April 2013

April 2013

Contents

Vol. 39, No. 4

Telecommunications

32 Marshalls’ telecom chief questions bank’s strategy NTA left out as bank prepares new ICT policy

33 Vanuatu taps into ICT sector Moving closer to a

national ICT policy

34 Mobiles to help Fiji farmers Could be operational by mid-2013

Education

35 USP: A silent achiever But it can do a lot more

Sport

36 Tug-of-war over Pacific talent Who will play for the islands, a hot issue

Environment PRESIDENT ANOTE TONG SPEAKS OUT. Cover report—pages 16-19. Cover Photo: Kiribati

Govt.

39 Building resilience for a changing Pacific Natural solutions, way to go

Cover Report

Regular Features

16 Talking Point

Kiribati President Anote Tong talks on global warming, migration, fisheries and the Pacific Islands Forum

4 Letters to the Editor

Politics

6 Tarawa Diary

20 Climate change high on PCC’s agenda

Churches to be more involved with the community

7 We Say

21 Pacific leads the way

12 Whispers

22 CNMI cleans up after political mess

14 Pacific Update

In disaster risk management & climate change Could inspire ‘Pacific Spring’

24 ‘Explosive testimony’ on JPK hit

Promises of bigger hits to follow: lawyers

Nauru’s Dabwido faces vote of no confidence

40 Business Intelligence 42 RAMSI Update

Opposition wants him out

27 Green’s Kalosil deposes Kilman Indonesia top on new PM’s agenda

Business

28 Airline defends policy to charge by weight New move by Samoa Air

Air NZ, Virgin tie up islands skies A super force in the region?

‘Taxi’ fever hits Samoa

Taimalie ‘Charlie’ Ah Liki’s new venture Islands Business, April 2013 3

L E T T E R S Managing Director/Publisher Godfrey Scoullar Group Editor-in-Chief Laisa Taga Group Advertising & Marketing Manager Sharron Stretton Staff Writer Robert Matau Graphic Design Dick Lee Virendra Prasad Main Correspondents Australia Rowan Callick Nic Maclellan Davendra Sharma Fiji Samisoni Pareti Dionisia Tabureguci

French Polynesia Thibault Marais Marshall Islands Giff Johnson

New Zealand Dev Nadkarni Jale Moala Ruci Salato-Farrell Duncan Wilson Niue Stafford Guest

Papua New Guinea Baeau Tai Sam Vulum Patrick Matbob P Peter Niesi Solomon Islands Evan Wasuka Alfred Sasako T Tonga Taina Kami-Enoka T V Vanuatu Bob Makin Islands Business is published monthly by Islands Business International Editorial & Advertising Offices Level III, 46 Gordon Street, PO Box 12718, Suva, Fiji Islands.

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© 2013

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www.islandsbusiness.com Islands Business, April 2013

The ‘dirty secret’ of the region The unITed naTI a ons (un) dIrT rTy rT Ty secreT Is that West Papua is a trust territory.

In 1962, the UN sent a military occupation force to West Papua under the General Assembly Resolution 1752 (XVII), a use of force the General Assembly is allowed under Article 85 and Chapter XII of the UN Charter. At that instant, the entire UN including Fiji took on the legal duties of Articles 76, 87, and 88 of the UN Charter.

A colony is normally external to the United Nations which is why the Security Council cannot normally use its powers to help those colonies. But once the UN decides to occupy a territory, the colony remains a UN responsibility until it is free which the UN only acknowledges when the territory becomes a member of the United Nations. That is why Article 78 of the Charter is the only means to end the Trusteeship.

West Papua, of course, has the world’s largest gold mine and US businessmen, in particular Freeport director Robert Lovett, wanted a cheap mining license for gold and other mineral wealth of Papua. That is when Lovett’s friend McGeorge Bundy began to tell President Kennedy that the US had to ensure Indonesia got possession of the colony.

Legally, there is no authority to trade humans and their nation, but the United Nations can invite any UN member to administer a trust territory colony and the Indonesian military wanted to be in West Papua. But Sukarno and the US businessmen did not want the UN to exercise Articles 76, 87 and 88 of the Charter so the 1962 agreement does not use the word “trusteeship” and the newspapers were never told the UN and Indonesian occupation were being exercised under Chapter XII of the UN Charter.

After the death of Dag Hammarskjold, the new UN Secretary-General, U Thant, hosted the negotiations over the wording of the 1962 agreement and before he left office, the UN members tried to distance themselves from the trusteeship in the General Assembly Resolution 2504 (XXIV).

But like breaking an egg, once you kill people or occupy their lands, the deed can not be undone and the UN is still bound by the UN Charter to protect the rights of West Papua.

I hope the new UN members like Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomons, and other nations will do the right thing and ask the United Nations, is West Papua a trust territory? Only the International Court of Justice (ICJ) can declare it as a legal fact or not, but the truth is obvious and the lives of our brothers and sisters in West Papua depend on the UN remembering its trusteeship duty.

Andrew Johnson Australia West Papua Association Sydney, AUSTRALIA

Pacific Plan Review I read wIT w h InTeresT Professor wadan narsey’s recent article in Islands BusIness refer-

ring to the Pacif ic Plan Review (published on February 27 and entitled “An emerging chasm in Pacific integration”).

It’s wonderful the review is sparking interest around the region—including from established academics such as Professor Narsey—but it’s a little concerning that some details in the article were incorrect. I wanted to highlight these.

Firstly, the article referred to the omission of prominent academics. While it is certainly regrettable that none of those academics applied to be on the review team, the secretariat and the review team have been in direct contact with several of them to seek their inputs to the review—but had little or no response. If Professor Narsey or other readers could suggest more effective ways of seeking academic input to the review, their views would be most welcome.

Secondly, the article referred to a “closed meeting with a chosen few” at USP and to open meetings in Wellington and Canberra. There were in fact no distinctions in the organisation of any of these meetings—in all the cases the review team asked the secretariat to facilitate meetings with academics, and in all cases we contacted the relevant universities to ask them to organise a meeting with any interested academics (from multiple institutions). We’re not privy to the method they used to contact academics, but I imagine a fairly wide call for attendance was issued.

Thirdly, the article stated that Fiji will be excluded from country visits and consultations, which is not the case. In the review team’s methodology, which has been publicly available on their website since early January, the team explicitly states their intention to hold consultations in Fiji. These are planned for May, subject to the agreement of the government. Please see the link on this page: http://pacificplanreview. org/review-scope/team-approach/ The relevant text reads: “The review will gather evidence and opinions through: (i) Visits by the review team to (subject to formalisation) all 16 Pacific Islands Forum Member Countries, including Fiji, as well as the Forum’s two Associate Members.”

The review team is very interested in hearing a range of opinion from around the region, and has invited written submissions from all interested stakeholders—the details for which can be found at http://pacificplanreview.org/submissions/ —Seini O’Connor (Ms.) Pacific Plan Adviser Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Suva, FIJI

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Column be as high as 80 percent, though a government official puts it about 60. Of the 20 percent who are in the workforce, 80 percent are employed in government jobs.

Shipping connections are few and extremely unreliable, as in some other parts of the Pacific. A restaurant hand tells me that the country someBY DEV NADKARNI times runs out of rice and other food supplies for four weeks at a time. Recently it ran out of cooking gas for several weeks. Occasionally, it also runs out of fuel. No wonder I find so many petrol stations – curiously, all of them unbranded – closed.

With no tourism industry – all tourism centers around the distant Kirtimati Islands, which attracts US nostalgia tourists interested in the island’s many intriguing WW-II relics – Tarawa has severely limited accommodation options.

The only hotel, the state owned Otintaai, is in a pathetic state of disrepair but an Australian entrepreneur has apparently bid to partner with for drinking without chemically purifying and the government in restoring it back to health. No Four and a half years ago, as I drive down the boiling it. Most people store rainwater in tanks one I speak to is sure of the timelines though. one single road that connects the line of thin, long provided by aid agencies.

The only foreigners that descend on Tarawa atolls in Tarawa, Kiribati – a country that’s tipped While the threat of climate change is real and crowd out the overpriced, motel style acto be consumed by the ocean because of rising sea and the bulk of funds are targeted at mitigating commodation are laptop, tablet and smartphone levels – I can’t help but get that sinking feeling. its effects and adapting to it, the tiny nation’s wielding aid agency types who stare at their Last month, as I drive down that same single, other more pressing and perhaps far more serious screens and patter away at their keyboards in much more potholed 30-km long road, that problems are not receiving the attention they so between morsels at the motel’s three-items-onfeeling of grim foreboding returns. But it’s not urgently deserve. the-menu eatery. Not that smartphones work because of the rising waters of the calm, specOverpopulation and overcrowding are clearly anywhere outside the accommodation areas. tacularly blue-green Pacific Ocean. Rather, it’s the country’s number one problem. And that There is no mobile roaming in Tarawa, no telebecause it looks as though the fragile atolls are is the source of a range of other compounding vision, no fancy places to hang out, no cinemas, sinking beneath the weight of the sea of humans problems that the country faces – but somehow, no pharmacies (except at the hospital), not even a that’s engulfing Tarawa faster than the increasall these seem to play second fiddle to the climate place to take a long walk except or some stretches ingly frequent king tides. change and rising sea levels frenzy that the global of beach at low tide.

Along with the far greater number of potholes media has whipped up over recent years.

A visiting biologist tells me the potential health and even more unmarked speed bumps that I Ask the average i-Kiribati and they’ll tell you risks that the i-Kiribati face are extremely serious. can remember from my previous visit, the only With a mere semblance of a healthcare change I notice is there are far more system, any serious outbreak of a people, particularly young boys, serious contagious disease could large girls and little children milling swathes of the population at great risk, about on both sides of the long thin he says. But the unrestricted imports road that services what appears to be of processed, canned foods laden just one long unbroken, continuous with high salt, sugar and fat has alsettlement. ready catapulted non-communicable Migration from the outer atolls, diseases (NCDs) to endemic proporerosion and encroachment by a ristions. Obesity seems to be becoming ing tideline and the natural growth the norm – particularly among young in population have conspired to and middle aged women. make South Tarawa the densest Food and water security are clearly place in not just the Pacific. Populathe nation’s biggest issues followed by tion density on Tarawa is more than twice that of Auckland or Sydney healthcare, early childhood and job – almost equal to that of London. creation. The country has a sizeable High salinity...water wells like this one in Betio are getting increasingly salty. Photo: Dev Paradoxically, it’s one of the world’s nest egg thanks to a fund created by Nadkarni most isolated places, reachable only proceeds of the sale of phosphate on from Fiji, three hours’ flight away, the outer islands. But over the recent just twice a week, barring a flight or past, the government has had to dip two that turns up every other week from Nauru the problems of overpopulation, crowding, jobs, into its principal for meeting its budgetary needs. and Brisbane. scarce food and water besides healthcare are far It needs to watch out for fear of going its neighKiribati has been the focus of dozens of TV more serious and immediate than the prospect bour Nauru’s way. shows in the past decade because it has been of becoming the first country to sink under the Later this year, the United States plans to designated as one of the most vulnerable isocean because of rising sea levels. commemorate an anniversary of the Battle of lands to sea level rise caused by climate change.

The pressure on space is so great that ghetTarawa, when I believe it will help restore some Tarawa’s highest point is just a few metres above tos reminiscent of Sao Paolo and Mumbai are of the rusting WWII hardware on Betio at the sea level. Higher tidelines have caused erosion beginning to form at many spots along the long southern end of Tarawa hopefully sparking some of the shoreline and flooded coconut groves, the thin road. Dwellings are starting to be built on tourist interest. increased salinity making any form of agriculture stilts along the waterline in some places. There As my plane takes off for Fiji, I can’t help but extremely difficult. appears to be little planning if any at all and so look at the receding line of atolls in the middle of Changing weather patterns bring in irregular sanitation, particularly around these burgeoning the Pacific as a spectacular failure of aid and donor rainfall, the residents’ only source of freshwater new dwellings are an obvious issue. agencies around the world, most of whose efforts other than meager groundwater reserves that are In an environment that has almost no infraseem to have sunk like a stone to the bottom of tending to taste increasingly salty with the rising structure for industry or even a modest business the ocean while making their assortment of fancy tideline. Poor sewerage systems also cause seepage other than retail, unemployment is sky high. One consultants richer in both money wise and in into the groundwater system making it unsafe expatriate professional manager says it might terms of been there done that bragging rights.

Tarawa Diary

Sinking under a sea of humanity

6 Islands Business, April 2013

WESAY ‘The church has tremendous influence over the lives of the people—much more than any government can ever hope to wield. The move will give impetus to efforts of Pacific islanders in making their collective voices heard on regional and global stage’

T

he institution with the most influence on the minds of a vast majority of Pacific islands people has waded into one of the most discussed problems of the region.

Last month, the Pacific Conference of Churches called upon Australia, New Zealand and other larger countries around the region to prepare to accept people fleeing the deleterious effects of climate change especially in small islands nations.

Though religious institutions have always been part of the larger discourse on climate change as part of civil society in deliberations around the world such as in Bali, Copenhagen and Cancun, this is the first time an organisation of a profile as high as the Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC) has formally addressed targeted nations with such a plea.

The organisation has placed climate change at the top of its agenda for the next five years, following up on the 2009 Moana Declaration, which provided the guideline on PCC’s work on climate change and relocation of affected people.

This move must be welcomed. For the influence of the church on Pacific islands society is wide and deep. Every village in the islands has a church and often a large part of the community’s activities are centered round the church. Most islanders are deeply religious and many donate generously to religious causes—often sending funds back to their parishes even while living and working overseas.

The church has tremendous influence over the lives of the people—much more than any government can ever hope to wield.

The move will give impetus to efforts of Pacific islanders in making their collective voices heard on regional and global stage.

The church has often been at the receiving end of criticisms from sociologists for being slow in being pro-active to problems such as HIV-AIDS, the need to practice birth control, particularly in densely populated islands and atolls, and even preparing their flock for the effects of climate change.

This stand that the 28-member nation Pacific Conference of Churches has taken at its event in the Solomon Islands last month is a step in the right direction. But just how the people and governments of countries like Australia, New Zealand and Fiji will accept climate change refugees, remains to be seen.

While the church’s championing of the climate change cause and commissioning its own research in the most vulnerable islands nations such as Kiribati, Tuvalu and French Polynesia is commendable, especially after its long silence on the issue over the past several years, what strategy will evolve to pursue last month’s call with the governments of Australia, New Zealand and Fiji will be extremely

important in making any progress on the issue.

Global jamborees have repeatedly made mega pledges on raising mega funds for the adaptation and mitigation plans for climate change affected societies, especially those identified as vulnerable, low-lying small islands states.

However, the funds have only come in drips and drabs highlighting the fact that rich countries are loath in putting their monies where their mouths are. In most climate change dialogues, lip service has been the norm—real action has been painfully slow.

For one thing, international relocation of climate change affected people has not even begun to be seriously discussed in formal climate change discussions.

It has so far not even been a serious point on the agenda other than being brought up and highlighted by groups outside the formal discourse pattern, as seen by placard-wielding activities outside venues holding such discussions.

Despite their avowed commitment to financing and helping implement climate change adaptation and mitigation programmes in affected nations, the rich nations of the world, much less organisations like the United Nations, are yet to come up with even the rudiments of a policy for relocating climate change refugees when the unfortunate time comes.

While discussions continue to center around the industrial and economic aspects of climate change, the humanitarian aspect continues to be neglected. This is where organisations like the Pacific Conference of Churches can play a meaningful role on behalf of the people most affected by climate change—those who have neither the financial nor the infrastructural resources to counter the emerging situation.

Against such a backdrop, the Pacific Conference of Churches should not expect any substantial pro-active response from the governments of Australia and New Zealand in regard to proposals that have to do with the acceptance of climate change refugees or their temporary or permanent relocation. Those countries are already struggling with policy-making around refugees of the political sort that end up on their shores and are routinely being sent off to “offshore processing centres”— ironically, in the impoverished islands.

The churches are well advised to strive to keep the relocation issue at the top of their climate change agenda and force future international deliberations to include it as an agenda point to start building an international policy around it.

Climate change top on PCC’s agenda

Islands Business, April 2013 7

WESAY But while they are at it, they must train their efforts in the near term on the other actions it has pledged to undertake at the Solomon Islands event: churches will help document case studies and publish findings through their network; write about real examples of how some communities are already living sustainably through the careful utilisation of resources; and so on. The documentation of such information is valuable.

As well as researching and collating information, the churches must deepen their involvement in working with the communities on their own adaptation and mitigation programmes at the grassroots level.

After all, Pacific islanders have the innate ability to have survived in the most challenging of environments for millennia.

The church is powerfully positioned to bring about a change in attitude not only in its flock, but if it plays its cards well in the world’s attitude to the humanitarian aspect of climate change—most importantly towards forming some sort of policy for the relocation of threatened populations.

It is heartening to see the PCC has emphatically recognised at last month’s conference that such important issues were hitherto at the periphery of the core activities of the churches, which are built around theology and must be brought into the mainstream discourse. Because climate change is real and it affects people in so many irreversible ways. It is a good sign that the church has taken such a firm step towards engaging with stakeholders on such anall-important issue.

‘The inability to grasp simple concepts like calculating interest, planning a budget, computing tax payments, investing wisely, discerning between competing financial offerings such as mortgages besides other financial concepts can put individuals at a distinct disadvantage and set them on a path to financial ruin despite being educated’

O

ne of the negative effects of the increasing use of computing technology in early childhood education and primary schools is that numeracy skills in many parts of the world are falling. A recent survey in New Zealand showing that far fewer school children today can successfully perform simple addition, subtraction and multiplication exercises than 10 years ago set alarm bells ringing in education circles in the country.

Calculators and computers now are an integral part of education and the earlier need to learn multiplication tables by rote and make calculations using pencil and paper are almost a thing of the past in almost all developed societies. Less than a generation ago, calculators were not allowed in most classrooms and examination halls. It is not so any longer.

Learning experts have shown that the ability to perform calculations manually helps exercise the brain, employing more of its neural infrastructure, which in turn helps develop overall learning skills— sharpening the brain, as it were.

The more the neural infrastructure is exercised, the better the brain’s analytical functions perform. It is hard to dispute the connection between the advent and use of personal computing technology in schools and the downslide in children’s ability to perform manual calculations.

The same can probably be said about spelling, grammar and writ-

8 Islands Business, April 2013

ing skills. For even many of the previous generation, the computer and the QWERTY keyboard and mouse have made writing more than a few words at a time—like noting down an address or a phone number—are a thing of the past. Think: when is the last time you wrote a handwritten letter to anybody, put it in an envelope, closed it after licking its sleeve with your tongue, stamped it and walked a kilometre to put it in a mail box?

Handwriting has all but disappeared, replaced by the keyboard and within a generation, it is likely that keyboard skills, too, will be a thing of the past, with the spread of touchscreen devices and those that detect movement without any physical contact. Anyone who has watched three and four-year olds handle iPads and other tablets of its ilk as well as motion sensitive TV games would need no convincing about this.

The ubiquity of smartphones and all sorts of instant communication devices has made abbreviated text language almost the norm in young people and this is making inevitable inroads into their academic work. Text language in formal writing is a major headache for teachers in school and it is entirely possible that the emphasis on spelling correctly will be a thing of the past as long as the sense is conveyed unambiguously. After all, today’s teenagers who spell the way they do, will be tomorrow’s teachers.

While gadgetry may enhance mind, body coordination and encourage shortcuts in communication with the increased use of

WESAY symbols, short forms and ungrammatically truncated sentences, they do not necessarily aid basic literacy and numeracy skills. Repeated studies in the developed world bear this out.

This could probably mean that fewer people are equipped to deal with the challenges the real world presents in their professional and personal lives as adults working productively in an economy.

