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(Photos: NZ
Pacific Navigator - PITIC NZ) |
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NEW ZEALAND: New
Pacific gallery opens in Auckland
Source:
NZ Pacific Navigator Press
Release
Samoan artist Momoe Von Reiche is the first
feature artist of the new McCarthy Gallery in
Auckland.
The small gallery was opened on 7 June in
association with Martin Hughes Architecture.
Tucked away in the Axis Building Parnell, the
gallery is a dream come true for ower/artist
Fono McCarthy. His guest list included the New
Zealand Prime Minister, the Hon. Helen Clark and
two Labour MPs, the Hon. Sua William Sio and
Judith Tizard and more than 50 people.
Artist Momoe Von Reiche is an internationally
recognised poet author, artist and illustrator
of Samoa, whose large canvas paintings
exhibition are conceptual representations of the
different colours and shapes of her beloved
homeland.
Von Reiche’s fi rst exhibition was back in 1963.
Since then she has exhibited in America, Germany
and participated in a number of group
exhibitions including the Women of the World
Exhibit in New York 2000. She has also collected
a Maori and Pacifi c Arts Council Award and was
the artist responsible for the 2006 South Pacifi
c Games logo.
The gallery is a great step for the Pacifi c
opening doors for artists to access a wider
audience - their works exhibited along with
other national and international artists.
Photo Captions:
PITIC NZ’s Joe Fuavao and featured artist Momoe
von Reiche.
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(Photos:
MAJ Tauapai Laupola) |
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SAMOA: Five Samoans
selected for the All Army Volleyball Team
Source:
MAJ Tauapai Laupola
Five Samoans soldiers represented the United
States Army at the Armed Forces volleyball
tournament held at the Marine Corps Air Station,
Cherry Point, North Carolina (NC), 3-8 June.
They are Sergeant First Class (SFC) Tausala,
Faamausili, Sergeant (SGT) Doreen Fiaui, SGT
Yorhena Panama, Specialist (SPC) John Quinn
Taitin and SPC Losivale Le’iato. The Army
teams were trained at Ft Bragg, NC.
According to SGT Yorhena Panama, team captain
for the women’s team, the 2008 US armed forces
volleyball tournament was very intense. The Navy
women and Marine Corps men are undefeated
champions for this year’s US armed forces
volleyball tournament. Three Samoans were
selected for the US armed forces team, SFC
Faamausili, SGT Fiaui and SGT Panama. They will
represent the US armed forces at the Conseil
International du Sport Militaire (CISM) 29th
World Military volleyball championship 20-29
June.
The US armed forces team will be playing against
teams from China, Korea, Italy, Canada,
Netherlands, Cyprus, India, Brazil and Germany.
Here is an anecdote of these toa o Samoa.
SFC Tausala Faamausili is the son of the late
Senator Faamausili Suiaunoa of Masefau and Masae
Tupuola of Fagasa. He attended Marist Brother
school in Atu’u and graduated from Fagaitua High
School in 1987.
SFC Faamausili has been playing for the all army
volleyball team since he enlisted in
1996. Because of his experience, SFC Faamanusili
has been designated as the coach/player for the
2008 all army men’s team. SFC Faamausili is
assigned to the 2nd Battalion 3rd Infantry
regimen, Ft Lewis, Washington and been deployed
to Iraq twice. Due to mission priorities, SFC
Faamausili will not be traveling with the US
Armed Forces team to Germany.
SFC Faamausili is grateful to the Samoans at Ft
Bragg for been great ambassadors for Samoa.
Their ability to include the volleyball teams in
its “Dawn of the Youth Fellowship” and the
“Asian Pacific Celebration” is commendable and
speaks volumes of Samoans military personnel at
Ft Bragg.
SGT Yorhena Panama is the daughter of Reverend
Ekepati Panama of Utulei and Fagatogo and the
late Helena Onosa’i of Pago Pago. According to
SGT Panama, her selection to the 2008 Armed
Forces team, team captain for the women’s army
volleyball team and the all army player since
she enlisted 21 Apr 04, is a tribute to her
parents. SGT Panama is assigned to
Charlie-Battery, 2-1 Air Defense Artillery, 31st
Brigade, Ft Hood Texas.
When asked about her thoughts regarding the all
army team, she commented that this year’s team
is extra special, because of the fact that she
has played with SPC Leiato, SGT Fiaui and SFC
Faamausili at volley tournaments sponsored by
the Sua district, Congregation Christian Church
of American Samoa in the 90’s. SGT Panama
thanked her families and the Ft Bragg Samoan
community for making the 2008 US army volleyball
trials a very positive experience.
