NEWSROOM 17 April
2009

(Photos: S³ Pacific Music Awards / Ladi 6 / Nesian Mystik)

NEW ZEALAND: Four to the floor
Source: Scoop Independent News

(Photo: Samoa Government)

SAMOA: Parliamentary Updates
Source: Government Press Secretariat Press Release
 

Report on the Number of Right Hand Drive Vehicles

Cabinet has approved the report on the number of Right Hand Drive Vehicles imported into the country from February 2008 - March 2009.

As reported by the Customs Division, a total of 1,946 RHD vehicles have been imported into Samoa since February 2008 - March 2009.

Number of Right Hand Drive Vehicles imported into the Country:
 

February (2008) 47
March 70
April 64
May 53
June 89
July 141
August 122
September 173
October 174
November 175
December 362
January(2009) 136
February 149
March 191

An increase in the number of RHD vehicles has been recorded in the month of March 2009 (191) when comparing to February 2009 (149). The mostly imported types of vehicle are saloon cars.

Government Donates $30,000 for the Samoa Volleyball Association

Cabinet has approved financial assistance of $30,000 for the Samoa Volleyball Association to be paid directly to the Airline for travel costs of the National Volleyball Team.

The National Volleyball Team will be competing in the Olympics Qualification Championships, to be held at Porirua, New Zealand, on the 22 - 24 April 2009. Teams from around the Pacific and also New Zealand will be participating in this Competition.
 

Pacific’s Central Banks Governors meet

Cabinet has approved the participation by the Samoa Delegation of the Pacific’s Central Banks Governor’s meeting to be held in Nadi Fiji on the 16 - 17 April 2009.

The main purpose of the meeting is to discuss ways to help the Pacific Island Countries overcome the effects of the Global Financial Crisis. This meeting is a result of a request put forward by the Governor of Fiji’s Central Bank for the Pacific’s Central Banks Manager\Governors (including New Zealand and Australia) to discuss some of the difficulties faced by some countries of the Pacific.

Governor for Samoa’s Central Bank, Leasi Papalii Scanlan will be leading the delegation from Samoa which includes Deputy Governor, Iosefo Bourne and Manager for Financial Market, Atalina Enari.
 

(Photo: J. Kneubuhl)

AMERICAN SAMOA: ASCC announces Spring 2009 in-house scholarships
Source: American Samoa Community College Press Release

A group of American Samoa Community College (ASCC) students who do not have access to the financial aid available to most of their peers received welcome assistance recently in the form of the College’s In-House Scholarships. The ASCC Student Services Division has announced the recipients of In-House Scholarships for the spring 2009 semester. These awards go to students not eligible for the same Pell Grant resources that most students in the Territory have access to.

Students born in American Samoa automatically qualify for the Pell Grant, a federal source of funding that covers tuition, books, fees, and supplies, and even a portion of the student’s living expenses. However, young men and women born outside the US and its territories sometimes cannot meet the strict requirements for Pell awards, and two ASCC In-House Scholarships, the Presidential Merit Scholarship and the Saili le Atamai Scholarship, help the best of these students meet the costs of their attendance at the College.

The ASCC Student Government Association sets aside a portion of the student activity fee to fund the Saili le Atamai Award of $250 per recipient, which this semester will go to Ms. Luatimu Toilolo, Ms. Akenese Lealamanua, Mr. Felix Penalosa, Ms. Fa’apopo Liua, and Ms. Yieje Lee. The Office of the ASCC President provides funding for the Presidential Merit Scholarship, a $500 award which goes this semester to Mr. Lawrence Fernandez, Mr. Galo Tuiolosega, and Mr. Phillip Anthony Iosefo.

The ASCC Student Services Division, under the leadership of Dr. Emilia Le’i, encourages students who do not receive the Pell Grant to apply for the In-House Scholarships, and also invites any private organizations, businesses or individuals who might have an interest in establishing a scholarship at the College to contact Dr. Le’i to discuss this possibility. While the Saili le Atami Scholarship has been designated solely for the benefit of students who do not qualify for the Pell Grant, students who do qualify for the Pell may also apply for the Presidential Merit Scholarship.

