NEWSPAGE 02 December
2009

(Photos: Department of Corrections)

NEW ZEALAND: Prisons’ staff supporting Samoa’s rebuild

(Photo: Australian Government)

SAMOA: Australia's partnership with Samoa to tackle HIV
Source: Australian High Commission Press Release

Australia is continuing to work with Samoa and Pacific countries to tackle the threat of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

Under Australia’s Pacific Island HIV and STI Response Fund, Samoa will receive
$1.34 million (A$670,000) over the next five years to support national strategies, build capacity of the Samoa Aids Foundation and support local community activities.

This is part of Australia’s A$30 million over five years through the Pacific Island HIV and STI Response Fund 2009-2013 to meet the continued threat of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the Pacific.

AusAID Counsellor in Samoa, Ian Bignall said the initiative will strengthen the focus on prevention and continue support for testing, treatment and research.

“The Pacific Regional Strategy on HIV and STI aims to reduce the spread and impact of HIV and other STIs while embracing people living with and affected by HIV in Pacific communities,” Mr Bignall said.

Every year, we mark World Aids Day on 1 December to highlight the challenges we face, but this initiative provides a stronger approach to prevention at a community level, better treatment, care and support programs for HIV positive people and more effective planning, implementation and evaluation of these activities.”

Mr Bignall said the project is delivered through partnerships with Pacific governments, civil society, multilateral and regional agencies. Australia contributed A$19 million to the Pacific Regional HIV/AIDS Project which finished in 2008.

Through the Pacific Island HIV and STI Response Fund, Samoa will receive
$1.34 million (A$670,000) over the next five years, including:

• $600,000 (A$300,000) to the Government of Samoa to assist implement their national HIV & STI strategies
• $300,000 (A$150,000) for capacity development support
• $240,000 (A$120,000) for community-based small grants
• $200,000 (A$100,000) to the Samoa Aids Foundation

The Pacific Island HIV and STI Response Fund provides increased funding to Pacific governments to assist them to implement their national plans, non government agencies particularly for prevention activities and to regional agencies for coordination and technical support. The Secretariat of the Pacific Community manages the fund.
 

(Photos: J. Kneubuhl)

AMERICAN SAMOA: Meet the New Miss ASCC Lalomoana Vaeao
Source: American Samoan Community College Press Release

At the Miss ASCC 2009-2010 Pageant held this past Saturday (November 21, 2009) at the American Samoa Community College (ASCC), despite some formidable competition, Miss Lalomoana Fa’ata’eloto Desiree Vaeao emerged as the new title holder. “It shocked me, because I felt that all the contestants had the potential to win,” said Lalomoana, whom her friends and family call Moana for short. “All the contestants did an excellent job, so I’m very thankful to be crowned Miss ASCC, and hopefully I will set a good example for my fellow students.”

Born and raised in American Samoa to parents Tepatasi Savali Vaeao and Naomi Maveaga Vaeao of Iliili and the only girl in a family of four brothers, Moana attended Lupelele and Manulele elementary schools before graduating from Tafuna High School. Currently majoring in Liberal Arts at ASCC, she attends church at Capstone Assemblies of God in Tafuna and also serves in the Army Reserve. After ASCC, Moana hope to attend Chaminade University in Honolulu to pursue a Bachelors degree in Administrative Services. She would also like to further her military service career by attaining the rank of Warrant Officer

When asked what goals she will strive to fulfill as the College’s official spokesperson at cultural and social events, Moana reflected, “I want to be the voice of the students at ASCC, become a good role model, and help students that are in need.”
Every contestant in the competition for the Miss ASCC title needs a strong support system behind her, and Moana expressed her thanks to her whole family, her supporters in the Anti-Legendary Club, the members of Capstone Assemblies of God who offered prayers and encouragement, and to her Pastor Fiti Mamea and his wife Etevise Mamea. “Lastly, I would like to thank my mom Naomi Mavaega Vaeao for being there for me,” she said, “and I would like to dedicate this achievement to my late father. I wish he was here to witness it but i know that he is proud of me.”

The Pageant takes place once a year thanks to the collaborative efforts of the ASCC Student Services Division, the Student Government Association, the Student Clubs, and private community sponsors. Moana, a member of the Anti-Legendary Club, will reign as Miss ASCC until the next Pageant takes place in late fall 2010. As the runner up winners this year, Miss Anoa’i Filoialii took first place, Miss Tasha Leatio’o second, Miss Joyce Auau third, and Miss Rittalei Siliga fourth.

Photo Captions:

Photo 1 - Miss Lalomoana Vaeao, 19, of Iliili took first place in the Miss ASCC Pageant held this past Satruday. Lalomoana, who will reign as Miss ASCC for the next 12 months, majors in Liberal Arts and is also a member of the Army Reserve.