SGT Doreen Fiaui is the daughter of Aimalefoa
Niuamoa & Faavevela Fiaui of Amaua, American
Samoa. She attended Alofau elementary and
graduated from Fagaitua High School in 1986.
After receiving her Master of Arts Degree from
Hawaii Pacific University, SGT Fiaui returned to
American Samoa and worked for LBJ medical center.
Since her initial enlistment in the US Army
on 5 May 98, SGT Fiaui has deployed to the war
zone three times.
She is currently assigned to the 27th Engineer
Battalion 20th Engineer Brigade, Ft Bragg, North
Carolina. When asked about her parents, she
lowered her head and commented there is not a
day that I don’t think about my parents. SGT
Fiaui is very excited about playing for the all
army team and especially making the armed forces
team where she will be playing with SGT
Panama against the best volleyball players from
other countries. SGT Fiaui is a strong
supporter of soldier activities at Ft Bragg, NC.
SPC Losivale Leiato is the daughter of Tumuatasi
Eteuati and Linette Leiato of Fagaitua, American
Samoa. She attended Alofau elementary and a
Fagaitua Vikings graduate class of 2000. After
her two years at ASCC, she transferred to
University of Hawaii (Hilo) where she received
her Bachelor of Arts in Biology. SPC Leiato
enlisted in the US Army on 6 FEB 2007 and is
assigned to Headquarters US Army Combined Arms
Center Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
SPC Le’iato is grateful for the experience
gained from the all army volleyball trials as
well as her participation in Ft Bragg’s “Dawn of
the Youth Fellowship” and the Asian Pacific
Celebration. According to SPC Le’iato, “it’s a
pleasure meeting and spending quality times with
families
and friends station at Ft Bragg, NC.” During her
parting comments she said, “may the Lord bless
Samoans at Ft Bragg, NC abundantly for being
supportive and accepting us with open arms”.
SPC John Quinn J.W. Taitin is the son of Fred
Taitin of Samoa and Sesilia Matulino Bartley of
Tafuna, American Samoa. He was born in American
Samoa and raised in Hawaii. SPC Taitin attended
Maili Elementary and graduated from Campbell
High School, Ewa Beach, Hawaii in 2004. He
enlisted in the United States Army Reserve in
June 2005 and is assigned to the 411th ECB,
9th RSC, Hawaii.
He sent his love to his parents and families in
Samoa and Hawaii. According to SPC Taitin, he
enjoyed the fellowship with the Samoans at Ft
Bragg because of the support and the love shown
not only to the Samoan players but especially
when they opened their houses to host the
volleyball teams. He concluded by thanking his
aunty Lucia Bartley for her love and support
during his visit at Ft Bragg, NC.
The Samoans at Ft Bragg, NC congratulate SFC
Faamausili, SGT Fiaui, SGT Panama, SPC Taitin,
and SPC Leiato for their accomplishments. They
also wish SGT Fiaui and SGT Panama the very best
as they compete in the Conseil International du
Sport Militaire (CISM) 29th World Military
volleyball championship 20-29 June.
Photo Captions:
Photo 1 - Yorhena Panama, SPC Losivale
Le'iato, SGT Doreen Fiaui SFC Tausala Faamausili
photo taken at the Armed Forces
Volleyball_Tournament at Cherry Point, MCAS.
Photo 2 -
Yorhena Panama, SGT Doreen Fiauiand SPC Losivale
Le'iato Picture taken at 2008 Armed Forces
Volleyball tournament at Cherry Point, MCAS.
Photo 3 -
Memebers of the 2008 All Army Volleyball Team.
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(Photos:
www.adb.org) |
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AROUND THE WORLD:
Transnational crime continues to be a security
threat
Source:
Forum Secretariat Press
Release
Transnational crime continues to be a human and
economic threat in the Pacific and combating it
remains a high priority for law enforcement
agencies in the region.
'It is clear from the variety of investigations
in 2007 that the region is targeted by
individuals and groups attempting to undertake a
range of transnational crime activities," says
Peter Forau, Acting Secretary General of the
Forum Secretariat when opening the 2008 Forum
Regional Security Committee meeting at the
Secretariat in Suva, Fiji.
"Illicit narcotics including cocaine, heroin,
amphetamine precursors and cannabis have been
seized from Papua New Guinea and through major
tourist centres of Vanuatu and Fiji and across
to French Polynesia," says Mr Forau.