Photo Caption: Members of the ASCC administration, including CNR instructor Malagamalii Tavita Elisara (far left), Dean of Student Services Dr. Emilia Le’i (second left), Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs Dr. Kathleen Kolhoff (second right) and CNR Director Tapaau Dr. Daniel Aga (far right) congratulate student recipients of the College’s In-House Scholarships.
 

(Photo: TVNZ ONE News)

FIJI: Military mutiny possible in Fiji
Source: TVNZ ONE News

A military mutiny could be about to unfold to oust Fijian leader Frank Bainimarama.

The prediction comes from Fiji's former land forces commander who sought refuge in Australia after being imprisoned following the 2006 coup.

Jone Baledrokadroka and Bainimarama used to be military comrades and great mates.

But their friendship ended when Baledrokadroka was accused of plotting to assassinate Fiji's interim Prime Minister after the coup.

Baledrokadroka says the accusation turned his life upside down.

He says he's not the only Fijian military man opposed to the commodore's antics and he believes there is a 50/50 chance of a mutiny within the ranks of the Fijian military.

With international pressure continuing to build with the European Union freezing more than $200 million worth of aid to Fiji and pressure from other Pacific nations, along with threats of sanctions from Australia and New Zealand, an uprising may be likely.

"We do hope that the interim government is listening to the international reaction that is going on at the moment and will reconsider its position and go back towards moving towards election again in a much shorter time table," says George Cunningham from the EU.

But Baledrokadroka doubts the effectiveness of such sanctions. He says the most effective pressure would be to hit Fijian soldiers in their back pockets and withdraw them from UN peacekeeping roles.

Baledrokadroka says with no pay coming from international military missions, the average soldiers will get more dissatisfied with Bainimarama's rule.

Bainimarama talked to ONE News on Tuesday over his expulsion of foreign journalists, but did not answer calls on Wednesday over the issue of an uprising within the military ranks.

Fiji has since backtracked on those expulsions and Bainimarama's military spokesman said journalists are most welcome to visit Fiji but they just need to apply first.

However, foreign journalists who have been deported are not allowed to return.

With the May deadline to announce an election date looming, suspension from the Pacific Islands Forum now looks certain while the Commonwealth of Nations is also looking at a similar measure.

Photo Caption: Fiji's former land forces commander Jone Baledrokadroka.
 

(Photos: Niue Festival Committee)

NIUE: Niue NZ festival groups leaves the crowd wanting more
Source: Niue Festival Committee Press Release

The Niue Cultural & Arts Festival that officially opened on Saturday 11 April 2009 has certainly awoken Niue.

The first of the four day festival performances started on Tuesday night, 13th April 2009, with the Cultural Show mingling traditional and contemporary Niue dances side by side.

It was good to see that crowd response from the nearly 400 people was hugely positive and enthusiastic and charmed away the warm wet weather that had been falling steadily most of the day.

The customary formalities started with the prayer by Reverend Hawea Jackson, followed by wise words from vessels of wisdom Namukulu MP and elder Hon. Jack Lipitoa and New Zealand Matua Tupuna Matafetu Smith. It was a heartening sight to see these elderly Niue people - Mr Lipitoa a resident Niue man, Mrs Smith, long time resident in New Zealand taking the stage to impart some of their combined years of wonderful Niue history.

The Niue Arts Festival Groups glanced back to the past with the first performance of the night, dressed in white missionary adorned in green ti leaves, weaving the dances of old together with the advancement of colonialism and christianity. The songs and dance were created especially for the Pacific Cultural Festival in American Samoa last year.

Tau Toa Niue all male group of Wellington led by Kevin Mokalei gave a spirited toa’s performance with their charcoal blackened faces and their forceful challenges they ended their segment with a Maori haka which went down well with the largely local resident Niueans who can sometimes be tough audiences if they don’t like the performance - and they loved it.

Next up came the largest group from New Zealand, the Kau Auloa ha Ueligintoni (Women’s Group), their beautiful red and white hibiscus print muumuu and green print tops for band members, drawing a spontaneous enthusiastic response. The beauty of their performance was not just in the song and dance, but the mixture of matua and tama - young and old - the culture being shared and passed down.

