NEWSROOM 23 March
2009

(Photos: Event Polynesia News)

NEW ZEALAND: Fa'afaletui o le Aganuu a call for action by Samoan leaders
Source: Event Polynesia News Press Release
 

(Photo: Samoa Government)

SAMOA: Parliamentary Updates
Source: Government Press Secretariat Press Release

PIDC Management Board Meets

Cabinet has approved Samoa’s participation of the PIDC Management Board meeting, held at Palau on the 18th - 20th March 2009.

This meeting focused on finding and discussing better ways for the Immigration Offices around the Pacific to work together. The meeting also looked at allegations made against the Head of Secretariat at the PIDC Headquarter, currently held by a Tongan.

The Samoa delegation included CEO Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Auseugaefa M.T.V Poloma Komiti, who is the current Chairman of the PIDC Management Board and ACEO Samoa Immigration Office, Togatalima Faafouina Milford, who is also a member of the Management Board.


Report on WHO Executive Board 124th Meeting

Cabinet has approved the report by Samoa representatives of the 124th WHO Executive Board meeting that was held in Geneva, Switzerland on the 19 - 28 January 2009.

One of the issues discussed by the meeting is the effects of the current economic recession on the wellbeing of the people and other health issues. The discussion on this issue showed that the economic recession has different effects on different countries and that each country will need to closely monitor this area so that the funds allocated for Health Programs will not be reduced.

Improvement on National Health Systems which includes:
Health financing
Human resources for health
Health information and technology
Health service delivery
Medical products and supplies; and
Governance and stewardship
was also included in the Agenda. WHO believes that a country needs to have a National Health System in order to have a healthy population.

Most of the discussions were on Health policies and regulations. According to the report, Samoa is in line with the Health Principles set by International Health Organizations to promote healthy living among its member countries.

The CEO, Ministry of Health, Palanitina Tupuimatagi Toelupe and Dr Robert Thomsen represented Samoa on this meeting.


Report on Asia Pacific Coconut Community meeting

Cabinet has endorsed the report by the Samoa delegation on the Asia Pacific Coconut Community meeting which was held from 2 - 5 December 2008 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

The meeting’s Agenda, included discussions on ways to develop the coconut product in different areas like exporting the product, producing other goods out of the product (not only the coconut oil but also coconut wood) plus defining potential market for marketing the product. The main discussion was on issues from the 43rd CocoTech Meeting, held in Indonesia 4 - 8 August 2008. Part of the meeting allowed the Delegations to visit the Coconut Farms and Coconut Oil Industries.

Participants from Samoa presented a paper, stating the developments and plans made by the Government and Private Organizations in promoting Coconut production plus the coconut replanting scheme now in progress in the country.

The Ministry has advised the Farmers and the Private Organizations for their support in putting their plans and lessons learned from the meeting into practice.
 

AUSTRALIA: Australia committed to supporting Pacific in achieving MDGs
Source: United Nations Development Programme Press Release
 

The Rudd government in Australia has voiced its commitment to achieving the MDGs (Millennium Development Goals).

“Helping developing countries attain the MDGs stands at the centre of Australia's aid program,” said Mr Rob Tranter, Assistant Director General at the Pacific Branch of AusAID.

Mr Tranter made these comments at the final day of the Pacific Regional MDG Workshop in Nadi. Discussions on day five are exploring the issue of financing and other support from development partners to enable countries to accelerate progress towards the MDGs by 2015.

Building on Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s Port Moresby Declaration that states “Australia wants a new era of cooperation to begin” the Australian government has substantially increased aid funding for PNG and the Pacific in the 2008-2009 budget.

“As a first step in implementing the Port Moresby Declaration, the estimated Australian Overseas Donor Assistance (ODA) to PNG and the Pacific will total AU $999 million in 2008-09, up 35% over the last three years,” said Mr Tranter.

In the face of the global crisis, the Australian government is intensifying efforts to achieve the MDGs said Mr Tranter.

“Greater investments in key MDG sectors, such as health, education, water & sanitation and environment are a priority.”

Mr Tranter emphasised that the effective use of development resources matters more than ever now as the immediate effects of the global financial crisis are already being seen in the Pacific.

