NEWSPAGE 24 July
2009

(Photos: Event Polynesia / New Zealand Government)

NEW ZEALAND: New Principal Advisor Pacific Peoples for TEC

(Photos: MAJ Tauapai Laupola)

SAMOA: SGT Lafoga Leama Dedicates Green Beret to Grandmother
Source: MAJ Tauapai Laupola

SGT Lafoga, Leama dedicates the donning of his “Green Beret” to his grandmother, Fenumia’i Vagatai of Ofu, Manu’a who passed in December 29, 2008. The newest Samoan Green Beret graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course on 10 July 2009, and is now part of the Army’s Special Forces (SF)—the Army’s most specialized experts in Unconventional Warfare. SGT Leama will be assigned to the First Special Forces Group, Ft Lewis, Washington.

SGT Leama hails from the village of Ofu, Manu’a. He is the son of Vaouli Leama and Afioga Leama. He is a member of the Poly Tech’s 2003 graduating class. Before he joined the regular Army, he was a member of the USAR, Tafuna, AS. He is married to Anja A. Leama of Germany and they have a son, Leonidas Leama.

When asked about his accomplishments, SGT Leama replied, it’s an honour to be able to complete the SF Qualification course and am humbled to don the Green Beret. This has been a long and grueling journey that started in August 2007. To don the Green Beret and be considered a member of the SF is a dream come true. I could not have made it without the prayers and support of my parents, families and especially my church, Ekalesia Faapotopotoga Kerisiano Amerika Samoa Ft Bragg & Fayetteville.

This Green Beret is dedicated to my parents and especially my grandmother, Fenumia’i Vagatai. “I love you grandma, it’s your son, Lafoga.”

The Ekalesia Faapotopotoga Kerisiano Amerika Samoa Ft Bragg & Fayetteville congratulates SGT Lafoga Leama and his family for this great accomplishment and wish them well in their future endeavours.

Send congratulatory messages to [email protected]

Photo Captions:

Photo 1 - Photo Ops during the donning of the "Green Beret" ceremony for SGT Leama and his peers for successful completion of the SF Qualification course 9 July 2009, Ft Bragg, North Carolina. SGT Lafoga Leama with his wife Anja and their son Leonidas after the ceremony. SGT Leama dedicates his green beret to his grandmother, Fenumia'i Vagatai. EFKAS Ft Bragg & Fayetteville congratulates SGT Lafoga & his family and wishes them the best in their future endeavours.

Photo 2 - Photo Ops of SGT Lafoga Leama and his wife Anja Leama after the Special Forces Qualification course graduation 10 July 2009, Ft Bragg, North Carolina. SGT Leama is the newest Samoan Green Beret. His journey started in August 2007 and culminated with the donning of the green beret and the graduation.

(Photos: Elizabeth Ballering)

AMERICAN SAMOA: Eni presents dialysis machines and medical equipment
Source: Office of Congressman Faleomavaega Press Release

Congressman Faleomavaega announced the presentation of 11 dialysis machines and diagnostic and x-ray equipment to the LBJ Medical Center management last Monday (July 06, 2009) in a brief ceremony attended by Board of Directors Chairman Moananu Va, Chief Financial Officer Rick Nader, Chief of Medical Operations Dr. Aloiamoa Anesi, and other senior hospital management officers.

The dialysis machines and additional equipment were made available through a Congressional appropriation of $600,000 which Congressman Faleomavaega had been working on for the past several months.

“I deeply appreciate the close consultations I have had with LBJ Chief Executive Officer Patricia Tindall in acquiring this assistance to improve medical services provided to our people. I understand that the number of dialysis patients has increased tremendously to the almost ninety mark, and that is not including the numerous cases of diabetes and other serious ailments our medical center is faced with,” Faleomavaega said during the ceremony.

“I must also thank Chairman Moananu Va and the hospital board, the management and medical staffs, and everyone at LBJ for their perseverance and hard work under often-times severe financial pressures, in being able to take care of our ailing people. I know it is not an easy task given the circumstances, but they are doing the best they can, and I sincerely thank them,” the Congressman continued.

“My office will continue to work together with the hospital board and management staff to seek all possible and available avenues whereby we can provide assistance to the much-needed areas in our hospital, for a better medical care program for our people,” Faleomavaega concluded.

Photo Captions:  The Lyndon B. Johnson Tropical Medical Center, which was recently presented 11 dialysis machines and diagnostic and x-ray equipment by Congressman Faleomavaega.
 

(Photo: Fiji Times)

FIJI: Backing for Fiji titles

Source: Fiji Times

The Fiji Boxing Commission's decision to scrap all boxing titles and start afresh is widely backed.

Early this year, the commission announced that all champions would have to relinquish their titles and all boxers would have to fight for the Fiji titles.

Commission director Tim Nobriga said the decision "is going to help lift the standard of the sport in the country".

"The ultimate goal of a fighter is to win a title," Nobriga said.

"Now we have given them the chance to compete for the one and only recognised title in Fiji," he said

"What we want to do is to bring the top boxers from each boxing association and pit them against each other.

"By doing that we will be able to see who the real champion in each weight category," Nobriga said.

Nobriga said the first Fiji title fight would be held on the August 15 in Suva when brothers Zulfikar Joy Ali and Junior Farzan Ali will take on Naitasiri brothers Jo Naleca and Waisale Ratu.

Uptown Boxing Club trainer Gyan Singh supported the move, saying it was a good decision.

Singh said previously people did not know who the real champion of a weight category was as there were too many champions.

