tetaake Kwong and Kiritimati’s Kirata Temamaka to join the Opposition ranks.

South Tarawa’s newcomer, Mrs. Maere Tekanene, wrote that she is “very confused right now as all three parties have asked me to join them.” Dr. Mareko Tofinga, another newcomer for South Tarawa and a veteran USP academic, intends to set up his own party. Most are with MKP but this is still early times and they might shift elsewhere.

At the last count, there were 24 confirmed members of the Opposition parties and 13 BTK members. With no formal and binding rules about party membership culminating in a loose coalescence of individuals, BTK and the Opposition parties need to entice the 5 newcomers who are fence-sitters to their ranks.

The member for Banaba, the nominee of the Rabi Council of Leaders in Fiji and the ex-officio Attorney-General are likely to join the government of the day. Assuming that the two Banabans and the five fence-sitters join, BTK will still be three votes short.

To get the majority that is necessary to govern, BTK will need to lobby at least three Opposition members to switch allegiance. If the newcomers refuse to join BTK, that will spell doom for the party.

Writing on the wall

The results in the first round indicated that the voters want a change. This is a dramatic reversal of the 2007 election when the voters returned the Tong government in a ‘high-tide’ victory. The BTK is now the underdog and has to come from behind to retain power.

A former BTK Minister and Tong’s running mate in his first presidential race, Betio’s Ioteba Redfern, realised that his association with the ruling BTK had turned into an electoral albatross.

In response to his constituents’ wishes, he immediately switched allegiance to the MKP of the Opposition. According to Ituaa Binataake, a former MP and ranking member of the MKP executive council, this timely switch ensured Redfern’s re-election.

If all Opposition parties go to parliament at Ambo on a united front against BTK, the latter will be justifiably worried.

Hope for BTK
While it appears like a lost case for BTK at this stage, one cannot dismiss them outright. They may still retain power if they form a coalition with one or more of the Opposition parties like they did with Berina’s MKP two elections ago. They might succeed in attracting some new MPs and committed Opposition MPs to their camp.

BTK will be banking on disagreements between their opponents and a defection of one or more parties to their side to retain power. Another factor in BTK’s favour is the strategic acumen of Kiribati’s first President and sole knight, Ieremia Tabai. The ageing father of the nation can still pull off miracles when most needed.

Likely candidates for the presidency

So far, all parties are keeping mum about their presidential candidates. A source close to one of the parties said this is to ensure that opponents do not get an unfair advantage of prior knowledge.

However, it is an open secret that current President Tong, Dr. Tetaua Taitai, Rimeta Beniamina and a candidate from MKP will be at the starting block. Traditionally, an incumbent President is nominated. Tabiteuea’s Taberannang Timeon is expected to take over at BTK after Tong and that the latter will start easing him in.

While Tong has been reported as making an announcement to senior government officials that he would not run for a third term, he has since changed his tune, saying he will run if his party and people want him to.

Dr. Taitai is an obvious choice for Tito’s party waiting on the wings to mature politically. The time is ripe. Beniamina has been a consistently level-headed debater so far but he and Taitai will have to jostle for party votes to win the nomination.

If Taitai and Timeon get nominated from their respective parties, it will be problematic for both of them, their constituents and other Tabiteuea voters in other constituencies. The results show that Timeon is slightly more favoured on Tabiteuea.

Counting 11 confirmed members and 7 likely others, the MKP is expected to be a force to be reckoned with. It is likely to nominate the best nationally-known from their ranks.

These are North Tarawa’s young but now veteran MP Nabuti Mwemwenikarawa (a founding MKP member), Betio’s Mrs. Tangariki Reete who won the biggest number of votes in the first round in the most densely populated constituency, and her fellow member for Betio, Martin Tofinga, a former minister under Tong who initially held one of the two seats from Tabiteuea North.

The constitution allows MPs to nominate “not less than three and not more than four” to contest the presidency.

