NEWSPAGE 01 November
2013

(Photo: Auckland Council Media)

(Photo: Samoa Cancer Society)

(Photo: J. Kneubuhl)

AMERICA SAMOA: ASCC/PTK Fall 2013 Induction

The American Samoa Community College (ASCC) chapter of the prestigious Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honors Society welcomed 18 new members during its fall 2013 induction ceremony this past Friday, October 18. With chapters at community and junior colleges across the United States and its territories, Phi Theta Kappa recognizes and encourages excellence in scholarship among associate degree students. The Greek words Phi Theta Kappa mean wisdom (Phi), aspiration (Theta) and purity (Kappa). The society bases its programs on its four hallmarks: scholarship, leadership, service and fellowship.

Family and friends, including ASCC President Dr. Seth Galea’i and Dean of Academic Affairs Dr. Irene Helsham, packed the ASCC Lecture Hall for the ceremony, as the PTK celebrated the scholastic achievements of the College’s “best and brightest”. The theme for this semester’s induction was “Today’s Determination Brings Tomorrow’s Success”, a theme expanded upon by special guest speaker Mr. Joey Cummings, General Manager of radio stations KHJ and V103, and himself a former PTK member. The ceremony also included a stirring performance of the PTK theme song by PTK alumni Tony Tuigamala, followed by the traditional lighting of candles representing the “flame of knowledge” by the inductees, followed by their reciting the oath of allegiance to the PTK.

This semester’s inductees are Destinee Afalava, Anna Imelda Afoa, Nikolao Alo, Olita Laumua Hollister-Godinet, Jireh Kruse, Filoisamoa Langkilde Jr., Tufanua Mase, Ella-Monique Misa, Mellody Parungo, Togasi’i Peter Peko, Paul Alaituasivi Saulo Jr., Talimeli F. Taufete’e,Jessica Tuiletufuga, Anthony Tuiolosega, Chastity Tuiolosega, Merieni Maryann Tupuimatagi, Siuila Uele, and Zihao Zeng. They will join current members Marietta Lafaele (President), Sia Niupulusu (Vice President), Maria Magalasin (Secretary), Wittenberg Mariner (Treasurer), Easther Kim, Peniamina Tai'I, Seong Hee Kim, Yeseul Kang, Nyrese Pato, Fa'afetai Ifopo, Moya Beyer, Leli'a Mona Chang, Salani Leota, Zerahamla Mamea.

Each semester, PTK advisors Toaiva Fiame-Tago, Evile Feleti, Anthony Felise, Kuki Tuiasosopo, and Evelyn Fuean review the ASCC Dean’s List and other relevant data to determine which students qualify for the membership in the Society. At ASCC, PTK nominees must have taken at least 12 credits, passed their English 150, English 151 and Math 90 classes, and have earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher. Qualifying students receive an invitation to join PTK, and most of those invited readily accept the offer.

Phi Theta Kappa provides more than $35 million worth of scholarships annually to student members nationwide. Each member is automatically nominated for inclusion in the prestigious National Dean’s List, and is also enrolled in the PTK Transfer Database, which links senior institutions across the nation offering scholarships to PTK members. For more information on the Phi Theta Kappa Honors society, visit their webpage at www.ptk.org.

Photo: Joey Cummings (center, standing), General Manager of radio stations KHJ and V-103, visits with advisors and members of the ASCC chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society following the fall 2013 PTK induction ceremony this past Friday. Cummings was guest speaker at the ceremony, during which 18 new members were inducted into the PTK.
 

FIJI: Pools Drawn For Coastal Great Eight Sevens
Source: Fiji's Coral Coast Sevens Press Release

An increased number of 32 teams will contest the Coastal Great Eight Sevens in Sigatoka this weekend.

Westfield Barbarians, Daveta, Wardens and Army are among the favoured teams in the Coastal Great Eight which starts on Friday 1 November with eight pools of four.

The top two teams from each pool return on Saturday 2 November when the action becomes sudden-death as only the winners of the first eight matches progress to the Bayleys Fiji Coral Coast Sevens on November 14-16 also at Lawaqa Park.

The tournament is the final chance for teams to be accepted into the Coral Coast Sevens.

