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(Photos: Ivor Earp-Jones) |
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NEW ZEALAND: Auckland's
people lift the roof in celebration of working
together
Source:
ACC Press Release
Three thousand of Auckland's Pacific community
sang, danced, laughed and prayed in Manukau on
Saturday night [May 3] as they celebrated their
work in teaching their people to stay
injury-free, or know to seek help when they're
injured.
They were part of "Mana Moana Pasefika - the
Spiritual Power of the Pacific Ocean" - an event
that showcased the work seven Pacific community
groups have undertaken on behalf of ACC.
In December the groups signed Community
Relationship Agreements committing to educating
their communities about ACC. Their messages are
about how ACC can help when they're injured and
how they can prevent injuries in the home, on
the road, or on the sports field.
The Auckland-based groups that have Community
Relationship Agreements with ACC are:
* Ekalesia Metotisi Samoa, Niu Sila Matu (Samoan
Methodist Church - Northern Region Synod)
* Ekalesia Katoliko Samoa Aukilani (Samoan
Catholic Parishes in Auckland)
* Methodist Church of NZ, Auckland-Manukau
Tongan Parish
* Pukapuka Cook Islands
* South Seas Healthcare Trust
Wellington's Mission Choir and the Pacific
Island Woman's Project Aotearoa have also signed
agreements to carry out work in their areas.
ACC's National Pacific Manager Taulalo Fiso said
even though the agreements have been going for
only five months, the groups have already done
so much work. "Saturday night's event was an
emotional, memorable and historical event. It
was incredibly moving and humbling to see our
Pacific partners championing ACC's causes in
keeping their communities healthy and
injury-free.
"From the opening Parade of Community Relations,
to the flag-raising ceremony that celebrated the
groups' ethnicities, through all the songs,
dances, plays and more that showcased their
work, Mana Moana Pasefika set the foundation of
the great relationship ACC has with its Pacific
partners."
ACC has Community Relationship Agreements with
organisations that represent New Zealand
communities who aren't accessing ACC's services,
primarily because it appears they aren't aware
of how ACC can help them.
To remedy that, ACC has formed relationships
with community organisations that can talk
directly to their own people, using their own
methods and their own languages. They spread the
word about how to access ACC, along with injury
prevention tips.
"It's so important to celebrate the success of
the Community Relationship Agreements,
especially in such a colourful and vibrant way.
I look forward to celebrating more milestones in
the future," Mr Fiso said.
Photo Caption:
Performers from the Ekalesia Metotisi Samoa, Niu
Sila Matu (the Samoan Methodist Church -
Northern Region Synod) share their work through
song and dance at "Mana Moana Pasefika - the
Spiritual Power of the Pacific Ocean" held at
the Sir Woolf Fisher Arena in Manukau's Telstra
Pacific on Saturday night: Girls from McAuley
College; Mission Choir performing.
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(Photos: Samoa Sports) |
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SAMOA:
Samoa Invited to Inaugural Africa Womens Cup
Sevens Tournament
Source:
Samoa Rugby Union
30 April 2008, Apia, Samoa&African rugby stamps
Samoa women rugby one of the World top-8 sides.
As such, an all expenses paid invitation to the
Inaugural Africa Women Cup 7s Tournament has
been received. Hosted by South Africa, the
tournament will take place in East London from 7
to 9 August 2008. A squad of 12 players and 3
officials will represent Samoa.
Ms Mahlubi Puzi, Manager for South Africa Women
Rugby and Sevens writes, The 16 team tournament
will cater for the Top 8 Nations in Africa and
Top 8 International teams. This will be a high
profile event on the sporting calendar of the
country and we see it as another opportunity for
teams to prepare for the IRB 7s World Cup in
2009.
Samoa Rugby Union CEO confirmed Manusina
participation. This is a bonus for our women
players who make it into the Manusina after the
28 June trials. It means that straight after the
IRB Oceania qualifier on 25 and 26 July, they
fly out to Africa to play in this tournament.
Chair for the Samoa Women Rugby Steering
Committee (SWRSC), Ms Mara Coffin-Hunter says,
This is an excellent opportunity for womens
rugby overall. For Samoa, its a very good window
to build and establish our network with the
other top-8 womens rugby nations and IRB
representatives looking after women rugby.
We will aim to maximize this opportunity to
promote Samoa womens rugby and look for buddy
investment opportunities internationally.
