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(Photos:
Su’a William Sio / Ihi Aotearoa) |
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NEW ZEALAND: Pacific communities to support
hikoi on Super City
Source:
Labour Party Press Release
Auckland’s Pacific community expressed
strong concerns about the Government’s Super
City plans at a recent Pacific Fono in
Manukau and have resolved to support the
hikoi in favour of Maori seats, says
Labour’s Associate Pacific Island Affairs
Spokesperson Su’a William Sio.
The other key resolution passed at the
Regional Pacific Fono, held at Manukau
City’s TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre,
was to set up a working party.
“Pacific families, youth, workers, community
and business leaders braved wet and cold
weather with some travelling as far as
Waiuku, Waitakere and North Shore to have
their say,” Su’a William Sio said.
“It was an emotionally-charged meeting and
people were angry and frustrated with the
Government’s plan and lack of consultation
with our communities.
“A common refrain was: ‘why weren’t Pacific
People considered in the Government’s
structure?’ People wanted immediate action
to reflect their concerns.”
Among the organisations represented at the
Fono were: members of Pacific Advisory
Boards for Auckland City Council, Manukau
City Council, Waitakere City Council, North
Shore City Council, unions, Pacific media,
and the Pacific Chamber of Commerce.
“It was resolved the working party be set up
and include members of the Pacific Advisory
Boards from each of the four Auckland
councils present - Manukau, Waitakere, North
Shore and Auckland City. This working party
will help to organise meetings, update and
inform people,” said Su’a William Sio.
“The Fono agreed that we call on Pacific
people throughout Auckland to support the
hikoi for the Maori seats on the Super City
- and this also means we’re calling on the
Government for more consultation before
finalising their plans.”
“There was general recognition that in order
for this Government to provide real and
lasting respect for Pacific people, we
(Pacific) needed to support Maori so that
they aren’t forced to beg, or protest, in
their own land, for even one seat at their
own table by this National Government.”
“People were angry that even though Mr Key
is saying publicly that he is listening, the
Super City is still being rushed through and
people feel that the Government has already
made up its mind.”
“It was clear from responses that people
wanted more time to fully understand what
the Super City means to them, and that the
Government needed to keep their pre-election
promise of consulting with Aucklanders and
not ram through legislation in urgency.”
Photo Captions:
Auckland’s Pacific community have resolved
to support the hikoi in favour of Maori
seats, says Labour’s Associate Pacific
Island Affairs Spokesperson Su’a William Sio.
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(Photo:
Secretariat of the Pacific Community) |
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SAMOA: Taulapapa Captain Maselino is outstanding
individual in the maritime sector
Source:
Secretariat of
the Pacific Community Press Release
A former assistant chief executive officer (CEO)
in Samoa’s Ministry of Works, Transport and
Infrastructure (MWTI) was presented the Maritime
Achievers Award for the most outstanding
individual in the Pacific maritime sector in an
island gala night in Tonga last night.
Taulapapa Captain Maselino Sitagata Tominiko was
awarded for his contribution to maritime
administration, maritime compliance, maritime
training and the promotion of safety at sea, not
only at the national level but at the regional
level as well.
Whilst assistant CEO, Taulapapa was chairperson
of the Pacific Islands Maritime Association (PacMA)
for the last five years before he resigned to
join SPC’s Regional Maritime Programme as the
Training and Audit Adviser.
He instigated business excellence implementation
at MWTI while working in Samoa.
The Maritime Achievers Award for the most
distinguished cadet award was presented to Henry
Taniera of the Marine Training Centre (MTC) in
Kiribati.
Taniera was the leading MTC supervising the
students while taking a full academic load. He
demonstrated academic excellence and won the
academic excellence award at MTC as well.
The Maritime Achievers Award for the outstanding
business award was jointly presented to Pacific
Forum Line (PFL) and Asia Pacific Maritime
Institute (APMI).
PFL is a regional shipping line that has been
operating in the Pacific for more than 30 years.
The company is an outstanding example of
successful regional cooperation and catalyst for
economic development. PFL has stood the test of
time from humble beginnings with chartered
ships.
APM has been providing outstanding support to
maritime training in the Pacific region for over
20 years. The director of APMI, Dr Jeff Hawkins,
was also involved in the initial establishment
of PacMA.
The inaugural Maritime Achievers Award was
organised by SPC’s Regional Maritime Programme.
