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(Photos:
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NEW ZEALAND: Samoan
Independence anniversary
Source:
NZ Government Press
Release
New Zealand has a special relationship with
Samoa, Pacific Island Affairs Minister
Luamanuvao Winnie Laban said tonight while
attending the 46th anniversary of the
Independence of Samoa hosted by the Samoan High
Commissioner.
Samoa became independent from the New Zealand
administered United Nations Trusteeship on 1
January 1962. This is celebrated in Samoa and by
Samoans around the world on 1 June every year.
"An important element of the close relationship
between New Zealand and Samoa is the 1962 Treaty
of Friendship, agreed shortly after Samoa
achieved independence.
"The treaty is unique and of symbolic
importance, as Samoa is the only country that
New Zealand has a formal treaty of friendship
with," Laban said.
"As a Pacific nation, New Zealand has a special
relationship with our Pacific neighbours, and
particularly Samoa. It is also important that we
in New Zealand know about our history and this
friendship.
"Our close ties with Samoa are also underpinned
by the number of people of Samoan ethnicity
living in New Zealand, who make up around fifty
per cent of New Zealand's Pacific population.
"Samoans make an important contribution to the
social, economic, political and sporting life of
New Zealand and this is reflected in our links
with Samoa, who we work closely with on issues
of common interest.
"The anniversary of Samoan Independence provides
an important opportunity to reflect on the past,
celebrate our special friendship, and look to
the future," Laban said.
Laban also attended and spoke at an ecumenical
Samoan church service held in Wellington on 1
June to join in celebration of independence with
Samoans all over New Zealand, in Samoa and the
rest of the world.
Photo Captions:
Head of States; Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese Efi at
the Independence Day Celebration in Samoa.
Luamanuvao Winnie Laban - Minister of Pacifi
Island Affairs attending the 46th annicersary.
Samoa; Teachers from Lepa & Lotofaga College
before the Independence Parade starts. Police on
get ready to solute.
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(Photos: SOCA) |
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SAMOA: SOCA first
season regattas end with Independence 2008 races
Source:
Samoa Outrigger Canoeing
Association Press Release
The Samoa Outrigger Canoeing Association (SOCA)
ended its 1st Season of regattas with its much
anticipated Independence 2008 Races at Mulinuu
on Monday 02nd June.
The regatta was well organised with
participation of social teams from the business
community such as Betham & Co, SMI Hardware,
MNRE Water Sector, SPREP, Samoa Breweries Ltd.,
British American Tobacco and local clubs Pualele
and Tautai. Overseas participation by Pualele
New Zealand and Alo Samoa from American Samoa
created an International atmosphere of
competition on the waters at Mulinuu.
The sea wall was packed with paddlers and
spectators of all ages. A 15K marathon which was
held on Saturday saw the Pualelel NZ team just
take 1st place from Pualele Samoa and Tautai.
American Samoas Alo Samoa stole 1st place for
the 15K Open Mix marathon. All the sprints were
held on Monday afternoon with the prize giving
at the Yacht Club on the same evening.
Pualele NZ also took 1st place for the 1500m
Open Men V6 sprint whereas Pualele Samoa ended
the evening by taking 1st place in the 500m Open
Men sprint.
Alo Samoas Open Women team stole 1st place from
Pualele in the 500m sprint. Tautai OCC Social
team grasped the 500m Social sprints with MNREs
Water Sector taking 1st place in the 250m Social
sprints. In the V1 category, Pualele NZ
dominated by taking the men and womens 500m
races. SOCA President Cherith Lober commented
that “having teams from NZ and
American Samoa have truly raised the level of
competition for our local paddlers. We need
competition in order to gauge with overseas
paddlers.
We are very thankful to SSFA for allowing us to
use the Mana V6 and V1 Canoes from SPG. There is
no way Samoa can excel in Outrigger Canoeing if
we do not have the resources to train and
compete. This was very obvious in the V1 races
because no Club or individual owns an OC1 to
train and be at the level we want them to be at.
We also need to let our people know that
Outrigger Canoeing opens its doors for anyone
who wants to try out the sport. Samoa can be at
the top, we have the natural physique for
outrigger but it all comes down to proper mental
preparations with a lot of discipline plus the
resources to use”.