Also with the IRB pushing hard for rugbys
Olympic inclusion in the 2016 Games, womens
rugby becomes a key component in that drive. It
is no secret that in the African tournament, we
will talk with key people from the other nations
and work out strategies on how we can leverage
ourselves better with the IRB in this current
positive environment for womens rugby.
The tournaments final day coincides with the
Africa National Womens Day on 9 August.
For Samoan local women wishing to find out more
on how to participate or be involved in Womens
Rugby, contact Mara Coffin-Hunter (777-1495) or
Dawn Rasmussen (759-3872).
Photo Caption:
Manusina preparing for the Inaugural Africa Womens Cup Sevens
Tournament.
Manusina enjoy a light hearted moment before scrum training at the
Ponsonby clubrooms, Western Springs, in 2006.
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(Photos: Aoelua Solomona) |
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AMERICAN SAMOA:
Faleomavaega responds to inquiries regarding the
trade
Source:
Office of Congressman
Faleomavaega
Congressman Faleomavaega announced today that he
is responding to inquiries about H.R. 3920, the
Trade and Globalization Assistance Act.
Faleomavaega received inquiries from Samoa News
in response to Governor Togiola's radio program
in which he stated that he planned to ask
Faleomavaega for assistance in including
American Samoa in this bill which has passed the
House and is pending in the Senate.
"I thank the Governor for his interest in a
matter my office has already been involved in
for some time," Faleomavaega said. "The issue is
complex and I am hopeful that this press release
will clear up some of the misunderstandings
surrounding Trade Adjustment Assistance."
"Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) provides
income support and training to qualifying
workers who lose their jobs as a direct result
of increased imports or shifts in production out
of the United States. However, the issue is
complex for American Samoa because TAA is
dependent upon a worker being eligible for
unemployment compensation as defined by the
unemployment insurance (UI) program."
"Workers in American Samoa are not eligible for
unemployment compensation as defined by the UI
program, and it is unclear as to why this is the
case. I have asked the Congressional Research
Service to review American Samoa's history, the
history of the UI program, and transcripts of
hearings held by Congress since the 1930s in an
effort to get to the bottom of this."
"In brief, the UI program was created in 1935
when millions lost their jobs in the Great
Depression. The program works as follows. States
and Territories tax their employers, or local
businesses. From the taxes imposed on employers,
States and Territories send a portion of these
funds to the federal government to hold in trust
for workers, or employees, who may become
unemployed."
"For example, to protect its workers, the State
of Hawaii taxes Aloha Airlines and all other
businesses operating in Hawaii. The State of
Hawaii then sends a portion of the taxes it
collects from these businesses to the federal
government to hold in trust for workers who may
become unemployed should Aloha Air, or any other
business operating in Hawaii, lay off its
workers."
"If a worker is laid off, the worker can apply
for unemployment benefits and can receive a
check, or unemployment compensation from the
trust fund, for up to 6 months. Again, the trust
fund is made up of dollars collected by State
governments that tax businesses operating in
their State or
Territory. These are not federal funds. The
federal government only holds the funds in
trust, and sends out the checks, or
compensation, to the unemployed workers."
"All 50 States plus the District of Columbia,
the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico participate
in the UI program. American Samoa and Guam do
not. Therefore, when workers in American Samoa
get laid off, they are not eligible for
unemployment benefits from the trust fund."
"Also, because the TAA program is calculated
according to UI benefits, American Samoa cannot
be included in the TAA program until such time
as ASG is able to explain what kind of program
it has in place to help unemployed workers and
how it calculates how much money a worker should
receive if he or she becomes unemployed."
"First and foremost, we need to know if ASG is
requiring our local businesses to pay taxes and,
if so, how much. Then we need to know if ASG is
setting aside a portion of those taxes to help
our workers in case they become unemployed. We
also need to know what kind of calculation ASG
is using to send out unemployment checks, if
any."
"We will then use these calculations to make our
case that ASG has some kind of program in place
that may be used to calculate TAA benefits for
our workers. If passed into law, TAA would
provide qualifying workers with up to one year
of unemployment benefits plus training should
they become unemployed due to increased imports
or shifts in production out of the United
States."
"However, the first 6 months of TAA benefits
must be paid from the State taxes held in trust
by the UI program. The last six months of TAA
benefits will be paid by the federal government,
and will be based on the UI benefit. This means
that ASG must use the taxes it collects from our
local businesses to pay TAA benefits to our
workers for the first six months of their
unemployment after which time the federal
government would pay our workers for the last 6
months of their TAA benefits."
"Like the Governor, I believe our workers should
be eligible for TAA benefits if they so qualify
and I am hopeful that ASG will move quickly to
put a plan in place to pay for the first six
months of TAA benefits should this become law.
