NEWSPAGE
19 December
2011

(Photo: Maori Party)

SAMOA: Samoa signs MOU to join Australia’s seasonal workers scheme
Source: Radio New Zealand International

Samoa has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Australia to join its seasonal workers scheme.

Samoa’s Prime Minister, Tuila’epa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, signed the agreement with Australia’s Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific islands Affairs, Richard Marles.

At the signing, Tui’laepa also emphasized his government’s zero tolerance against workers who abuse the system.

He said those recruited will be thoroughly screened for this scheme, which is similar to a New Zealand scheme.

Tui’laepa issued the warning after several Samoan workers were deported from New Zealand for abusing the conditions of the scheme there.

A pilot scheme, to provide seasonal workers to the Australian horticulture industry, has been operating for several years.
 

(Photo: ASCC)

AMERICA SAMOA: Fall 2011 Student Club Awards

For the last major student even leading up to the current final examination week, the Student Government Association (SGA) at the American Samoa Community College (ASCC) held its Club Awards ceremony on Friday, December 9th. The awards encompassed all of the SGA-sponsored activities throughout the semester, including Field Games, the ASCC IDOL singing competition, the ARRA song and poster contests to promote energy saving, and participation in the Miss ASCC Pageant.

“Student clubs play a very important role in campus life,” explained SGA President Dona Maifala. “We schedule activities every semester which give the clubs an opportunity to show their talents, including the Miss ASCC competition, where the clubs choose their candidate and collaborate on ways to support her. The enthusiasm that the clubs bring to these activities creates a lively social environment, and even when the competition gets intense, it’s always friendly. Without the clubs, none of these exciting activities could happen.” Active ASCC clubs this semester included Segaula, All Saints, Brotherhood, Humble Club, New Generation and New Tactics.

Based on a calculation of points earned in the various categories, the All Saints Club took the Overall Winner honors this semester, coming in at first place for both the ARRA song and ARRA poster competitions, as well as taking first place at the Halloween Showdown entertainment event. Humble Club came in close behind to take place second place overall, having earned the highest points at both the Club Rallies and the Field Games. Humble Club additionally boasts ASCC IDOL winner Johnny Kopelagi Fuimaono as one of its members, and further distinguished themselves by earning second place in the ARRA song contest. As if that weren’t enough, Humble Club members had the most papers which received an A grade.

New Generation won third place overall thanks to members Shane Chen taking the honors as the individual student with the most A papers this semester and Judy Su’a coming in second in the ASCC IDOL competition. Non-placing clubs who still received recognition included Brotherhood, of whom the new Miss ASCC Pearl Sheck is a member, New Tactics, and Segaula, who won third place in the ARRA song contest. The SGA also presented awards to ASCC administration and staff that have helped facilitate student activities this semester.

During her welcoming speech, ASCC Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs Dr. Kathleen Kolhoff-Belle shared her thoughts on the contributions the clubs make to student life at the College.

“Because ASCC isn't a residential college,” Dr. Kolhoff-Belle shared with the club and SGA members, “no one lives on campus and you are all active members of your own family, village and church. The clubs provide you with the opportunity to experience a new kind of membership in your college family. As an extended circle of friends, you are part of a group that is active in college life and college leadership. Our ASCC clubs are a vital part of the College's identity and I thank each of you for your participation, involvement and contributions.”

Dr. Kolhoff-Belle went on to note how the Energy Education Project provided the clubs with a focus for socially-conscious activities this semester. “I am impressed with your entries in the ARRA song competition to promote energy conservation, with your embracing of the recyclable wear for the Miss ASCC pageant, and with your enthusiasm and talents throughout the semester,” she said.

The ASCC Vice President also commended the clubs for their contributions to the Miss ACC Pageant. “Your contestants were lovely and talented, the gowns and puletasis were fantastic, and the entertainment throughout the evening was great. Good work, everyone!”


Photo 1 - At the SGA Student Club Awards last week, Miss ASCC Pearl Sheck congratulates New Generation Club member Shane Chen, who was recognized as the student with the most "A" papers from among all the student clubs.

Photo 2 - ASCC New Tactics Club member Georgina Yandall has both hands full with the prizes her club received during the SGA Stdent Club Awards held last week.

Photo 3 - Members of the ASCC All Sains Club display thei gift baskets they received as prizes during the SGA Student Club Awards held last week.
 

COOK ISLANDS: Long-Term Ratings On The Cook Islands Lowered To 'B+' On Updated Rating Methodology
Source: Standard & Poor`s Press Release

Standard & Poor's Rating Services said today that it had lowered its long-term local and foreign currency sovereign credit ratings on the Cook Islands to 'B+' from 'BB-'. At the same time, we affirmed the short-term credit rating on the Cook Islands at 'B'. The outlook on the local and foreign currency ratings is stable. The transfer and convertibility assessment for the Cook Islands remains 'AAA', which is the same as for New Zealand because of the Cook Islands’ use of the New Zealand dollar.

“The lowering of the ratings follows the implementation of Standard & Poor's methodology and assumptions for rating sovereign governments with limited external data," explained Standard & Poor's credit analyst Kyran Curry. “In accordance with our methodology, the Cook Islands’ external position is based on our assessment of the weak external score for New Zealand, whose currency the Cook Islands uses.”

The stable outlook reflects the stabilization in the political and institutional settings under the new government led by Prime Minister Henry Puna, and follows an appointment to the key financial secretary position.

The unwavering financial and technical support from New Zealand and donor agencies, and the sound performance and outlook for the key tourism sector, significantly support the ratings. However, there is limited upside to the ratings without further gains in policy stability and effectiveness, evidenced by the closing of sizable data deficiencies, strength in the government's fiscal position, and progress in opening up the economy to create opportunities for the largely disenfranchised population.