There are two active local clubs, Pualele OCC
and Tautai OCC. SOCA would like to thank major
sponsors who have contributed to the success of
the event, they include the Independence 2008
Committee, SSFA, SMI Hardware, Rees Hireage, The
Yacht Club, Greenyards, Mrs Elisapeta Kerslake
and Mr Saju Abraham. Also a huge fa’amalo to all
the paddlers who took part in
the Independence 2008 regatta.
Official Results
Open Men V6 15K Marathon
Open Mix V6 15K Marathon
1st Pualele NZ
1st Alo Samoa (Am Samoa)
2nd Pualele Samoa
2nd Pualele Samoa
3rd Tautai
Open Men V6 1500m
Open Men V6 500m
1st Pualele NZ
1st Pualele Samoa
2nd Pualele Samoa
2nd Pualele NZ
3rd Tautai
3rd Tautai
Open Women V6 500m
1st Alo Samoa
2nd Pualele
Social Mix V6 500m
Social Mix V6 250m
1st Tautai
1st MNRE Water Pistol
2nd Pualele
2nd SMI Electrical
3rd Betham & Co
3rd Pualele
Women V1 500m
Men V1 500m
1st Pualele NZ (Diana)
1st Pualele NZ (Joshua)
2nd Pualele Samoa (Stau)
2nd Pualele NZ (Mark)
3rd Alo Samoa (Betty)
3rd Pualele NZ (Michael)
Photo Caption:
SOCA President Cherith Lober with Alo Samoa
womens crew. Paddlers having a
photo break. Tautai Social paddlers 500m
medalists. Team Betham who came 3rd in 500m
Social.
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(Photos: James
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AMERICAN SAMOA:
ASCC Announces Spring 2008 Dean’s List
Source:
ASCC Press Release
Each semester, the American Samoa Community
College (ASCC) recognizes outstanding academic
achievement by compiling the Dean’s List. The
list consists of full-time students who attain a
Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.50 or better in
courses numbered 100 and above in any
given semester, with no failing (F), withdrawal
(W), withdrawal fail (WF), incomplete (I) or
repeated (R) grades.
Each student on the Dean’s List may pick up a
letter of recognition from the Office of the
Dean of Academic Affairs during the semester
interim. The Dean’s List designation will appear
the on the student’s transcript under the
appropriate semester, and the Office of the
Registrar adds a copy of the letter of
recognition to the student’s academic file.
ASCC proudly congratulates the following
students who have achieved the academic honor of
qualifying for the spring 2008 Dean’s List:
Sophia A’asa
Charlene Afu
David Amosa
Pearl Anderson
Edgar Apulu
Tautalamaiaso Auau
Mac Aveina
Gwendolyn Emmsley
Irene Faatupuinati
Tautasi Falana’i
Iapesa Fanolua;
Mile Farani
Cheryl Faumuina
Gardenia Faumuina
Joseph Felix
Lawrence Fernandez
Amber Fuaga
Selutoga Fuiava
Lagia Fulu
Francis Galuvao
Peter Gebauer
Daniel Helsham
Leiema Hunt
Eileen Iosefo
Senerita Kaleopa
Sione Lam Yuen
Akenese Lealamanua
Toetau Leauanae
Tamara Ledoux
Christina Lelea
Aaron Lin
Eletino Loi-On
Fatuoaiga Lokeni
Elisie Lotonuu
Emmadora Maez
Pasa Malietufa
Donna Rae Mallari
Milton Manase
Damien Matamu
Aleesha Mavaega
Sopomaleula Mikaele
Pa’ifaleula Moliga
Patisela Mulitalo
Renei Nuikini
Latisha Olo
Sione Patau
Mary Paulo
Perekina Peneueta
Sujaniah Reed
Jean-Anton Ricks
Hope Ropeti
Czarina Roque
Lapuloufiti Savelio
Brent Schwenke II
Amy Seko
Tuumalo Shimasaki
Pesio Silao
Krystal Soa
David Ta’ala
Pisa Taiafi
Carleen Tamapolu
Easter Tasi
Teporah Tinoisamoa
Seeseei Toa
Emau Tofilau
Jonathan Toma
Kristine Tuatoo
Siniva Tuiletoa
Galo Tuiolosega
Leilua Tuitele
Faamamali Ualesi
Daryl Yow
Photo Captions:
Photo 1 - The ASCC Teacher Education
Department congraulates Education major Mac
Aveina(front, left) on receiving a scholarship
from Pacific Resources for Education and
Learning (PREL). Mac also made the spring 2008
Dean's List, which the College released this
week.