Proponents of gadgetry in early learning might well argue that the increased use of networked learning tools enhance the learning experience.

There is no question about that. The point here is that it does not necessarily help basic literacy and numeracy skills unless combined with offline learning exercise and some measure of rote learning such as multiplication tables.

Poor literacy results in poor communication skills, especially in formal situations but poor numeracy skills have the potential to cause far greater damage.

The inability to grasp simple concepts like calculating interest, planning a budget to live within one’s means, computing tax payments, investing wisely, discerning between competing financial offerings such as mortgages, besides other financial concepts can put individuals at a distinct disadvantage and set them on a path to financial ruin despite being educated.

Committed individuals have repeatedly made demands for the compulsory introduction of financial literacy programmes in early learning environments but to little avail. It is a well known fact that most self-made millionaires had a good grasp of financial concepts at a young age, leading them to deal wisely with their finances in later life, compounding their wealth many times over in the most productive years of their lives.

Financial education in Fiji schools

In such a dismal early educational backdrop, Fiji must be congratulated for the big step it has taken in introducing a formal financial education programme in schools, exposing some 200,000 students to concepts of financial literacy, starting with the Nadi Airport School.

The Financial Education (FinED) Fiji Project involves the integration of personal money management and investment into the school curriculum from Classes 1 to 8 and Forms 3 to 6.

This will undoubtedly equip the students to better manage and invest money from a very young age. The school’s teachers are not just integrating financial education in existing subjects but also using financial education activities as Classroom Based Assessments (CBA).

The students, on their part, are already learning to prepare budgets working in groups, learning about savings and investments and even planning a financial school newspaper—an extremely commendable idea. This will undoubtedly help them communicate financial concepts after having learned about them.

The initiative is part of the Pacific Financial Inclusion Programme (PFIP) and is managed in Fiji by the Ministry of Education. PFIP is a Pacific-wide programme helping to provide sustainable financial services to low income households.

It is a project of the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

As well as supplying schools with computing devices like laptops, tablets, smartphones and calculators and the engaging software to run them, it is extremely important for government education departments to take measures to enhance basic practical skills like numeracy with a view to turning out responsible citizens who are fully aware and equipped to make informed decisions and contribute positively to their national economy and enhance their own prosperity in their adult lives.

‘Imposing a ban is one thing. Enforcing it is quite another. As well as losing revenue by banning fishing in its exclusive zone, it risks spending its meagre resources on trying to enforce the ban—in all probability, quite ineffectively...Palau is well advised to develop alternative revenue streams through tourism investments before implementing blanket bans on fishing in its commercial zone and risking plunging the nation into a financial hole’

F

or too long have Pacific Islands states suffered at the mercy of rich distant waters fishing nations who for decades have systematically plundered their natural oceanic resources offering in return a pittance, which has been accepted without even a whimper by Pacific

leaders.

Pacific islanders have been short-changed since times immemorial. In history, there are stories galore of how the entire islands and sprawling tracts of what now consists of valuable real estate changed hands between natives and foreigners in exchange for bottles of Islands Business, April 2013 9

WESAY liquor, blankets and even iron nails. Much of such exchanges also tematically been taking place around the region despite several took place on religious grounds. In all such transactions, islanders counter measures being in place, including treaties, agreements received the short end of the deal. and even physical policing mechanisms. Little wonder that fish Unfortunately, despite political independence, being governed stocks are beginning to dry up even in the once teeming Pacific. In by democratic systems for the most part and being part of the some places, the impact of overfishing has been so bad that coastal modern world with many mechanisms to ensure equity in human fisheries have also been affected, impacting on the food security of endeavours in place today, the Pacific Islands are still caught up in coastal communities in the islands. a mediaeval time warp.

It hardly comes as a surprise, then, that last month Palau’s PresiIn a place where rich nations and multinational businesses condent Tommy Remengesau proposed banning all commercial fishing tinue to shortchange them for their resources in exchange for mere in the Pacific nation’s waters. sops—apparently satisfying the powers that be.

President Remengesau said his nation of 300 islands, with a This happens in almost every case where population of about 21,000, generated negthe exploitation of any natural resource is ligible revenue from foreign fishing vessels involved—whether it be fishing, logging, plying its waters. Despite having an exclusive mineral mining or other such resource economic zone that sprawls across 630,000 extraction that belong to the people of the square kilometres, the country nets just Pacific islands.

US$5 million in revenue.

One would assume that the self governing Countries like Kiribati, with a much bigger islands states would now be compensated exclusive zone and the Solomon Islands deduly for such exploitation because of their spite being in the midst of the richest oceanic own who are in charge of decision-making. zone for tuna don’t fare much better. Their But that is far from the truth. revenues are not much higher considering And the reasons vary from ignorance and that authorities put the annual commercial the foolishness to be led astray by powerful value of tuna fished in the Pacific at US$4 foreign forces to sheer incompetence and billion. This is not to speak of any other downright corruption. commercial catch that the long-liners net by One of such exploitation that has been the very nature of their operations. occurring for decades and about which little President Remengesau couldn’t have said has been done not just to the detriment of it better when he proposed a ban last month: the Pacific islanders alone but to the world “Revenue received from commercial fishing at large is live oceanic resources. It has been PresidentTommy T Tommy Remengesau....fishing revenue negligible. licences and taxes from commercial fishing is known for decades that foreign countries, Photo: 24.media.tumblr.com a drop in the bucket compared to the profits mega fishing companies and fly-by-night opmade by large fishing companies.” erators have been plundering the fish stocks The president believes that investment in the exclusive economic zones of islands nations with impunit impunity. in adventure, sport and ecotourism and its promotion will net far There might be all sorts of agreements and accords in place more revenue than the US$5 million that foreign fishing activities that are supposed to report catch, limit it to sustainable levels and bring the tiny island state. compensate the islands nations concerned correctly and fairly. But He plans to create one of the world’s largest marine reserves, it is clear that this rarely happens. The poorly resourced islands covering an area roughly the size of France. nations have neither the financial muscle nor the infrastructural Though far from fair and certainly not equitable, that small to enforce their writ, which in some cases doesn’t even exist. For amount is vital to the country’s finances. An immediate ban will rob Pacific Islands peoples, therefore, getting short-changed is the norm the exchequer of that amount straight away. But at the same time, ilrather than the exception. legal fishing might well continue especially since Palau does not have Every once in a while, the media in the islands breaks stories the resources to police the vast swathes of its commercial waters. about suspect arrangements that islands governments through their Imposing a ban is one thing. Enforcing it is quite another. As well fisheries ministries and senior officials get into with distant waters as losing revenue by banning fishing in its exclusive zone, it risks fishing nations and large multinational fishing organisations. In spending its meagre resources on trying to enforce the ban—in all recent months, the media in the Cook Islands has been rife with probability, quite ineffectively. Rather than put the cart before the stories casting aspersions on the country’s fishing administration horse, Palau is well advised to develop alternative revenue streams and fishing companies in China. through tourism investments before implementing blanket bans on fishing in its commercial zone and risking plunging the nation Whichever way one looks at it, the dice is into a financial hole.

Banning loaded against Pacific Islanders getting fair and Palau’s stand raises an important point. In fact, all islands nations fishing in equitable proceeds from their fisheries resourcmust take a hard look at how they are being short-changed and place Palau’s EEZ es: their small, under resourced economies, priority on negotiating better deals on fishing, while at the same time poor infrastructure and policing capabilities, implementing stricter enforceable conditions on the big players. their own corrupt politicians and officials and bureaucratic incomMeanwhile, they must also develop alternative eco-friendly revpetence and bungling ensure that everyone else except the Pacific enue streams like the president’s idea of sport, nature and adventure Islanders themselves profit from the riches in their own exclusive tourism in the same waters. economic zones.

• We Say is compiled and edited by Laisa Taga.

This is to say nothing of the rampant overfishing that has sysIslands Business, April 2013

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1 2 TH PA C I F I C S C I E N C E INTER-CONGRESS July 08 - 12, 2013

University of the South Pacific, Laucala Campus, Suva, Fiji

“Science for Human Security & Sustainable Development in the Pacific Islands & Rim” Rationale

According to the 1994 UN Human Development Report (UNHDR), ‘Human Security’ is defined from two aspects: ‘First, safety from such chronic threats as hunger, disease and repression. And second, it means protection from sudden and hurtful disruptions in the patterns of daily life –whether in homes, in jobs or in communities’. Threats on human security are a growing concern in the Pacific Islands and Rim countries and these include climate change, poor resource management and socioeconomic instability to name a few examples. Such threats will jeopardise much needed development within the Pacific Basin.

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The 12th Pacific Science Association Inter-Congress will provide the platform for scientists, researchers, academic and interested participants to present and discuss on various issues relating to human security in the Pacific Islands and Rim. It is envisaged that identifying best practices will be highlighted, as well as comparing what has worked and what has not in the hope of finding plausible solutions to issues that will be discussed. Moreover, the Inter-Congress aims to forge and enhance sustainable networks and forums of people who are passionate about human security.

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History

The Pacific Science Inter-Congress provides an interdisciplinary platform for scientists to discuss and review common concerns and priorities in the region. Since the first Inter-Congress in 1969 a total of 11 Inter-Congress has been hosted so far, with county of host ranging from .

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Malaysia

Mangilao, Guam

Bali, Indonesia

Singapore

Manila, Philippines

Valparaiso, Chile

Okinawa, Japan

USP, Suva, Fiji

Taipei, China

Mangilao, Guam, USA

Tahiti, French Polynesia

Suva, Fiji

Themes

Biodiversity, Ecosystem Services, & Resilient Societies

Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) For Sustainable Development

Contact

Conference Planner Anitelu Mata St John University of the South Pacific Research Office Email: stjohn_a@usp.ac.fj Phone: (679) 323 2268 Fax: (679) 323 1504

www.psi2013.usp.ac.fj

Food, Water, Energy & Health

Society, Culture & Gender

Important Dates:

Governance, Economic Development & Public Policy

08 August 2012 26 October 2012 28 February 2013 31 March 2013 31 March 2013 30 May 2013

Climate Change and Impacts

Call for Abstracts Registration Opens Early Bird Registration Closes Deadline for Submission of Abstract Confirmation of Acceptance of Abstracts Standard Registration Closes

Follow us on

Oceans

Whispers Who will be the next CEO? The milliondollar question being whispered around the corridors or tarmac of Fiji’s international airport is, who shall it be? The new boss of its national carrier to be exact! Interestingly, amidst all the pomp and ceremony associated with the arrival of Air Pacific’s (soon to be Fiji Airways) new Airbus A330-200, an unidentified guest was among the invited: he is said to be the head-hunter of Dave Pflieger’s successor, hired from a big consultancy firm in Hong Kong. The list of people he met was interesting, it has been whispered: apparently three of Pflieger’s top echleon put in their interest and of the three, two were said to be women. One name that was making the round as a potential successor has denied his interest. He is also a member of the airline board.

the new plural form of aircraft—aircrafts! And by the way, the speech writer seems to think that there are four official languages in Fiji; English, Fijian, Hindi and Urdu! Protocol seemed to have taken backstage too on the day; the President and PM of the country were made to eat their lunch standing, as no chairs were provided. The chairs were apparently used for members of the Events team hired to “run” the show. They came all the way from Washington DC, by the way!  Packing all…Word is now getting back that when a head of a regional organisation finished his contract and was heading home, he packed everything in the official residence including cutlery and beddings. Well, so much for transparency.

  Still on the national carrier…the hype and media frenzy over the arrival of the new Airbus also had its turbulent moments; like the faceless speech writer who tried to input into the chief guest’s speech that the landowners of the airport were from the former President’s district. And got his grammar all mixed up with

We’ve Got it!

Cyclone aftermath…All is not well it seems in Fiji’s engineers fraternity as it is now evident that last December’s tropical storm Evan did more than destroyed homes, gardens and infrastructure. Now it is becoming apparent that the super cyclone had exposed shoddy engineering

work and practices. Take for example the Nadi hotel that got the roof of an entire wing blown away. Or the high school, recently commissioned, losing its new roof as well. Or the entire island resort that has had its collection of beach bungalows declared unsafe due to structural damage.

Almost all of its 180 staff have been sent home.

The whisper is that several so-called engineers will be losing their licences as a result! And that international reinsurers are reportedly casting their attention yet again to the durability of some of the locally manufactured materials, like roofing tins for example. Some of these are being retailed without engineering certification, it is believed!  Skyrail for POM? Well, the Governor of the National Capital District in PNG is full of plans to make the capital city Port Moresby beautiful and safe for not only tourists but also POM residents. People who regularly visit POM can see the changes. His latest plan? Well, Governor Powes Parkop proposes to build a skyrail for the city residents and tourists. According to an article published in the City Sivarai, one of the main reasons behind building the skyrail is for the city

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12 Islands Business, April 2013

Whispers residents to experience the beauty of their city’s natural environment from a bird’s eye view. The proposed skyrail is expected to start at the 14 mile Adventure Park across Rouna Valley, going up to the Variarata National Park to Crystal Rapids and down to Taihera Beach. The proposal is unique, different and full of excitement and adventure.

And the Governor should be commended for the innovative ideas he brings to the city. The proposal has already got the support of the Department of Environment and Conservation and it is expected that a Memorandum of Agreement will be signed as a start to make this proposal a reality.  Tit for a tat…Politicians can be a weird lot.

Take for example a politician in this Pacific islands nation that following a recent natural disaster promised to help all victims by rebuilding destroyed homes. However, two villages were told they would only receive assistance if they first presented their apologies to the said politician.

The big man was not bemused its been whispered about remarks representatives of the two villages said about him at a recent public forum. To-date, the big man has stayed true to his promise and has refused public assistance!  Banning new religions…While on the subject of politics, what is the story with one of the world’s smallest democracies, banning newer religions to practice their faith? Tuvalu has made it law that a Tuvaluan that refuses to pay for the salary of the village pastor (that belongs to the Church of Tuvalu) will not be allowed to practice his own religion. About 7 newer religions have fell foul of this new law, and police have ordered the closure of their churches in Funafuti and in other islands. So much for claiming to support freedom of religion!  Still on Tuvalu…the Opposition party there is getting tired of waiting for a by-election to fill a seat left vacant following the death of finance minister Lotoala Metia last December. So it has taken the government to court to force them to hold a by-election. The Opposition claims it is a deliberate ploy by Prime Minister Willie Telavi, who fears losing his parliamentary majority.  Diplomats as drug dealers? If what we read in the Washington Post is true, then this story sounds crazy. But there is good reason, according to the Washington Post to suspect this story, in the prominent South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo, could be true. According to the story http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_ dir/2013/03/20/2013032001084.html, North

Korea ordered its diplomats in some number of foreign embassies, including at least one in Eastern Europe, to sell illegal drugs on the streets. The diplomats, according to a defector who spoke to South Korean intelligence, were each sent abroad with 20 kilogrammes (about 44 pounds) of drugs and told to raise $300,000 from the sales. In case that is not weird enough for you, the diplomats were told that they were being asked to forgo their ambassadorial responsibilities in favour of pushing illicit drugs in order “to prove their loyalty and mark the birthday of nation founder Kim Il Sung on April 15.” The story estimates that a single embassy might enlist 10 of its diplomats as drug dealers, an earning potential of $3 million per foreign mission.

North Korea desperately needs hard currency—literal paper cash—to make up for its economic isolation. The money could also potentially be spent on the country’s weapons programme.  Interesting stats: Each of the 10 countries in the Pacific for which data is available have 60% of more of the adult population overweight, and in six countries more than 75% are overweight.

In four countries of the Pacific, at least half the adult population is obese. Obesity and being overweight often occurs at young ages: nearly one in four boys and one in five girls in Tonga are obese. Other risk factors apart from weight are also significant in the Pacific. Over two thirds of people in Kiribati smoke tobacco daily. Over 70% of people in Cook Islands are physically inactive. Only 5% of adult females and 10% of adult males were free of any of the preventable risk factors for acquiring NCDs in Vanuatu.

Ageing is likely to be a challenge. Most Pacific countries currently have young populations: the median in Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu is 21 years of age. But as these populations age, NCDs can be expected to increase. NCDs account for 70% of all deaths in the Pacific.  Leaders meeting dates…It is now official.

The next Pacific Islands Leaders Forum summit will be held on September 4 in the Marshall Islands. It will be followed by a Leaders Retreat the following day.  Rap over the knuckles...Whispers hears that a head of a regional organisation is not looking at capital Wellington favourably these days.

Sources say the regional head was being told off by a very senior New Zealand government official. And the issue was to do with Fiji.

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Islands Business, April 2013 13

Pacific Update

Tonga energy roadmap model for the region

China vs Taiwan gets hotter in th

By Mue Bentley-Fisher*

By Alfred Sasako

he Tonga Energy Roadmap (TERM) sets admirable standards for the region.

Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum, Tuiloma Neroni Slade, made this point at the Pacific Leaders’ Energy Summit held in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, last month.

TERM places government in the lead in managing multiple donors in a coherent manner around its national priorities in energy.

Adopted in 2010, TERM is acknowledged as a good development practice across the region and globally. It sets out a single plan for all donors to align their assistance and support, rather than government realigning its priorities based on development partners’ interests.

“There is not a facet of economic development and growth or trade in the region—indeed, of poverty alleviation activity—that is not affected by heavy energy reliance,” said Tuiloma while addressing the high-level meeting.

Across the region, approximately 1.3 billion litres of fossil fuels are imported annually at a total cost of nearly US$1 billion. Tonga’s total fuel imports account for about 25% of all imports and over 10% of its GDP. “Time and again over the years global market forces cause dramatic shifts in fuel costs and supplies and the region as a whole is basically defenceless against spiralling fuel prices and the associated consequences of inflation and related economic difficulties,” said Tuiloma.

He highlighted that Pacific Islands Forum Leaders continue to emphasise the importance of securing access to energy, their commitment to renewable energy, promotion of efficiency measures and the need for significant progress in diversification by developing domestic renewable energy to reduce their reliance on imported fuels.

“In particular, Forum Leaders have encouraged the development of credible whole-of-sector plans such as ‘energy roadmaps’ and structures to improve energy security, reduce dependency on fossil fuel and improve access for all to electricity,” said Tuiloma.

He added that Forum Leaders have also acknowledged the benefit of facilitating greater private sector participation. And they have called on development partners to assist in the implementation of national energy sector plans and targets and to strengthen coordination of their financing activities.

“This summit gathering is true to the declared ambition and determination of Forum Leaders to take effective action now for a secure energy future for all Pacific communities.”

The Pacific Leaders’ Energy Summit was held in Nuku’alofa on March 21-22, hosted by the Government of the Kingdom of Tonga and its development partners.

The meeting provided the platform for development partners and Pacific Leaders to explore ideas and plans to chart the way forward in developing a sustainable energy future for all the people of the region.

The Pacific Leaders Energy Summit in Tonga was followed by the Pacific Energy Summit in Auckland, New Zealand, on March 24-26.

olomon Islands and Taiwan marked 30 years of diplomatic relations this year. None thought then their “marriage” would one day be the focus in the race for military and economic dominance in the Pacific.

It was on March 24, 1983 that Taipei scored a diplomatic coup over China with the announcement that it had established diplomatic relations with Solomon Islands.

The announcement took a delegation sent by then Prime Minister, the late Solomon Mamaloni by total surprise.

Led by the late Bartholomew Ulufa’alu, another former prime minister, the delegation was concluding negotiations on diplomatic relations with Chinese officials in Beijing that day. Beijing never took Solomon Islands seriously since then.

Until now, that is.

But 30 years on, it appears Beijing is ready to payback Taipei.

In the build-up to the 30th anniversary celebration on March 24, the Solomon Islands Ministry of Rural Development, which acts as a conduit for all Taiwanese political funding, took out a twopage advertisement in the local newspaper marking the so-called milestone in the relations.

