NEWSROOM 27 May
2009

(Photo: University of Canterbury)

NEW ZEALAND: Samoan language week a good reason to celebrate linguistic diversity

(Photo: Scottish Clans Association)

SAMOA: British High Commissioner to visit Samoa
Source: British High Commission Press Release

The British High Commissioner, Mr George Fergusson will make a formal visit to Samoa later this week in time for the island state’s Independence Day celebrations.

This is the High Commissioner George Fergusson’s fifth trip to Samoa since he was appointed to Wellington in 2006.

Mr Fergusson will take part in the celebrations and attend the Independence Day parade in Apia. The High Commissioner will also make official calls and visit the SPREP Secretariat. (Secretariat for the Pacific Environmental Programme).

While he is in Samoa, Mr Fergusson will also announce a major competition for Samoan school children that will be sponsored by Air New Zealand, the British High Commission and the New Zealand Hurricanes Rugby franchise.

The details of the competition will be announced at Samoa Primary School in Vailele Uta at 12 noon on Friday the 29th.

Photo Caption: British High Commissioner, Mr George Fergusson.
 

(Photos: Australian Labour Party / Solomon Islands Government)

AUSTRALIA: Australian PM unhappy about AusAID delivery timeframe
Source: Solomon Star

Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, is said to be “unhappy” about the slow progress of aid delivery through AusAID-funded projects in Solomon Islands, government sources said.

He was said to have echoed his disappointment in a high level meeting he had with his Solomon Islands counterpart, Dr. Derek Sikua, when both men met in Port Moresby during the recent special Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Summit.

At the meeting, which was also attended by top AusAID officials, Prime Minister Rudd, asked what the aid agency was doing about major projects that have been identified by the Solomon Islands government, sources said.

One source said the Prime Minister wanted to know whether there’s been any progress since he announced an extra AUD25 million in project funding during a brief visit to Honiara in early 2008.

“The answer he received was there was none. He was told AusAID was at the time only preparing to help with the Auluta Palm Oil Project in East Malaita, but nothing more,” the source said.

Prime Minister Rudd was said to be “visibly” angry.

Of the AUD25 million in extra funding Mr. Rudd announced during his brief weekend visit to Honiara, AUD10 million was earmarked for major projects on Malaita.

It is not clear whether the Solomon Islands Government had now missed out altogether on the funding. If it did, it was due largely to a misunderstanding by the Honiara administration.

The Coalition for National Unity and Rural Advancement [CNURA] government had thought all along the money was going to be provided directly in budgetary support.

However, this was not what Canberra had in mind.

To access the funding, Canberra had insisted that the CNURA government provide submission on each major project.

Senior Government Ministers in Honiara have confirmed that because the government lacked the resources to provide detailed submissions on major projects, Prime Minister Sikua had opted to use AusAID.

In effect, this means that much of the AUD25 million, will be used up writing bulky reports which in all likelihood will be gathering dust a year from now.

In neighbouring Papua New Guinea it was revealed last week that consultants used by AusAID in similar type of work received up to AUD360, 000 [ about SBD2, 176, 542 million] a year tax-free.

The figure is more than Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s base salary of almost AUD335, 000 [about SBD2, 025, 393] a year.

According to published reports, consultants on short stays under 180 days receive A$469 per day for the first 28 days then A$400 a day for the rest.

If they work 180 days, that earns them up to A$74,000 in allowances.
An agreement between the Australian and PNG governments gives aid advisers tax-free salaries, putting a married senior consultant in PNG on about A$30,000 a month, netting them A$360,000 a year.

Junior single consultants gross about A$20,000 a month, adding up to A$240,000 a year in salary and allowances.

An AusAID spokesperson said there were around 250 long-term advisers and around 50 short-term advisers working under the PNG-Australia development programme.

“The allowance rates for people contracted are reviewed regularly against actual costs in PNG and allowances can change,” the spokesperson said.

Consultants’ salaries and allowances account for about A$100 million of Australia’s A$389 million annual aid programme in PNG.

It is estimated A$200 million of AusAID’s annual funding goes to agents, consultants and staff who provide “technical assistance” to PNG.

Rudd flagged his concern at AusAID’s reliance on consultants when speaking last month at a press conference with his PNG counterpart, Sir Michael Somare.

“Too much money has been consumed by consultants and not enough money was actually delivered to essential assistance in teaching, in infrastructure, in health services.

Photo Caption: Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has echoed his disappointment about the slow progress of aid delivery through AusAID-funded projects in the Solomon Islands in a high level meeting he had with his Solomon Islands counterpart, Dr. Derek Sikua, when both men met in Port Moresby during the recent special Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Summit.
 