Photo 2 - ASCC
students Milton Manase (left) and Daniel Helsham
portray father and son in the College's recent
production of the musical "Aida". Milton and
Daniel both were included in the ASCC spring
2008 Dean's List for outstanding academic
achievement.
Photo 3 - Recent
ASCC graduate Donna Rae Mallari (right) chats
with Miss American Samoa Shanette Pualani Tilo
during the recent Miss ASCC Pageant. Donna Rae
was included in the ASCC spring 2008 Dean's List
for outstanding academic achievement.
Photo 4 - Recent ASCC graduate Krystal Soa
(left) enjoys a lighthearted moment
demonstrating how to make the ANZ Bank mascot
airborne, along with Business Department
chairperson Dr. Faofua Faatoafe. Krystal was
included in the ASCC spring 2008 Dean's List for
outstanding academic achievement.
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AROUND THE WORLD: Sea Horse, Sea Snake and Sea
Turtle chosen to defend high sea
Source:
GREENPEACE Press Release
WOMAR the sea snake, GOMAR the seahorse and
MOMAR the sea turtle have been chosen by ocean
defenders to be mascots for three newly named
proposed marine reserve areas in the Pacific
said Greenpeace Australia Pacific Oceans Team
Leader Nilesh Goundar.
In celebrating World Oceans Day, Greenpeace made
public the names selected by eminent Pacific
scholars (1) who judged the competition. WOMAR
stands for West Oceania Marine Reserve, the area
of international waters bounded by Papua New
Guinea, Indonesia, Federated States of
Micronesia and Palau, GOMAR for the Greater
Oceania Marine Reserve, the area of
international waters bounded by PNG, the Solomon
Islands, FSM, Nauru, the Marshall Islands, Fiji,
Tuvalu and Vanuatu and MOMAR for the Moana
Marine Reserve bounded by Kiribati, the Cook
Islands and French Polynesia.
The scholars identified eight people for their
creative contribution to the naming competition
and for suggesting the sea snake, seahorse and
sea turtle for the marine reserves. The winners
are Sara Tripp, Ravi Ram, Shaniel Sen, Jejay Sen,
Rupeni Diani, Saad Hussein, Mereoni Kanavo and
Josivini Ratabucavu.
Greenpeace is advocating these areas be
designated as fully protected marine reserves.
These three pockets of international waters
cover extensive areas that include biologically
rich undersea mountains, migration routes of
tuna species, habitat of endangered leatherback
turtles and breeding areas of skipjack, albacore
and bigeye tuna. However, despite their great
biological
and ecological importance they face a number of
emerging threats, including overfishing and the
potential extraction of seabed minerals in the
future.
More than half the world's tuna, worth over US$3
billion is fished from the Pacific, with
overfishing of bigeye and yellowfin tuna being
of greatest concern. Pacific nations are only
receiving 5-6 per cent of the value of the catch
caught by foreign vessels in their national
waters. This is due to
the unfair and unsustainable agreements
negotiated by foreign companies and countries
for access to fish for tuna in their waters. The
Pacific countries receive no money for fishing
taking place in the international waters
proposed to be designated as marine reserves.
Greenpeace oceans campaigner Lagi Toribau who is
onboard the M.Y Esperanza that has been
defending the Pacific Commons for the last nine
weeks taking peacefull action against fishing
vessels from Taiwan, Korea, China, USA,
Philippines and Spain sums up the key findings
of the expedition (2) "We were shocked to
discover how vulnerable the Pacific commons are
to over
- and pirate fishing by Distant Water Fishing
Nations. Far away in the international waters
plunder of the Pacific resources continues day
in day out almost with no control laying waste
to the regions tuna stocks and other marine life
including threatened sharks and turtles. The
"Defending Our Pacific" expedition ends today
but the work to ensure sustainable tuna fishing
in this region has only just begun. Last month
alone two major political agreements focussing
on the Pacific Commons were reached.