Taipei sent a dozen or so citizens to witness the occasion in a function at the Sea King restaurant, the only known Taiwanese business concern in downtown Honiara.

But beneath the veneer of the so-called warm and endearing friendship, cracks are beginning to show. In more ways than one, all the outward signs are pointing to a couple engaged in a mat-

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14 Islands Business, April 2013

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rimonial battle. The suitor is Taiwan’s arch enemy, China.

Although Taiwan has said nothing publicly so far, Beijing’s growing influence in the South Pacific has created deep suspicion on the part of Taipei that it is losing Solomon Islands. And fast.

Taipei’s suspicion is not without foundation either.

Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo’s government has been courting China since he took over government in a no-confidence motion in November 2011.

He had personally entertained visiting senior officials from Beijing at least on two separate occasions since last December.

His most recent visitors were in Honiara in early March. Then it was a delegation led by top ranking officials from the China Development Bank.

The delegation held private talks with Prime Minister Lilo and his senior ministers before visiting Gold Ridge Mine, Solomon Islands’ only operational gold mine.

Hydroelectricity development and the lucrative sectors such as minerals and fisheries topped the discussions with Lilo.

To add salt to the wound, the Solomon Islands Government last December announced the appointment of Yim Kau, alias Joe Wong, a Chinese businessman, to be its “Commerce and Investment” Commissioner for China, Hong Kong, Macau and all of Asia.

Yim’s company, China Jin Bang Mining Ltd, has since been granted a prospecting licence for an area near the Gold Ridge mine, 30km east of Honiara.

Rumours are rife that a Chinese company will soon buy out the entire Gold Ridge Mine, which recently changed hands. It is currently owned by an

Guam worried about North Korea’s nuclear threats

By Robert Matau

Gov. Eddie Calvo have been in contact with the US Department of Defence. hile the United States still has seven more The two officials wrote to the Secretary of Deyears to get its act together as far as relofense Chuck Hagel last month, expressing the cating US Marines to Guam, islanders there are concerns of the islanders from a potential North more concerned with the immeKorean missile attack. diate nuclear threats from North Islanders are also asking for the Korea. installation of missile interceptor Guam Mayor Paul McDonald sites on the island for these pursaid they were hearing a lot about poses. how the US was preparing to inNorth Korea threatened a prestall nuclear interceptors around emptive nuclear strike against the the US, and they were worried U.S. earlier last month. they are the closest US territory The Obama administration anto North Korea. nounced later it was installing 14 “If anything will happen to the new interceptor locations at Fort US, we will be the first US terGreely in Alaska. ritory to be hit,” McDonald told McDonald was also disappointIslands Business. ed with the decision by the United “We hear the US will build States Senate to adopt Senator interceptors in Hawaii and AlasJohn McCain’s amendment to the ka but there was nothing about Consolidated Appropriations Act Guam Mayor Paul McDonald…“if for the Fiscal Year 2013.

Guam.” anything will happen to the US, we However, he said Guam Sena- will be the first US territory to be hit”.

The amendment eliminated tors Sen. Frank Aguon Jr. and Photo: www.entguam.com the US$120 million for civilian

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in the Solomons

ruary this year, specifically mentions China’s ambitions with Pacific Islands nations, The Australian said.

“South Pacific fisheries are globally significant Australian company called St Barbara and increasingly attractive to distant waters fishing The closer and deepening ties between Honiara nations,” it says. “China has a growing economic, and Beijing is troubling for Taiwan. Taipei’s posidiplomatic and business presence in South Pacific tion is that Solomon Islands should never entertain nations.” any overtures from Beijing, parThe draft paper, the final verticularly direct talks at the political sion of which will be released by level.

June, says Australia recognises attitudes to Australia’s role in the Mixed signals Pacific are changing.

Defiance of this unwritten rule “While Australia provides half

by Prime Minister Lilo in openly the region’s total development aid meeting with senior Chinese offiand will be significantly increascials is giving Taipei mixed signals. ing this contribution, the growing At the same time, the growing reach and influence of Asian naties between Beijing and Honiara tions opens up a wider range of exare also setting off alarm bells in ternal players for our neighbours major capitals in the region. to partner with,” the draft says.

In Canberra for example, a 2013 “Australia’s contribution to this draft defence white paper is urging region may be balanced in the fuAustralia “to entrench its position ture by the support and assistance as the dominant security partner provided by other regional powfor Pacific Islands nations at a time ers.” when China’s political and ecoDespite this, the draft white paPM Lilo…courting the Chinese, nomic influence over the region putting a strain on relations with per says government policy will be continues to grow.” to enshrine Australia as the key seTaiwan. Photo: Lisa Williams-Lahari The spectre of competition becurity ally among islands nations. tween China and Australia for the “The government’s approach hearts and minds of small Pacific nations is alluded to the region…will ensure we remain the security to in the draft defence white paper, according to partner of choice,” it says.

The Australian newspaper which obtained a copy.

It comes at a time when Beijing is expanding its China under the microscope economic and diplomatic links with impoverished China has been active in the South Pacific, with Pacific Islands nations, posing a challenge to Austrathe Lowy Institute reporting in 2011 that China’s lia’s influence in the region. soft loans to the region had risen from $23 million Unlike the 2009 defence white paper, the draft in 2005 to more than US$183 million in 2009, of the new white paper, which was valid as of Febmaking China the third-largest donor to islands na-

tions after Australia and the US. China’s political and financial interests in the Pacific Islands nations are being watched carefully in Canberra and in Washington.

Beijing’s push into the region partly reflects a desire to stop islands nations from recognising Taiwan, which is also active in the region.

However, China’s presence is also seen in the context of its expanding strategic ambitions in the Pacific.

It has forged close relations with the military dictatorship in Fiji and is a significant provider of investment and aid to Papua New Guinea.

Hilary Clinton in 2011 warned a US Senate committee that the US was in a competition with China in the Pacific.

The Australian Government’s National Security Strategy, released in March by Prime Minister Julia Gillard, talked about Australia’s interests in the Pacific Islands region but made no mention of China’s influence.

The 150-page draft white paper revealed by The Australian last February, warned that China’s military expansion was changing the balance of power in the Pacific and posing a challenge to Australia’s strategic weight in the region.

It appears Honiara is cautiously walking a tight diplomatic rope. On one hand, it wants to be sure a deal with Beijing would take care of a SB$100 million-plus a year hole that a break in diplomatic ties with Taiwan would create.

Taiwan is hoping Beijing which emphasises investment rather than cash handouts would stick to its gun.

For now, Taiwan is closely watching every move

by Prime Minister Lilo’s government. From an observer’s point of view, the break in diplomatic relations between Honiara and Taipei appears to be no longer a question of “if” but rather a question of “when”.

infrastructure projects on Guam.

“I am pretty upset about the US Senate decision,” McDonald said.

“If we are going to relocate these US marines from Okinawa to Guam, we need to improve the existing infrastructure.

“Our infrastructure just can’t take anymore. We are dealing with what we have now and any mass movement of people to the island will put a strain on the infrastructure.”

Guam, with a $4 billion economy, has a population of 16,000.

McDonald said delaying the relocation of troops to 2020 gave the US more time to listen to their plight.

When asked about other issues like food and services, he said everything would be affected by the relocation, which is known on Guam as the buildup.

“We will need more police, more trucks, more doctors to cater for the new demand for services and utilities,” he said.

zona, just recently introduced H.R. 548, a bill appropriating “$200 million for the Fiscal Year 2014 for integrated fixed towers, remote video cameras, hand-held devices, mobile systems and other technologies in Arizona.”

Guam Delegate Madeleine Z. Bordallo also issued a statement in response to the amendment, saying she was appalled that McCain continues to use funding for Guam projects as an example of “pork barrel” spending, adding McCain dismissed water and wastewater improvements—which are already overburdened by Guam’s existing civilian and military populations—as “egregious and unnecessary.”

The Pentagon’s objectives in the relocation are to boost military capability in Asia and focus U.S. diplomatic and military attention on the region.

It will also shift 5000 Marines from the Japanese island of Okinawa where it has been riddled with crime and accidents amongst a number of complaints from locals.

The remaining 4000 are expected to be relocated to US military bases in Australia and the Phillipines.

Senate amendment The McCain’s amendment removed funding support for critical Guam infrastructure projects,

specifically water and wastewater treatment systems as well as a regional public health laboratory.

Pacnews reported that Guam Senator Aguon, chairman of the committee on Guam-U.S. military relocation, had sent a letter to McCain requesting him to reconsider his amendment to H.R. 933.

In his letter, Aguon mentioned the July 2010 environmental impact statement, where the U.S. Department of Defense “acknowledges the existing sub-standard conditions of utility infrastructure systems on Guam...[and] recognises the constraints on the government of Guam to be able to address these indirect impacts of the proposed military relocation.”

Aguon also claims the Center for Strategic and International Studies report McCain referenced in a recent statement contradicts the Arizona senator’s position, with the report’s recommendation to “prioritise improvements on Guam, focusing on roads and infrastructure improvements such as pipeline protection that would be mission-essential even if fewer Marines moved to Guam from Okinawa.”

Aguon also pointed out that McCain’s concerns over budgetary pressures “seem somewhat inconsistent,” given that Rep. Raul Grijalva, also from Ari-

Islands Business, April 2013 15

Talking Point Cover Report

Anote Tong talks on global warming, migration, fisheries, Pacific Islands Forum

By Nic Maclellan

Anote Tong first won office as President of Kiribati in 2003. In recent years, he has been active on the international stage, speaking about the adverse effects of climate change on his low-lying atoll nation.

During a recent visit to Australia, President Tong spoke with Islands Business about global warming, climate migration, the Pacific Islands Forum and Kiribati’s role in regional fisheries negotiations.

Here’s excerpts from the interview: In 2010, Kiribati hosted an international conference in Tarawa to focus attention on climate impacts in the Pacific. Since then, do you think progress on a global climate treaty has stalled?

Our experience has not been entirely optimistic. After the Copenhagen meeting, there was a lot of disappointment. Much of our disappointment was based on our high expectations of what the outcomes might be. Like any major international treaty, it doesn’t happen overnight, or even after a couple of years or even ten years.

I think we have major treaties in place which took decades to conclude. With the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, I don’t think we’ll conclude until we change our approach. It’s always been my contention that we’re dealing with too much detail in a document that’s highly controversial because the issues are very critical to different countries at different levels of development.

My view has been to agree on a broad document and then deal with issues on a piecemeal basis. Unless we do that, our hopes for success are very dim. Quite frankly, I’m beginning to think that perhaps we should not put everything in those discussions. Perhaps, we should now begin to explore existing arrangements and simply add provisions into those agreements relating to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.

Does this mean that negotiations should move from the UNFCCC to another body like the Major Economies Forum or G20 where the members are the major emitters of greenhouse gasses? Will this leave the Alliance of Small Islands States out of the dialogue?

I think the key to all of this is our genuine desire to resolve this.

If there is a genuine desire, then we will find a way. Compromise is always possible but there has got to be a genuine desire to compromise. Without this, whatever forum we adopt, it will not work.

16 Islands Business, April 2013

President Anote Tong...we are in terrible trouble in the years ahead. Photo: Nic Maclellan

Whatever agreement the developed countries come to, AOSIS and the other developing countries will find fault with it.

It’s a matter of finding commonalities rather than arguing over controversial issues at this time. We need to build up confidence in the way we want to head, and if we do that, then perhaps the possibilities of reaching consensus might be there.

Last year’s Doha climate negotiations saw some advances on issues like the loss and damage work programme and the creation of the Green Climate Fund. Are these small steps enough to provide the

t

m

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon...planting mangroves in Kiribati. Photo: Ariela Zibiah

resources needed for adaptation?

We’ve always been saying that there’s got to be an urgent package and that package has got to reach the shores of our islands—not something that’s absorbed on the way there. I think there’s a tendency for that happening with whatever funds are being made available for adaptation. To-date, we’ve not received any significant input.

For this, we must take some of the blame and we must get our house in order—and that’s what we’re doing. As a government we’ve endorsed a climate change adaptation framework. It’s got to be a “whole of nation” approach involving churches, outer islands communities and others. From there, we can say this is what we think we need, and put it on the table for those who are willing to commit the resources.

Where are the greatest obstacles that block the flow of these resources for adaptation—at the international, regional or country level?

What is commonly said by countries like ourselves is that the process is too complicated.

We don’t have the capacity to put together the package to be involved, so we end up having to commission some other agency to undertake these programmes for us. In other words, there is a middle man and this makes it difficult.

Our experience in the past with arrangements like that is that much of the resources for adaptation are taken up by consultancy fees. We’ve had two phases of our Kiribati Adaptation Programme (KAP) and that’s precisely what happened. We’ve made it absolutely clear that in the third phase, it’s got to be more directed at actually seeing work done on the ground to address our climate change

challenges. We want the money committed from the international community reaching its destination, rather than being absorbed on the way.

With the potential for future generations to be relocated, there’s debate in Kiribati over education, skills and migration, with training programmes for nurses, seafarers and seasonal workers. Is the debate over “migration with dignity” controversial at home?

Anything that reaches the political arena is controversial, as we’ve seen with climate issues in Australia at the moment! There’s got to be a genuine, concerted and collective effort to try and address this issue. What we have to realise—and it’s not easy to accept—is that on the basis of projected sea-level rise, we are in terrible trouble in the years ahead. We are already facing problems, but for sure the next generation will be facing the very serious problem of increasing intrusion of sea water and erosion.

Already we have communities that we have to relocate, as the villages where they’ve been for the last century have gone. What we are noticing is increasing frequency of that. Based on the projections, we can assume with reasonable certainty the landmass of our islands will be reduced. The ability to support the level of population we have—let alone an increasing population—will be considerably reduced.

The question is, what do we do in the face of rising sea-levels and declining land mass? Obviously, we have to find somewhere else to accommodate our people so the question of relocation has to be considered. No matter how undesirable it is, these are the choices

“On the basis of projected sea-level rise, we are in terrible trouble in the years ahead.”

Islands Business, April 2013 17

Cover Report

To relocate or not to relocate...Kiribati dancers contemplate their options with rising sea level. Photo: Islands Business

that we are left with because of climate change impacts.

Talking to people in Tarawa, I sense a difference between older people, who have a strong sense of place and a faith that things will work out, compared to the young who are always open to education, to travel, to overseas labour mobility.

I think the generation gap would explain some of it. But the generation that talks about staying is not the generation that will really be feeling the impacts of climate change. It’s the next generation and the generation after.

So as people with responsibilities in this generation, we’ve got to make the right decisions for the next generation. Part of that is to provide leadership. I guarantee you that the choices will become more limited as time goes on, so we’ve got to give these people choices.

For many people you’ve spoken to, their choices are limited by their educational background, so they not equipped with the skills to go elsewhere. What we should be doing is equipping our next generation with the skills and the ability to move, if they choose to move.

Your government has purchased church land in Fiji for the future. But are the larger members of the Forum like Australia and New Zealand responding to this development challenge for small islands states?

It’s an unfortunate fact that human nature has changed and we’re no longer the compassionate human beings that we used to be. We’ve seen in developed societies that it’s everyone for himself or herself. In traditional societies, there is more compassion. Today, there are some compassionate voices, but the question is—what will you do when it comes to the crunch? Are you willing to make sacrifices to save the people next door?

We are buying land in Fiji, but it’s for investment. It may be for relocation in the future, but that’s not for me to make the decision at this time. What we are doing now is to provide choices for our people in the future.

During your visit to Australia, do you find Australians understand the realities facing small islands states, with extreme weather events and effects on agriculture?

You can never generalise for Australians. There will be a wide spectrum of responses—from the most compassionate who are very willing to see the problems, ranging to those who really reject the problem, who don’t want to be bothered with it, even if they know it is happening and they are the cause of it. I think there’s got to be leadership. When I talk to Australians, they say ‘What about China and India?’ When I talk to the European Union, they say ‘We’d really love to see the United States make a contribution.’ It becomes a political football but I wish somebody would provide global leadership and say ‘It’s the right thing to do, let’s go ahead and do it.’

On the issue of climate change, there should be some moral justice.

The Pacific Plan is under review by a team led by Sir Mekere Morauta. Does the plan focus too much on the key regional agencies, or should it have a wider vision?

As a region, we must always try to address the proliferation of regional agencies. There was a lot of thinking that we should combine them or we should close some. There are some agencies that are relevant to some countries but not to others.

Has the Pacific Plan disintegrated to the stage where these agencies are taking it apart to get their resourcing?

At the back of it all, the agencies are always thinking about their own agenda, their own survival. There’s no doubt that there was duplication in the past. The question is now, are we going back to that duplication? Are we covering all the issues? It’s about using the resources that are available in the most efficient manner.

Forum meetings are getting bigger with many observers and dialogue partners. Is it coming to a time when the Forum’s too big, and island leaders may want to step out to find a place to meet without everyone in the room?

Well, we do have that in the retreat, which is just the leaders

“Much of the resources for adaptation are taken up by consultancy fees… we want the money committed from the international community reaching its destination, rather than being absorbed on the way.”

18 Islands Business, April 2013

meeting without anyone else—even without officials. I know of that’s being taken out is about $400 million per annum. We want only one other organisation which does this and that’s the Comto get at least half of that but we cannot do so by just continuing monwealth. When the leaders meet in a retreat, they relax and to licence. We have to get involved in the processing and the next they create a relationship directly with each other, which I believe level of the industry. Once we achieve that, we would have all the is perhaps one of the most effective things for the region. I don’t resources to do a lot of things we need to do, such as building rebelieve the Forum’s getting too big. We have the opportunity to silience against climate change. We now have a processing factory meet and we want the international agencies and the big players to and are exporting to Japan but I want to see more of that. Once be there. We want them to be part of what we’re doing and to see we study the performance of this factory, then we will have the what the Forum is planning. If they think they can contribute, then confidence to move on. it’s important that they’re there.

Pacific nations are currently re-negotiating the major tuna treaty With the rise of sub-regional bodies like the Melanesian Spearhead with the United States. Will the unity of the Pacific hold together in Group (MSG) and the Polynesian Leaders Group (PLG), will fisheries negotiations, or is there a danger countries will split away the Small Islands States (SIS) need to be more assertive within the in their own national interest?

Forum?