“In this environment, it is more important than ever that donors and partners work together in the spirit of partnership and mutual responsibility to ensure better use is made of the significant aid flows to the region,” he added.

“Potential economic crisis impacts have serious implications for achieving the MDGs. If the MDG targets are to be met, donors and Pacific Island countries will need to be mutually accountable for best use of scarce resources,” said Mr Tranter. “Aid will assume even greater importance - giving impetus to the case for both more and better aid.”

For the Pacific Island countries it will mean that a commitment to following through on service delivery will be key.

“All Pacific Island countries will need to exercise strong and effective leadership over development policies,’ said Mr Tranter. “There is a need for stronger budget frameworks linked to national priorities and stronger country systems, for better expenditure, monitoring and evaluation, and data collection.”

The week long workshop, which ends today has been organised by UNDP Pacific Centre, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to review the situation and trends in reaching the MDG targets in the region and discuss policy options and action for improved performance towards the achievement of the MDGs.
 

(Photo: Jason Dorday)

PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Prime Minister gives K137m for Enga projects
Source: The National

The people of Enga province for the very first time received a boost of more than K137 million from the National Government.

Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare yesterday (March 22, 2009) presented cheques to the six MPs from the province, including Governor Peter Ipatas, after the National Executive Council and provincial executive consultative meeting in Wabag.

The NEC members, MPs, top bureaucrats and the public witnessed the presentation of the cheques at the Wabag Primary School.

The provincial government was given K10 million, Laiagam-Porgera K36.9 million, Kandep received K30 million followed by Wabag Central with K25.8 million, Wapenamanda with K22.6 million and Kompiam-Ambum was given K12.7 million.

Sir Michael told the MPs and people that the money came from last year’s supplementary budget and this year’s development budget.

He committed another K2 million for the Yangis to Angurum (Angoram) road in the East Sepik province.

He also committed another K400,000 for two double classrooms for Wabag Primary School and another K200,000 for the public library in town.

Sir Michael said this money would come from the Prime Minister’s discretionary fund.

The Prime Minister also told the people that he was giving a lot of money to the province and urged them not to fight and spoil the education of their children but to live peaceful lives and enjoy the services that would be delivered.

He urged the MPs to work closely with one another and use the funds wisely while delivering the services.

He also challenged Mr Ipatas to work with the Open Members from the province.

Mr Ipatas said that during his 12 years in politics as a governor, he never saw any Government coming to his province and giving such assistance.

He told the Prime Minister, Cabinet ministers and the public that there was no political in-fighting in the province.

He said with such a large amount of money, they must change the province and bring more goods and services to the people.

Mr Ipatas also appealed to his people not to fight and lead peaceful lives.

Photo Caption: Papua New Guinea Prime Minister, Sir Michael Somare.
 

SOLOMON ISLANDS: Research highlights aid achievements in Solomon Islands
Source: Research Australia via Science Centric

Health aid contributes 60% of funding to the Solomon Islands. The Islands have considerable health concerns including a double burden of both infectious and chronic diseases. This, coupled with damages from natural disasters, political instability and tensions between ethnic groups means most Islands in the Pacific, rely heavily on donations and externally funded programs. According to Australian research conducted in the Solomon Islands, simple cooperation between agencies and local governments is the key to good health care aid.

'As more and more agencies work to rebuild and strengthen health services and delivery, it's vital that these efforts are coordinated. In some cases there has been little alignment of priorities between the funding agencies and the local needs of the Solomon's Ministry of Health,' says lead author Dr Alexandra Martiniuk at The George Institute for International Health in Australia.

'But what we are seeing now is a move towards more coordination and longer-term commitment to improve the health landscape in the Solomon's. We hope this trend gains pace among more foreign aid agencies.'

WHO and AusAID are reported as examples of organisations providing good health aid. The Australian Government's AusAID program has been flexible with a focus on local priorities. The World Health Organisation (WHO) is also seen as a good partner, who has made some sustainable changes including long-term training of local health care professionals. Both organisations have set out to base programs on the Solomon's government's National Health Strategic Plan, which was recognised as having real benefits for health system strengthening and planning.