Eight Pacific island countries (3) took the
boldest steps towards creating the world's first
marine reserves in international waters through
the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) Third
Implementing Arrangement where new rules will
apply to all vessels fishing for tuna in the
region. Tuna vessels licensed to fish in the
waters of the eight countries will be banned
from fishing in the WOMAR and upper GOMAR
regions.
At the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD)
Conference of Parties Meeting (CoP9) in Germany,
member states adopted a list of 7 scientific
criteria for the selection of marine protected
areas in open ocean waters and deep-sea
habitats. These can now be used to identify and
eventually protect areas of the high seas. (4)
For the Pacific, these measures will go a long
way to protect marine life and provide future
food and Greenpeace calls on Pacific Island
member states to actively progress this position
through their UN Missions at the upcoming United
Nations Open-ended Informal Consultative Process
on Oceans and the Law of the Sea, in New York
from June 23-27, 2008.
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(Photos: UNDP) |
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COOK ISLANDS:
Cook Islands announces cedaw law reform
Source:
UNDP Press Release
Cooks Islands is ready to undertake a reform of
their domestic laws to make them more compliant
with Convention on the Elimination of all Forms
of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). This
was announced by Minister for Internal Affairs
Hon Ngamau Munokoa at the launch of a new
publication; "Translating CEDAW into Law: CEDAW
Legislative Compliance in the Cook Islands" in
Rarotonga today.
CEDAW, which is also known as the International
Bill of Rights for women, defines what
constitutes discrimination against women and
sets up an agenda for national action to end
such discrimination. Countries that have
ratified CEDAW are legally bound to put the
provisions of the Convention in place and are
also required to submit reports on measures they
have taken to comply with their obligations.
The joint UNDP Pacific Centre and UNIFEM Pacific
Regional Office publication "Translating CEDAW
into Law: CEDAW Legislative Compliance in the
Cook Islands" is an important resource that can
be used as the Cook Islands develops and
implements law reform.
"We would certainly make use of this report as a
guide to the work of consistency to CEDAW," said
Hon. Munokoa.
The report reviews the Constitution and national
law of the Cook Islands against all of the113
indicators developed to measure legislative
compliance with each of the 16 articles of the
Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of
Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
The indicators used to measure legislative
compliance with CEDAW include legal guarantees
of fundamental rights and freedoms to men and
women equally, including in political, economic,
social, cultural, civil or any other field. The
indicators reflect CEDAW's examination of the
guarantee of equality between men and women and
include both direct and indirect discrimination,
the requirement to legislate special measures
provisions; and the importance of
anti-discrimination provisions. CEDAW and the
legislative compliance indicators cover a wide
range of equality issues including: sexual
assault issues, the exploitation of women,
direct and
indirect discrimination in employment, equality
before, during, and upon the breakdown of
relationships, including de facto relationships,
and many more.
Hon Munokoa highlighted that the Cook Islands
cabinet had noted the UN CEDAW Committee's
concluding comments to the Cook Islands and was
looking at implementing them. She also said that
Cook Islands government had established an
inter-ministerial working group to undertake a
systematic approach to CEDAW law reform.
"This working group has met in the past three
weeks to develop a systematic programme of law
reform to demonstrate implementation, and to
adhere to a clear timetable for completion of
the necessary legislative reform," said Hon
Munokoa.
She acknowledged the important role that NGOs
have played and continue to play in CEDAW
implementation.
Cook Islands Women's Counseling Centre's Nani
Samuela, who spoke at the launch on behalf of
the Cook Islands NGOs, said the work done by the
Cook Islands government and development partners
in the area of CEDAW implementation was
commendable.
"We as NGOs will be referring to these
compliance indicators not only as a checking and
monitoring mechanism in measuring progress but
also as part of advocacy and training tools,"
said Ms Samuela.
She said that the Cook Islands Women's
Counseling Centre was currently holding a
workshop for Justices of the Peace from the
Southern Cook Islands in Rarotonga on Human
Rights instruments and their application to
domestic law, policy and practice .In
anticipation of the launch, the CEDAW
legislative compliance indicators were included
as part of the training.