What is important is to add your strength at the national level to Invariably, when we have a common agenda, we tend to work the strength of the regional grouping. To begin to undermine each together. But when we start to conflict, we tend to work against other is not on. That’s not the purpose of regional cooperation—it each other. This will always be the case. In order to get real, solid, never is, it never was. We must be very genuine, very frank and honcoherent regional co-operation, there’s got to be some give and take. est with each other that we’re giving due return for the resources There is no doubt that the sub-regional groups like the MSG and to the right owners. We should be lending strength to each other PLG have their place. Indeed, there are some specific issues that rather than seeing what we can get. are better addressed by Within the Parties them than within the to the Nauru AgreeForum. But as small ment (PNA), there islands, we have probhave been differences lems that are unique over the allocation to the Small Islands of fishing days, and States. We don’t want Kiribati has been chalto be bringing them lenged for advancing to the larger agenda its own interests. of the Forum, because Under the US multhey would not get the tilateral negotiations, same focus that we I was involved in that could give within the negotiations right SIS grouping. back in 1982 with the I think there is merit President Tong in the Cook islands...doesn’t think the Forum is getting too big. Photo: Lisa Williams-Lahari American Tuna Boat in all the groupings but Association. What we at the back of all of this devised was a formula is that we must not see where we said 15 perthem competing with the wider agenda. This is why the Forum cent would be distributed equally amongst all Pacific countries. itself is more of a political grouping rather than a programmesWhether you’re being fished or not, you get a share of that 15 oriented organisation. percent. The balance of 85 percent would be shared on the basis of Are Australia and New Zealand too powerful in the Forum as its where the fish is being caught. In the Cook Islands Forum meeting key contributors? last year, we agreed the 15 percent would stay for everybody, to be On the question of whether Australia and New Zealand are shared equally. There were some misgivings by some of the coundictating the agenda, I think it depends on the Pacific leaders themtries that did not have resources that the PNA group would review selves. If we allow that to happen, then it will happen, but if we this formula. We said that it stays without review. The formula and don’t, then it won’t happen! It’s the responsibility of Pacific islands the principles had been set in 1982 and as Forum leaders, we did leaders to ensure it’s never like that. I for one have considered that not see the need to change that. it’s because of the structure of the contributions to the Forum that But then comes the question of how to divide the 85 percent Australia and New Zealand exert influence by the very fact that they balance. I think the sticking point is how the 85 percent will be foot most of the bill. But do Australia and New Zealand want to distributed within the resource owning countries. There are still exert that influence, or do they want to assist with what the Pacific some issues as to whether domestic legislation is still applicable, islands want to do? I would not like it said that we are supporting but I think this can be worked out. There are discussions underway, an agenda that is not ours. but there’s got be to some fair play. If there is no fair play, it will With its vast Exclusive Economic Zone, Kiribati relies on revenues always be unstable. from fisheries. Are you getting sufficient returns for tuna from your You were first elected as President in 2003 and under the ConstituEEZ? tion you’re in your third and final term. When you finish your current From the beginning, even before the Law of the Sea was finalised term, what will be your legacy for the people of Kiribati? in 1982, we had been negotiating access agreements with our distant Yes, this will be my last term, but I really cannot answer that waters fishing partners. Kiribati has been very strong in advocating question. I have my own views but I think it’s for the people to say.

What I tried to do when I came into office was to get more economic that we don’t want a continuation of that arrangement. We want to resilience. What I promised in my very first term—and it’s been very be involved in the industry itself. The rate of return is much higher difficult to achieve—is to get more participation in the fisheries inthan we are currently getting, which is about 8 percent of the landed dustry, which is the industry that’s most important to us. value of the catch. It’s not enough, because the value of the fish Islands Business, April 2013 19

Politics

SOLOMON ISLANDS

and World Council of Churches as an issue that will have a major impact on Pacific societies.

He says the secretariat will continue its work with the churches, governments and stakeholder on policy and guidelines on forced climate change migration.

“I think of paramount importance is the issue of ‘free, prior and informed’ participation (ownership). Every step of the relocation process needs to be undertaken in full and thorough consultation with people who will be moving and to an extent those who will be receiving the migrant community.

“Critical as well is that the dignity of all involved needs to be safeguarded including minority groups—women, youth and persons with disabilities.”

Mingling…church delegates attending the Pacific Conference of Churches general assembly in Honiara last month. Photo by Whether migration occurs within Evan Wasuka a country or across national borders into another country, planning has to take place to ensure issues such as land ownership and rights are taken into account.

So far, the PCC has assisted three member churches in Tuvalu, Kiribati and French Polynesia in developing their climate change policies.

“At the same time, PCC is encouraging churches to bring forward stories about injustices brought about by environment degradation. It has been impressed upon the churches that they cannot afford to remain silent on matters directly concerning the community.”

In Honiara, Pihaaate called for church solidarity in tackling climate change and other social have the potential to educate and promote awareissues that communities are facing throughout

By Evan Wasuka ness on climate change. the Pacific.

Reverend Dr Cliff Bird, principal of the Pacific “Individually we are like a drop of rain but Australia, New Zealand and Theological College, told church leaders that working together we are a flood or an ocean.” big Pacific Islands countries have for too long many churches have been focused He said regional solidarity is important in lobbeen called on to be prepared to on preaching theology while climate change and bying the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) accept people fleeing climate change disasters in other social issues have been left on the periphery. and PIF (Pacific Islands Forum) for action on small Pacific countries. relocation.

With rising sea levels, increased salinity in Most vulnerable “Churches are the largest and longest serving water tables and extreme weather on the rise, With Pacific Islands countries amongst the civil society organisation in the Pacific. Collecthe head of the Pacific Conference of Churches most vulnerable in the world to climate change tively, they hold enormous clout and influence (PCC), Reverend Francois Pihaatae says it is and with many already experiencing its insidious in shaping the course of Pacific regionalism and inevitable that coastal and estuarine communities but devastating impacts, Dr Bird told leaders from as such, regional priorities. Churches are being will be forced to migrate in the coming years. the PCC’s 28-member churches that they can no challenged to work together to harness their ‘col“We appeal to the nearest big countries of longer be indifferent to climate change. lective strength and influence’ for the betterment Australia, New Zealand and Fiji to get ready to “It is the role of the churches to help vulnerof the Pacific people and environment.” receive our people. able communities in their educational, advocacy On the international scene, the PCC has “Once the islands have been subdued by waves and mitigating actions and programmes, through also played an active role in the advice to Pacific and the ocean, they should be ready to receive our stewardship and ecumenical solidarity actions.” countries during climate change negotiations and people,” he told Islands Business at the end of In Honiara, PCC members endorsed a fivetaking part in side events with the support of the the 10th General Assembly of PCC in Honiara year study on climate change in three countries World Council of Churches. last month. and members agreed to boost support for advoAnother key area of the PCC work on climate His plea comes as the PCC puts climate cacy work amongst governments and political change is to study alternative economic models change and relocation high on its agenda for the groups like the Melanesian Spearhead Group and for development based on traditional systems. next five years. the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.

Pihaatae says this will include models which The resolution on climate change and relocaPihaatae said the outcome of the general asare carbon light, sustainable and non destructive tion is part of the PCC’s drive to get churches sembly reinforced the support of the 2009 Moana to the environment. more involved in people’s lives, not only through Declaration, which provides the guideline on the “The churches will document these case studtheology but in serving the people by way of PCC’s work on relocation. ies and promote the findings widely through their stewardship.

The Moana Declaration vowed that churches network, as real and practical examples of how “It is time to show our solidarity to the people would work to give full human rights protection and for the churches to strengthen that ecumenisome communities are already living sustainably to those fleeing their homes due to climate change cal spirit and the way of working together and through the careful utilisation of resources held and that churches would support international standing together to address issues affecting the by them in trust. conventions to protect rights of migrants and public.”

“The PCC hopes to publish these models in measures to identify new land for resettlement.

With a church in almost every village across the challenge to the blanket capitalistic approaches Pihaatae says forced climate migration and region, the influence of religion in the Pacific is imposed on Pacific nations states by neorelocation have been recognised by the PCC unquestionable, and the PCC believes churches liberalism.”

Climate change, relocation high on PCC’s agenda Churches to be more involved in community

20 Islands Business, April 2013

Politics

PACIFIC

Shoreline stabilisation...along a stretch of road in Holopeka village, Lifuka Island, Tonga that is particularly prone to erosion. Photo by SPC

Pacific region leads the way In disaster risk management & climate change In July 2013, in a global first, the two main regional conferences on climate change and disaster risk management (DRM) will convene a joint meeting of the Pacific Platform for DRM and Pacific Climate Change Roundtable in Nadi, Fiji.

Representatives of Pacific Islands governments, NGOs, civil society, the private sector, the scientific community, regional, international and donor organisations and many more are expected to attend.

The joint meeting will benefit from the presence of Margareta Wahlström, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, and other international and Pacific ministerial level representatives.

“We are happy to have high-level representation to raise the profile and visibility of this first Pacific joint meeting on disaster risk management and climate change and to get high-level commitment and guidance for moving forward,” said Mosese Sikivou, of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community’s (SPC) Disaster Reduction Programme.

Natural hazards, according to the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction’s (UNISDR) Briefing Note on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction (2008), become disasters when they affect a community that is exposed, vulnerable and ill-prepared.

Climate change is likely to exacerbate disaster risks in two ways: (1) through increasing the

frequency and the intensity of weather—and climate-related hazards; and (2) by causing long-term ecosystem degradation and reductions in water and food availability, thus impacting people’s livelihoods.

This increases the vulnerability of communities to the adverse effects of natural hazards because it also lessens their natural resilience to recover.

The Pacific is a highly disaster-prone region exposed to a variety of natural hazards such as tropical cyclones, floods, king tides, droughts, earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions.

In terms of annual economic impacts from disasters, eight Pacific Islands countries are among 20 worldwide with the highest average annual disaster losses as a percentage of GDP. The cost of damage in Fiji caused by Cyclone Evan, which also devastated Samoa in December 2012, is estimated at F$192 million.

Disaster risks and climate change thus severely constrain the social and economic development

of the Pacific region and therefore addressing them is a key policy goal. Doing so in an integrated manner makes practical and economic sense.

Climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction both aim to reduce the vulnerability of communities and contribute to sustainable development, and there are significant overlaps in the methods and tools used to address them.

A recent study by the UN emphasises that an integrated approach will make better use of scarce resources and minimise duplication of effort and potential conflicts in policy development.

It also recognised that at community level, there is little practical difference between disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.

For example, upgrading coastal protection structures to prevent damage from storm surges or relocating homes away from low-lying areas to protect communities from projected sea level rise, can be seen as disaster risk reduction and/or climate change adaptation measures.

“An integrated approach to climate change adaptation and disaster risk management is the most effective and efficient way of identifying the full range of vulnerabilities that Pacific Islands communities are exposed to, and of managing risks, to deliver more targeted and effective outcomes,” said Brian Dawson, Principal Climate Change Adviser at SPC. The joint meeting is a significant event in the process of developing an integrated Pacific Regional Strategy on Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change by 2015.

This over-arching policy instrument will be tabled before the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders in 2015, replacing two separate regional frameworks.

The development of this strategy will be supported by SPC, Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and UNISDR and led by Pacific Islands countries and territories through a steering committee.

The formulation of the strategy will incorporate lessons learned from the implementation of the current two regional frameworks (the Pacific Islands Framework for Action on Climate Change 2006–2015 and the Pacific Disaster Risk Reduction and Disaster Management Framework for Action 2005–2015) and consultations will be held throughout the following two years.

The resulting framework will provide longterm strategic guidance for implementing climate change and disaster risk management activities in the Pacific. The Pacific is the first region in the world to integrate climate change and disaster risk management into a single regional policy framework.

“The Pacific is taking the lead with the integration of climate change and disaster risk management. It is proof the region is focused and proactive,” said Jerry Velasquez, head of UNISDR for Asia and the Pacific.

The Pacific is a highly disaster-prone region exposed to a variety of natural hazards such as tropical cyclones, floods, king tides, droughts, earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions.

• Story courtesy of SPC Islands Business, April 2013 21

Politics

NORTHERN MARIANAS

Governor Eloy S Inos...working hard to save the country. Photo: Haidee Eugenio

CNMI ‘cleans up’ after political mess Could inspire ‘Pacific Spring’

By Haidee V. Eugenio commonwealT ommonweal h of The norT or hern Mariana Islands (CNMI) historian Sam McPhetres said this U.S. territory of 14 islands could inspire what he coined the “Pacific Spring” after its citizen campaigns against corruption and lack of transparency led to the House of Representatives’ impeachment of then Governor Benigno R. Fitial.

Fitial resigned on Feb. 20, days before the Senate could begin his impeachment trial which is unprecedented in the CNMI or in any other U.S. insular area.

The impeachment resolution, the second introduced against Fitial, listed 18 articles of impeachment for corruption, neglect of duty and felony.

McPhetres, a former instructor of current issues at Northern Marianas College, said “Pacific Spring” is reminiscent of the “Arab Spring” that forced rulers from their power by demonstrations, protests and civil wars in the Arab world Islands Business, April 2013

since December 2010. In Pohnpei, one of the major islands in the Federated States of Micronesia, five state senators introduced a resolution proposing to impeach Governor John Ehsa.

The proposed impeachment resolution listed 19 articles, each containing allegations connected to the Pohnpei governor’s implementation of a school lunch program, unnecessary hiring of a relative and his extensive travel, among other things. Whether this political move could lead to impeachment is anybody’s guess.

But more than the Pacific inspiration, it could provide, the CNMI—with Governor Eloy S Inos at the helm—the opportunity to clean up the political mess the former governor left behind.

As with any change in leadership, the new governor asked cabinet members and other key governor’s appointees to submit not only their courtesy resignation but also their performance reports to help him decide who to keep and let go. He has already removed those deemed nonperforming agency heads.

Exactly a week after he was sworn in as gov-

ernor, Inos signed a letter to U.S. State of Iowa Governor Terry Branstad asking for his help in extraditing former CNMI attorney-general and now fugitive from justice, Edward T. Buckingham III, to face multiple felony and misdemeanor charges that the Office of the Public Auditor filed against him on Aug. 2, 2012.

A day after the criminal charges were filed in 2012, the former attorneygeneral haphazardly left the CNMI and tried— albeit unsuccessfully—to shield himself from being served a penal summons.

Police officers, ports police officers and someone believed to be higher in post than the attorney-general helped shield Buckingham from being served the penal summons.

The Office of the Public Auditor sought the help of FBI agents to serve the penal summons minutes before the former attorney-general was to board the plane. He has not returned to the CNMI since then.

“This goes to show that no one is above the law,” said Senator Pete Reyes, when the new governor signed the extradition request.

Fitial also left the CNMI a day after he stepped down as governor and has never returned as well.

Weeks later, the Office of the Public Auditor filed seven criminal charges against the former governor for allegedly conspiring with others to shield Buckingham from being served a penal summons in August last year.

Top police and ports police officers involved were either arrested or issued penal summons for their role in the Buckingham “escort”.

House Speaker Joseph Deleon Guerrero, the main author of the impeachment resolutions against Fitial, said “everybody knew it’s improper to prevent the serving of a penal summons”.

“I am pleased that our law enforcement officers are being held accountable for their actions.

I believe that’s what’s happening now,” he said, adding that these law enforcement officers “did not do it on their own”.

He said they were only following orders from someone higher.

Cleaning up the CNMI has been a joint effort among government branches and private citizens.

The police and the judiciary, for example, made an arrest to a high-profile murder case days after the new administration took office and maximum sentences were meted out on a lot of criminal cases especially to those with long rap sheets.

The new administration has also been more transparent than the previous one, and has continued to unravel questionable agreements that the previous governor entered into.

The governor has also been working with the Legislature to help save the pension agency, hospital and economy.

The private sector has also been pitching in, especially in the area of boosting the still fragile tourism industry.

With all these developments, Inos might really have a chance to be “elected” governor in the November 2014 general elections and serve for another four years, instead of just being a “caretaker” governor.

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Politics

Dabwido faces vote of no confidence

By Robert Matau N auru ’ s P resident S prent Dabwido faces a vote of no confidence following a Supreme Court ruling that a dissolution order of parliament made by his Speaker was unlawful.

Nauru’s Speaker, Ludwig Scotty, adjourned Parliament early March while revealing President Dabwido’s intention to dissolve parliament.

At the time, he said the House was in shambles and that he was embarrassed.

The dissolution was then challenged by Opposition parliamentarians Kieran Keke, President Sprent Dabwido...could Matthew Ba- face a vote of no confidence when tisua, former parliament reconvenes. Photo: Lisa Williams-Lahari president Marcus Stephen and a number of other MPs in the Supreme Court.

On March 18, Chief Justice, Geoffrey Eames ruled that Scotty’s dissolution of parliament was null and void, which in effect cancelled the election planned for April 6.

The Returning Officer was also ordered to cancel the election and the Speaker to reconvene Parliament within 28 days to deal with the notice of dissolution properly in accordance with the process outlined in the Constitution.

Speaking to Islands Business from Nauru, Batisua said the court ruling gave the Speaker 28 days to reconvene parliament from the day of the ruling.

However, he said the exact date of the sitting was unclear as the Speaker and the President were both overseas on official business. “They flew out the day before the judgement was handed down,” Batisua said.

“Notwithstanding, the last day that Parliament must convene by is April 12. Beyond that would be in breach of the order handed down by the Supreme Court.”

Disobeying court orders is a serious offence.

It is regarded as contempt of court where offenders are liable to serious penalties.

Batisua said however the President was not a respondent in the case and hence not required to do anything.

“When Parliament finally reconvenes, obviously the first order of business is to consider the dissolution notice by the President,” he said.

“The only way to defeat the dissolution notice is to overthrow the government through a vote of no confidence.”

Batisua said the Opposition was confident of getting the numbers to carry out such a vote.

24 Islands Business, April 2013

FRENCH POLYNESIA

“Explosive testimony” on JPK hit Bigger hits to follow: lawyers

By Jason Brown

mission on National Defence Secrets—whose members held back 13 of 26 separate documents from the judicial raid.

In restating his testimony from 2004, Guilloux also explictly spelt out why he retracted his evidence at the time. He had been arrested for false evidence.

“The policemen went out to smoke their cigarettes, they left me alone with Tino and Tutu,” he told investigatory judge, Jean-François Redonnet.

Redonnet: “If you changed your version of the story, is it because you were afraid of them?”

Guilloux: “Yes I was scared, the police were there to cover up the old [Flosse] affair.”

Flosse has long denied any part in the disappearance of Couraud or involvement in money laundering.

N ine years af ter laying a complaint of complicity against an unknown “X” in the disappearance of Jean-Pascal Couraud, supporters have finally filled in the blank.

In fact, three blanks. Family members of the journalist, known as JPK and missing for 15 years, last month filed complaints against three former security agents.

Leonard “Rere” Puputauki, Tutu Manate and Tino Mara were all members of a shadowy presidential guard infamous for thuggery and surveillance.

Fresh complaints follow “explosive testimony” given to an investigatory magistrate in December 2012, according to a report highlighted on the front page of a major French daily, Le Monde.

Lawyers for Soutien JPK, an official support group set up to investigate allegations of assassination, told Le Monde that police should now arrest the three men—and promised even bigger hits to come.

Those lawyers, William Bourdon, James Lau and Marie-Spitz Eftimie, Gaston Flosse...outside court in Pape’ete. Former agents allege he told now “consider there exists serious them JPK “pisses me off, take care of it”. Photo: Jason Brown and corroborating evidence of having committed the crime of murder”.

“Beyond these indictments, anPuputauki is also on record as denying he or other chapter will open on the intellectual leaders or the contractors (behind this crime).” his subordinates were responsible.

Though not specifically named, those leaders “They do not have enough courage to do most likely include two former DGSE agents, rethat, they do not think that way, they are just cently ‘retired’ from France, and former president not people who can do that,” he testified before Gaston Flosse. DGSE is a French version of the Justice Redonnet.

CIA (Central Intelligence Agency).

However, other witnesses, including the Vetea Guilloux, a former security agent turned former GIP second in command and father of state’s evidence, testified that while Flosse did not Guilloux, Sandy, have now testified as to numerexpressly order a hit, he told his security head, Puous conversations within the presidential security putauki, that JPK “pisses me off, take care of it.” force regarding that “foreign pig”—Couraud.

Plausible deniability, perhaps, but such machiA young surfer who took up sports photognations may be placed under major strain once raphy, Couraud later joined Les Nouvelles before police begin investigating former staff of the eventually becoming its editor. security force, GIP, the Polynesian Intervention Following a series of exposes against Flosse, Group.

Couraud was sacked after the resident owners Particular heat is likely to be applied over the were forced into accepting a buyout from France. content of documents that went missing from He continued as an independent freelance the Couraud family home in French Polynesia, journalist, while also writing communications at the same time as Couraud himself. for Boris Leontieff, a former opposition leader.

Neither the body of Couraud or those docuLeontieff disappeared a few years later along ments have ever been found. But deep suspicion with most of his central committee in cirremains that the documents concern the highest cumstances Le Monde last month described as levels in France, and beyond. “suspicious”.

