NEWSPAGE 14 September
2009

(Photo: Bring It On Secondary Schools Dance Competition)

NEW ZEALAND: Hundreds line up for hip hop competition

(Photo: Samoa Government)

SAMOA: Parliamentary Updates
Source: Government Press Secretariat Press Release

Report on Social Policy and Building Resilience in small Island States

Cabinet has approved the report on Social Policy and Building Resilience in Small Island States, which was held in Suva, Fiji from 22-23 June, 2009.

The report put Samoa on top of other Pacific countries like Papua, Vanuatu, Fiji and the Solomon Islands, and also noted the Pension Scheme for the Elderly, free boat fares between Savaii and Upolu and free medical check ups at the National Hospitals.

Samoa’s delegation was led by Ministry of Women Chief Executive Officer, Luagalau Foisaga Eteuati-Shon.


Education Minister to attend Mini Games in Rarotonga

Cabinet has approved the participation by the Minister of Education Sports and Culture, To’omata Alapati To’omata to the Mini Games in Rarotonga on 14th September - 4th October, 2009.

The Minister will travel together with Samoa’s team for Rarotonga.


Cabinet approved Law Reform Commission framework

Cabinet has approved the Law Reform Commission plan, which includes the review of the Prison Act 1967.

The plan highlights the need to review prison work, probation and parole services and penalty.

It is also a good opportunity to see if these different services should be merged under a new division.


IWRM’s Steering Committee meets

Cabinet has approved the participation by Sulimalo Amataga of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and Project Manager for Integrated Water Resources Management and Wastewater (IWRM), Sopoaga Semisi of the IWRM Projects Steering Committee meeting to be held in Nadi, Fiji, on the 14 - 18 September 2009.

The purpose of the meeting is for the Steering Committee to discuss funding granted by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) for funding the Pacific Islands’ IWRM Projects. The meeting will also discuss established Programs in different Pacific Islands for the Project, together with training for all Project Managers on policies and conditions of the projects.

The participants will be sponsored by the project (RCU).
 

(Photo: FFAS Media)

AMERICAN SAMOA: OFC U-20 Women's Championship player profile: Angela Sa'o
Source: FFAS Media via Oceania Football Confederation

OFC is featuring several players expected to be key participants at the OFC U-20 Women’s Championship New Zealand 2009 to be held in Auckland from 5-9 October.

Today we feature the most experienced member of the American Samoan U-20 Women’s squad.

Angela Sa’o Biography
Occupation: American Samoa Community College Student
Full Name: Angela Sa’o
Date of Birth: April 17, 1990
Place of Birth: American Samoa
Height: 5’5” (1.6 meters)
Weight: 167 lbs (75 kg)
Position: Midfielder
Club: Black Roses
Soccer Years: 12
Soccer Idol: Mia Hamm (USA, retired)
Nickname: None

National Team:
2007 Samoa South Pacific Games’ American Samoa Women’s National Team member

Awards:
- 2005 ASFA Summer Youth League MVP
- 2006-2007 High School Varsity MVP (Leone HS)

The most experienced player in the American Samoan U-20 Women’s squad, midfielder Angela Sa’o, is focused on bringing unity to her younger teammates as they continue their preparations for the OFC U-20 Women’s championship this October.

“If we play as one, we can do very well at this tournament,” declares Sa’o.

“We need to play together and communicate well with one another,” she goes on to say.

Aged 19, Sa’o can be considered one of the elder stateswomen of the team and only one other player who is also above the age of 17.

Sa’o has a reputation for being the most powerful strikers of the ball amongst the current U-20 squad and is regarded as a smart player with great field vision.

“She is a good communicator with all of the players, great ball controller and her vision allows her to be a great distributor of the ball,” describes Ruben Luvu, coach of the American Samoa women’s U-20 squad.

“Another great aspect about her is not only her attacking skills, but she is also a great defender.”

“I trust in her to go on the attack because she can come back and defend equally well,” says Luvu.

A veteran of the Samoa 2007 South Pacific Games women’s national team squad, Sa’o took part in all matches American Samoa played at that competition.

Sa’o has played football since the age of seven and cites her uncle Sione Ma’ae as her biggest influence.

“He took me everyday when I was young to the (Taputimu) field to play soccer and that’s how I started learning the game and loving it,” Sa’o recalled. “I’ve been playing ever since.”

Ma’ae knows a thing or two about winning championships having playing on championship teams at Leone High School and then winning numerous titles with her club Black Roses in several FFAS women’s 11-a-side competitions and 5-a-side contests.

She has been at the core of those winning teams, alongside current U-20 squad members Filiga and Meleane Ioapo.

Currently she is attending American Samoa Community College, majoring in Criminal Justice and hopes to one day play professional soccer.

Ma’ae nominates former United States National team stalwart Mia Hamm as her footballing idol but doesn’t have her own sights on a career in the United States just yet, rather she is eyeing playing fields within her own hemisphere.

“I want to tryout with a team in New Zealand because I have a lot of family members there,” she says.

Ma’ae recently participated and received a certificate for participation at the FIFA Member Association Referee follow up course held in Pago Pago last month. Since its completion she has been refereeing elementary games and also trying out as an Assistant Referee in the ongoing FFAS National League.

At the same time she has been juggling training with the FFAS U-20 squad and her club team, Black Roses, which currently tops the women’s national competition.
 

