| |
|
|
| |
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
(Photos:
PITIC NZ / SPPEEx) |
|
| |
|
|
| |
NEW ZEALAND: Reaching out online to Maori and
Pacific engineers
Source:
Pacific
Islands Trade & Investment Commission NZ Press Release
Maori and Pacific engineers are being encouraged
to become part of a global network when a new
website launches as part of the 5th anniversary
of the South Pacific Professional Engineering
Excellence (SPPEEx).
SPPEEx goes Global will be held next Thursday 17
September 2009 at the University of Auckland
Fale Pasifika, 6-8pm.
The Pacific Islands Trade & Investment
Commission NZ and the University of Auckland
Engineering School will also be supporting the
event.
The guest speaker is Brian Jacob, a director the
Engineering consulting firm of HLK Jacob Ltd and
has worked extensively in the Pacific with
projects in Kiribati, Tuvalu, Tonga, Samoa and
Fiji. Two recent large projects on behalf of the
Fiji National Provident Fund, were the 275 room
Intercontinental Resort and the Chanpuoship Golf
course at Natadola - the single largest tourism
project in the Pacific. HLK Jacob was also the
engineers for the award winning Auckland
University Fale Pasifika.
SPPEEx was set up in 2004 as a not for profit
organisation to support the advancement of Maori
and Pacific people in engineering and the
promotion of indigenous technologies in the
profession.
President Randall Ah Mu says although there are
approximately 100 registered SPPEEx members,
exact numbers of Maori and Pacific working in
engineering or engineering related fields is not
known. The website is one way to increase
membership, strengthen and promote the
profession and offer networking opportunities.
Ah Mu says although Maori and Pacific people do
well in the profession there’s not much support
out there for them. Being part of SPPEEx, they
can help each other. One engineer redundant
through the recession found a possible work
opportunity in Fiji through the SPPEEx network.
There’s also an advantage for Maori and Pacific
engineers working in the Pacific as they know
the systems and facilities and can offer
appropriate solutions.
PITIC NZ Trade Manager Louisa Sifakula says
PITIC NZ values its strategic alliance with
SPPEEx through the opportunity to link Maori and
Pacific engineers in New Zealand with engineers
in the Pacific and for mentoring students
considering a possible career profession.
SPPEEx wants to inspire more young Maori and
Pacific students to enter engineering fields.
Marcia Murray, Maori External Liaison Officer
for University of Auckland Engineering Faculty
says the numbers of enrolled Maori and Pasifika
engineering students was stable over the past
few years, making up approximately 160-180 of
the 2,500 engineering students. The university
has a programme called SPIES, or South Pacific
Indigenous Engineering Students aimed at
recruiting and supporting Maori and Pacific
engineering students at university.
Ah Mu says that people were unsure about
engineering and often Pacific parents steer
their children towards becoming doctors and
lawyers. But engineering has many different
aspects and opportunities for a variety of work
such as electronic and electrical engineering as
well as civil engineering. “It’s more than
building roads and bridges....there’s a variety
of interesting work and the pay is good.”
Photo Caption: SPPEEx President, Randall
Ah Mu.
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
(Photos:
Australian High Commission) |
|
| |
|
|
| |
SAMOA: Australia funds new fence for Papa &
Puleia Primary School
Source:
Australian High Commission Press Release
Australian High Commissioner to Samoa, Matt
Anderson joined Member of Parliament for Palauli
Le Falefa and Minister for Natural Resources and
the Environment, Faumauinma Tiatia Liuga, at a
handover ceremony for a new fence for Papa and
Puleia Primary school in Savaii.
Australia provided $14,000 for material and
equipment for the construction of the new
perimeter fence through the High Commissioner’s
direct aid program, which supports small scale
community activities.
Mr Anderson said the new fence will ensure the
safety of all children attending the school.
“The new fence will help to keep students from
Papa and Puleia Primary school safe. But any
investment in school facilities and equipment is
also an investment in the future generation of
Samoans,” Mr Anderson said.
“The school community played a large role in the
actual construction of the fence and are to be
congratulated for their leadership and
commitment to making the school a safer place
for their children.”
Minister Faumuina thanked Australia for their
support and friendship.
“On behalf of the school and especially the
students, I thank Australia for their kind grant
and support to build the new school fence.”
Students and staff celebrated the handover of
the new fence with songs and prayer.
Applications for the High Commissioner’s
Direct Aid Program can be obtained from the
Australian High Commission, Beach Road, Mulivai,
between 8.30am and 4.00pm. For further advice
and assistance, prospective applicants can also
contact Mrs Ana Hall on 23411.