Photo 2 - ASCC Dean of Student Services Dr. Emilia Le'i (right) congratulates the new Miss ASCC, Lalomoana Vaeao, at the conclusion of the Pageant.

Photo 3 - Samoa News reporter Tina Mata'afa (left) congratulates the new Miss ASCC, Lalomoana Vaeao, at the conclusion of the Pageant.
 

FIJI: Bainimarama Government has political will to modernise Fiji
Source: Fiji Interim Military Government via Scoop Independent News

The theme ‘Developing the Law - Challenges and Opportunities heralds an era of change and reform, says the Attorney-General, Mr Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum while officially closing the 11th Attorney-General’s Conference over the weekend

“It signals that the Bainimarama Government has the political will and the ambition to implement new laws or to amend old laws and make it in line, make it in standards, modernise it with what we have in contemporary Fiji,” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said.

The Attorney-General said that it also signalled change. However, he added that we should not have change for the sake of having change.

“If change means justice, and I mean substantive justice, if it means removal of systematic corruption, if it means fairness, if it means removal of systematic racism and bigotry, if it means accountability, if it means prosperity, if it means equal suffrage, if it means creating institutions that are independent, a judiciary that is truly independent, if it means creating prosperity, equal citizenry, common citizenry, economic growth and recognizing that our laws need to be made in compliance with international standards, then of course, we must have change.”

The two-day Conference ended successfully over the weekend.

For the first time since the inception of the Attorney-General’s Conference, a record number of participants, totaling approximately 200 attended this year’s meeting at the Warwick Fiji Resort and Spa.

Topics ranging from Cybercrime, Dispute Resolution, Pacer and Pacer Plus, Human Trafficking, the Code of Conduct, Freedom of Information and Medical Negligence were thoroughly discussed by the high calibre of speakers including former High Court Judge, Ms Nazhat Shameem, Chief Justice, Anthony Gates, Vice-Chancellor of the University of the South Pacific, Professor Rajesh Chandra, Justices Anjala Wati and William Calanchini, Acting President of the Fiji Court of Appeal, Justice John Byrne, UNDP Regional Legislative Strenthening Expert, Ms .Charmaine Rodrigues, Political-Economic Section Chief, Emassy of the United States of America, Mr James Crow, President of the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Council of Fiji, Mr Kalpesh Solanki, Private Practitioners, Mr Adish Narayan, Mr Devanesh Sharma and Dr Mohammed Yunush.
 

(Photo: United Nations Development Programme)

TUVALU: GEC impact on Tuvalu Seafarers Remittance: Tangata’s family's story
Source: United Nations Development Programme Press Release

Fafine is a 28 year old woman, living in Niutao atoll, Tuvalu formerly known as the Ellice Islands. This Polynesian country is located in the Pacific mid way between Hawaii and Australia and is close to Kiribati (Gilbert Islands), Samoa and Fiji.

Her husband, Tangata, has been working as a seafarer in a German cargo ship since 2000. Getting married in 2005, they have been blessed with a beautiful three year old daughter, Catherine. From 2005, Fafine has been staying at home looking after their daughter and managing household chores when Tangata is out working and has always been dependent on the remittances sent by her husband.

Even though Tangata found the work on the boat difficult at first, because he had to leave his beloved wife and daughter, the job’s wages were satisfying. As a graduate from the Tuvalu Maritime Training Institute in Funafuti, Tangata was proud of being accepted to work in a cargo ship which is very often a dream job for many young men in Tuvalu. He also made good money from his job and could support not only his wife and daughter but also his younger brother who went to school in Motufoua, on Vaitupu atoll, the only secondary school in Tuvalu. He and his family had a better life compared to other families in Niutao who live on fishing. However things changed in December 2007. Returning home this time is different from the previous ones. This time Tangata went back home to Tuvalu without knowing if he would ever go back to work on the ship. His contract with the cargo ship was not extended. The Global Economic Crisis (GEC) has impacted global export-import activities and led to lower demand for seafarers from Tuvalu.

The current GEC began in the summer of 2007 with the collapse of the financial system in the United States (US). The crisis in housing sector followed by the collapse of the American investment bank Lehman Brothers in September 2008 has led to sharp falls in investment around the world including falls in trade and production. Exports orders got cancelled, export financing was cut back and as the result of mistrust on banks, companies and people alike withdraw their deposits and money from banks. This GEC soon affected not only developed countries but also developing countries including Asia-Pacific region.

In the Pacific however it is highly likely that the full impact of the global economic crisis has not yet been felt in 2009 but will be to likely impact in 2010. Demands for exports from developing countries have been falling and massive unemployment has taken place in many countries.

The impact of the GEC is not only affecting Tangata. Remittances have traditionally been an important source of income to most of the families in Tuvalu and are an important part of the Tuvaluan economy. Apart from lower demand for seafarers from Tuvalu, those who are still on the ships have also been facing a hard time. Most of the wages for the seafarers are set in US dollar and the GEC has led to the depreciation of the US currency against the Australian dollar, the currency used in Tuvalu.