Photo Caption:
Taulapapa Captain Maselino Sitagata Tominiko.
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(Photos:
Getty Images / Nuclear Free Seas Flotilla) |
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AMERICAN SAMOA:
Faleomavaega condemns MOX shipment from France
to Japan
Source:
Office of Congressman Faleomavaega Press Release
Congressman Faleomavaega, Chairman of the House
Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the
Pacific, and the Global Environment, gave a
special order speech regarding a resolution he
introduced with Rep Christopher Smith (R-NJ)
condemning the shipment of certain nuclear waste
through international waters.
“Last month two British-flagged vessels left
France with 1.8 tons of plutonium bound for
Japan. They are scheduled to arrive in port at
some point this month. From what has been made
public, the shipment is to travel via the Cape
of Good Hope, the southern Indian Ocean, the
Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand and
the south-west Pacific Ocean,” Chairman
Faleomavaega said.
The plutonium is contained within what is called
“MOX fuel.” The MOX is reprocessed in France and
used by the Japanese to produce electricity in
their nuclear power plants. The transport of MOX,
particularly over international waters, is a
dangerous practice.
“MOX is lethal. The release of even a small
amount of it during transport over thousands of
miles of open sea, whether as a result of
accident or malicious intent, would cause
serious environmental, health and economic harm
to surrounding areas. That much has always been
clear,” Chairman Faleomavaega said.
According to reputable estimates, the plutonium
currently heading toward Japan could be
reprocessed into more than 200 nuclear bombs.
And terrorists have long sought the material to
build such weapons.
“Al-Qaeda and its networks would like nothing
better than to get their hands on enough fissile
material to build a nuclear explosive device or
radiological bomb, however crude, and to
detonate it where it can do most harm. We and
our allies around the world have committed our
best intelligence, military and civilian
officials to work around the clock to eliminate
the possibility of that ever happening. And yet,
by permitting the transport of MOX over open
seas, obviously we are providing terrorists one
more avenue of attack for gaining access to the
nuclear materials they have so long coveted,”
Chairman Faleomavaega added.
But terrorism is not the only threat. Piracy has
become a major problem all around the globe,
including along the route of the two ships will
take to Japan.
“So far this year, just in the waters off
Somalia alone, pirates have attacked 61 ships.
More than a dozen of those vessels remain in the
pirates’ hands to this very day. I ask my
colleagues, is the practice of transporting
these lethal materials across international
worth the risk? I say, absolutely not. It’s time
for countries that produce nuclear waste to keep
it within their own borders,” Chairman
Faleomavaega concluded.
Photo Captions:
Photo 1 - Congressman Faleomavaega says
the transport of MOX, particularly over
international waters, is a dangerous practice,
due not only to accidental spillage, but also
because of threats from terrorist organisations
and piracy.
Photo 2 - The most likely route of the
MOX shipment is via South Africa and across the
Tasman Sea between New Zealand and Australia,
and through the coastal waters of South Pacific
nations.
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FIJI: Fiji to explore trade potentials with
Egypt
Source:
Fiji Daily Post
In the bid to strengthen its international trade
links, Fiji is expected to explore trade
potentials with Egypt.
This has been confirmed by Egypt’s Ambassador to
Fiji, His Excellency Mr Omar Metwally Mohammed
who was in the country last month to present his
credentials to His Excellency the President Ratu
Josefa Iloilovatu Uluivuda.
His Excellency, Mr Omar Metwally said his trip
to Fiji has been a wonderful experience and has
provided him an opportune to strengthen Egypt’s
trade relations with Fiji.
“Fiji has very friendly people and is a very
beautiful country and I heard a lot about Fiji
before coming and after my visit here I
discovered is that it is indeed a reality that
Fiji is a paradise and peaceful place to come
to,” he said.
He said while Egypt was determined to develop
relations in all aspects of trade, one of the
key sectors targeted at the moment is the
development of the tourism industry.
“We are intending to develop our relationship
with Fiji in all aspects especially with
tourism, because Fiji is a beautiful island and
we are interested in developing this sector.”
He said to explore the potential for trade in
this area, Egypt was prepared to send some
business experts to see the grounds for
development in tourism between Fiji and Egypt.
“I am intending to send some businessmen to see
and inspect the grounds of potential and
possibility to start trade and I am sure that
there are lot of potentials for trade in
Fiji, especially tourism.