(Photos: National Pacific Islander Educator Network)

HAWAII: Uncle Henry and Linaka at Ohana fundraiser
Source: National Pacific Islander Educator Network Press Release

NPIEN held its third annual fundraiser at Ohana Hawaiian Barbecue in Lakewood, CA hosted by owner Jin Lee.

Ukulele champion Uncle Henry Kamae entertained the crowd the entire four hours of the event, and NPIEN friends, family, and community members dropped by to enjoy music and da ono grinds (translation good food).

Seen at the aloha scene were board members Falanai Ala, president, Rita Scanlan, Martha Gusukuma Donnenfield, Aileen Tanimoto Matsuura, and Eugene Mafi. Rynette Labostrie Barr of Lagniappe Accounting, and NPIEN accuontant made an impressive appearance with her family entourage.

Chief of Staff Tino Andres distributed raffle tickets to the crowd, and there were plenty of giveaways.

Lorraine Telles of Cokkie Lee, NPIEN Silver Level Sponsor, sold some of her beautiful jewelry and made a donation!

Three of the Linaka Polynesian Dancers performed beautiful Hawaiian dances.

Thanks to all who came and made this a successful event!

Photo Captions:

Photo 1 - Ukulele champion Uncle Henry Kamae entertaining the crowd.
 

Photo 2 - Members of the Linaka Polynesian Dancers performing a Hawaiian dance.
 

(Photo: Matangi Tonga)

TONGA: German aid helps Alonga Centre and Vaiola Hospital
Source: Matangi Tonga

During a farewell visit to Tonga the German Ambassador HE Joerg Zimmermann handed over a refurbished kitchen for the Alonga Centre for the handicapped in Tonga, and visited other German aid projects.

On the four-days visit from May 18-22 Ambassador Zimmermann had an audience with HM King George Tupou V and held discussions with the Acting Prime Minister Hon. Tuita, and the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Va'inga Tone. The ambassador was accompanied by his wife Mrs Cabriella Zimmermann.

The German Honorary Consul to Tonga, Carl Sanft, said that a highlight of the visit was the handing over of a fully refurbished kitchen to the Alonga, home for handicapped in Tonga, attended by Queen Halaevalu Mata'aho, the Patron of the Alonga Centre. The refurbishing of the kitchen was completed with a new stove, refrigerator and kitchen utensils and valued at $20,000.

Ambassador Zimmermann also visited Vaiola Hospital where the German Embassy has donated $11,000 worth of computer equipment.

Other German aid projects included support for the physiotherapy unit at Vaiola Hospital, a solar powered water pump for Ha'ateiho, and computers for schools.

Ambassador Zimmerman has served a three and a half years term as ambassador to Tonga, Samoa, Fiji and the Cook Islands, based in Wellington, New Zealand.

Photo Caption: German Ambassador HE Joerg Zimmermann visiting the Alonga Centre.
 

WORLDWIDE: ADB regional strategy needs to be consistent with Pacific Plan

Source: Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Press Release

Pacific Developing Member Countries (PDMCs) of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have called on the ADB to review its Pacific Strategy in line with the Pacific Plan.

These were the sentiments expressed by the regional block at the 42nd Annual Meeting of the ADB Board of Governors held this month in Bali, Indonesia.

"We commend the Bank for working towards a revised Pacific Strategy to better reflect our changing circumstances and unique needs, and to be consistent with the Pacific Plan, which is the blueprint for regional economic growth," said Governor for Papua New Guinea, Honourable Patrick Pruaitch, on behalf of ADB's Pacific Developing Member Countries.

In the framework of the existing Pacific Strategy, Hon. Pruaitch also called on ADB to consider support for relevant economic integration priorities mandated by Forum Leaders and Forum Economic Ministers.

These priorities include bulk fuel procurement, statistics, customs, labour mobility, and economic regulation.

"We would also encourage ongoing consultations with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat to further progress of these priority initiatives," added Hon. Pruaitch.

Secretary General of the Forum Secretariat, Tuiloma Neroni Slade, remarked that the Forum Secretariat will indeed continue to serve a conduit for the region's development priorities and will partner with ADB and other development partners on areas of mutual interests.

"Our small island economies are particularly vulnerable at this time, not only because of smallness and isolation, but also because of external factors such as the global economic crisis and rippling effects of climate change that hit at the core of our people's everyday lives," said Mr Slade.

"Our efforts towards improving aid effectiveness, consistent with the Paris Declaration and Pacific Aid Effectiveness Principles, remain critical if partnerships for development are to increase in relevance and impact."

In this context, the PDMC joint statement delivered by Hon. Pruaitch called on the Bank to consider developing support delivery mechanisms which recognise national systems and processes.

"Such an approach will allow for national priorities to receive additional resources and also have an accelerated impact for achieving the desired national outcomes. This will help improve ownership of policy implementation by all national stakeholders.”

The ADB’s Pacific Developing Member Countries include Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati Marshall Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.