"All communities are open to attack from
transnational crime and the 2008 Pacific
Transnational Crime Assessment report highlights
the range of criminal activities in the Pacific
region and notes that legislation and capacity
remain the primary impediments to effective law
enforcement."
The Transnational Crime Assessment report is one
of several reports on the security issues
affecting the Pacific region being presented and
discussed at the two-day meeting.
Security is one of the four pillars of the
Pacific Plan endorsed by Pacific Forum Leaders
in 2005. The others are economic growth, good
governance and sustainable development.
"While I do not believe that any one of these
pillars is more important that the other, it is
a reasonable point to make that economic growth,
good governance and sustainable development
cannot occur in an environment of political and
security instability," says Mr Forau.
Key achievements under the Security pillar over
the past 12 months have included strengthening
of maritime safety and security, significant
progress in developing a natural disaster
Regional Early Warning Strategy through a
process of comprehensive multi-party
consultation and progress in addressing the
intensifying problems of unchecked urbanization
across the Pacific.
The 2008 Forum Regional Security Committee
meeting will also discuss other issues including
Counter Terrorism, Border Management, Money
Laundering, Human Security Issues, Land
Management, and contemporary political and
security challenges in the region.
Photo Caption:
Mr. Peter Forau, Deputy Secretary General of
the Pacific Islands Forum
Secretariat .LEAP Team presenting the results of
the Training Needs Analysis.
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(Photos:
Cathy Freeman) |
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AUSTRALIA: Australia's first superliner, the
Pacific Dawn
Source:
M & A Holidays Travel &
Tours Press Release
Sailing into our shores on the early morning of
Saturday last week June 21st, was the
Australia's first superliner, the Pacific Dawn.
She had been in port from 7am till 5pm, brought
in more than 2000 tourists.
The Local Agent for Pacific Dawn: M & A Holidays
Travel & Tours adviced all Tourist Related
Businesses such as handicraft stores,
restaurants, bars, hotels, taxis, and etc to
stock up and take advantage of the day.
Pacific Dawn is a cruise liner operating for P&O
Cruises Australia.
Formerly known as the Regal Princess (Princess
Cruises), She is Australia's first superliner to
be permanently based in Australia. Pacific Dawn
visited mainly South Pacific destinations during
her
service.
The ship was built in Italy in 1991 as Regal
Princess and went through a major refurbishment
in 2000 and in September 2007 in Singapore when
converted to Pacific Dawn.
General characteristics
Tonnage: 69,845 GRT
Length: 245,10m (804ft 2 in)
Decks: 11
Speed: 22.5kn (41.67km/h) maximum
Capacity: 2050 passengers
Crew: 696.
Photo Caption:
The Pacific Dawn while in Australia.
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HAWAII:
Federal Fishery Managers Recommend Lifting
Hawaii Swordfish
Source:
Western Pacific Fishery
Management Council Press Release
The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management
Council, concluded its four-day meeting in
Honolulu today, with a suite of recommendations
for management of offshore pelagic fisheries in
the US Pacific islands.
The Council voted to remove the effort limit
that has kept the Hawaii longline fishery for
swordfish operating at half of its historical
level of fishing for the past four years. The
effort limit was imposed when the fishery
reopened in 2004 following a lawsuit focused on
the
fishery’s interactions with loggerhead and
leatherback sea turtles.
Since its reopening, the fishery has been
subject to a suite of management measures that
include, among others, an effort limit,
requirements that a federal observer be onboard
during each and every Hawaii swordfish trip, and
annual hard caps of 16 leatherback or 17
loggerhead sea turtle interactions, with the
fishery closing down if either cap is reached.
In making its decision, the Council considered
the status of the swordfish stock, which
scientists at the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries
Science Center (PIFSC) and elsewhere have
determined
to be healthy, as well as the significantly
reduced interactions with sea turtles following
implementation of the 2004 management measures.
Additionally, the Council voted to modify the
sea turtle hard caps for the Hawaii longline
swordfish fishery to 19 leatherback and 46
loggerheads. In making this decision, the
Council considered that none of the sea turtle
interactions since 2004 have resulted in direct
mortalities, and the new caps do not appear to
jeopardize the continued existence of either
population.
Also today, the Council voted to continue work
on management measures for fish aggregating
devices (FADs) used by purse seine vessels
operating in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ)
of the US Pacific islands. The Council is
looking to classify all floating objects that
have been purposefully deployed, enhanced or
instrumented with the intent of utilization as
FADs by purse seine operations.