“We are keen to strengthen our relationships
with Fiji and we don’t see any problems to
enhance this relationship. We also appreciate
Fiji’s contribution towards the multinational
force in Sinai.
Fiji is participating in this force since 1982
we have now 352 soldiers so we appreciate it
very much,” he said.
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(Photo: Northern Territory
News) |
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NEW CALEDONIA: Little lifter holds his own
against the big boys
Source:
Northern Territory News
The littlest big competitor at the Arafura Games
yesterday (May 13, 2009) claimed a miraculous
silver and bronze medal double on the first day
of the weightlifting competition.
New Caledonia's nine-year-old powerhouse Kevin
Falelavalu stepped on to the international stage
as if born to it, lifting with poise belying his
tender years to claim silver in the 55kg South
Pacific junior championship and bronze in both
the Oceania and Arafura competitions.
In a tournament that Falelavalu expected only to
attend as an eager student, he thrust himself on
to centre stage with a cheeky grin and showcased
plenty of potential.
"I came here just to learn," he said. "Not in
all my dreams did I think I would win a medal."
Falelavalu was in medal contention from the
outset as one of only three juniors in the
class.
Yet, success demanded he perform clinically in
both the snatch and clean and jerk lifts to post
a combined total of 86kg.
Putting the medals into perspective was a
chuffed Oceania Institute coach Paul Coffa.
"It's an unbelievable effort for a
nine-year-old," Coffa said.
"He completed all six lifts and did each of them
brilliantly."
New Caledonia's weightlifting team has utilised
the Games to its long-term advantage, debuting
Falelavalu and 10-year-old 62kg class lifter
Peter Matulo.
The plan, according to president of New
Caledonia's weightlifting association Ronald
Frere, is to have them ready for serious
business at the 2015 South Pacific Games.
"In New Caledonia we think big," he grinned.
Falelavalu has no shortage of inspiration, with
training partner Manueli Tulo the real giant of
generation next.
Yesterday, Fiji's Sports Person of the Year and
Commonwealth Youth Champion in the 55kg class
showcased his brilliance with an impressive
snatch of 93kg and clean and jerk effort of
126kg.
Falelavalu received his first international
medals from weightlifting hall of famer and
owner of 23 world records, Blagoy Blagoev.
When asked if he could one day be a world
champions, the pre-teen answered with a very
convincing: "Oui".
Photo Caption: Nine-year-old weightlifter
Kevin Falelavalu.
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NIUE: Niue signs on to Pacific Petroleum Project
Source:
Pacific
Islands Forum Secretariat Press Release
Niue has sealed its support for the Pacific
Petroleum Project.
In signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
outlining a model by which Forum Island
Countries may tap into the project, Niue's
Minister for Bulk Fuels, the Honourable Togia
Sioneholo remarked that substantial gains are
expected from this important initiative.
Niue signed the MoU at the Pacific Energy
Ministers' Meeting held last month in Tonga,
cementing its commitment in identifying viable
means of accessing the global markets,
particularly as a smaller island state.
"Tapping into the Pacific Petroleum Project
makes clear sense to Niue," says Hon Togia
Sioneholo. "Converging as a region appears to be
the only viable means of achieving greater
leverage in a global market to achieve better
value for money for petroleum procurement."
Pacific Islands Forum Leaders agreed, through
the Pacific Plan adopted at Port Moresby in
October 2005, and in discussions since, to
undertake a joint negotiation process for the
bulk procurement of petroleum to address their
shared concerns about energy affordability and
security.
At the Pacific Islands Forum Economic Ministers'
Meeting held in October 2008, Nauru, Tuvalu and
the Cook Islands signed the MoU launching the
Pacific Petroleum Project.
Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum
Secretariat, Tuiloma Neroni Slade, in addressing
the Pacific Energy Ministers' Meeting, remarked
that equitable access to reliable and affordable
energy is a fundamental requirement for
achieving national development.
"Energy is, inexorably, linked to the condition
of human well being," said Mr Slade. "Our
resources in fundamental areas such as energy
should be accessed and managed in a coordinated
way where possible ensuring a ‘whole-of-region’
position to better realise our common
interests."
Mr Slade congratulated Niue on keeping up the
momentum of this vital regional initiative.
The Pacific Petroleum Project, among other
things, aims to pool Forum Island Country
resources to improve negotiation for petroleum
supply contracts, leverage purchasing power and
minimise transaction costs for procurement
activities.
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