The ratings could be lowered if a weakening in global economic conditions reduces tourism sector receipts, and in turn, worsens the government’s finances. A diminished commitment to uphold past fiscal gains through undisciplined spending could also bring pressure on the ratings.
 

(Photo: Ivamere Rokovesa)

FIJI: Shoe box surprises for Nanuku children
Source: Fiji Times
 
CHILDREN of Nanuku settlement in Vatuwaqa, Suva, received an early Christmas surprise yesterday when they were given gifts sent from families abroad.

Reverend William Lucas, the head of the Methodist Church's Indian arm and Samaritans Purse co-ordinator in Fiji, said the gifts were being distributed as part of Operation Christmas Child.

He said every year children from New Zealand and Australia collected presents in shoe boxes and sent them to poorer countries as part of the operation.

"We've been receiving these shoe boxes for the last eight years and this year we received 50,000 shoe boxes, which were distributed into the Central/ Eastern, Northern and Western divisions," said Mr Lucas.

"Today we gave away about 50 boxes to the children of Nanuku settlement.

"20,000 boxes were distributed to the Central/Eastern Division because this was the largest division."

Mr Lucas said the boxes were sent to the outer island as well, as far as Ono-i-Lau.

He explained there were 54 different church groups in Fiji who were part of the Operation Christmas Child.

"The church leaders from these groups meet every year from April to August and run community surveys on which children really need the gift boxes," he said.

Photo Caption: Children of Nanuku settlement in Vatuwaqa were all smiles yesterday after receiving their Shoe Box presents from the Operation Christmas Children Samaratan international organisation.
 

(Photo: SOPAC )

AROUND THE WORLD: Emergence of deep-sea mining in the pacific islands region
Source: SOPAC Press Release
 
“With a project as significant and exciting as this, we expect that there will be misunderstandings and misinformation, especially through those using the media.

“But we also know that it is important that any confusion related to this project must be addressed to ensure clarity and transparency in all aspects of the work.”

So said Akuila Tawake, Deep Sea Minerals Project Team Leader of this European Union (EU) funded project.

Mr. Tawake explained that the Deep Sea Minerals Project is administered by SOPAC, a division of SPC, and is developing a regional legislative and regulatory framework for deep-sea mineral mining.

“This will help ensure that sustainable resource management will bring tangible benefits to Pacific Island Countries and their people, “ said Mr. Tawake.

Mr. Tawake was responding to a story that appeared on Pac News that questioned the motives of those involved with the project.

In the story it stated, “that the Deep Sea Minerals Project of the SPC (SOPAC) disenfranchises indigenous people and promotes the interest of big mining companies at the expense of local communities.”

“Since the Project was conceived as a result of a number of Pacific Islands Countries requesting the SOPAC Division for advisory assistance and technical support relating to seabed minerals, it is difficult to understand who is being disenfranchised.” said Mr Tawake.

He said that the Deep Sea Mineral Project is not only being supported by the SPC member countries, but by the Pacific Island Forum Secretariat, as well as the EU.

The overall objective of the project, he said, is to expand the economic resource base of Pacific ACP States by developing a viable and sustainable deep-sea marine minerals industry.
He said the specific objective is to strengthen the system of governance and capacity of Pacific ACP States in the management of deep-sea minerals.

“This can only be achieved through the development and implementation of sound and regionally integrated legal frameworks, improved human and technical capacity and effective environmental monitoring systems.”

Mr. Tawake said that to date there is only one potential deep-sea mining project in the Pacific region and that is scheduled to become operational in 2013.

It is the Solwara 1 project in the Bismarck Sea in Papua New Guinea. The mining company, Nautilus Minerals has been working with the Papua New Guinea government since l997 to explore seafloor massive sulphide deposits with the option to develop those mineral resources if feasible.

“While the project is unique in the sense that it will become the world’s first deep seabed mine, the lease arrangements to develop and operate it are a reflection of the evolving legislative and regulatory process in Papua New Guinea since the 1970’s.

This will enable us to avoid past experiences on land from the OK Tedi and Bougainville Mines,” said Lyndah Brown-Kola, Senior Technical Assessment Engineer with the Papua New Guinea Mineral Resources Authority.

Mr. Tawake emphasised that the SPC/SOPAC as the implementing agency of the Deep Sea Mineral Project is only responsible for providing relevant information and appropriate assistance and advice to participating countries.

“Each participating country as a sovereign nation makes its own decisions after reviewing the advice we provide as well as information from other sources.”

Mr. Tawake said that the Papua New Guinea government has taken 14 years to make the decision to allow Nautilus Minerals to develop the mine. It is expected to be operational in late 2013.

“The financial risk of even exploration is entirely that of the mining companies and the costs are substantial, far in excess of US$50 million. In addition to the costs, government approval as well as physically developing a mine will take many years - it has taken Nautilus 14 years.”

“In addition to the regional framework, the Deep Sea Mineral Project requires the four years to develop with the participating countries, national legislative and regulatory frameworks for deep-sea mineral mining that encompass environmental concerns, and assist and support capacity building and environmental monitoring initiatives,” he said.

Mr. Tawake said that SPC/ SOPAC is grateful for those who have expressed their concerns about deep-sea mining and “we invite them to contact us for any information they require to help clarify any issues relating to deep sea mining in the Pacific region.”

The Deep Sea Minerals Project is currently being implemented in the following fifteen island countries: Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, East Timor, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

Photo Caption: Deep Sea Minerals Project Team Leader, Akuila Tawake.