"There has been phenomenal interest in this year's Coastal Great Eight and as a result we have expanded the tournament to 32 teams enabling as many teams from around Fiji the opportunity to play," said Tournament Director Jay Whyte.

"It is a great endorsement of the Bayleys Fiji Coral Coast Sevens that so many teams want to be part of the ‘champion of champions’ and we thank Coastal Rental Cars for their support of this year’s qualifier".

Entry is free for the tournament which kicks off at 9:40 am on Friday.

Meanwhile, tickets for the Bayleys Fiji Coral Coast Sevens, which is sponsored by Goodman Fielder Fiji, Total Fiji Ltd, Fiji Airways, Outrigger on the Lagoon • Fiji, Warwick Fiji Resort & Spa, The Naviti Resort, Fiji Hideaway Resort & Spa, Coastal Rental Cars, Shangri-La’s Fijian Resort & Spa, Fiji Chemicals Diversey, the Tappoo Group of Companies, Serevi Rugby and Sigatoka River Safari are now on sale.

Further details are on www.sevenspassion.com.

POOLS FOR THE COASTAL GREAT EIGHT, 1-2 November, Lawaqa Park
A: Westfield Barbarians, Dritabua, Cuvu Barbarians, Guardforce
B: Daveta, Lomaiviti Barbarians, Sofitel, Colo West Warriors
C: Wardens Gold, Mala Young Boys, East Bank Conua, Tabadamu
D: Army, SS Suva Stallions, Shop 2 Save Kuata, Wainivula Eels
E: Wardens Green, Coastal Senibiau, Central Barbarians, New Dawn
F: Covenant, Tovolea, Police, Kula Young Boys
G: Tale Barbarians, Western Wardens, Vulimono Rugby, Sandhill
H: Ratu Filise, Uluinikau, Nasalo Young Boys, Crusoes
 

(Photo: Google)

NIUE: Premier of Niue says accommodation expansion moving slowly
Source: Radio New Zealand International

The premier of Niue says plans to increase the accommodation capacity on the island is moving slowly.

Toke Talagi says he hopes an additional 20 to 30 rooms will be established by June.

Air New Zealand agreed to make an extra trip each fortnight from April to October, on top of the existing weekly flight, but there are plans to operate two weekly flights next year.

Beverley Tse was in Niue recently and spoke to Premier Talagi during the National Show Day about New Zealand’s contribution to tourism developments.

TOKE TALAGI: We’ve got excellent infrastructure. We’ve got good water, we’ve got good power, we’ve got good roads, we’ve got good telecommunications. That has all been achieved with our funding from New Zealand. That is an extremely important component of what we’re trying to do to encourage and develop tourism at this moment. Without those things and without reliable services and infrastructure we won’t be able to tourism that we have up until now. The other thing is we’re looking at possible a second service every week next year. Now, that’s an indication of the fact that tourism is working and it’s not a fiction or somebody’s imagination. So I’m really pleased about that. And we are determined to continue to develop our tourism, but at the same time we also need o ensure that we don’t focus just our attention on tourism because we shouldn’t be singularly focused on one thing. We should be looking at other opportunities that we have and the resources that we have on this island and developing it so that we can cope with any problems that may occur, for example with tourism. So we’re looking at water, fish and possibly mining and possibly some of the sovereign assets that we have that we can develop.

BEVERLEY TSE: Now, I understand you are wanting to see more accommodation providers. How is that coming along?

TT: Well, it’s slow. I’d like to have them all done by next year so we can have this second service. And that’s hinging on that. We underwrite Air New Zealand’s services here. Up until now we’ve never had to pay, and that’s really a signal that we have managed extremely well our accommodation and airline services to the island. So I’m very pleased. We will need a bill, another 20 or 30 rooms, and we’re hoping to be able to achieve that by June next year, when hopefully the second service will start.

BT: I understand you’ve announced there will be some sort of subsidy to help existing accommodation providers to expand.

TT: No, there won’t be any subsidies. In fact, what we’re doing at the present moment for accommodation developments is creating a speedier process for making the money available. But it’s not a subsidy, it’s not a grant. It’ll be a loan just like any other loans that we provide for businesses here,with the same interest rates as they pay to the Development Bank.

