NEWSPAGE 24 August
2012

(Photo: Asenati Taugasolo Semu)

SAMOA: Faleata children savoring netball
Source: Samoa Netball Association Press Release

Over 450 children from eleven Primary Schools in the Faleata district engaged in competitive netball this week.

Children from Government Primary Schools in Aele, Aleisa, Lepea, Saina/Toamua, Vaigaga, Vailoa, Vaimea, Vaiusu, Vaimoso, Vaitele and Pesega Fou private school competed in three Divisions.

Vaitele Primary School won the Senior Girls and the Boys Divisions while Vaimea Primary took the Junior Girls category.

The next legs of the programme are the Vaimauga and Sagaga Districts tournaments before the Primary Schools Inter District competition towards the end of the year.

The Hyundai sponsored ‘Kidsnet’(netball for children) programme in its second year saw a huge development with five more districts in Upolu and Savaii joining in this year.

They are Lefaga, Aana 1, Aana 2, Faleata, Vaimauga and Sagaga. Tournaments for Savaii were conducted last week for the Faasaleleaga Number 1 and Faasaleleaga Number 2 Districts.

Samoa Netball Association’s Manager, Ms Tui Hicks said that there is a big improvement compared to last year with Faleata tournament, and the performance by the children was outstanding.

“We could see that the children have a better understanding of the game and work better as a team,” said Ms Hicks.

“There was a hundred percent participation by the Faleata Primary Schools which is a very positive route for netball’s development in Samoa.”

“The focus is to encourage and increase participation in the sport, and also sustaining the program in schools.”

Photo 1: Kids in motion, netball Samoan style.

Photo 2: Samoa's future netballs star?

Photo 3: Vaimea Primary, Junior Girls Division winners.

Photo 4: Vaitele Primary School, Senior Girls division winners.
 

(Photo: World Bank)

AUSTRALIA: World Bank & Australia to work with Government of Tongan to improve energy & electricity for 104,000 people

The World Bank and the Government of Tonga today signed a US$2.9 million grant agreement to implement the Tonga Energy Road Map, which will improve the access, efficiency and cost of energy for Tonga’s 104,000 people. The Government of Australia, through the Pacific Region Infrastructure Facility, is contributing US$2.5 million of the total grant.

Fuel imports in Tonga account for one quarter of the country’s total imports and one tenth of its GDP. This heavy dependency on imported fuel has taken its toll on the country, exposing it to extreme volatility and shocks that have seen fuel prices increase by 60 percent in recent years. These shocks have passed on high costs that place a heavy burden on poor households, affect livelihood opportunities, and raise the cost of running businesses and services, like hospitals and schools.

The grant will be used to support the implementation of the Tonga Energy Road Map (TERM) - a ten year plan to help reduce Tonga’s vulnerability to oil price shocks, and achieve an increase in quality access to modern energy services in an environmentally sustainable manner.

Activities that will be implemented under this project include: electricity and petroleum sector policy advice aimed at improving energy supply and efficiency; legal and regulatory reform; and technical assistance towards developing renewable sources for electricity generation, and a petroleum price management framework. Upgrades to electricity networks and systems operations procedures will be undertaken on Tongatapu, Vava’u and Ha’apai.

These activities will lead to more efficient use of energy resources, resulting in lower, more predictable energy bills, improved quality of electricity services and improved access to affordable electricity for households, businesses and service providers.

“Providing effective, accessible and affordable energy to Tonga is a fundamental building block in the country’s development and will transform livelihoods, and reduce the cost of living for the Tongan people,” said Ferid Belhaj, Country Director for the Pacific Islands at the World Bank. “We are committed to working with the Government to bring affordable energy solutions to homes, businesses, hospitals, schools and beyond, and are committed to doing so in cooperation with our strategic partners in the Pacific, Australia in particular.”

“Investment in clean and affordable energy and energy conservation, to reduce vulnerability of Pacific countries to high oil prices is a key priority for the region. Australia is pleased to support the Tongan people to diversify the sources of energy available to them and reduce their vulnerability to increasing energy costs,” said HE Thomas Roth, the Australian High Commissioner to Tonga.

“I would like to thank the World Bank for their continual support not only through the Grant for the TERM but also support to the State Owned Enterprise Utility, Tonga Power Limited,” said Lord Tui’vakano, Honourable Prime Minister. “The World Bank was there at the beginning of the creation of the TERM and has played an essential role as Lead Development Partner Coordinator, which has ensured continual engagement and support by Tonga’s development partners.”

The TERM is the result of a year of intensive dialogue between Government, and other energy sector development partners. The project will be implemented by the Tonga Roadmap Implementation Unit and Tonga Power Limited. The Asia Sustainable and Alternative Energy Program Multi-Donor Trust Fund (ASTAE) is providing US$0.4 million towards the total grant.

Photo: Mr. John Van Brink, Tonga Power Limited Chief Executive and Hon. Lisiate ‘Akolo, Minister for Finance and National Planning.
 

VANUATU: No budget bill in Vanuatu parliament final sitting
Source: Radio New Zealand International

Vanuatu’s MPs are gathering from today for an extra-ordinary session ahead of the elections in October, but there is no indication the government will consider a supplementary budget.