Once ASG determines its course of action, I will
move
forward with the federal side which will provide
TAA benefits for the last six months of a
worker's unemployment, and also training."
"But this effort will take time due to the
mitigating circumstances which we face because
ASG does not currently participate in the UI
program. Given these unusual circumstances, I
have asked that language be included, or a study
undertaken, to determine how our workers might
be able to participate if ASG is unable to do
its part," Faleomavaega concluded.
Photo Caption:
DC office, Congressman Faleomavaega
congratulates Mr. Tavita Togia of the National
Park Service, National Park of American Samoa,
for the outstanding job he is doing to preserve
our rainforest and plant species that are native
to American Samoa. Mr. Togia is the recipient of
the DOI's 2008 Cooperation Conservation Award.
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FIJI:
Fiji youths off to India for boxing meet
Source:
fijilive
Fiji nationals Mohammed Shameem, 17, and Jo
Waqakinayau will represent Fiji to the Youth
Commonwealth Games in India in October.
The pair will be part of boxers from
Commonwealth-member countries in the tournament.
They were selected on merit by Boxing Fiji after
sterling performances in recent internationals.
“This is a big boost for Fiji,” Boxing Fiji
secretary Paula Raqeukai said.
“They will be among boxers from Australia, New
Zealand and top European nations.
They are young and this opportunity will expose
Fiji to the world.”
Former Commonwealth champion Marika Korovou is
expected to coach the pair after he returns from
Australia in the near future.
Raqeukai said the duo had been undergoing
rigorous training at their respective clubs in
Nadi and Suva.
“Shameem is trained by Abhay Chand, a former
local amateur champion who is also known as
Taniela Bataniduku. Shameen is a classy boxer
who participated in the 2007 Pacific Games in
Samoa and Oceania Games last month.
He has experience while Waqakinayau is a new
slugger who is fresh out of high school in Suva.
He is also a member of Korovou’s boxing club.
Shameem will fight in the 57 kilogramme while
Waqakinayau, the champion of BF Golden Gloves
Championship, will fight in the 69kg division.
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TAHITI: French government to receive Tahiti
delegation in two weeks
Source:
Radio New Zealand
International
The junior French minister in charge of overseas
territories, Yves Jego, is to receive a
delegation from French Polynesia led by
President Gaston Tong Sang in the week from May
the 19th to firm up development contracts.
A top delegation from Tahiti was due to fly to
Paris last month but Mr Tong Sang managed to
oust the government in a no confidence vote,
succeeding Gaston Flosse as the territory’s
third president this year.
Mr Jego is now to visit Tahiti in July.
A visit by the French President, Nicolas Sarkozy,
had been planned for late April but was deferred
indefinitely after the territorial election led
to Mr Flosse becoming president in February.
Mr Sarkozy’s UMP party, whose spokesman at the
time was Mr Jego, also cut ties with Mr Flosse’s
party for him not entering a coalition with Mr
Tong Sang.
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TUVALU: Tuvalu ratifies PICTA
Source:
Forum Secretariat
Tuvalu is the eleventh Forum Island Country (FIC)
to ratify the Pacific Island Countries Trade
Agreement (PICTA).
PICTA is a Free Trade Agreement among the FICs,
which aims to gradually reduce import duties on
goods that originate from the member countries.
Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Papua
New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga,
Tuvalu and Vanuatu have ratified PICTA.
"Tuvalu is currently in the process of
implementing reforms to give effect to PICTA,
prior to announcing readiness for PICTA trade,"
Tuvalu's Minister for Finance, Economic Planning
and Industries," Hon. Lotoala Metia said.
PICTA came into force in 2003 and since then six
members - Cook Islands, Niue, Fiji, Samoa,
Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, have announced
their readiness to trade under PICTA. Trading
under PICTA preferences commenced in 2007.
"Comprehensive reforms and changes to the
domestic processes arising from PICTA are
important steps as Tuvalu engages in trade
liberalization," Minister Metia said.
Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat's Acting
Secretary General, Mr Peter Forau, congratulated
Tuvalu on its ratification of PICTA.
"The Secretariat will continue to work closely
with the Government of Tuvalu to further assist
in the implementation of trade reforms," Mr
Forau said.
Earlier this month, the Parties have commenced
the negotiation of a trade in services agreement
to broaden PICTA. PICTA would become more
meaningful to countries like Tuvalu as
liberalization of trade in services, in addition
to trade in goods, are made part of the
Agreement.
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