(Photos: Cook Islands News)

COOK ISLANDS: BCI Stadium opened
Source: Cook Islands News via SportingPulse

The official launch of the BCI stadium, formerly the Tereora Stadium, on Friday afternoon (September 11, 2009) was a fun-filled event that drew several hundred people for the occasion.

The stadium grandstand now bears the name of the people’s bank - Bank of the Cook Islands.
Vertical banners hang from the stadium lights with games sponsors’ banners taking pride of place around the perimeter of the new $1.2 million running track.

Bank of the Cook Islands managing director Vaine Arioka reiterated the bank’s commitment to making the Pacific Mini Games the best ever.

She shared some inspiring words with Team Cook Islands athletes who joined BCI staff for the launch.

“Belief in a thing makes it happen,” Arioka told the athletes. “BCI believes in you and the people of the Cook Islands believe in you.”

“If anything goes wrong,” she ended, “don’t worry, be happy!”

Before inter-code sprints began, Avera Hunter led a warm up session of Zumba and the stadium come alive as DJ GDub encouraged athletes, spectators and Team Cook Islands officials to shake their booties to some funky Latin music to get the blood pumping.

The first race of the afternoon was between games mascot Kuki the Kukupa and WYNC mascot Turts the Onu.

It was a tight race but with a flap of the wing Kuki flew across the finishing line first.

The littlies from the potiki sports programme showed their speed when they ripped down the running track before the inter-code sprints got underway with plenty of teasing and laughing ringing from the BCI stadium. And after all that exercise there were plenty of takers for the sausage sizzle and plates of food provided by BCI.

Photo Captions:

Photo 1 - BCI managing director Vaine Arioka enjoys the zumba session.

Photo 2 - The netball team get in the zumba mood.
 

(Photo: SPC / CTA)

FIJI: Information and communication management workshop begins in Nadi
Source: Secretariat of the Pacific Community Press Release

Information is crucial to decision-making. Every organisation needs to access and manage information for better resource allocation, and improved delivery of services and products. Poor information management often is a hindrance to development efforts.

Needs assessment studies on agricultural information and communication management (ICM) capacity in eight Pacific states were carried out between 2003 and 2005 by the European Union-funded Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA). Subsequently, a priority-setting exercise in 2006 involving 37 agriculture and rural development institutions and 148 individuals across the region ranked as a top priority the need to assist with the development of ICM policies and strategies. A better understanding of the role of effective ICM policies and plans will likely lead to better resource allocation and utilisation, which will ultimately benefit farmers and rural communities.

In response to this need CTA, with support of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community's Land Resources Division, is hosting a workshop to develop ICM policies and strategies for Pacific Island countries and territories.

Titled Information and Communication Management Policy and Strategy in the Pacific: From Plan to Action, the workshop will be held 14-17 September 2009, at the Novotel Hotel, Nadi, Fiji Islands.

The main objectives of the workshop are to (1) sensitise decision-makers to the value and importance of effective and efficient information and communication (ICM) policies; (2) develop confidence among participants to encourage them to formulate ICM policies and plans within their own institution and in partnership with others using appropriate ICM tools; and (3) promote networking and collaboration among participating institutions at a national and regional level.

Peter Walton, an agricultural information specialist from Australia having a long association with the Pacific, said that agricultural institutions in the region had been constrained in meeting their development objectives because of a lack of appropriate strategies to effectively develop and manage information and communication products and services. This has lead to significant underresourcing, and consequently poor access to and availability of agricultural information. This workshop intends to help institutions in the region better manage their information and knowledge assets, and increase the likelihood of them meeting their development objectives.

Thirty-three representatives from government ministries, non-governmental organisations, civil society and regional organisations will examine tools, methodologies, challenges and management issues related to the development of an information strategy, and begin formulation of a draft strategy for their respective institutions.

Panel discussions will focus on issues including international and regional perspectives on information and communication, information access and dissemination, and information management in an organisation.
 

(Photo: Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme)

WORLDWIDE: Niue develops its climate change policy through PACC support
Source: Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme Press Release

While it is anticipated that most nations will ultimately suffer the adverse consequences from climate change, Niue remains one of the most vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. As such, the island faces the most dire and immediate consequences.

Tropical cyclone Heta in 2004 caused major damage to infrastructure and agriculture estimated as NZ$37.7 million, which is close to three times the value of Niue’s GDP. To be able to address these growing concerns, Niue will need a guiding policy to provide a comprehensive framework to bring all stakeholders together to address climate change issues.

According to the Director of Environment Mr. Sauni Tongatule; “one of the major issues that Niue faces is lack of coordination to address the many facets of climate change and the climate change policy will provide that national framework”.

The policy deals with mitigation and adaptation.

“Even though Niue’s global Greenhouse Gas emission is very minimal, we would like to do our part in mitigating climate change.”

The climate change policy work in Niue was supported from technical assistance by the SPREP and SOPAC and funded by the GEF/UNDP funded Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change project (PACC) as part of its mainstreaming activity.

“The success of the climate change policy hinges on putting in place a workable institutional arrangement,” said Mr. Seve Paeniu, the Sustainable Development Adviser of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).

The Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change Project (PACC) is being implemented in 13 Pacific Island countries. PACC funding will help start adaptation projects on the ground in three major climate change concerns; food security, water and coastal management.

For more details please contact the Project Manager of the Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change Project Mr. Taito Nakalevu
E: [email protected] T: (685) 21929 F: (685) 20231
W: http://www.sprep.org/climate_change/PACC/index.asp