Photo Captions:
Photo 1 - Matt Anderson and Faumuina
Tiatia Liuga with staff and students from Papa &
Puleia Primary school.
Photo 2 - The new Australian funded fence
at Papa & Puleia Primary School.
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
(Photo:
Residential Tenancies Authority) |
|
| |
|
|
| |
AUSTRALIA: Samoans renting in Queensland; know
your rights
Source:
Riamoana Pasifika Press Release
Tenancy Agreements, Lessors Rights, Tenants
Rights are not terms normally used on a daily
basis in Samoa. Therefore Samoan people and
other Pacific Island individuals moving to
Australia may not be fully aware about what
their rights are in regards to being renters.
This situation can get out of control very
quickly and cause undue stress if people are not
aware of their rights as tenants. A young Samoan
couple who live in the North-side of Brisbane
but do not want to be named in this article
stated, " We have had so many problems with our
landlord, we pay $AUD295 rent every week and we
keep the lawns and house very clean, when we
approached our Real Estate about fixing the
outside stairs and cracks in the walls, they
became very angry with us and from then on we
had even more problems." From this experience
this couple decided not to complain anymore just
in case the landlord and the real estate "kicked
them out of the rented house" stated the couple.
This reporter was shocked when the husband
commented," We were so lucky they did not kick
us out, they are so good to us now that we don't
complain anymore."
As landlords have rights, tenants, renters (you)
have rights as well. The Residential Tenancies
Authority (RTA) is an organisation that can help
tenants understand what their rights are and
what landlord rights are. The RTA was
established under the Residential Tenancies Act
2008 (the Act) and is responsible to the
Minister for Communities (Housing and
Homelessness Services). It is a self funding
statutory Authority, which operates on income
generated from interest earned on bonds held.
General Manager of the RTA, Mr Fergus Smith
said," what tenants and lessors (landlords) need
to remember is that they both have rights and
obligations under tenancy law and in most cases
a friendly agreement can be reached without
conflict." " The RTA is totally unbiased or
neutral and independent and seeks to assist
toward solutions, he explained."
A new legislation by State Government approved
changes to the residential tenancies act
allowing for lessors or landlords to charge
tenants for water consumption costs. This is a
legislation that a tenant must understand
completely.
According to a fact sheet provided by the RTA,
Lessors (landlords) are allowed to pass on the
full water consumption costs to tenants provided
that all the minimum criteria have been met.
These criteria include; the rental premises
(property) are individually metered; the rental
premises are water efficient and the Tenancy
Agreement Contract states that the tenant must
pay for water consumption. The fact sheet also
reveals that Water efficient rental premises
means, where required internal cold water taps,
shower-heads and toilets meet the performance
standards for a '3 star WELS rating or higher.
If you are in a situation with a landlord or
Real Estate and are unsure of your rights,
contact the Residential Tenancy Authority on
telephone 1300366311 or website
www.rta.qld.gov.au for assistance or more
information.
There is a need in our community to ask many
more questions. In Samoa there is a saying "fesili
valea" or "stupid question". In Australia there
is no such thing. There are many organisations
like the RTA in Brisbane that are set up for the
specific purpose of answering questions and
seeking solutions, in this case tenants and
landlords. In conclusion a very important
message from the RTA Fact sheet is this, 'Know
your rights and responsibilities when renting in
Queensland.'
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
USA: Faleomavaega commends Samoan PM for
inviting Bainimarama to Samoa
Source:
Office of Congressman Faleomavaega Press Release
The Chairman of the Subcommittee on Asia, the
Pacific and the Global Environment, Rep. Eni F.H.
Faleomavaega, yesterday commended Prime Minister
Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi for inviting Fiji’s
interim Prime Minister, Commodore Josaia Voreqe
“Frank” Bainimarama, to visit Samoa.
“I appreciate Prime Minister Tuilaepa’s
initiative in inviting interim Prime Minister
Frank Bainimarama to Apia. His invitation
represents precisely the sort of engagement that
the rest of the world - and especially the other
Pacific Island countries - should offer Fiji.
Instead of sanctioning Fiji, which will only end
up hurting average citizens rather than the
interim government, we need to talk to Fiji,”
said Faleomavaega.
“Just as Prime Minister Tuilaepa said, ‘Fiji’s
Ratu system and Samoa’s matai system have
similar foundations and social underpinnings…
[Bainimarama needs] to see for himself whether
there are ways that we do things in Samoa that
could help resolve the current situation in
Fiji.’ As Prime Minister Tuilaepa also advised,
democracy is not perfect, but ‘until a better
system is developed, democracy is still the most
representative, most transparent system of
government available.’ And since Bainimarama has
Samoan ancestors in his family, he has a real
connection to Samoa, and that offers a wonderful
opportunity for meaningful dialogue. I encourage
Bainimarama to take the Prime Minister up on his
offer,” added Faleomavaega.