All such FADs would be required to be marked
with the owner’s name and vessel identification
and be registered with the National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS). The Council will also
look at limiting all purse seine FAD fishing in
the US EEZ to these registered FADs and
restricting the
use of FAD sets by purse seiners in the US EEZ
waters around American Samoa, Guam, the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)
and Hawaii. However, the Council will not take a
final vote on these matters until after the
Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission
convenes in December 2008, in Korea. This
international commission is expected to address
FAD management during its negotiations on
measures to end overfishing of bigeye tuna in
the Western and Central Pacific Ocean.
Additional recommendations made by the Council
today include the following, among others:
* Develop draft measures for a limited entry
program for the offshore handline and associated
(non-trolling) hook-and-line fishery around
Cross Seamount, weather buoys and private FADs
in
EEZ waters around Hawaii.
* Set a control date of June 19, 2008, for the
Hawaii charter vessel fishery. A control date
may be used as a reference point when
establishing a limited entry program. Concerns
were raised about significant declines in blue
marlin catches by this fishery and the potential
for this fishery to expand with the creation of
new large harbors in Kona on the Big Island and
in Ewa on Oahu. Recent information also
indicated that one-third of this fishery does
not meet license and reporting requirements.
* Set a control date of June 19, 2008, for the
CNMI-based longline fishery. The measure
recognizes the potential for this fishery to
increase rapidly, as it did in Hawaii and
American Samoa. Two longline vessels currently
operate in the CNMI. Both began operating in the
last couple of years.
* Develop measures to mitigate sea turtle
interaction with the American Samoa longline
fishery. Public meetings will be held with
longline fishermen in American Samoa beginning
in July. NMFS will also be requested to
immediately undertake cooperative research with
fishermen around American Samoa regarding
potential measures to cost effectively reduce
the longline-sea turtle interactions.
The Council is the policy-making agency for
fisheries management in the offshore waters of
the US Pacific Islands. Recommendations made by
the Council are transmitted to the Secretary of
Commerce for approval. For more information,
contact the Council at (808) 522-8220,
info.wpcouncil@noaa.gov or www.wpcouncil.org..
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TONGA: Tonga's parliament setting up commission
for political change
Source:
Matangi Tonga
The Tongan Parliament has this week taken a
first step toward changing the political system
of Tonga, with the introduction of a Bill to
establish a new commission whose task is to make
recommendations for political change with a
first report to be ready before the end of the
year.
A Bill for an Act to establish a Commission to
make Recommendations and to Produce Draft
Legislation to Change Tonga's Political System
had its first and second reading in the House
this week, said the Attorney General and the
Minister of Justice, Hon. 'Alisi Taumoepeau this
morning, June 20.
'Alisi told a press conference that the bill is
among budgetary-related legislation that has
been presented to the House, and must be passed
before the beginning of the new financial year
on July 1.
'Alisi said that once the Bill was enacted and
the Commission was established, it had a very
tight working schedule to get everything done
within the next 10 months. She said that the
Commission's report must be ready to be
presented to parliament next year.
Four members
The Commission is to have four members. The
Legislative Assembly and the Cabinet are to
appoint a candidate each, and the Judiciary
Services Commission (JSC) is to appoint two
candidates. The JSC is an entity that was
established in 2006, to be responsible for the
appointing of judges and staff of the judiciary.
'Alisi said that because members should have a
good knowledge of the law, it was thought it
would be most appropriate for the JSC to appoint
two candidates. The names of the four candidates
will then go before King in Privy Council for
their official appointment.
The members of the Commission cannot be a member
of the Legislative Assembly, the Cabinet or the
Judiciary Services Commission.
Commissioners
The Commissioners will hold office until three
months after the submission of their final
report.
Under the Bill, the Commission will have a
secretariat, to be managed by a director.
The working schedule of the Commission has been
clearly stated:
* Within 10 days of appointment of members, the
commission is to meet and a director of the
secretariat will be appointed.
* Within five months of appointment, a report
and interim recommendations are to be delivered
to Cabinet and the Legislative Assembly.
* Within seven months of appointment, if the
Commission decides to convene a Constitutional
Convention, such convention is to be held.
* Within 10 months of appointment, a report and
final recommendations are to be delivered to
Cabinet and the Legislative Assembly.
'Alisi said that the Commission is financed from
the vote of the Prime Minister's Office.
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