Key documents in “L’Affaire JPK” remain Wreckage from the plane they were on was under lock and key in Paris, after the judge in never found, and, unlike a vast majority of charge of investigating the case raided the offices other plane crashes, French authorities refused of the DGSE in 2008. to dispatch a nuclear submarine to search the In the French process, sensitive information seabed area. must be cleared through a Consultative Com-

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Politics

VANUATU

Greens’ Kalosil deposes Kilman

nificant fronts—climate change, diversifying and strengthening the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) and perhaps bolstering ties with China.

With Natapei as his understudy, his cabinet will review Vanuatu’s position regarding Indonesia’s status in the MSG. Comprising Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and the Solomon Islands, the group has in recent months moved to remove trade barriers between each other under the MSG Trade Agreement.

There are also moves afoot to open up the labor market between MSG member countries to allow skilled professionals to move freely between Natapei; finance minister under Ham Lini and

By Davendra Sharma member countries. also Serge Vohor; economic management under Calls for freedom of West Papua has recently whaT haT sTar TarT Tar arTed as ProTesTs agaI aga nsT Kilman; and labour minister under Natapei. divided political parties in Vanuatu over the logic French nuclear testing in the South When the tide turned against Kalosil in Vanubehind keeping Indonesia as an observer of the Pacific 15 years ago has seen the rise atu’s somewhat erratic politics, he led a small MSG. After the polls in Vanuatu last October, the of a Greens Party from backbench politics to the group of rebel politicians in opposition for four Vanuatu Christian Council (VCC) pushed for new national government in Port Vila. years since 2005. Whilst in opposition, he led Natapei to be part of the ruling government as he When Verts Pacific became the first Green podissents against controversial government policies strongly favoured independence for West Papua. litical party in the region by contesting an election and caused a stir in parliament.

The council argues that by boosting ties with in New Caledonia in 1999, no one envisioned He was arrested and detained in 2008 for alIndonesia, the former Kilman government igthat one day the Greens movement will be a legedly “harbouring and aiding prisoners”. Along nored the wishes of ni-Vanuatu to push for West potent force in politics in South Pacific. with controversial fellow parliamentarian, Ralph Papua’s plight.

Late March, as Sato Kiloman succumbed to Regenvanu he was charged with “obstructing “...we would definitely negotiate for a dialogue public pressure and quit the top job in Vanuatu, police on duty” and “accessory after the fact”. with the government to revisit the government’s the call came for Vanuatu Green Party (Green Although Kalosil admitted having known the decision on Indonesia as observer on MSG and Confederation) to lead the nation. prison breakout plan and assisting the escapees we will continue to pursue our cry to make sure that our government stands Deputy PM and Minister for External Affairs and Trade: Edward Nipake Natapei; for West Papua to Finance Minister: Willie Jimmy Tapangararua; become indepenEducation Minister: Bob Loughman; dent,” said VCC chairman Bishop Lands, Geology, Mines, Energy and Water Resources Minister: Ralph Regenvanu; James Ligo.

Minister for Infrastructure and Public Utilities: Esmon Sae; Will Kalosil and Minister for Internal Affairs: Patrick Crowby; his team sway away from his predecesMinister for Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, Fisheries and Biosecurity: David Tosul; sor’s government Minister for Tourism and Commerce: Marcellino Pipite; stance on foreign Minister for Youth Development and Sports: Tony Wright; affairs? Since a dipMinister for Health: Serge Vohor; lomatic row with Canberra, Kilman Minister for Justice and Social Welfare: Maki Simelum; Moana Carcasses KalosilÉ .new prime had diversified ties minister of Vanuatu. Photo: www.clgpacific.org Minister for Planning and Climate Change Adaptation: Thomas Laken. with Indonesia and China in the last year. find shelter at the National Council of Chiefs, And so we saw party leader Maona Carcasses China has become Vanuatu’s leading donor Kalosil, become Vanuatu and the region’s first he was spared prosecution. and trade partner after Australia while Indonesia Greens prime minister. French Polynesian-born To safeguard local jobs, Kalosil as labour has poured in military and education aid to fend Kalosil is the also the first non ni-Vanuatu to minister swiftly moved to cut back on visas for off West Papua’s attempts to woo Port Vila. take the role. cheap Chinese labour from working in Vanuatu’s Kalosil has long yearned for the post that has fledging construction industry.

Green politics and climate change eluded him since he entered politics in Vanuatu He argued that allowing foreign workers Kalosil’s pro-Greens stance will be tested as in 2003 when he became foreign affairs minister was unfair “because these people wanted to rob he grapples with the new Minister for Planning under then Prime Minister Edward Natapei, employment from ni-Vanuatu. My policy is that and Climate Change Adaptation—a topic of huge now deputy prime minister and minister for indigenous ni-Vanuatu...the priority”. concern in low-lying islands in the region. foreign affairs.

After his return to parliament last October, Only Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, Born to a Tahitian mother and French-born Kalosil backed the very man he deposed, Kilman.

French Polynesia and Fiji have seen the birth father from Carcassonne in Southern France, He joined eight other government backbenchof Greens movements in recent years. But the Kalosil is known for his radical green policies. In ers with the opposition on March 20 and forced PNG Greens and the Green Party of Fiji have 2009, as labour minister, he pushed for youths to off Kilman before he could face a no-confidence had troubled beginnings and face a bleak future return to agricultural work in their rural villages vote. due to the lack of popularity of their principles. as a way around addressing the country’s urban Kilman claimed he was a victim of bitter Formed in 2008, the Green Party of Fiji was sprawl and unemployment. politics in Port Vila. After 17 years in parliament, coined by former interim government minister He said youths should be discouraged from Kilman said he was “very disappointed” but not Bernadette Ganilau with the focus of “ecological moving to Port Vila. They should remain on surprised at the corruption charges against his wisdom and sustainability”. The party was wound farms to produce their own food and lead Vanuatu name. up this year when the government enforced partowards subsistence living. ties to list 5000 membership or face extinction.

MSG The Greens Party like Kalosil’s is part of a Notorious history Kalosil now commands a majority of 34 Global Green Network, with active political Kalosil has had a few twists and turns in his members in the 52-seat chamber and he hopes Greens party in 100 countries. political life—foreign affairs minister under to take the country forward on a number of sig-

Indonesia top on his agenda

Kalosil’s Cabinet

Islands Business, April 2013

Airline defends policy to charge by weight The world’s first airline to charge passengers by their weight rather than per seat says the policy has helped raise obesity awareness and improve public health.

Samoa Air, the Pacific national airline which flies domestically and recently began connecting Samoa to American Samoa, allows passengers to nominate their weight and then measures them on the scales at the airport.

Passengers do not pay for a seat but pay a fixed price per kilogramme, which varies according to the length of the route.

Analysts believe other airlines around the world are likely to follow suit, especially as the rising weight of the population adds to fuel costs. Some airlines in the United States have already begun forcing passengers who cannot fit in a single seat to buy two tickets.

The Pacific islands nations have some of the world’s highest rates of obesity, with Samoa usually included in the top ten countries for obesity levels.

The head of Samoa Air, Chris Langton, said the new system was fairer and that some families with small children were now paying substantially cheaper fares.

“This is the fairest way of travelling,” he told ABC Radio. “There are no extra fees in terms of excess baggage or anything—it is just a kilo is a kilo is a kilo.”

Langton said he believed his airline’s new payment policy was helping to promote health and obesity awareness.

“When you get into the Pacific, standard weight is substantially higher [than southeast Asia] but it can be quite diverse,” he said.

“People generally are becoming much more weight conscious. That’s a health issue in some areas. It has raised awareness of weight.”

The rates range from US$1 (65p) a kilogramme—for the weight of the traveller and their baggage—on the airline’s shortest domestic route to about US$4.16 per kilogramme for travel from Samoa to the neighbouring nation of American Samoa.

An economist in Norway, Bharat P Bhatta, proposed in a recent journal article that charging passengers according to weight would help carriers recoup the cost of the extra fuel required to carry heavier travellers.

Langton said he believed charging by weight was “the concept of the future”.

“It’s a new concept,” he said. “As any airline operator knows, airlines don’t run on seats, they run on weight…People generally are bigger, wider and taller than they were 50 years ago. It is an area the industry will start looking at.”—PACNEWS 28 Islands Business, April 2013

Photo: travelcafe.co.nz

Business

Joining forces? Air New Zealand attributes its success over the last three years to joint moves with Virgin Blue, in which it has a 19.99 percent stake.

Air NZ, Virgin tie up islands skies A super force in the region?

By Davendra Sharma Airlines have a strange way of doing business. For years they can be in a cut-throat competition but then overnight they can jump in bed with each other.

But then again they are no different to other industries—the same can be said about banks, telecommunications, energy and manufacturing companies.

In the last decade or so as governments encourage more deregulation and open up economies to global markets, more and more mergers and takeovers are shaping the world economy.

Air New Zealand has commanded a sizeable market share of the trans-Tasman routes covering the Pacific Islands over the previous 20 years or so.

Based in the world’s largest Polynesian capital, the airline has found minimal competition in serving Apia, Nuku’alofa, Rarotonga and Nadi from Auckland.

But in recent years, a new carrier entered the scene, Virgin—which launched in Brisbane in August 2000 and then began researching for business in the lucrative Pacific islands market

five years later.

In 2004, it moved to Auckland to establish a leisure-focused international airline flying between Australia, New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu.

A year later, the Samoan government joined the Virgin brand name in starting Polynesian Blue for the popular Tasman-Apia route.

Business grew from strength to strength as Polynesian Blue outsmarted Air New Zealand, Air Pacific and Qantas and the islands-based airlines to capture a dominant market share in the region.

In 2010, as Virgin Blue won its third award for ‘Best Low-Cost Airline’ (Australia/Pacific) by the Skytrax World Airline Awards, the airline ventured into a new game change programme.

Virgin entered into a comprehensive partnership with the rich Middle East-based Etihad Airways with a new business strategy of seeking alliances with key airlines on high turnover routes.

It was in the same year, Virgin jumped in with a deal with Air Zealand following approval from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and the New Zealand Ministry of Transport to code-share the trans-Tasman markets.

Taxi fever hits Samoa

By Merita Huch Like many things introduced in the islands, it was no surprise to see a big crowd in front of the Farmer Joe Supermarket in Apia, to get a “Taxi” and a free sausage sizzle, as part of a promotion to launch a new soft drink.

The venture is owned by Taimalie ‘Charlie’ Ah Liki (Westerlund) and the soft drink comes in Coke, Fanta, Raspberry and Lime flavours.

He’s already launched a brewery in Samoa now selling beer called Taula and Sama—and

they’re proving quite popular amongst the locals.

There are in the pipeline to export them.

For ‘Charlie’, naming his products are important—they tell stories of their family history and for him taxi is a special name.

“My father first started as a businessman with a taxi and from there, he expanded,” says Charlie who also runs a chain of supermarkets around the town area of Apia called Farmer Joe. He also runs the newly opened Samoa Beverages Company, which is located at an area not far from the Tafaigata prison, at Falelauniu, a choice

Photo: wilkimedia.org

Business

Virgin seeking alliances with key airlines on high turnover routes.

Islands super force But now both the airlines want to include the Pacific Islands in their bid to establishing a super force in the region—filling a vacuum left

by Air Pacific and Qantas, which quit the region in favour of Asia and European routes.

It is a prospect both Air New Zealand and Virgin Blue have been examining for three years and now it appears the regulators in those regional countries are looking at the alliance as favourable.

Air New Zealand’s new chief executive, Christopher Luxon declared last month that both airlines are in a ‘’growth mode’’ after solid first-half profits. They should widen their “alliance as the two airlines good for Pacific Islands businesses’’.

“That is something we are continuing to discuss,’’ he said.

If regulatory hurdles do not deter their progress towards creating a new strategic regional alliance, the two airlines will have a mega business venture—with the only downside being a monopoly in the islands routes.

Luxon is even looking at future prospects for the two airlines as they would contemplate linking the region to Asia and the Americas. Air New Zealand was “equally excited about opportunities within the broader Pacific Rim region’’, including Asia and the Americas.

Air New Zealand is attributing its success over the last three years to joint moves with Virgin Blue, in which it has a 19.99 percent stake.

“The Virgin alliance…has helped us raise our collective market share across the Tasman,’’ he said.

In its last six months, Air New Zealand posted a net profit of $NZ100 million ($A80.7 million), compared to $NZ38 million previously. The airline expects its pre-tax earnings in the second

half of this financial year to ‘’comfortably exceed’’ those in the same period in the past year.

So much hope is resting on a new Pacific islands alliance as the two airlines plan linking the region to the other growth areas of the world like Asia, that Air New Zealand is taking delivery of two more leased wide-body Boeing 777s next year, in addition to the first of its 787-9 Dreamliners by mid-2014.

which received a few frowns in the beginning of the project.

With the brewery under his belt, the production of soft drinks was only a matter of months.

Charlie acquired 15 million tala worth of equipment for production.

The bottles are imported directly from Egypt because they are cheaper and durable, he says.

The new soft drinks are now sold in 350ml and 660ml bottles at $2 and $3.50 respectively.

At the moment 80 workers have started at the soft drink production line and Charlie is looking

for 200 before the year is up.

There are several other companies producing and selling soft drinks in Samoa. Apia Bottling and Samoa Breweries which is owned by Coca Cola Amatil is also producing Coca Cola, Fanta, Sprite and Strawberry at its Vaitele factory together with the famous Vailima beer.

Competition is good, says Charlie and despite the numerous soft drink products produced locally or imported, the “Taxi” owner is optimistic his products will go a long way.

Real Tonga The new Pacific alliance scored a coup in Tonga last month when a domestic carrier Real Tonga— which has contracts with Air New Zealand-Virgin Blue to provide maintenance services to their aircraft in Nuku’alofa—was left with a monopoly on the domestic Tongan market.

Owned by Palu Aviation Services, Real Tonga’s chief executive Tevita Palu outlined a different business plan than Chathams Pacific—which had a monopoly on the domestic market until it decided to pull out last month. Like Virgin when it first launched into the domestic Australian air routes, Real Tonga plans to operate a fleet of smaller and new aircraft with more frequent services between Nuku’alofa and the surrounding islands.

Chathams Pacific—a New Zealand-owned company—will now only operate charter services.

Its decision to cease regular services to and from the kingdom’s resorts caused outcry among tourist operators. Though only 17,640 tourists visit Tonga from New Zealand every year, the two governments were planning on a new campaign to increase tourism to the island spots.

But if Real Tonga maintains a similar price regime as its predecessor, it should recapture the tourist market abandoned by Chathams Pacific.

Chathams Pacific’s Craig Emeny said the cyclical nature of Tonga’s tourism does not guarantee continuous flow of business as only the peak months—July to January—brought tourists in huge numbers from Australia and New Zealand.

One of the Chathams Pacific’s weakest links has been the use of inefficient aircraft—one of its planes is a DC3, which is understood to be nearly 70 years old. Few airlines in the world still use DC3 flying passengers on regular set routes.

Real Tonga has been contemplating regular island hopper services, linking Air New Zealand and Virgin Blue flights from Australia and New Zealand but did not take a positive step until last month. It struck a deal to lease an aircraft from Air Vanuatu and move towards expanding routes and aircraft as the peak season draws closer in June-July.

Linking Pacific with Asia As Virgin Blue and Air New Zealand venture into the Pacific islands region with a view to linking up with Asia and Europe, they are banking on their “modern and fuel-efficient fleet”.

Both the airlines are most competitive and profitable in the Trans-Tasman routes than any other and at a time when global carriers struggle with competition and fragile consumer confidence.

Air New Zealand reported its best profit in five years with forecasts of doubling recent results following what it terms as “a turnaround in its international long-haul service and increased demand on domestic routes”.

The 76% state-owned airline is talking finance deals with more airlines than just Virgin Blue—especially Cathay Pacific to linkup with Asia and Europe.

Travel to and from Asia into the Trans-Tasman islands region is becoming increasingly important for the joint airline venture as Luxon noted that travellers from China have surpassed visitors from Europe into the region.

There are “massively rising middle classes, higher discretionary income. There is a world of opportunity,” he said.

Both Virgin and Air New Zealand have solid networks of their own in the region, Asia and Europe but mergers and code-sharing will open new windows of opportunities for them both.

Air New Zealand currently services Apia, Noumea, Nadi, Norfolk Islands, Nuku’alofa, Port Vila and Rarotonga while Virgin is the leading carrier of tourists from Australia and New Zealand to Apia, Honiara, Nadi, Nuku’alofa, Port Moresby, Port Vila and Rarotonga.

Both airlines have gained confidence of Australian and New Zealand travellers as their on-time performance and competitive pricing on the domestic market has helped create new travel markets into the Pacific islands region.

One of the key factors igniting growth for the two regional giants has been modern and fuelefficient aircraft.

“This result is because every aspect of our business is actually firing on all cylinders,” Luxon told overseas media.

They made some “smart fleet decisions” on their way to optimising their networks and international alliances, he said.

“We are beginning to feel the benefits of a more modern, fuel-efficient fleet.”

Aviation commentators are also upbeat about the future of Air New Zealand’s manoeuvres.

Islands Business, April 2013 29

KORDIA TRANSPORTS I.T. AND POWER SOLUTIONS TO THE PACIFIC TO SAY THAT PAPUA NEW GUINEA’S (PNG’S) REGIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE IS RUDIMENTARY WOULD BE AN UNDERSTATEMENT. PNG’s harsh tropical weather patterns and range of geographical barriers (including dense rainforests, vast swamplands, complex river systems, rugged mountains, and isolated coral atolls) combine to act as nature’s roadblock to economic development in this country. As a result, the vast majority of rural communities lack basic infrastructure such as roads, power and communication.

In a country where 80 per cent of the population is scattered in rural areas, it is - quite literally - almost physically impossible to bring traditional telecommunications into these remote communities. This means further isolation from the rest of the world.

However, after spending many years working in this independent Pacific nation, Mike Mullis, one of Kordia’s leading project managers, devised a concept that would topple those traditional barriers.

Developing a self-contained system providing high speed WiMax coverage to isolated rural communities was Mullis’ goal.

The solution needed to be tough, portable, and low cost compared to more traditional telecommunications sites.

In partnership with AlphaNet Solutions, and with the backing of a formidable design team at Kordia, a new system was built.

Constructed in New Zealand, KorPower, the new Transportable WiMax Centre was designed to have its own solar/hybrid power system and VSAT satellite terminal.

The system’s power doubles as a source for charging mobile phones and laptops, and despite the isolated location, both IT and power systems can be remotely monitored and supported.

The entire system is designed to be packed and shipped overseas and transported to site as a single unit.

While KorPower is primarily designed for WiMax delivery, the new system can be reconfi gured for other purposes such storage of vaccines for remote health centres, serve as a radio repeater station, or provide low power FM radio to villagers.

“The fi rst order has been successfully deployed to the Papua New Guinea Sustainable Development Program,” says Mullis. “This will support their new Star Mountain Institute of Technology in Tabubil, in the country’s remote Western Province.”

With its vast geographical challenges and isolated communities, Papua New Guinea provides an excellent test-bed for this new solution. The successful deployment in this country means this technology is can be deployed anywhere else in the Pacific.

From concept to construction, the Kordia design team has worked in partnership with AlphaNet Solutions to achieve a world-fi rst.

“We have drawn on our skill and expertise, combined it with local knowledge and the desire to help, and developed an innovative telecommunications solution which helps Pacific communities to overcome geographical and logistical barriers which have for so long denied them the opportunities to improve their quality of life and stay connected with the rest of the world,” says Mullis.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT MIKE.MULLIS@KORDIA.CO.NZ

WHO’S CONNECTING THE PACIFIC TO THE WORLD? WIRELESS BROADBAND FOR THE PACIFIC Designed & developed by Kordia for use in remote and isolated parts of the Pacific and PNG the KorPower containerised broadband solution provides high speed broadband anywhere, anytime.