"For a small country like ours it's not healthy to have four or five champions for a single weight category," Singh said.

"Now we will find out who the real champ is because the best fighters will be given the opportunity to challenge for the Fiji title.

"Another thing that will certainly help the sport is to have rankings for all weight categories."

Singh said when boxers saw their names in the rankings they always worked harder to improve their standing and possibly end up with a title challenge.

Former boxing champion and national amateur coach Pauliasi Ratu said it was about time something like this was done to help the sport.

Photo Caption: Zulfikar Joy Ali and Jo Naleca, set to clash for the first Fiji title, the junior middleweight crown, in Suva next month.
 

(Photo: Auckland University of Technology)

NIUE: Online survey provides Niue tools for economic sustainability
Source: Voxy News Engine

Niue's tourism industry has been given the tools to boost the country's economic base, giving the beautiful island nation more financial independence.

A recent online Visitor Departure Survey, conducted by AUT University's New Zealand Tourism Research Institute (NZTRI), has provided the Government of Niue information on where to grow its vital tourism industry and how to maximise the economic benefits for the country.

NZTRI Director Professor Simon Milne says the survey creates a cost-effective ongoing barometer of economic change that can measure the performance of the Niue tourism industry and the way in which the nation's tourism industry is developing on an ongoing basis.

"Niue and other countries in the Pacific have been characterised by a series of snapshots of their tourism industry; one off studies which are perhaps useful in the short term but don't really allow us to look at how things are evolving over time," Professor Milne explains.

"It's important because it represents a starting point for the Niue government to be more actively involved in gathering information on a very important sector in their economy and to move away from a reliance on outsiders. AUT is enabling the Government of Niue to make decisions on tourism, and continue to gather information, by transferring the technology, the ideas and the approach of the Survey to the people of Niue."

The survey, which ran from June 08-October 08, had a total of 284 responses from visitors to Niue.

Professor Milne says the Survey yielded a lot of detailed information such as how visitors spend their money while visiting Niue, and how they find out about Niue as a destination, but the most important findings were those that highlighted how Niue can maximise the benefits associated with tourism.

"We now have a baseline of information which can be used to help plan and develop a more sustainable tourism industry. For example while people really enjoy their time in Niue, particularly the physical landscapes and environment, what they feel is lacking is the ability to learn more about local culture. So there's an area where the industry can be developed further to help Niue's tourism industry move ahead."

The online survey is part of a wider tourism research programme that has emerged from a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between NZTRI and the Niuean government.

Another goal of the research programme is to assist Niuean communities to develop a set of online resources with which to market themselves.

"Our long term goal is to enable villages to construct and build their own web-based content, reflecting the stories and culture of Niue. With a resource like that in place visitors can be better prepared for the Niue experience, and hopefully Niueans who have left the country will be able to create a closer link to their home."

Photo Caption: A recent online Visitor Departure Survey, conducted by AUT University's New Zealand Tourism Research Institute (NZTRI), has provided the Government of Niue information on where to grow its vital tourism industry and how to maximise the economic benefits for the country.
 

WORLDWIDE: China's Pacific handouts hit $254m
Source: The Australian

China gave $254 million in secretive aid to Pacific island countries last year, a report released today by the Lowy Institute reveals, placing it on a par with other major donors Europe, Japan and New Zealand but well below Australia.

The report, by Lowy research fellow Fergus Hanson, concludes that "China lacks a coherent strategy" for the aid program, "beyond checking and reversing diplomatic recognition of Taiwan, and it tends to pursue short-term objectives".

One such objective has been to upgrade its engagement with the military regime in Fiji, to which it loaned $185m in 2007 and $102m last year.

"The extent of China's engagement with the Fiji regime suggests a miscalculation on China's behalf," the report says. "There is no doubt it has been successful in currying favour with the regime, but it would seem a risky way to position itself in the longer term in Fiji."

China's aid to the Pacific, Mr Hanson says, is "pledged in an erratic manner", and projects are funded without regard to recurrent costs -- sometimes distorting the budgets of island nations. "The secrecy surrounding its program obstructs development outcomes and breeds suspicion," he says.

The report urges China to "seize the opportunity presented by the diplomatic truce ushered in by the election of President Ma Ying-jeou in Taiwan to refocus its Pacific aid program towards longer-term development goals that also better serve Chinese national interests".

And "traditional donors" such as Australia "should explore innovative ways of engaging China".

The details of China's aid program are state secrets, says the Lowy report. But the think tank obtained what it believes to be an accurate assessment of Chinese aid through "extensive co-operation with numerous officials across the region, on the condition of anonymity".

China tends to give grants, the reports says, in units of 10million RMB ($1.8m) at a time.

"China is often portrayed as pursuing a well-thought-out, long-term strategy to extend its influence in the Pacific," it says. "However, there is little evidence it has a comprehensive grand strategy guiding its approach beyond its tussle with Taiwan."

There has been no change in the balance of recognition since Mr Ma's election last year, with Taiwan retaining the loyalty of six Pacific states, but this may be tested by next year's election in the "jewel in its Pacific crown", the Solomon Islands.

A consequence of this diplomatic battle has been that China has pursued "short-term opportunism that often undercuts its longer-term interests, as well as those of the region".

Most of China's aid goes on infrastructure projects. "The Pacific is in critical need of good infrastructure," the report says. "However, the criticisms levelled at China's infrastructure projects tend to focus on sustainability, debt burdening and lack of flow-on benefits."