Historically, parties use ‘dummy’ candidates to nudge out serious competitors from other parties at the nomination phase. The constitution provides for people to vote directly for the president. If a candidate from a smaller party is elected, that party faces an uphill battle to secure the numbers in parliament necessary to govern.

Traditionally, the actual strength of parties in parliament is gauged by the number of votes cast for their nominees for the position of Speaker of the Mwaneaba ni Maungatabu (parliament). However, at the time of writing, the parties’ official nominees for Speaker were unknown.

Statements from various key party members indicate that the parties are focussing on their presidential candidates.

New voter statements

The two rounds of elections showed some interesting patterns. People want a change of government. This was exemplified by the voting in of 14 new members at the expense of about 10 strong BTK members including three senior Ministers.

Prior to the elections, Tong had told Islands Business International that “people think that we have done better than in our previous tenure.” The results clearly show that the people think otherwise in 2011. As it sometimes happens in neighbouring democracies, BTK just might put up an alternative to Tong to salvage voter confidence.

Timeon stands head and shoulders over the others, even Vice President Onorio. In fact, he was a BTK presidential candidate before Tong and came very close to toppling fellow-Tabiteuean Tito. Tong only became a candidate after Timeon lost his seat as punishment from his constituents for challenging Tito.

The culture-based respect for elders and those who have held power is steadfast, as shown by the first round wins of the longest-serving and oldest member of parliament Teatao Teannaki of Abaiang, Ieremia Tabai of Nonouti, Teburoro Tito of South Tarawa, Anote Tong of Maiana and Dr. Taitai and Timeon of Tabiteuea.

Tabai, Teannaki, Tito and Tong are the country’s four former presidents. Taitai and Timeon are former Secretaries to Cabinet. Taitai was also the first High Commissioner to Fiji.

Voters expect their representatives to speak for them in parliament. The last voting pattern shows that people do not tolerate MPs who fall short of this expectation. Thus one MP from South Tarawa and Nonouti each lost their seats. Neither uttered a word during the life of the last house.
Kiribati has a history of granting sympathy votes to ladies replacing spouses or fathers and then voting them out later.

Former legislators Beta Tewareka (Onotoa), Fenua Tamuera (Btaritari), Koriri Tenieu (Tabiteuea), Veronika Bakeua (Kuria) and Mary Tamwi (Betio) disappeared from the political radar this way.

Breaking this trend, Mrs. Tangariki Reete of Betio (who replaced her late father) received resounding support from the Betio voters and got through in the first round.

The plight of Kiribati in the face of climate change, for which President Tong is best known in the world, never featured prominently in the election campaigns as expected. People and aspiring politicians were more concerned about basic needs.

The I-Kiribati, particularly those from the egalitarian south, despise the establishment of political dynasties. On Onotoa, where two Kirata brothers have served, Rev. Baranite Kirata scored the least votes in both rounds. On Nikunau, where two previous Awira brothers have held seats, Toom Awira scored the lowest in the second round in his third and possibly last attempt.

Maere Tekanene’s election demonstrates the voters’ slow but steady acceptance of women in parliament. Tekanene’s inclusion increases the number of women to four, including the seemingly invincible Teima Onorio from Arorae who is also Vice President.

Downfall

Former President and now Opposition heavyweight Tito has argued that the people of Kiribati had suffered under Tong’s rule especially through escalating food prices. He has also argued that the seriousness of climate change, Tong’s pet subject on the global stage, has been played up by BTK for electoral mileage.

Likely presidential candidate Rimeta Beniamina opined that the recent payments for compensation for injuries sustained during the BPC’s tenure on Banaba was a thinly veiled campaign strategy that has left many people disappointed.

New member for South Tarawa and one of only four female MPs, Maere Tekanene, has expressed “deep concern” over the BTK’s emphasis on handouts in ways that failed to inculcate a culture of self-reliance. In recent parliamentary debates, Opposition MPs have repeatedly lamented what they claimed were “huge” and “unsustainable” deductions from the country’s reserve fund.