BT: What other challenges does the tourism industry face, other than accommodation?

TT: Maintaining the standards we need to maintain and also increasing our population capacity to cope with the number of tourists that are coming through.

Photo: The premier of Niue, Toke Talagi.
 

AROUND THE WORLD: Palau, Tonga, and Vanuatu Lead Business Performs in the Pacific in 2012/13
Source: World Bank Press Release

Palau, Tonga, and Vanuatu are among the Pacific region’s top performers when it comes to implementing business reforms over the last year, according to the World Bank Group’s annual report measuring the ease of doing business in 189 economies across the globe.

Doing Business 2014: Understanding Regulations for Small and Medium-Size Enterprises finds that Palau introduced legislation that strengthened the ability of borrowers to access finance by using movable property secured transaction systems and made it easier to enforce contracts, while Vanuatu and Tonga established private credit bureaus to improve access to finance.

“Creating an enabling business environment and attractive investment climate are key to increasing incomes and reducing poverty, so it is very encouraging to see some of smaller Pacific island nations introducing effective reforms over the last 12 months,” said IFC’s Senior Operations Officer for the Pacific Jonathon Kirkby. “Overall, the Pacific is still a relatively hard place to do business, and much work still needs to be done across the region to open up business opportunities that create jobs and change lives.”

IFC is working with a number of Pacific governments on projects that will help improve their investment climate and make it easier to do business. The Papua New Guinea government is working with IFC and New Zealand Aid to introduce the country’s first online business registry. Timor-Leste has recently introduced the SERVE one-stop-shop where business owners can obtain a commercial registration certificate, license, and tax identification number from a single counter, cutting down the time required to complete these procedures.

Across the Asia-Pacific region, the Doing Businessreport finds that since 2005, 24 of 25 economies have made their regulatory environment more business-friendly. Among the region’s economies, China made the greatest progress during that time in improving business regulation for local entrepreneurs.

Singapore continues to provide the world’s most business-friendly regulatory environment for local entrepreneurs, followed by Hong Kong SAR, China. In the past year, 15 of 25 economies in East Asia and the Pacific implemented at least one regulatory reform making it easier to do business.

Joining Singapore and Hong Kong on the list of the 10 economies with the most business-friendly regulations this year are, in this order, New Zealand, the United States, Denmark, Malaysia, the Republic of Korea, Georgia, Norway, and the United Kingdom. This year’s report features a case study on the Republic of Korea’s electronic court system for enforcing contracts, Malaysia’s electronic system for paying taxes, and Singapore’s single-window system for trading across borders.

In addition to the global rankings, every year Doing Business reports the economies that have improved the most on the indicators since the previous year. The 10 economies topping that list this year are (in order of improvement) Ukraine, Rwanda, the Russian Federation, the Philippines, Kosovo, Djibouti, Côte d’Ivoire, Burundi, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and Guatemala. Yet challenges persist: five of this year’s top improvers—Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, the Philippines, and Ukraine—are still in the bottom half of the global ranking on the ease of doing business as measured by the report.

About the Doing Business report series
The joint World Bank and IFC flagship Doing Business report analyzes regulations that apply to an economy’s businesses during their life cycle, including start-up and operations, trading across borders, paying taxes, and resolving insolvency. The aggregate ease of doing business rankings are based on 10 indicators and cover 189 economies. Doing Business does not measure all aspects of the business environment that matter to firms and investors. For example, it does not measure the quality of fiscal management, other aspects of macroeconomic stability, the level of skills in the labor force, or the resilience of financial systems. Its findings have stimulated policy debates worldwide and enabled a growing body of research on how firm-level regulation relates to economic outcomes across economies. This year’s report marks the 11th edition of the global Doing Business report series and covers 189 economies. For more information about the Doing Business reports, please visit doingbusiness.org and join us on doingbusiness.org/Facebook.

About the World Bank Group
The World Bank Group is one of the world’s largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries. It comprises five closely associated institutions: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA), which together form the World Bank; the International Finance Corporation (IFC); the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA); and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). Each institution plays a distinct role in the mission to fight poverty and improve living standards for people in the developing world. For more information, please visit www.worldbank.org, www.miga.org, and www.ifc.org.