Powered by it’s own solar power system with satellite backhaul the innovative New Zealand made system provides a reliable & robust broadband internet option for remote villages & locations.

In addition to WiMAX the system can be configured to house mobile telephone equipment or low power FM radio & television.

Two solutions are available one delivered by road the other can be delivered by foot to villages or islands with no road access.

SUCCESSFULLY UNDERTAKEN MAJOR NETWORK DESIGN AND INSTALLATION These systems are already successfully in PROJECTS ACROSS THE SOUTH PACIFIC FOR OVER 20 YEARS. use in Papua New Guinea.

EXPERT DESIGNERS & INSTALLERS OF; SOLAR & HYBRID POWER SYSTEMS, WIFI/WIMAX BROADBAND SYSTEMS, DIGITAL TELEVISION, AM/FM RADIO, TRANSMISSION TOWERS & SITES, VSAT SATELLITE SYSTEMS, MICROWAVE RADIO LINKING, CELLULAR & TWO WAY RADIO NETWORKS

2011 / 2012 PROJECTS: SOLOMON ISLANDS Heavy rigging specialists undertook urgent repairs to two 90 metre shortwave radio masts in Honiara. And the controlled demolition of a 90 meter damaged mast in Gizo.

PAPUA NEW GUINEA Installation & commissioning of hybrid power systems throughout PNG & its remote islands.

Designed and developed an on and off the grid cutting edge, low cost transportable solar hybrid system capable of powering a VSAT system and WiMAX/WiFi internet to isolated rural communities.

FIJI Installation & commissioning of new high capacity microwave radio links over long distances between the islands of Vanua Levu & Viti Levu.

NAURU Installation of two way radio equipment.

KORDIA. THAT’S WHO. Get connected. Get in touch.

MIKE.MULLIS@KORDIA.CO.NZ

WWW.KORDIA.CO.NZ

+64 3 550 1019 DDI Islands Business, April 2013

Telecommunications

Marshalls’ telecom chief questions bank’s strategy

as well as letting staff use the service for distance learning opportunities. It points out why subscriber numbers do not reflect actual Internet use.

“Wifi expansion (in Majuro and Ebeye) changes Internet usage dramatically,” said the bank’s Chief Information Officer James McLean, who is also an NTA board member. “We have an Internet penetration rate way beyond the number of subscribers,” he said.

McLean also made the point about the younger generation’s ability to use cell phones to access the Internet by finding hot spots. “After we got WIFI Internet service at my house, I came home

By Giff Johnson one day to find about 50 kids sitting outside with their cell phones,” he said. “They figure out the The World Bank announced in mid-March hotspots.” the launch of a multi-million dollar strategy A better way to calculate Internet access is by to “reform the telecommunications sector and counting mobile phone sim cards sold, McLain boost access to mobile phones and internet” in suggested. NTA has about 16,000 cell users in the Marshall Islands.

Majuro and Ebeye.

The Marshall Islands National TelecommuniBut the World Bank, in announcing a US$3 cations Authority (NTA), which currently enjoys million grant to the Marshall Islands government a monopoly in this area, says it supports reform, to launch the new plan, said the “Marshall Islands but questions key elements of the World Bank’s is one of the world’s least connected countries, planned intervention. and telecommunications access is low (hindering) Questions raised by NTA General Manager development efforts. Just two percent of people Tommy Kijiner, Jr., suggest a disconnect between subscribe to Internet services, the World Bank and the naand only about one-quarter tional government on the one have a mobile phone. hand, and NTA on the other.

“Together with the governNTA has largely been left ment and our partners, this is out of the loop as World Bank a plan to build a more vibrant consultants have prepared a economy,” said Franz Dreesnew information and commuGross, Country Director for nications technology (ICT) the Pacific Islands at the World policy for government and Bank. drafted legislation to open the “It is the start of a critically telecommunications sector to important partnership that will competition. strive to better connect the Kijiner says the World country and get a better deal Bank-drafted ICT policy and and lasting benefits from its legislation are based on faulty resources.” assumptions. “The World The World Bank project, Bank says the Marshall Islands which is being run in partis one of the least connected nership with the Ministry of countries in the world,” Kijiner said. It also says only about Tommy Kijiner, Jr…General Manager Finance, aims to help Marshall one quarter of the 53,000 of the Marshall Islands National Islands attract new investpeople in Marshall Islands Telecommunications Authority. Photos: ment in telecommunications Giff Johnson and bring down service costs, have access to cell phones. including through increased “It is a flawed assumption,” competition, according to the World Bank.

Kijiner said. The 2011 national census shows that In promoting the new project, the World Bank over 70 percent of the population now live in the noted that, “in the Pacific region and Papua New two urban centers of Majuro and Ebeye, where Guinea, such reforms have given over two million cell phone service is available and call centers more people access to mobile phones with much have been installed in 17 outer islands, increasing cheaper calls.” access further.

The World Bank’s misinterpretation of InThe World Bank also says only about two perternet usage data shows its intervention plan is cent of the population has Internet access. “If you flawed, Kijiner said. In light of widespread acdon’t know anything about the Marshall Islands cess to both cell phones and Internet, the World (and you hear this), you would say, ‘Wow, they Bank support should be focused on ways to help need to break up the monopoly,” Kijiner said. improve service, he added.

He said the reality is quite different. The bank “We shouldn’t be doing something because calculates Internet penetration in the Marshalls someone else tells us to do it,” Kijiner said. “If based on NTA’s 1,200 Internet subscribers. But we’re wrong, tell us. But if we’re right, we’d like Kijiner said that households, businesses and the World Bank and government to listen to us.” government offices that subscribe nearly all have Beyond the dispute over Internet and cell multiple users that increase the actual number phone access is a deeper issue: Can a populaof users significantly. NTA has opened up 26 tion of 53,000 support two telecommunications hot spots around the capital island and 17 outer companies? islands have Internet connectivity.

Kijiner believes the answer is no, and points to Bank of Marshall Islands comes in on the neighboring Nauru as an example. “Competition high side of Internet usage, with 100 workers on was allowed, the local telecom died, and now it’s a a “single” subscription. The local bank allows its non-local company (Digicel) in control,” he said. staff regular Internet access before and after work,

NTA left out as bank prepares new ICT policy

Getting connected: A National Telecommunications Authority lineman installs a new mobile phone antenna in the downtown area of Majuro.

32 Islands Business, April 2013

Telecommunications “From my point of view, it’s not good.”

NTA and the government are saddled with over US$30 million in debt to the US Rural Utilities Service, more than half of which was obtained to pay for the installation three years ago of a submarine fiber optic cable linking the Marshalls to Guam, which has opened the door to regional telecommunications links, benefiting NTA. But the government’s telecom agency defaulted on its monthly US$200,000 payments a year ago and the government has stepped in occasionally to keep the payments current.

NTA’s financial situation is putting its ability to make these monthly payments in question.

Kijiner said the agreement with government, which is the loan guarantor, was to share the loan burden.

“We have no difficulty paying our share, but the government isn’t paying its half,” he said.

“What we’re saying is for government and NTA to carry the bucket of water together. If NTA has to do it by itself, its arm will break. Then the government will have to carry it by itself and its arm will break.”

The World Bank analysis said the reason NTA can’t meet the loan payments is because it lacks aggressiveness in providing telecom services.

“But over 70 percent of the population has access to Internet and mobile phones,” Kijiner said.

Does the fact that there are “only” 16,000 people with cell phones in the Marshall Islands relate to disposable income rather than to access issues?

Kijiner believes the answer is a resounding “yes,” and statistics like only 1,100 of more than 4,000 homes in the capital atoll having water and sewer hookups are suggestive of stressed economic conditions in the country.

He also makes the point that if competition eliminates NTA from the market, “the government will have to pay the loan back”.

The government is expressing delight with the World Bank project, at least in part because the three-stage conditional grant of up to US$13 million is “fungible,” meaning it can be used at the government’s discretion and not necessarily for telecom developments, another point NTA is questioning.

“If we reform the telecom sector, why should grant funding go to another sector?” Kijiner asked.

“We welcome our renewed partnership with the World Bank and look forward to working together on an ambitious agenda,” said Finance Minister Dennis Momotaro.

Concerns Kijiner and his board have raised to government have apparently received a receptive hearing, because legislation drafted over six months ago to open telecommunications to competition has not yet been introduced to parliament for consideration—and with parliament closing its first session of the year in mid-March, the earliest it could be introduced is during the August session.

Kijiner said he and his telecom staff will be meting in the coming months with officials from the Attorney-General’s Office, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Transportation and Communications to attempt to come up with modifications to the legislation.

The bottom line for Kijiner is that the Marshall Islands, not the World Bank, should be driving developments in the telecom sector. “We’re an independent country. Help should be based on what we tell them.”

Develeping ICT policy…members of the Vanuatu National ICT Development Committee. Photo: Vanuatu’s Information Office.

Vanuatu taps into ICT sector Moves closer to a national ICT Policy

By Dionisia Tabureguci Vanuatu will this month move closer to having in place a comprehensive national policy for its Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) sector, following an inaugural meeting of its National ICT Development Committee(NIDC) in January.

In that meeting, the importance of the ICT sector to Vanuatu’s national development was emphasised and in his opening speech, then Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Sato Kilman had described the meeting as “dedicated to discussing how we should best utilise information and communication technologies in the development of our country”.

“As you well know, our national vision is ‘an Educated, Healthy and Wealthy Vanuatu’. Effective use of ICT is critical in achieving this vision.

It is the only way we can overcome the tyranny of distance and connect people living throughout the islands. Furthermore, ICT will assist us in delivering quality education to our children in the remotest parts of Vanuatu, improve health services, increase efficiency of current economic activities and open up new business opportunities, as well as making government services much more accessible to our people,” Kilman said.

ICT Programme Manager at the Vanuatu’s Information Office Jackson Miake told Islands Business that data collection immediately followed the meeting, where officials gathered information from all government, non-government and private sector entities, and a call for public input was the next course of action.

“The outcome of the meeting will see a call for public input and by April we should have a draft policy for discussion with all the data we have,” Miake said.

The policy, he said, is expected to address a broad range of issues including ICT and telecommunications development in Vanuatu, as well as new and emerging ICT issues like cybersecurity.

“Most of what will appear in the final policy paper is home-grown and we like to take own-

ership of it and have it work for Vanuatu, and hopefully other countries in the Pacific take this initiative as well.

“This is very important and most countries make the mistake of cutting and pasting policies from countries with totally different infrastructures, business environment and as such have a hard time implementing them. We certainly want to avoid that,” Miake said when asked if Vanuatu would borrow from examples of ICT policies in other parts of the world.

“A good national ICT policy is about stakeholders taking ownership of the policy on a more bottom up approach which we are taking and so far, we have positive outcomes.

“We are looking at both regional and international examples set by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) in projects such as ICB4PAC which is to develop a framework for Pacific Islands for policy development both in national ICT policies and other ICT-related policies such as broadband, cybersecurity, etc,” Miake added.

Vanuatu in recent times has set in motion a number of measures to address outstanding issues in its ICT sector. Late last year, it started public consultation, through its telecom regulator, on the management of its country code Top Level Domain name (ccTLD), the dot vu (.vu), which had been in the custody of Television Vanuatu Ltd since the Internet arrived in the country.

Vanuatu’s Telecommunication & Radiocommunication Regulator (TRR) is now proposing that the responsibility of managing the .vu be shifted to its office.

On a national level, the now active NIDC has declared an interest in enabling for Vanuatu most of the types of services available in most parts of the world today, such as online education, purchasing goods and services via e-commerce, mobile banking, telemedicine, phone or online consultations with experts in agriculture, transport and other fields, registering new business online, e-democracy and public consultation ...To page 34 Islands Business, April 2013 33

Telecommunications

From browsers to apps for online banking Smartphone users are switching from browsers to apps for their online banking.

The proportion of New Zealand’s smartphoners who use their phone to conduct online banking transactions has almost doubled in the past year.

While a majority of Smartphone users (58%) still bank online using a computer, 16% now conduct banking on their mobiles—up from 8.3% in January last year.

The adoption of mobile online banking differs markedly between brands: one in three Apple iPhone users compared to one in 10 Samsung users; however this proportion will continue to increase in line with the availability of mobile banking applications on Samsung’s Android operating systems.

Roy Morgan Technology Adoption Segments show that Smartphones are no longer the preserve of ‘early adopters’—they are fast becoming mainstream.

Watching the behaviour of smartphone users can therefore provide insight into the future behaviour of New Zealanders as a whole.

Over 20% of Smartphone users in Australia now bank on their phones, while the proportion still using the computer has just fallen below half.

Pip Elliott, General Manager, Roy Morgan New Zealand, says: “Where internet banking gave people the convenience of banking at home, Smartphones now give them the convenience of banking anywhere.

“Banks are rightly investing in mobile technologies to give their customers increased flexibility and security. The introduction of Near Field Communications (NFC) technology—which allows Smartphones to be used as a credit or debit card—will no doubt impact further on the trend.

“To understand the shift to mobile, businesses need to be aware of the capabilities and rates of consumer uptake of different devices and the levels of demand for mobile applications across target markets and industries.

“Comprehensive research into these factors is available in the range of Roy Morgan Telecommunications & Technology Profiles.”

• Source: Roy Morgan

...From page 33

among others.

Vanuatu’s Chief Information Officer Fred Samuels, who was also appointed co-deputy chair of NIDC re-emphasised the importance of ICT as an enabler of efficiency and development in most fields of human endeavour.

“As stated by the United Nations General Assembly, investment in ICT fosters sustained, inclusive and equitable economic growth, increased competitiveness, poverty eradication and social inclusion. This is one of the best investments you can make in society,” Samuels said, adding that each 10 percent usage in broadband communications usage has been proven to lead to an impressive 1.38 percent increase in the economic growth rate.

“Successful development and subsequent implementation of this national policy is dependent 34 Islands Business, April 2013

Mobiles to help Fiji farmers Could be operational by the mid-2013

By Robert Matau Joji Nava is a 21-year old from Namarai Village in Nakorotubu, Ra on the western side of Fiji’s main island Viti Levu.

Dropping out of school in 2010, he decided to return to his village to start subsistence farming to help feed his family. People on that side of the island are hindered by poor roading and transportation.

Information on the best place to sell their crops to attract the right price is another major hindrance.

While Nava has started planting yaqona, he’s cautious about getting the cash crop to the market and ensuring it is sold to retain the cost of getting it to the market is another. Hence he is hindered by lack of information.

Devesh Nath sells dry cowpeas, okra, chillies and non BQA crop seeds from his Votualevu operation in Nadi.

“I have a greenhouse where I produce seedlings for my suppliers, farmers and also to carry out my own planting,” he told Islands Business.

Nath, Nava and 20 plus stakeholders from the agriculture industry attended an International Trade Centre workshop on Mobile Application Workshop in Lautoka recently where the importance of mobile phone applications as an important tool in agriculture was highlighted.

While Nath was excited about the prospects of better usage of mobiles to help market his products and improve his operations, he said he would prefer that mobiles were used as a platform that could link the whole industry to a chain.

“I believe the network would help me plan my operations financially and farm better,” he said.

“I would know when to supply a specific product to a confirmed buyer—something that was not possible in the past.”

Organised by ITC and the Fiji Crop and Livestock Council (FCLC) with funding from

the European Union, workshop participants were introduced to a range of mobile phone applications specifically designed for farmers, agri-food processors and exporters as well as produce buyers in the tourism and retail industries.

Dr Thao Nguyen, an ICT consultant and facilitator of the workshop, introduced the pilot versions of mobile applications to 47 participants for their feedback. Participants included partners from FCLC, the European Union, Ministry of Agriculture, BioSecurity Authority of Fiji, as well as fresh produce exporters and farmers.

Participants like Nath and Nava identified various weaknesses in their current operations and how mobile applications could assist them such as: • Fiji Makete: a market trading facility that provides an opportunity for farmers to sell their products to potential buyers; • Alerts: an information distribution system that allows users to reach multiple parties via SMS text messaging. This online system will be used

by FCLC to send the industry important messages targeted to audiences in defined locations.

• FCLC membership registration: a mobile app enabling users to register with FCLC via their mobile phone; • Prices: a market price tracking system, that will let users know the current weekly retail prices of a range of fresh produce at municipal markets around Fiji. This system will build on the current manual system of data collection, by using mobile phone technology to provide pricing information quickly and efficiently for use by all agriculture industry stakeholders. Farmers can use the system to make selling decisions, buyers and exporters can set best prices and others will use the information for planning, statistics and other non- trading uses; • Farmers’ tips: an agricultural tips SMS messaging service available to FCLC members that provides useful information on growing crops.

on the concerted effort of all the ministries and key department of government, private sector, citizens, academia and civil society,” Samuels said.

Vanuatu had liberalised its telecommunication market in 2008, with the entry of Digicel providing a long overdue catalyst for competition in the sector.

A recent study by the Vanuatu-based Pacific Institute of Public Policy had revealed that 96 percent of households in Vanuatu own a mobile phone and 99.4 percent have access to one.

“Furthermore, people increasingly rely on such new technologies—65.6 percent of people living in urban areas and 53 percent of rural dwellers consider phone to be very important in their daily lives,” said Kilman.

The ICT evolution in the island country has also seen the increasing penetration of the Internet through new licensees entering the market.

“This is further supported by such projects as the telecenter facility in Rensarie, which provides local community with the access to the Internet and relevant training, as well as connects a secondary school and a health center to the Internet.

The government broadband network connects government agencies in all the provinces. It provides a foundation for better intra-government communication, increased government efficiency and deployment of electronic government services,” Kilman said.

Vanuatu’s prospects are also expected to be boosted at the completion of the submarine telecom cable construction linking its capital Port Vila to Fiji.

The new NIDC comprises 25 members from Vanuatu’s public, NGOs (includes Vanuatu Society of Disabled People, chiefs, women representatives and church leaders) and private entities.

Education

USP: A silent achiever

A sharp turnaround in USP enrolments and finances over the past four years can be attributed to astute leadership. The fiscal health of the institution is credit to donors, including Australia, EU, New Zealand, Japan, and more recently India, Korea, and the People’s Republic of China.

The Australian government is providing scholarships tenable at USP and the number of these scholarships is projected to grow.

USP has a clear mandate. An institution created in 1968 and jointly owned by a dozen members of the Pacific Islands Forum (i.e. campus has grown to an extent that USP is hardly Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, RMI, Nauru, Niue,

By Dr Satish Chand recognisable to what it was just two decades back.

Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Samoa), it As a graduate of the University of the South Last year, I wondered into a newly constructed was tasked to produce graduates for the region.

Pacific (USP) and for someone who taught there Information and Communications (ICT) CenThere was then a clear need for a university for two years, I have a soft spot for this premier tre, built in 2010 with Japanese aid to the tune but one that no single member could afford. The tertiary institution of the Pacific. of F$43 million. The facilities there are as good outputs from the institution are paraded out in USP is far from being perfect, but it is the as any I find in Australia. The library on Laucala graduation ceremonies in full public view each one shining example from the many regional campus has an admirable Pacific collection—one year since 1970. The 40,000 or so graduates USP organisations of the Pacific. that is accessible to outsiders (including me) for has delivered since inception is visible evidence USP has delivered thousands of graduates, a subscription. The campus has a fast broadband of success. many of who now hold senior leadership posiaccess, one that surpasses in speed to those I have More difficult to assess is the quality of the tions in private, public, and non-governmental seen in any developing nation. programmes and the value of research output. organisations. Several of our heads of regional I often compare USP to the University of Tracking these is a challenge for all institutions organisations including USP itself is headed Papua New Guinea (UPNG): the contrasts of higher learning worldwide. Students have a by a former USP graduate! Why has USP exare striking. UPNG, an institution that I visit reasonable feel for the quality of courses and the celled when many regional organisations have regularly and have much affinity with, was the effectiveness of the lecturers. And from my own struggled? recollections, USP has its fair share Does USP have lessons for othof the good and the ugly. However, ers and for the ongoing review of I still bump into many who have the Pacific Plan? What is the future devoted their entire lives to serving of a regional university in light of USP. It is a credit to them that the emerging national universities? institution continues to thrive.