Observers have said that while Tabai can point to the Dai Nippon Causeway, the new hospital at Nawerewere and other achievements and Tito can cite the new parliament building at Ambo, Tong has nothing of equal proportions to claim as his achievement. However, he claimed that his party “seemed to be getting a good feedback from the people”.

In what appeared to be a swipe at aspiring politicians on the wrong side of the political divide, Tong expressed his concern to Pacific Beat that foreign governments have been influencing the election. He told Pacific Beat that one wonders “about some of the people literally being asked to stand with no background in politics, no credible source of income and yet they are able to influence the vote by giving substantial amounts of donations to the public.”

A female voter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, informed Islands Business that one Government MP had been buying generators and giving them to villagers in his constituency. One Opposition MP referred to this as the “whinging of a sinking captain” and hoped that Tong will clear the air in this regard.

The future

The legislators will elect a Speaker from outside parliament in about two weeks’ time and then nominate “not less than three and not more than four” from within parliament to contest the Presidency. The people will then elect the president directly as provided for in the constitution.

If BTK loses the battle, the Pacific will lose a global advocate against climate change as the Opposition parties have been arguing that Tong has been overplaying the issue for political mileage. Tong has been a strong and vocal supporter of Fiji but his loss, if it happens, will not change that.

All parties realise the strategic importance of Fiji for Kiribati’s many interests.
If Tong is returned, he will most likely focus on cementing his position for history to record. Climate change adaptation and natural heritage sites are in the books but he will have to look hard on the domestic front to identify a lasting legacy.

It is going to be a tough and open battle. The party that lobbies the hardest will get the numbers and, ultimately, power. In the final analysis, the biggest winners will be Kiribati and democracy.
 

USA: American businessman to sell Fiji investments over alleged extortion by officials
Source: Radio New Zealand International
 
An American businessman and investor in Fiji says he will sell all his assets and cut his business ties with Fiji after being extorted by officials at Fiji’s Biosecurity Authority.

Ken Honig says since 1998 he’s invested about four million US dollars in a plantation and other property in Fiji.

Mr Honig says he was forced last week to pay 22,000 US dollars to the authority’s CEO and legal officer in order to leave the country after accusations he had imported a species of iguana.

A court order allowed him to leave for the United States on Friday and Mr Honig says he’s left behind more than a financial investment.

“This has been a dream of mine since I was a kid to own property in the South Pacific. We live in this property. We grow all our own fruits and vegetables. We’re not tourists there. I have spent years building this estate. A dream was destroyed.”

Ken Honig says he does not believe Fiji is a safe place at the moment for either himself or his family.
 

(Photo: Secretariat of the Pacific Community)

VANUATU: Pacific food entrepreneurs find new uses for old ingredients
Source: Secretariat of the Pacific Community Press Release
 
Ni-Vanuatu food entrepreneur Votausi Mackenzie-Reur has, quite literally, put her money where her mouth is. A longtime champion of local produce, she’s the force behind Lapita Cafe, a company based in Port Vila that manufactures snacks and flour made from island staples like manioc, taro and canarium nuts.

For years, Votausi operated a renowned eatery, serving local food, which caught the attention of travel guidebooks. It was here that she saw the need for value-added food products made from traditional produce bought directly from the country’s farmers. That was in 2002.

Today, Lapita Cafe’s ginger and coconut cookies and manioc chips are served on Air Vanuatu’s domestic and international flights, while the Lapita brand prepares to break into Australian and New Zealand markets. In fact, Lapita was recently chosen to be part of the ‘True Pacific’ brand, a new campaign by the Pacific Cooperation Foundation that is promoting high quality goods of Pacific Island origin to consumers in New Zealand.