Based on a joint report by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), “Protecting Pacific Island Children and Women during Economic and Food Crisis”, since early 2006, the average US dollar monthly remittances from the seafarers have declined by more than 20% in Australian dollar value. The report also states that over the last few years, most of the families who rely on US dollar remittances as their main source of income have faced a reduction in their real income by around a quarter.

The economic growth in the Pacific has been affected by the GEC. Even though Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands reached 5.1% of economic growth in 2008, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) noted that some countries in the Pacific are very vulnerable to the impact of the crisis with Kiribati, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu as the most vulnerable ones. While many forecast that economic growth rates could gradually recover in 2010, the full impact of the crisis has not yet been felt in the Pacific and therefore it could take longer for the countries in the Pacific to fully recover from the crisis.

For the time being, Tangata is fishing with his father and Fafine is learning how to make handicraft as a means of earning money for their livelihood. Tangata and his wife are still hoping that things will soon go back to normal again and are eagerly waiting for the German cargo ship to hire Tangata again.

Photo Caption: Funafuti, Tuvalu.
 

(Photos: House of Travel)

WORLDWIDE: Auction to benefit Samoan tourism industry
Source: Creo Communications Ltd. Press Release

Kiwi holiday hunters are in for a treat thanks to an initiative born out of a longstanding close relationship between House of Travel and the island of Samoa which launched on Monday.

With the help of their business partners, House of Travel has put together five fantastic travel experiences to be auctioned off on consecutive days through Trade Me. All the money raised will be going to the Samoa Tourism Relief Fund (administered by the Samoan Tourism Authority) to help tourism rebuilding and recovery from September’s devastating tsunami.

House of Travel staff and outlets held sausage sizzles, raffles and bucket collections to boost the recovery fund before discussions with the Samoan Tourism Authority resulted in this initiative.

The auctions will help the Samoan tourism industry get back on its feet and rebuild many of the beach fales on the South-South Eastern Coast of Upolu Island that were destroyed.

House of Travel PR Manager Jo Wedlock says the company is passionate about supporting and working with the Samoan Government, Samoan Tourism Authority and the Hotel Association to rebuild tourism infrastructure.

“We’ve always had a very close relationship with the island and its people and because we know and work with many of the families who own the beach fales and tourism infrastructure that was destroyed, we want to do as much as we can to support them,” Jo Wedlock says.

The auction items are listed below and can be bid for at http://www.trademe.co.nz/Members/Listings.aspx?member=3183815

Overnight Bay of Islands cruise
Cruise through many of the 144 Islands which form the Bay of Islands aboard the brand new Fullers Great Sights overnight cruise ship, Ipipiri. Package includes onboard activities, a three course dinner, overnight accommodation in one of 30 deluxe king cabins, and breakfast.

Fiji luxury
Enjoy three nights at The Radisson Resort, the newest five star luxury beachfront resort on Fiji’s Denaru Island. Package includes access to the Radisson’s facilities - water sports, fishing, beach activities, golf, island tours, Harmony Retreat, large lagoon swimming pools, Fiji’s only ‘White Water’ waterslide, dedicated Kids Club and a range of dining & entertainment options.

The big Raro
Experience Rarotonga’s glorious Frangipani season with a seven night South Seas package for two, including a stay at the world’s most beautiful lagoon. Package includes four nights in a Beachfront Suite at the Rarotongan Beach Resort & Spa, three nights accommodation in a Garden Bungalow at Aitutaki Lagoon Resort & Spa, return Rarotonga to Aitutaki flights, an island dinner for two and his and hers Hydrotherapy & Sauna sessions at SpaPolynesia Aitutaki.

Shangri-la
Take an idyllic break away on a private 109 acre island at Shangri-La's Fijian Resort & Spa. The resort has something for everyone - golf, water sports, three pools, swimming and snorkelling, beachside bars, and a "The Little Chiefs Club". Your package includes three nights accommodation for two in a lagoon view room with buffet breakfast for two.

Malolo
Escape to Fiji’s Malolo Island, an idyllic paradise where you can relax amongst golden sandy beaches, abundant coral reefs, swaying coconut palms and azure seas. The Malolo Island Resort is 100 owned by a local Fijian family and offers warm hospitality and an authentic culture. Package includes seven nights in a beachside bure and return transfers.

Terms and conditions apply to all packages. Please see the House of Travel - Support Samoa Relief Store on Trade Me for details.

Photo Captions: Two of the vacation packages currently being auctioned by House of Travel on TradeMe; Shangri-La's Fijian Resort & Spa, Fiji & Aitutaki Lagoon Resort & Spa, Cook Islands.