I regularly bump into graduates There is, however, little room from USP: some I recognise and for complacency on the delivery of others I do not. One of my own quality programmes. Technology is Solomon Islander contemporaries now permitting distant delivery of who is now the head of a major courses and even the islands nations regional organisation met his future of the South Pacific are not immune wife, a Fijian, at USP. They are now from competition from universities happily married and have six lovely in distant places—Australia, New children. These big kids are conZealand, the UK, the USA, etc. crete cases of regional integration.

The leadership at USP is aware I often remind this foreigner friend of this development as the new of mine that he did not pay enough USP’s newly constructed Information and Communications (ICT) Centre...built in 2010 strategic plan has a singular focus on in bride price, but the truth is that with Japanese aid to the tune of F$43 million. Photo: Islands Business “Excellence in knowledge creation this union would not have taken [so as to] better serve the Pacific place without USP. What surprises region”. premier university of the Pacific islands region me is the lack of more such marriages. Not that In sum, USP’s success can be attributed in the 1970s.

USP should encourage cross-national marriages to leadership, resources, and transparency of It was better resourced and staffed then. USP but the existing practice of students from the outputs. The narrow mandate of USP and the and UPNG had a student exchange scheme those various member nations sticking together rather visibility of the number of graduates produced days and students returning from UPNG boasted than mixing with their classmates from other have kept the institution ticking. about the size, vibrancy and quality of offerings nations may have impeded the above.

USP has reasons to be proud of its 45 years of there. And most then believed that USP would existence, though there is no time to relax. remain in second place to UPNG. The next generation of leaders USP has overtaken UPNG on each one of the I often bump into senior officials from regional USP can do more above-mentioned due to its own progress and governments who I had either studied with or USP can do more to regional prosperity and also because UPNG has slipped from its initial had taught at USP. for regional integration. position. The race between USP and UPNG has This is not too dissimilar to the many encounClearly, USP has and will continue to produce been one where USP has progressed, albeit from ters I regularly have with graduates of the Australeaders of the region. The graduates from USP a lower starting point, while UPNG has regressed lian National University who work in Australia will figure prominently in politics, private sector, from its heights. and the broader Asia-Pacific region. bureaucracy, and in all regional organisations.

USP now stands tall compared to her sister Even if not friends, having studied at the same USP is one regional organisation (i.e. corporainstitution in PNG. Both, however, retain their institution creates a rapport that straddles across tion) that has consistently contributed to regional roles as the refineries for leaders of the Pacific generations. USP has grown considerably over cooperation. islands region—an important role that cannot the past four decades.

USP alumni now straddle the entire Pacific—a be over-emphasised.

While some of the old hands who taught me resource ready to be tapped for regional dialogue. decades ago remain, there are many new and These same individuals can be a resource to Reasons for USP’s success young faces amongst the staff at USP. Many flashy ensuring that the institution remains relevant to The success of USP (and its few failings) can buildings have propped up on Laucala campus. the emerging challenges of the region. Some are be attributed largely to leadership and its narrow Course offerings, research output, outposts in the rich enough to provide private funding to USP. mandate. region, and the sheer size and shape of the Laucala ... To page 36

But it can do a lot more

Islands Business, April 2013 35

Sport

Holding the balance of power...Pacific players (from left) Peleti Mateo, Jarryd Hayne and Sonny Bill Williams. Just who will play for the Pacific nations is a contentious issue and a hot subject in rugby league circles right now. It’s not just about the money now—pride in their heritage is also influencing the choices of the players. Photos: Peter Rees

Tug-of-war over Pacific talent When a player with dual eligibility plays a Senior International Match for a country, he is deemed to have elected to play for that country.

He may not play for another country until the end of the next World Cup tournament or the expiry of two years, whichever is earlier (this is called an election period).

After the expiry of an election period, the player may elect to play for another country if he is eligible, and so forth. But a player can only change once in each election period.

Just who will play for the Pacific nations is a contentious issue and a hot subject in rugby league circles right now. It’s not just about the money now—pride in their heritage is also influencing the choices of the players.

Traditionally, Australia and New Zealand have had first choice in the selection of players.

They’ve taken the cream of the crop and left the islands nations with the scraps. But with a third of all players in the NRL of Maori and Pacific

descent and a further 36 percent now playing in the Toyota U20 National Youth Competition, that talent base is now overflowing. So has the demand. Pacific players are simply just built for the game—big, strong and fast.

The five Pacific islands nations competing in the World Cup—Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Cook Islands and Tonga—have been busy recruiting for their respective campaigns, determined to send their best possible team to the UK. While Australia has the depth to cope with any player loss, New Zealand officials are fearful—not surprising considering close to 80% of the Kiwi team is made up of Maori and Pacific players.

Last year, Kiwi rugby league bosses were up in arms at the increasing number of New Zealandborn players being wooed to play State of Origin—a stepping stone to representing Australia.

The lure of Origin is strong as players can earn up to AU$20,000 a game. North Queensland Cowboys player, James Tamou, who shares Cook Islands ancestry, was enticed to play for New South Wales and subsequently got selected for Australia.

Another New Zealand-born player, Josh Papalii, also turned his back on the Kiwis to make himself available for Origin selection for the Queensland Maroons. Big Bulldogs prop, Sam Kasiano, the other player caught in the middle of a tug-of-war between Australia and New Zealand spurned Origin and made his debut for the Kiwis in 2012.

tion for one. USP’s monopoly on the provision of university education will be weakened as new suppliers enter the market.

USP will need to transit to being a largely, though not wholly, self-financing institution.

This shift will happen for three reasons: (i) the emergence of national universities that will attract some of the student clientele away and with it national funding; (ii) the rapid evolution of the global tertiary education sector where tertiary education is increasingly being delivered

to distant places via access to information and communications technology; and, (iii) tertiary education provision is shifting to being a business rather than a public good that historically has had a right to taxpayer subsidies.

The lessons for other regional institutions is that they will need to better articulate their mandates, focus on outputs and be transparent.

USP’s lead shows that only then will they be in a position to demonstrate value for money in terms of taxpayers funded subsidies.

Who will play for the islands, a hot issue

By Peter Rees Pacific players with dual eligibility hold the balance of power ahead of this year’s Rugby League World Cup. All eyes will be on two important matches in April—the ANZAC test between Australia and New Zealand in Canberra on 19 April and a clash between two fierce rivals, Toa Samoa and Mate Ma’a Tonga in Penrith, the following day.

The Tonga versus Samoa game has been given full international status by the Rugby League International Federation (RLIF), which means all NRL clubs will have to release their players.

With the game’s biggest showpiece looming in October, that status should force the hands of many players undecided on their loyalties.

Currently under the RLIF rules, players who have represented one country in World Cup qualifiers are not permitted” to play for a different one in the World Cup tournament.

... From page 35 As a regional organisation, USP will need to graduate to being a regional corporation; i.e. the institution will have to learn to live with reduced public subsidies.

The weaning of public subsidies has begun through the emergence of national universities: Samoa and Fiji have their own, Tonga has a private university, and the Solomon Islands is in prepara36 Islands Business, April 2013

test against world number one Australia in St New Zealand officials now fear losing even Helens on 2 November, then a date with host more players to the islands nations with the World team England at Hull on 9 November.

Cup around the corner, particularly if Toa Samoa Tonga is reeling from the loss of Warriors’ gets its way. Samoa Rugby League has set their utility Feleti Mateo, who was slated to lead Mate sights on high profile former Kiwis internationMa’a into battle at the World Cup. Mateo has als: Roy Asotasi (Rabbitohs), Frank Pritchard thrown in his lot for Australia to realise a goal of (Bulldogs) and Thomas Leuluai (Warriors) with playing in the State of Origin. However, the huge Ben Te’o (Rabbitohs) and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck depth of Tongan talent in the NRL will see other (Roosters) also on their radar. players step into the void. Players such as Michael However, it is the prospect of gaining the Jennings (Roosters), Brent Kite (Manly), Willie services of the game’s most marketable player Mason (Knights), Sika Manu (Panthers) and that has tongues wagging. Roosters’ star recruit, Konrad Hurrell (Warriors) will likely be named if Sonny Bill Williams has returned to the game they miss selection for the Kangaroos and Kiwis. where he first found fame after a successful Tongan officials will be happy with the draw stint in rugby union; winning a World Cup with which sees Mate Ma’a pooled with minnows the All Blacks and a Super Rugby title with the USA and Italy. The crucial game will be against Chiefs. Though he played for the Kiwis before island rivals Cook Islands, where a win should his defection to union in 2008, reports now sugseal them a quarterfinal apgest Williams wants to team Need to know pearance. up with good friend Reni 2013 World Cup dates Papua New Guinea is Maitua (Parramatta Eels) in • The 2013 RLIF Rugby League World Cup runs the team least affected by the Samoa team. the loyalties of players with “If the cards—or the co- from 26 October to 30 November in the UK. Who plays where dual eligibility. The Kumuls conut—fall our way, we are strong and experienced, could potentially have the Group A Australia, England, Fiji, Ireland especially up front with the greatest Samoan team ever,” likes of Neville Costigan says former Kiwis player Group B New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and UK based captain, Paul and current NRL Education France, Samoa Aiton in the pack. and Welfare officer, Nigel However, the Kumuls are Vagana, who is also an amGroup C Scotland, Tonga, Italy perhaps lacking the X-factor bassador for Samoa Rugby talent that Samoa, Fiji and League, and a member of Group D Tonga have. the 2008 Toa Samoa World Wales, USA, Cook Islands But with former KanCup squad that beat Tonga.

Top three from Group A& B and Top teams from garoos stars Adrian Lam New Zealand Rugby Group C & D progress to quarterfinals. and Mal Meninga in the League high performance Who’s won the World Cup manager Tony Kemp re• New Zealand beat Australia 34-20 in the last coaching team, they will mains bravely defiant how- World Cup final played in Brisbane in 2008. Australia be no easy beats. PNG will ever, calling the reports ru- has won the World Cup 9 times, Great Britain/England most likely battle it out with France and Toa Samoa for mour and a “smoke screen”. 3 times and NZ just once. a second quarterfinal spot “It’s World Cup year,” he Pacific nations - World Cup with the Kiwis favourites says. “The Cook Islands, appearances and best results in Group B. Tonga and Samoa want the Samoa - 4th appearance – quarterfinals in 2000 The Cook Islands may strongest team possible. If Tonga - 4th appearance – two wins in 2008 not have the depth Samoa, you look through our team, Cook Islands - 3rd appearance – never won a game we have a raft of Polynesian Fiji, Papua New Guinea Fiji - 4th appearance – semi-final in 2008 players so their heritage is or Tonga have. But coach Papua New Guinea - 6th appearance – quarter- David Fairleigh is still conbeing challenged but, as far as we are concerned, these finals in 2000 fident they’ll be up for the • Who will play for the Pacific nations is a conten- task. guys want to play for New Zealand. They are currently tious issue and a hot subject in rugby league circles Fringe Kiwi players such right now New Zealanders.” as Alex Glenn and Ben Similarly, Fiji has their Henry and Warriors signing eyes on several players with Australian connecDominique Peyroux would be great assets if they tions. Parramatta Eels flyer, Jarryd Hayne, is at the were available for the Cooks. top of the hit list for Fiji Bati officials.

“We’ll be competitive. I don’t think anyone Though he is a near certainty for Kangaroos expects us to win the World Cup, but certainly selection, the depth of talent Australia currently we want to be competitive within our pool and has at fullback and wing means Hayne may opt we think we can do that if we’ve got all our best for Fiji if he misses selection, which will be nothplayers on the field,” he says. ing new for him.

There is no question Samoa, Fiji, PNG and Hayne played for Fiji at the 2008 World Cup Tonga can cause an upset or two. But the odds are and was one of the stars of the tournament leading still stacked heavily in favour of Australia, New the Bati to the semis. Newcastle Knights speedZealand or England contesting the World Cup ster Akuila Uate is on the hit list while West Tigers final on 30 November. and former Wallaby star Lote Tuqiri and former Outside Australia’s NRL and the UK Super Kangaroos prop, Petero Civoniceva, have reportLeague and annual test fixtures between the big edly already confirmed their availability for Fiji. three, the international game remains dormant.

“Fiji would love to have the services of Hayne The RLIF appears to be protecting the interests and Uate...We want to have the two in our side of the big three by keeping the status quo and the if Australia drops them,” says Bati official, Jo islands nations quiet so that players with dual eliRabele. gibility are likely to remain loyal to the big three.

Fiji plays Ireland first on 28 October in what However, player power is slowly but surely will be a very tough group. Fiji then faces a tough having a say off the field.

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Environment

Building resilience for a changing Pacific

but also protect breeding areas and habitat for fish, crustaceans and other invertebrate species. They are also a source of timber and non-timber products, including traditional medicines and dyes.

SPREP is implementing an EbA approach in the Choiseul Province of the Solomon Islands through a USAID-funded project with support from a number of partners, including the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and GIZ. A recently completed vulnerability assessment for this project highlights how people’s livelihoods rely heavily on their continued ability to adaptation strategy.

By David Sheppard* utilise natural resources and the services provided In the Pacific, the dominant adaptation reby the ecosystems. Communities also identified sponses to climate change have tended to focus The people of the Pacific Islands have a long a number of social, cultural, political, economic on infrastructure based approaches. history of living and coping with a highly variable and environmental factors that are contributing Applying ecosystem-based adaptation harclimate and environment. to their vulnerability to effects of climate change. nesses the significant contributions that ecosysConstraints faced by Pacific islands societies Given this close connectivity of livelihoods tems can make in improving resilience of the historically were not much different to the issues and natural resources and the connectivity of people of the Pacific to climate change, and to faced by many Pacific societies today: limited arterrestrial, coastal and marine ecosystems, it is ensure that relevant ‘whole of island’ approaches able land, deforestation, limited freshwater, high important that ridge-to-reef and catchment wide are taken that include all stakeholders: national population growth and depletion of natural reapproaches to resource management are adopted. government agencies and policymakers through sources, and vulnerability to extreme events such However, when we start working at broader to local communities as cyclones, droughts, earthquakes and tsunamis. scales, such as water catchments, the number of An ecosystem approach to adaptation can put Responses to these constraints included varilandowners, resource users and stakeholders is adaptation solutions in the hands of local people ous social controls on natural resource use, popuusually more complex. Engagement of multiple and use traditional ecological knowledge whereas lation control and voluntary or forced migration stakeholders and sectors is to other islands. These offered thus essential. Adaptation at a high degree of resilience to this level also requires multiclimatic events. disciplinary teams that can Rapid climate change is engage all relevant levels of now increasing the vulnerdecision-makers in Pacific ability of Pacific islands soislands countries. cieties, adding to the many In Choiseul an integrated environmental problems that approach to climate change continue to limit options for involves multiple partners to future generations of Pacific link all our efforts and bring Islanders. together climate change adThese changes include the aptation, disaster risk manageintensity, frequency and disment and food security issues. tribution of extreme events, Whilst SPREP’s focus is on changes in temperature and ecosystem-based adaptation, precipitation patterns, ocean SPC and the United Nations acidification and sea level rise.

Development Programme will Utilisation of natural refocus on food security; GIZ sources underpins the naon sustainable livelihoods; the tional and local economies Pacific Adaptation to Climate of Pacific countries. Climate Change Science and Adaptachange undermines the cation Planning Programme pacities of many ecosystems (PACCSAP) on town planto continue to provide these ning; and The Nature Conservices and its impact will servancy on protected areas. increase if other threats to Close collaboration with the productive ecosystems of the Pacific are not addressed. Solution...an Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) illustration. It is recognised that EbA or natural solutions provincial and national government ensures this approach To address these climate can address climate change impacts. Illustration courtesy of SPPREP. delivers a more holistic adapchange impacts, it is intation response and aims to creasingly recognised that establish structures that are Ecosystem-based Adaptation sustainable beyond the lifetime of individual (EbA), or “natural solutions” can and must play infrastructure options often require outside projects. In recognition of the importance of a critical role. expertise and external machinery. For example, ecosystems management to climate change Natural solutions include replanting manmangrove or riverbank vegetation replanting are adaptation, the theme, “Natural solutions: Buildgroves and the revegetation of stream banks actions that can be carried out by local villages and ing Resilience for a Changing Pacific”, has been and upslope areas. These approaches reduce call upon local knowledge and understanding of adopted for the 9th Pacific Islands Conference the impacts of extreme events while supporting species composition, as well as scientific expertise. on Nature Conservation and Protected Areas. resource use such as fisheries, sustainable harvest Ecosystem-based approaches can also be This important event for the Pacific brings toof timber and medicinal or food plants, essential cheaper. A recent cost benefit analysis for Lami gether community representatives, government, to the livelihoods and cultures of Pacific peoples.

Town, Fiji, comparing the costs and benefits of donors and organisations every four or five years It makes sound sense to use biodiversity and ecosystem-based adaptation, engineering options to build partnerships and will occur this year in ecosystem services as part of an overall adaptation and hybrid options to respond to flooding and Suva, Fiji, from 2-6 December. I sincerely hope strategy to climate change. By taking into account erosion vulnerability, concluded that ecosystemthat many Islands Business readers will be able the ecosystem services on which people depend based options had the highest benefit to cost ratio. to attend this important event. for their livelihoods and social and economic There are also important secondary benefits security, EbA integrates sustainable use of biodiof ecosystem restoration for communities. Man• David Sheppard is the director-general of SPREP and is versity and ecosystem services in a comprehensive grove forests protect coastlines from storm surge based in Apia.

Natural solutions, way to go

Islands Business, April 2013 39

Business Intelligence

Monaco’s prince willing to help Palau

By Ongerung Kambes Kesolei

P

alau’s President Tommy Remengesau Jr. is considering a ban on all commercial fishing in the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), but will not implement that unless there are alternative sources to replace lost revenues.

“This is neither a light decision to make nor do we take its impact lightly,” Remengesau told reporters.

According to the president, Palau earns less than US$5 million through fishing licenses, exports and indirect taxes from the fishing industry.

“A drop in a bucket,” he described the money it is earning from the multi-billion venture.

“First, we want to be clear there is a mechanism in place to replace the fishing revenue, because if we move abruptly to close our waters without funding mechanisms in place or finding other sources of revenue, our government will suffer,” the president said.

He said the proposal is in its early stages and he will be working closely with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, lawmakers and community stakeholders to ensure it will be a success and not a mere declaration.

He said currently funds from fishing ventures are mainly money appropriated to the state government in the form of fishing rights fees.

stocks are conserved. It will also curb overfishing that depletes Palau’s marine resources.

“The very foundation of this idea (closing the EEZ) is conservation so that we may have sustainable marine resources in years to come.

“To cite an example, the current rate of fishing is the primary reason the population of bluefin tuna has been almost decimated worldwide. Not only bluefin, but also skipjack tuna, yellowfin and other fisheries have also suffered a decline in population because the fishing industry is employing modern technology to make fishing more efficient and sophisticated.”

The president said monitoring enforcement could also be a problem but with help from private partners and stronger laws Willing to lend a hand...Prince Albert of Monaco (left) with Palau’s President Tommy Remengesau. Photo: Ongerung Kambes against overfishing, this can be an easy feat.