This comes as many teachers continue to go unpaid while health budget shortfall means graduate nurses cannot be taken on.

The office of the speaker confirms that only 21 bills are to debated during this session with no supplementary budget.

It had been expected both the education and health sectors would have a supplementary budget tabled to meet their accumulated debts.

The Department of Health’s human resource section says it needs an additional 833,000 US dollars.

The ministry of education needs 1.7 million US dollars to cover the salaries of teachers unpaid for the last two years.
 

(Photo: America Samoa Government)

USA: Faleomavaega congratulates Lee Lele'a on his retirement after 26 years of service in the U.S. Department Of Homeland Security
Source: America Samoa Government Press Release

Congressman Faleomavaega today congratulated Mr. Lee Agava’a Fa’alili Lele’a from the village of Onenoa who recently retired from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) after 26 years and 7 months of service as a Special Agent with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), formerly the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS).

Congressman Faleomavaega attended Lele’a’s retirement celebration in South San Francisco, California on Saturday August 11, 2012. With over 300 guests and family in attendance, Congressman Faleomavaega offered brief remarks to congratulate the retiree for his years of exemplary service to the country.

“I am very proud of Mr. Lele’a and I congratulate him for his years of dedicated service to the protection of our country,” said Congressman Faleomavaega. “Lee’s persistence, dedication, and commitment to country are an example to us all.”

Lee started his career in law enforcement as a Police Officer with the American Samoa Department of Public Safety in 1978. Lee then continued with the U.S. Department of Defense in Honolulu, Hawaii as a Naval Base Police Officer. In 1986, he joined the Immigration and Naturalization Services under the U.S. Department of Justice. Following the September 11th attacks on the nation, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security was formed and Lee’s position transferred to its Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency until his retirement on June 30, 2012.

Born in the village of Alofau, American Samoa to his birth mother Fuesaina Moefono Salamo Moevao of Alofau and the late Paepaeulupoo Faalili Lele’a of Onenoa, Lee was later raised in Onenoa, by his late father and late mother, Malia Polini Sipiliano of Sailele, American Samoa. Lee attended Faga’itua High School as a freshman and later moved to the San Francisco Bay Area where he graduated from Serramonte High School in Daly City, California. He later graduated with an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice from Skyline College in San Bruno, California.

Lee is married to Galumalemana Christina McFall of Sapapalii, Savai’i and they have five children. The family currently resides in Bakersfield, California with plans to return to Onenoa, American Samoa.

“I congratulate Lee Lele’a for his notable accomplishment after decades of service to our nation. I also commend his family, especially his wife Galumalemana Christina Lele’a, for their constant support throughout his successful career,” said Congressman Faleomavaega.

“Lee is a shining example of success and a role model to American Samoans across the nation. It was a joy for me to take part in Lee’s retirement celebration and I thank the Lele’a family for their kind invitation. I wish Lee and his family the very best in their future plans,” Faleomavaega concluded.

Photo: Mr. and Mrs. Lee and Galumalemana Christina Lele’a.
 

AROUND THE WORLD: World Bank Welcomes Oceans Focus at 43rd Pacific Islands Forum
Source: World Bank Press Release
 
The World Bank today welcomed the high priority that the upcoming Pacific Islands Forum is placing on oceans, a critical issue for the region and the world. Focusing on 'Large Ocean Island States - the Pacific Challenge', next week the 43rd Pacific Islands Forum will explore how best to manage the world’s largest ocean to deliver the greatest benefits to the region.

The Pacific Ocean is home to the world’s biggest remaining tuna stocks and its most pristine coral reefs, and is an essential source of economic growth for Pacific Island countries. Fisheries support food and livelihoods for millions of people across the Asia-Pacific region and in some Pacific Island countries provide more than half of gross national product.

However, the ocean faces threats from over-fishing, pollution and climate change. Annually more than 786,000 tonnes of fish are illegally taken from the Pacific and its tuna fisheries are in danger of being over exploited.

“The Pacific Ocean unites all the countries in the region,” said Marea Hatziolos, Senior Coastal and Marine Specialist for the World Bank. “Tremendous progress has been achieved regionally in fisheries agreements and conservation, but the battle is not yet won. This is a timely focus, at a critical juncture for Pacific Island populations.”

“The challenge facing the region today is ensuring Pacific Island countries can capture maximum benefits from this vital resource while ensuring it remains healthy and productive,” said Hatziolos. “We wish to congratulate Pacific Islands Governments in recognizing this as a regional priority for action, and hope to be able to support these ocean commitments moving forward.”

Ocean health is a global as well as a regional priority, with important initiatives like the Pacific Oceanscape Framework having gathered major momentum. In addition, the Global Partnership for Oceans (GPO), of which the World Bank is a member along with over 100 other partners, will also be focusing on improving the health of the Pacific Ocean.

The GPO was formally launched at Rio +20 in June this year. It seeks to help implement global commitments to reduce pollution, restore and protect critical ocean habitats, and support sustainable and productive fisheries. It presents a unique opportunity to bring additional finance, knowledge and innovation to address major threats to ocean health and help capture the benefits of ocean stewardship in partnership with Pacific Island nations and other stakeholders in the region.