Fiti Lose Manogi mai Niu Silani or The Sweet Frangrant Rose from New Zealand. The youthful all female group from South Auckland charmed the audience with their original dance and the melodic music - not to mention they looked great on stage in their long slinky tan print dresses, their heads crowned with tiaras of green leaves from the ti tree. This was contemporary Niue song and dance presented beautifully and once again the crowd reaction was loud and pretty supportive.
But it was the last act that ended the night and left everyone feeling that this was a very special night indeed.

International all male dance troup Tau Fuata Niue came on in a full on finale performance. The toa, dressed in white costumes, their hair some wild and loose, their skin slicked with oil, locked all eyes centre stage. The 15 minute set was a commanding performance with a combination of traditional songs interwoven with contemporary dance actions their faces smudged with charcoal. They held the crowd stunned and it was the quick costume into orange hibiscus print shirts and trousers for a koli fiafia or happy dance that changed the pace and lightened the mood - and brought the house down with its cheeky actions and words. The evening ended on that high note and once again closed traditionally with a prayer from the Reverend Hawea Jackson.

The Niue Cultural & Arts Festival continued with the Poetry, Stories, Legends, Myths Song Recital at the Makete in Alofi on Tuesday 14th April 2009.
For more information please contact
Ellie Ikinofo
Pacific Islands
Trade & Investment
Commission NZ
Email: [email protected]
Niue 00683 4162

Photo Captions:

Photo 1 - Pauline Rex and Miss South Pacific Vanessa Marsh.

Photo 2 - Robin Hekau and Olga Kamupala Wilson of Perth, Australia.

Photo 3 - Ira Merrifield art curator, Miss South Pacific Vanessa Marsh, and Robert Rex Jnr.

Photo 4 - Robin Hekau and friend.
 

WORLDWIDE: Statement by Forum Chair on situation in Fiji
Source: Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Press Release

The Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum and Premier of Niue, the Hon. Toke Talagi MP, has condemned recent developments in Fiji in which the constitution was purportedly set aside, judges and other legal officials dismissed and emergency regulations promulgated to restrict basic human rights, including media freedom, in the country.

“I condemn the actions of the military regime in Fiji to date, the abrogation of the Constitution and reappointment of members of the previous Interim Government in direct contravention of Fiji law as determined by the Court of Appeal on 9th April 2009,” the Chair said.

“The hopes and aspirations of many in Fiji and the wider region, just briefly raised by the Court of Appeal decision on 9 April, have been dashed by the unilateral and irresponsible actions of President Iloilo and Commodore Bainimarama.

"The events of the past few days amount to wanton disregard for constitutionalism and the rule of law in Fiji and confirm my fears that there is no commitment on the part of this military regime to return Fiji to democracy through free and fair elections in any acceptable timeframe as urged by Forum Leaders.

“It is a very difficult time for the Pacific Islands Forum as the military regime in Fiji have now confirmed that they are unable to abide by the core commitments to democracy, human rights and justice which lie at the very heart of our Forum family in the Pacific.

"The thoughts and prayers of all Forum Leaders are with the people of Fiji at this difficult and distressing time. We know they continue to bear the burden of the social and economic damage compounded by the actions of the last few days."

The Chair reiterated that the Pacific Islands Forum stands ready to support any legitimate and balanced efforts to return Fiji to freedom and democracy.

“We will not abandon the people of Fiji, nor doubt Fiji's ability to contribute greatly to strengthening the Pacific region. We wait anxiously for its early return to democracy and good governance and resumption of normal relations with its Pacific neighbours,” the Chair added.

The Chair also noted he was very mindful of the implications of recent developments for Forum member country citizens in Fiji and the possible impacts on the convening of Forum meetings in the country and on the operations of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat which is headquartered in Suva. The Chair indicated he would be giving these matters further consideration in his contacts with Forum Leaders.

“I will be consulting with my fellow Forum Leaders on actions to underscore our condemnation of the military regime’s hijacking of Fiji’s Constitution, particularly where there was due process already provided under law to return the country to constitutional democracy through free and fair elections."