The president added that he is also lookKesolei ing at the possibility of using drone technolHe said part of the programme or vision is to ogy to man the country’s EEZ. create a trust fund, or grant sources or partnership Palau’s Minister of Natural Resources, Envifrom a country or non-governmental organisation ronment and Tourism Umiich Sengebau stated to have these funds replaced. that Palau is not getting enough revenue from the The proposal was announced during the visit fishing industry and that this could be replaced of Prince Albert of Monaco to Palau. He said the by beefing up the tourism sector and partnership prince was willing to make this proposal come true. with NGOs whose aim is to help countries conClosing down the EEZ will also ensure that tuna serve their resources.

Regional airlines world beaters

By Davendra Sharma

A

irlines from the Pacific along with some Asian carriers will lead the world in profit hikes in 2013, the global International Air Transport Association (IATA) revised forecast shows.

Profit potential of Pacific-based airlines like Australia’s Virgin Blue and the Qantas group, Air New Zealand are unrivalled in the world when you merge the bottom lines for such Asian giants as Cathay Pacific, Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines, Malaysian Airlines, Air China, China Southern, China Eastern and Japan Airlines.

Together, the region will generate US$4.2 billion this year—surpassing the initial projected figure of US$3.2 billion and that of last year.

Net profits, however, for the 240-member airlines of IATA could have been significantly higher this year if it were not for government impediments and soaring fuel prices.

Speaking for 240 airlines in 115 countries, IATA member companies which carry 84% of the world’s air traffic, its chief executive anticipates profit levels for airlines in 2013 to be third largest since 2000.

“It’s a small step in the right direction,” IATA’s Tony Tyler outlined in his latest figures. This year’s promising Pacific and Asian results will set the global airline industry’s net profit margin to 1.6%.

“That tells you something about how difficult the airline business is.”

It expects airlines globally to rake in US$10.6 billion in net profit, up from an earlier forecast of US$8.4 billion and substantially better than the

40 Islands Business, April 2013

US$7.6 billion achieved in 2012.

Founded in 1945 by 57 member airlines, IATA now represents air passenger and cargo movements worth nearly $2.2 trillion annually.

From the South Pacific region, Air Pacific, Air Vanuatu, Air Niugini, Air Tahiti Nui, AirCalin, Air Tahiti and Guam’s Continental Micronesia are avid members of IATA—responsible for connecting around 3 billion people every year.

“The fortunes of the industry rise and fall with the global economic cycle,” said Tyler. Europe’s ongoing recession, slow recovery in the United States and natural disasters in Japan have led to slowdown in world travels. But some astute strategic planning by airlines in the region will ensure a huge rebound to rising profitability in 2013.

Airlines deliver tremendous value “Aviation is a catalyst for economic growth and prosperity...and an industry that can generate sustainable returns can do that more effectively.”

While recent mergers and new code-sharing between Australian regional carriers like Virgin with Etihad and Qantas with Emirates will ignite new rivalry for passenger travels between the two regions of the Pacific and Middle East, it can only add revenue to the regional airlines.

Middle Eastern airline profits are expected to rise by more than half this year to US$1.4 billion as they extend their routes around the globe.

IATA anticipates that about a third of the world’s trade by value dollars is with goods shipped by air—moving a bumper 50 million tons of cargo every year. Tyler reckons that once the atrocities

Air Niugini...a member of IATA. Photo: John Brooksbank

and economic slowdown around Europe, America, Africa and the Middle East subside, the regional Pacific and other airlines will be able to reap greater profits.

“Efficiency gains have seen the airlines making some money in very difficult (high oil prices and weak economic growth),” he said. “A few years ago, that would have been impossible. But we still are nowhere near approaching what would be considered a normal return in other industries.”

Returning a margin of 5.3%, the airlines from Asia Pacific are world beaters when it comes to contributing to the industry’s profits. It is followed

by North America at 4.1% ($3.6 billion in profits) and the Middle East at 3.4%, Europe $800 million, Latin America $600 million, Africa $100 million.

Tyler pointed out that improvements in the in-

Witch-hunt for illegal whisky imports

By Merita Huch

ported.

Revenue and Customs is also carrying Police say the whisky was sold at 20 out its own investigation. (tala) each.

CEO Tualau Sefo says her office was amoan authorities are baffled at how a conThe Minister of Revenue and Cusinvestigating how the goods were retainer of whisky imports was brought into the toms, Tuiloma Pule Lameko has inleased when the container was obviously country illegally. structed the customs division to hand illegal.

The bottles of whisky named VAT 999 were over “as soon as possible” an update She didn’t elaborate if anyone from packed in hundreds of boxes now retrieved by the on the illegal whiskey. her department was actually responsible Inland Revenue and Customs ministry. Not all It was only found out later that but customs officers are responsible for the products were returned, some were sold when the container of whisky which was containers once the customs officials went brought from Australia was released they arrive and around shops and hotels in with a license to be sold in Samoa. placed at the Apia Apia retrieving them.

A Chinese businessman, a local wharf.

The consignment is beMember of Parliament and several It’s believed the lieved to have reached Apia Minister Tuiloma Pule Chinese business- Lameko...illegal imports business owners have been questioned in early February through person tried to get embarrassing. Photos: but the police have yet to file charges. what police suspected to be When this edition went to press, an import license Merita Huch dealings between a Chinese Minister Tuiloma was still waiting for to allow these businessperson and a local a result of his ministry’s investigation, saying that goods to enter Samoa but business owner, who is besomeone or some people in customs are respondidn’t get it on time so when lieved to be a local MP. sible for the release of the illegal product yet nothe container arrived, it was The boxes of whiskey body’s been implicated. yet. deemed illegal. were quickly distributed to Tuiloma says it’s embarrassing to know that SaMeanwhile, one of the loshops in Apia and around moa, a new member to the World Trade Organisacal businessmen who was dethe rural areas. tion, is implicated in such practices and it gives tained and questioned over Police are tightlipped the ministry as well as the whole of Samoa a “bad the matter says he was just about their investigations name” when it comes to trading. approached with the boxes of only to say they now have He also feels the obvious lack of border control whisky and he bought them the suspects. is shown in incidents such as this. thinking they were legally imThe Ministry of Inland Illegal imports...subject of an investigation.

S

dustry’s profitability were encouraging, but must be kept in perspective.

“Chronic anaemic profitability is characteristic across most of the aviation value chain when compared to other sectors.

“It will require more than improving economic conditions to fix. Neither the challenges nor the benefits of doing so should be underestimated.”

Government gate access He said governments around the world and especially in Europe and the United States were deterring airlines from cashing in on further opportunities in the aviation industry.

Airlines have capacity to increase traffic flow from developing countries in Asia and the Pacific to Europe but government regulations like the new UK passenger duty from this month and a move towards a single European sky were inhibiting carrier companies from expanding operations in that region.

“Many governments don’t seem to understand. Just look at the knocks that the industry is taking,” cautioned Tyler.

Governments with open deregulation policies have found that airlines are contributing to their country’s growth by way of employment, tourism, air cargo and increasing access to the outside world.

“That is why we will continue to remind governments to engage the industry in a partnership to create a joined-up policy framework that enables a sustainable aviation industry and encourages the benefits it brings.”

Tyler said IATA has observed that restrictive government regulations and taxes only suffocate airlines from doing their business in a much greater profitable manner.

“There is a long list of government-generated impediments to providing the connectivity that could have a very powerful and positive impact on generating economic growth that is so desperately needed.”

He said the relationship with governments goes far beyond safety, security, and sustainability. As aviation is one of the fastest growing industries in the world, it needs government backing to prosper.

“A perfect world would have open markets and a level playing field. That is not the case today.”

The Hillshire Brands Company, a corporation organised under the laws of Maryland, does hereby provide notice that it claims proprietorship of the trade marks SARA LEE and

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The Hillshire Brands Company cautions that any use of the trade marks SARA LEE and

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The Hillshire Brands Company, can be contacted care of their address for service: Baker & McKenzie, AMP Centre, Level 27, 50 Bridge Street, Sydney NSW 2000 Australia.

Islands Business, April 2013 41

RAMSI Update

Recognising the quiet achiever

2013 winner...Taeasi Sanga (2nd left), the recipient of the Special Coordinator’s Award 2013, with RAMSI Special Coordinator, Nicholas Coppel.. With them are some of the previous awardees. Photo by RAMSI Public Affairs

The outstanding service of the Clerk to Solomon Islands’ National Parliament, Taeasi Sanga, has been recognised with the RAMSI Special Coordinator’s Award for Women. Johnson Honimae profiles the inspiring story of this quiet achiever.

T

hrough lengthy budget debates, heated motions of no confidences even riots, for more than a decade, Taeasi Sanga has quietly made sure that Solomon Islands’ National Parliament could go about its business; never thinking of herself as anything other than a servant of the people.

Now this humble woman has been recognised not only for her commitment and dedication to the job at hand but for her quiet leadership of the efforts to reform and strengthen her country’s supreme law-making body. On March 7 at the annual RAMSI’s Women’s Breakfast, Mrs Sanga was presented with the 2013 Special Coordinator’s Award for Women.

Echoing what many in the Solomon Islands already thought, RAMSI Special Coordinator, Nicholas Coppel said Mrs Sanga in her role as Clerk to the National Parliament was an example not only of a highly effective administrator but a person of exemplarity, tenacity and dedication.

“Persevering during the hardest of times during the tensions when funding had all but dried up and parliament became a target for militant activity, she has, in the past decade, also proved to be a quiet but determined agent for change, keen to strengthen and develop the institution she has served for most of her professional life,” Mr Coppel said.

Born in her village in East Malaita, with the assistance of traditional midwives, Mrs Sanga travelled at the age of three to live in the wilds of Papua New Guinea with her missionary parents.

After completing her training in New Zealand, she returned to the Solomons where despite 42 Islands Business, April 2013

role played by the Clerk of National Parliament in today’s award.

“I dedicate this award to the team of enthusiastic young people who have been working in the Parliament Strengthening Project since 2006.

They always want to do their best knowing they are assisting our national leaders to play their role in serving the people of this nation. I thank UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) and RAMSI for strongly supporting this project,” Mrs Sanga said.

With the transition of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands underway, this is likely to be the last time the RAMSI Special Coordinator’s Award for Women is presented.

The Special Coordinator’s Award for Women was instituted in 2009 as a way of celebrating the achievements of individual women in Solomon Islands.

Previous recipients are Beverly Komasi who founded the Mercy School for children living at the Honiara dump, Police Inspector Florence Taro of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force, Mayline Sese-Taghoa a young community worker from the “Girls for Change’ programme and Ruth Liloqula, the first woman to be appointed Secretary to Cabinet.

RAMSI hopes that what it has started with its annual Women’s Breakfast and Special Coordinator’s Award for Women will be continued by either the government or other international agencies to make sure there is a chance each year to celebrate the enormous contribution women make to life in Solomon Islands.

“I dedicate this award to the team of enthusiatic young team working in the Parliament Strengthening project since 2006.”

her humble beginnings, Mrs Sanga rose by the time of Independence in 1978, to become personal secretary to Solomon Islands’ first Prime Minister, Sir Peter Kenilorea.

She joined the staff of the National Parliament in 1979 as a Hansard reporter.

“And it is here in the house on the hill (Parliament House) with the exception of a single decade, that she has remained, daily juggling with the utmost patience and grace, the challenges of serving the country’s supreme law-making body and her family responsibilities,” said Mr Coppel in presenting the award.

“She has done all this humbly and as a true servant of the people,” Mr Coppel said.

That she continued without letting anyone down despite the death in 2007 of her beloved husband, the well-respected Minister for Public Service, the Honourable Joses Sanga, makes her achievements all the more admirable.

Mrs Sanga, who resisted the idea that she deserved any sort of special recognition, dedicated the award to the team of young Solomon Islands graduates working in Parliament.

“But I do wish to thank RAMSI for recognising the different roles played by women in this country with the acknowledgement of the previous recipients of this award as well the recognition the

TRADE MARK CAUTIONARY NOTICE IN VANUATU Notice is hereby given that our clients Oriental and Motolite Marketing Corporation of 80-82 Ramcar Center, Roces Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines are the owners and sole proprietors of the following trademark:

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Our abovementioned clients have instructed us and wish us to bring to the notice of the trade and public that they attach singular importance to their abovementioned Trade Mark and that legal action will be taken against any person or persons who act in infringement of the rights of our clients.

Any inquiry relative thereto may be referred to ourselves being their agents: Hilborne, Hawkin & Co. 2875 Michelle Drive, Suite 170 Irvine, California 92606 United States of America Telephone: (714) 283-1155 Facsimile: (714) 283-1555 Email: info@hilbornehawkin.com

TRADE MARK CAUTIONARY NOTICE IN VANUATU Notice is hereby given that our clients Oriental and Motolite Marketing Corporation of 80-82 Ramcar Center, Roces Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines are the owners and sole proprietors of the following trademark:

To be used in connection with Automotive Batteries in International Class 9.

Our abovementioned clients have instructed us and wish us to bring to the notice of the trade and public that they attach singular importance to their abovementioned Trade Mark and that legal action will be taken against any person or persons who act in infringement of the rights of our clients.

Any inquiry relative thereto may be referred to ourselves being their agents: Hilborne, Hawkin & Co. 2875 Michelle Drive, Suite 170 Irvine, California 92606 United States of America Telephone: (714) 283-1155 Facsimile: (714) 283-1555 Email: info@hilbornehawkin.com

Islands Business, April 2013 43

Help make a world of difference Do you want to be part of a new generation of global leaders for development and contribute to Fiji’s economic growth? Then apply for an Australia Awards Scholarship for the opportunity to gain a qualification at a Regional or Australian University.

Applications are now open for the 2014 Australia Awards Scholarships for study in Australia and the Australia Awards Pacific Scholarship for TVET study at USP or FNU provided under the Australian Government’s aid program for citizens of Fiji.

The Australia Awards Scholarships in Australia are for Undergraduate, Masters and PhD courses only. The Australia Awards Pacific Scholarships are for TVET courses only.

Scholarship awards will be based on academic merit, taking into account the academic attainment, work experience and relevance of proposed study to Fiji’s Human Resource Development needs in the broad areas of Health, Education, Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry, Governance, Climate Change, Disability and Economic Growth. Half of the awards are offered to women, and applications are welcome from people with disability and other marginalised groups.

A detailed list of the courses that will be supported for 2014 can be obtained from SPBEA or from the contacts below.

General Eligibility Criteria Applicants: • Must be citizens of Fiji and not have access to places in Australian higher institutions on the basis of Australian citizenship, or Australian permanent residence status, or eligibility to hold a New Zealand passport or have permanent residence in New Zealand.

• Must not hold dual Fiji citizenship.

• Must not be applying for a visa to live in Australia • not be married, engaged to, or a de facto of a person who holds, or is eligible to hold, Australian or New Zealand citizenship or permanent residency, at any of the application, selection or mobilization phases • Must not hold another scholarship simultaneously with an AAS or AAPS, nor should they have held an Australian Government scholarship in the preceding 12 months at the time of application.

• Applicants for AAS must be applying to commence a new course of study and not be seeking support for a course they have already commenced in Australia.

• Must be able to satisfy the admission requirements of the institution at which the award is to be undertaken • Must be able to satisfy all requirements of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship for an AusAID Temporary Visa (subclass 576).

• Must not transfer from a Fiji Government scholarship or any other scholarship during the tenure of that scholarship.

• Must be able to take up the award in the calendar year for which the award is offered.

• Must not be under any bonding or cost sharing arrangements Please note that further eligibility requirements apply for the different levels of study: TVET, Undergraduate, Masters and PhD. More information on the eligibility criteria including priority areas of study requirements can be obtained from the Secretariat of the Pacific Board for Educational Assessment (SPBEA) on: Telephone No. +679 3378504 or +679 3378526 or email: scholarships@spbea.org.fj or their website: www.spbea.org.fj Information is also available on the SPBEA website: www.spbea.org.fj and the Australia High Commission Website www.fiji.embassy.gov.au Completed application forms can be posted to: The Scholarships Unit, SPBEA, GPO Box 2083, Government Buildings, Suva or hand delivered to: The Scholarships Unit, SPBEA, Level 5, Vanua House, Suva.

Applications close 5pm 30 April 2013.

How to apply You can apply online (preferred) at http://oasis.ausaid.gov.au for the Australia Awards.

For Hard Copy Applications contact SPBEA on Telephone No. +679 3378504 or +679 3378526 or email: scholarships@spbea.org.fj or pick up an application form from Level 5, Vanua House, Suva.

Applications for the Australia Awards Pacific Scholarships will be by hard-Copy only For more information contact: SPBEA on Tel: +679 3378504 or +679 3378526 or email: scholarships@spbea.org.fj

Regional Specialist (Disability-inclusive Development) (Overseas-Based Staff Position) The Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) is responsible for the management of Australia’s international development program. AusAID is seeking a Specialist, Disability-inclusive Development to be based in Suva.

Australia’s strategy, Development for All – towards a disability-inclusive Australian aid program 2009-2014 (2009-2014) aims to ensure that people with disability are included in and benefit equally from Australia’s development assistance.

The Specialist will play a critical role in supporting implementation of the strategy, providing technical advice; building awareness and understanding of colleagues and partners on disability-inclusive development; participating in monitoring and evaluation and contributing to AusAID’s continued international leadership role on disability-inclusive development.

The position will be offered initially on a two-year contract with the potential for extension. Please note this is not an Australian Public Service position.

Applicants are requested to submit a CV, statement against selection criteria and details of two referees. Referees will be contacted if you are shortlisted. The successful applicant may be required to undergo a security assessment.

People with disability and women are strongly encouraged to apply.

How to apply » Applicants should visit the Australian High Commission Fiji website at www.fiji.embassy.gov.au for information about the job description, selection process, the package to be offered and how to submit your application.

Applications close: 12 April 2013

Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) Director-General (based in Noumea, New Caledonia) SPC’s governing body seeks an innovative and visionary leader with a reputation for achieving results to appoint as Director-General to lead and manage SPC, the largest regional provider of technical/scientific services and development assistance to Pacific Island countries and territories.

The Director-General is the chief executive, responsible for leading the organisation within the guideline policies set by its governing body. Key result areas include organisational: (i) vision, leadership and management; (ii) policy, development and change management; (iii) governance; (iv) work programme service delivery and performance; (v) financial security and property; and (vi) relationships and advocacy.

The successful candidate will be a change agent with business acumen, able to work with political leaders and to communicate effectively in a bilingual and culturally diverse environment and work across SPC with stakeholders and partners.

Attributes include: (i) track record of leadership of a scientific/technical organisation and a post-graduate qualification in a discipline relevant to SPC’s operations; (ii) understanding of the technical nature of SPC’s work, its role in relation to other Pacific regional organisations, and current and emerging regional development priorities; (iii) understanding of the cultural and geopolitical landscape of SPC member countries and territories and commitment and dedication to their development; and (iv) judgement, strategic thinking, advocacy, negotiation, representational and interpersonal skills; and integrity, honesty, transparency. A practical knowledge of SPC’s two working languages (English and French) is an advantage and should be taken into account.

SPC is the Pacific Island region’s principal technical and scientific organisation serving 22 Pacific Island countries and territories. Established in 1947, it now employs over 570 staff. Its headquarters is in Noumea, New Caledonia, with other offices in Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia and Solomon Islands.

It delivers technical, scientific, research, policy and training services to island members in agriculture, disaster risk management, education, energy, fisheries, forestry, gender, geoscience, human rights, public health, statistics, transport, water resources, youth and culture, and in cross-cutting areas such as climate change.

Applications may be submitted in English or French. Closing date is Tuesday 30 April 2013. The appointee will be selected in November to commence in January 2014.

For details go to www.spc.int/en/employment.html or contact Dr Jimmie Rodgers, Director-General, in confidence via Efi Rex, DG’s office manager (efir@spc.int or +687 260 114). www.spc.int

Above right: Alvin Chand from Asco Motors Fiji 2012 Group Skills Contest Champion

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