'We know that coordination of aid in developing countries is important and commitment must be long-term. This research demonstrates Solomon Islanders' current needs for health care management skills, mentorship and the desire to learn more from other Pacific Island nations,' added Dr Martiniuk.

A response from a local interview with the Ministry of Health included: Initially it was necessary to provide stop gap measure and fight fires, while now the focus is more towards recovery and development.

Researchers conducted in-depth interviews with government and non-government leaders from rural and urban regions in the Solomon Islands. The respondents suggest it is essential for donors to know current plans and determine with the Ministry of Health where they may be able to fit in. 'If all donors and partners would support the five-year plan set by the Ministry of Health, resources could be used more efficiently to achieve greater impact.'

Another local response: 'Best way is to ask-what are you planning this year in the region and how can we help?. [referring to volunteers from overseas]... their flight costs alone are equal to the entire provincial health construction budget for an entire year.'

'If aid is not coordinated, it can serve to undermine the government reform process and hamper efforts to build political stability by interfering with systematic policy making and planning. Locals expressed the desire to strengthen health committees, work towards long-term sustainability and integrating programs,' added Dr Martiniuk.

The Solomon Islands are the fourth greatest recipient of Australia's aid (US$4.72m). The Australian government announced that it would take a lead role in supporting the Solomon Islands health sector by providing $60 million over five years in March 2008. These funds will include up-scaling its response to HIV and other sexually transmitted infections in the Pacific by increasing community prevention programs and expanding testing and treatment.
 

(Photos: South Pacific Regional Environment Programme)

WORLDWIDE: Sustainable wetlands management focus of recent country training
Source: South Pacific Regional Environment Programme Press Release

The five Pacific Island signatories to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands recently completed a one-week training session designed to enhance sustainable management of their important wetland sites.

The Pacific island parties to the convention: Fiji, Marshall Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea and Samoa, were brought together in an informal and interactive setting to familiarise with the Ramsar management planning process and format. It was a week of ‘hands on’ work to develop draft management plans for Ramsar sites and other priority national wetland sites.

The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) coordinated the one-week training during March in partnership with the Ramsar Convention Secretariat and IUCN Oceania, in Nadi Fiji.

Participants also discussed follow-up actions, which they agreed they could work on during 2009. Furthermore, participants agreed that a follow-up workshop be held in one year’s time to update on progress of these targets and designate further actions as needed.

The immediate actions identified include updating the Ramsar Information Sheets for their Ramsar sites; writing World Wetlands Day summaries to be submitted to the Communications Education and Public Awareness (CEPA) officer of the Ramsar Secretariat; and to identify all national Ramsar focal points and provide these details to the Ramsar Secretariat. National focal points cover the different aspects of the national implementation of the Ramsar convention including CEPA and scientific and technical issues.

“The main part is the draft management plans, of which we started to develop the structure over the week of training. We’ll assist the island parties to develop these plans further over the next 12 months,” said SPREP’s Associate Ramsar Officer Vainuupo Jungblut. He added, “the participants have expressed support for these actions and with a little bit of encouragement we can get these done in a timely manner.”

Another issue discussed at the one-week gathering was that of identifying funding sources. International non-governmental organisations that work in Pacific Ramsar sites were identified as potential sources of assistance, whether for technical or financial support. The private sector in each of the countries was also identified as another potential source of assistance for specific activities, such as the production of wetlands awareness materials such as posters and leaflets, in each of the countries.

“There are many opportunities for forming stronger partnerships with various stakeholders within Pacific Island Ramsar parties, such partnerships could enable assistance towards the effective management of Pacific Island Ramsar sites.”

The one week training also enabled participants take part in a half-day field trip to Lomawai village on the outskirts of Nadi. The field trip showcased a GEF-funded climate change project that is currently being implemented by WWF Fiji within the mangrove forest of the village. The field trip also enabled participants to gain a first hand experience of the traditional use by the community of their mangrove wetland resources. The WWF Fiji country programme and the Fiji Department of Environment organized the field trip.

Photo Captions:

Photos 1 & 2 - Participants at the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands training session, during a field trip.

Photo 3 - Participants at the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands training session.

Photo 4 - Group photo of the participants at the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands training session.