“On my three trips to Suva this year, I have
been able to hold wide-ranging discussions with
Prime Minister Bainimarama and key leaders from
the opposition on a pathway forward for Fiji.
With help and engagement by the United States,
by the Pacific Island countries, and others
around the region, there is an excellent chance
that Fiji can put its recent troubles behind it
and return to democracy and prosperity. ‘Talanoa,’
which means dialogue in both Fijian and Samoan,
is the way to go. And there is no better place
to start fresh discussions than Samoa, which has
so many cultural, ancestral and other ties to
Fiji. Again, I commend Prime Minister Tuilaepa
for his efforts in extending this invitation,
and I do hope Prime Minister Bainimarama will
accept it as soon as possible,” Faleomavaega
concluded.
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
(Photo:
Vanuatu Daily Post) |
|
| |
|
|
| |
VANUATU: Luganville launches Youth Council
Source:
Vanuatu Daily Post
The Luganville Municipal Council has stretched
out a new bond with its youths last Friday when
it launched the Luganville Youth Council.
Almost 8 years after the executive of a past
youth council fell apart, Luganville
Municipality in conjunction with Youth
Development and Training Department and Sanma
Youth Development Officer, Tom Wells, initiated
the launching of the new council and installed
its first executive.
According to representative of Youth Development
and Training Department, Agnes David, the
reviving of the Youth Council follows a mandate
from the government to the department in 2007 to
set up the national youth council. David
explained that to set up the national council
all municipalities and provinces must set their
respective council.
The executive is elected with member
representatives from different youth groups from
different areas from the municipality. Rex
Takataveti was elected President and Johnny
Avock as his vice, Tony Avock, Secretary, Tony
Donald, Nerry Garae, vice secretary, Greane
Johnson, Treasure, and Kennely Vatu as vice
treasurer.
Meanwhile Luganville Town Clerk, Mark Alick and
the Councilor responsible for Social Affairs
stressed the significance of the youth council
as a connection between the municipality and
youths who made up majority of the town’s
population.
They stressed that LMC is committed to working
closely with the new youth council for a better
development for youths in the northern town.
Alick encouraged the young executive to leave
out differences in religion, sports, and
islandism but focus the council on all young
people of Luganville.
The formation of the new council now gives the
Town a new way to reach out to its young people
who are always regarded as the future leaders.
In response the newly elected President of the
Luganville Youth, Mr Takataveti thanked the
authorities concerned for recognizing the
importance of having such council in the
municipality which will give the younger
generation a voice to higher authorities.
Takataveti said youths have always been referred
to as future leaders but most of the time are
always left out so on behalf of the new council
he thanked the municipality, stressing they will
be doing their best with their new
responsibilities.
Photo Caption: The newly elected
executive of the Luganville Youth Council with
representative from the Municipality, Sanma
Youth Development Officer, and rep of the Youth
Development Training Department.
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
(Photos:
Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat / China Scholarship Council) |
|
| |
|
|
| |
WORLDWIDE:
First scholarships awarded under the China-PIF
Scholarship Scheme
Source:
Pacific
Islands Forum Secretariat Press Release
The first scholarships under the China-Pacific
Islands Forum Scholarship Scheme have been
awarded to nine students from four countries in
the region.
The scholarship scheme between the Peoples’
Republic of China and the Pacific Islands Forum
Secretariat is in addition to any bilateral
scholarships between China and individual
countries in the region. It is open to all
Pacific Islands Forum members excluding
Australia and New Zealand.
Of the first nine scholarships awarded under the
Scheme, five are from Samoa, two from Fiji, one
from Solomon Islands and one from Papua New
Guinea. The scholarships cover fees and a living
allowance as well as travel to China and within
China.
The students will be studying a range of
subjects in various universities and institutes
in different parts of China, including
International Politics, Urban Planning, Law,
Computer Science and Technology, International
Economics and Trade, Tourism Management,
Information Management, Information System,
Accounting and Bioengineering
They will be studying the Chinese language for
the first year before they study in their
specific areas of interest.
“These scholarships provide an excellent
opportunity for young people from our region to
gain first class qualifications in a range of
disciplines as well as learning the language and
culture of China, which will stand them in good
stead on their return. We are grateful to the
Government of the Peoples’ Republic of China for
establishing this regional scholarship scheme,’
said Tuiloma Neroni Slade, Secretary General of
the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.
The Forum Secretariat will be accepting
applications early 2010 for the next lot of
scholarships. Information will be posted on the
Forum Secretariat’s website: www.forumsec.org
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