For the past two years, Votausi has worked closely with the European Union-funded Facilitating Agricultural Commodity Trade (EU-FACT) project on improving food safety and quality, developing products for export, and new packaging. Implemented by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, the EU-FACT project supports commercial ventures and producer groups in becoming export-oriented, market-driven enterprises that will consistently supply overseas markets with competitive agricultural and forestry products. Running since 2008, it provides technical assistance across an enterprise’s entire supply chain.

Another Pacific enterprise that is finding new uses for old ingredients and that specialises in value-added food products is the Howman family business, T.H. Plantation, based in Apia. The enterprise makes popular chips from fresh bananas, taro and breadfruit purchased from Samoa’s rural farmers. Here, too, the EU-FACT project assisted with improved processing techniques and the renovation of processing facilities to meet international standards.

An interesting fact for banana growers — both Lapita Cafe and T.H. Plantation produce banana chips but they use different varieties; Lapita Cafe favours plantains while T.H. Plantation uses the Cavendish variety.

Solomon Islanders have a long-held tradition of taking a gift of ngali nuts when visiting a neighbouring tribe or village. These nuts, produce of the evergreen tree canarium, have been frequently identified as one of the most promising underdeveloped export market opportunities in Melanesia. Now, Richard Pauku of Maraghoto Holdings in Honiara runs a small, family-owned business that works closely with rural communities to the commercialise the production of ngali and other indigenous nuts and fruits such as beach almond, cutnut, Tahitian chestnut and breadfruit. When dried, these nuts are used in commercial nut mixtures. Canarium nut oil can also be used to make body care products, and plans are under way to begin exports in 2012.

The EU-FACT project has assisted Maraghoto in a number of ways, including increasing and ensuring consistent nut supply through developing improved tree stock and supporting the recently formed Nut Growers Association of Solomon Islands, constructing solar air nut driers and processing equipment, upgrading processing and storage facilities, training local staff in food safety and quality assurance and grading, and developing local and export markets.

Rich in vitamins A and C, the pandanus fruit has also been processed. Nourishing juice and baby food products are made by a Majuro-based company, Robert Reimers Enterprises, for the local market and as carry-on exports through Marshall Islanders travelling to the United States. Current company managing director, Ramsey Reimers, sought assistance from the EU-FACT project to develop new products; to conduct supply chain and marketing analyses; and to improve plant stock and replanting, management and marketing skills, food safety standards and packaging.

The pandanus fruit is also traditionally consumed in Kiribati, and SPC has helped develop new pandanus fruit juice products.

A new use has also been found for the sap of the coconut flower and toddy. Coconut sugar is gaining international appeal as a low GI (glycemic index) food and is being produced by the Kiribati Organic Farmers Association, assisted by the EU-FACT project.

Kamaimai or coconut sap syrup is another promising product, with potential as a natural sweetener similar to golden syrup or maple syrup. This is good news for the low-lying atolls in Kiribati, where toddy and kamaimai are traditionally prepared but where there are few natural exports.

A side benefit to using traditional ingredients in new food products is the crossover appeal in high value niche markets, such as Lapita Cafe’s line of wheat and gluten-free snacks and flours made with manioc flour, coconut, canarium nut and pawpaw. These have tremendous potential in the Australasian market where consumers with food allergies pay a premium for similar products.

The lessons learnt from the five-year EU-FACT project, which wraps up in 2012, will be built on in a new €9 million ‘aid for trade’ project signed by the European Union and SPC in May this year. Operating in the 15 Pacific members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, the four-year Increasing Agricultural Commodity Trade (EU-IACT) project will work to improve Pacific ACP countries’ economic integration through strengthened national systems and institutional frameworks, develop their trade capacity, and increase their international market access and the competitiveness of their private sector.

For more information, visit www.spc.int/lrd or contact Rajan Sami ([email protected]), Secretariat of the Pacific Community, FACT project.

Photo Caption: Ni-Vanuatu food entrepreneur Votausi Mackenzie-Reur inspects manioc chips drying in the sun.