"CEDAW legislative compliance indicators
provides a one stop shop in identifying
inconsistent legislation, the policy reasons
that explain how and why the law should assist
in advancing equality and suggestions for
change. An outcome of this training is for JPs
to identify Human rights implications in their
decisions and to also be advocates for Human
rights in their capacities as recognised opinion
shapers and leaders within our community," said
Ms Samuela.
The United Nations Development Programme
Resident Representative and United Nations
Resident Co-ordinator for Cook Islands, Niue,
Samoa and Tokelau, Ms Naheed Haque told guests
at the launch of the "Translating CEDAW into
Law: CEDAW Legislative Compliance in the Cook
Islands" that it was no coincidence that the
launch was taking place in conjunction with the
Sub Regional Workshop on MGD-based Planning,
Costing and Budgeting for Polynesian Countries.
"This is a reflection of the centrality of
gender equality to all that the UN does," said
Ms Haque.
She said that while many important advances to
gender equality have been made, women continue
to face systemic discrimination in the legal,
social, political and economic spheres in all
Pacific Island countries, including in
Polynesia.
"It is important to keep in mind that there is
no such thing as a 'gender-neutral budget' - the
impact of every fiscal policy, be it relating to
taxation, or resource allocation, must be
assessed in terms of its impact on the lives of
both men and women."
Ms Haque commended the work of all members of
Parliament as well as that of the NGOs and civil
society in advancing CEDAW in the Cook Islands.
"The UN CEDAW Committee has clearly recommended
that the Cook Islands take steps required to
ensure that the national legal framework is
brought into line with the Convention. The
publication we are launching today provides a
detailed roadmap to assist with that process and
very clearly and concretely specifies the law
reform that is required," said Ms Haque.
The new Cook Islands report is a companion to a
publication launched by the UNDP Pacific Centre
and UNIFEM Pacific in 2007 entitled Translating
CEDAW Into Law: CEDAW Legislative Compliance in
Nine Pacific Island Countries which examined the
legislative compliance with CEDAW of nine
Pacific Island countries; FSM, Fiji, Kiribati,
the Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, Samoa,
Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.
Photo Captions:
Photo 1:
Minister for Internal
Affairs Hon Ngamau Munokoa (L) with United
Nations Development Programme Resident
Representative and United Nations Resident
Co-ordinator for Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa and
Tokelau, Ms Naheed Haque with the "Translating
CEDAW into LAW: CEDAW Legislative Compliance in
the Cook Islands" publications that they
launched.
Photo 2:
A string band provides
music at the launch.
Photo 3:
Cook Islands Women's Counseling Centre's Nani
Samuela (L), Suki Beavers, Human Rights
Specialist Suki Beavers and Cook Islands Acting
Solicitor General Tingika Elikana.
Photo 3:
Minister for Internal
Affairs Hon Ngamau Munokoa (L) with United
Nations Development Programme Resident
Representative and United Nations Resident
Co-ordinator for Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa and
Tokelau, Ms Naheed Haque at the launch.
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FIJI:
Dealer links profit drop to politics
Source:
Fiji Times
An automotive company says its declining profits
can be directly attributed to the lack of
political certainty.
Toyota Tsusho South Seas Propriety Limited said
in a statement yesterday said the decline in new
vehicle market contributed in a drop of net
after-tax profit by 21.6 per cent to $1,259,313.
It said the company's fortunes waned after the
events of December 2006.
Consolidated revenue for Toyota Tsusho decreased
by 5.2 per cent reflecting the challenging
trading conditions the company faced in 2007 and
2008, the statement read.
Revenue for the financial year ending 2008
amounted to $960,000 dropping after-tax profit
by 55.2 per cent or $1,237,426.
"The Avis operation in Fiji was also affected by
the downturn in Fiji's tourism industry
contributing to its lower result in 2007 -
2008," the statement said.
Operation in Samoa had a strong start to the
year as the country enjoyed considerable
prosperity in the lead up to last year's South
Pacific Games, it said. But this was dampened in
the post-SPG period because of the Samoan
Government's decision to convert to right hand
drive vehicles.
This had a dramatic affect on the new vehicle
market in the second half of the year and
contributed to the profit decline of 85 per cent
to $151,000, the company said.
"An impairment provision of approximately
$830,000 was taken against the Samoan result to
reflect the predicted cost to the operation of
the impact of the change to right hand drive
vehicle control."
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