One Papua New Guinea

PORT MORESBY: Fighting corruption in the country should be everyone’s business, Opposition Leader Don Pomb told a gathering in Port Moresby today (Wednesday).

Mr Polye said it should not only be the duty of the law enforcing agencies, Transparency International or other relevant agencies, citing PNG’s corruption index being the worst globally.

He, however, expressed concerns over less funding or if not non-funding of the Ombudsman Commission and Task Force Sweep, saying the law and justice sector saw a cut of K100 million in 2016 Budget.

He said when he was in government, he advocated for eradicating corruption in the country,

He added that he pushed for the establishment of Independent Commission Against Corruption, Sovereign Wealth Fund and Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative.

The SWF, he said, now PNG has is not within the aspirations of the Santiago principle which is international best practice, adding it only suited ‘political expediency.’

“We all must not only take a holistic approach in bring corruption to an end.

“We must also advocate on corruption and enhance transparency,” said Mr Polye when speaking at a gathering to mark the international anti-corruption day today (Wednesday).

He said he got frustrated when the perpetrators were still at large and not prosecuted.

“What is the use of the law enforcement agencies?

“If I commit an offence, I am happy to hand myself in to police for arrest and prosecution,” he said.

Polye, as a father, challenged fellow parents and guardians to instil upright values and character on their children to develop a culture of righteousness.

“As a father, I fight corruption for my children’s future.

“As a country, we should develop an identity of uprightness so that the whole world can see us as a clean country,” said Mr Polye.

He has called on the Prime Minister to take a lead in this, saying the government should not be seen as ‘the people’s enemy but as caring and loving.’

“The parliament’s perspective of addressing corruption in the extractive and renewable sectors should be through the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative and the Sovereign Wealth Fund,” said Mr Polye.

He said Independent Commission against Corruption among others was also a vehicle for fighting corruption in the country and that they should be well-funded to dispense justice.

Miss PNG Abigail Havora has been crowned Miss Pacific Islands 2015. This is the first time PNG has won the crown in this pageant.

PNG has never won an international or regional crown since the first Miss PNG Eva Arni who went on to win the "Miss Asia" title in 1975.

First runner up is Miss Samoa Ariana Taufao, second runner up is Miss Tonga Brittne Fuimaono, third runner up is Miss Fiji Zaira Begg and fourth runner up is Miss Solomon Islands Deanne Enoch.

Miss Havora also took out two categories, Best Sarong designed by local fashion label Wantok Clothing Limited and Best Talent.

For her talent, Miss PNG's spoken word poetry was influenced by gender equality, her faith and her country which was received very well.

The following the are results of the contest.

Our newly crowned Miss Pacific Islands, Miss Abigail Havora, pictured here with Team Papua New Guinea

Miss photogenic: Miss Tonga

Miss social media: Miss Tonga

Miss personality: Miss American Samoa

Miss national tourism: Miss American Samoa

Best Sarong: Miss Papua New Guinea

Best Traditional wear: Miss Fiji

Best Talent: Miss Papua New Guinea

Best interview: Miss Samoa

4th runner up: Miss Solomon Islands, Deanne Enoch

3rd runner up: Miss Fiji, Zaira Begg

2nd runner up: Miss Tonga, Brittne Fuimaono

1st runner up: Miss Samoa, Ariana Taufao

Miss Pacific Islands 2015: Miss Papua New Guinea, Abigale Havora

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has made the point that the infrastructure that is being delivered around the country, including new airports and roads, are creating a better future for the nation’s children.

PM O’Neill made the comments when opening the new Hoskins Airport (Domestic) Terminal Building Project, West New Britain, that will now create new opportunities for travel and trade.

“The bridges that we are building, the airports that we are building, the roads that we are building, and the ports and wharves that we are building will enable our people to have a better standard of living,” PM O’Neill said.

“This infrastructure will create better opportunities so that our people can get a better income and live a better life.

“Today our population is increasing at a very fast pace, and if we do not build infrastructure we will always be struggling. We will be struggling to grow the economy, struggling to provide opportunity for our people, struggling to deliver basic services to our people.”

The Prime Minister highlighted the importance of air transport infrastructure

“Papua New Guinea is a country that is remote, rugged and not yet fully connected, so air transport is vital to making sure that our people have access to services.

“Our Government is very focused on what it wants to do.

“We will expand Port Moresby Airport, we will rebuild Nadzab Airport, we have started to rebuild Goroka Airport, we have just reopened the Kagamuga Airport, and every airport in the country is being rebuilt.

“We are focused on key infrastructure that is going to improve our people’s living standards for many years to come.“Our children deserve a better future and we will deliver this.

“We have not finished yet, and we have a long way to go.

“That is why we need stability in the leadership and the politics of this country.

“That is why it is important that we stop playing politics, we have to work together.

“You can see what is happening in West New Britain where you have a government that is focused.

“Thank you, the people, for electing good leaders in West New Britain who stand behind our Government and make sure we deliver what we promised to ur people

“You have a Government and a Parliament today that is focused on delivering change.

“I know that our people are welcoming the change that is happening all throughout the country.”

Finally, the Prime Minister thanked people who had worked together to deliver the new airport.

“A lot of people have done a lot of work to make sure we deliver this project.

“Thank you to all involved, the contractors and workers, our Civil Aviation Minister, Governor Sasindran Muthuvel, and the Asian Development Bank, for delivering a world class terminal for our people here at Hoskins.”

Background Information:

· Fully securing the aerodrome with approximately 5 kilometres of palisade security fencing so that aircraft operations and passenger processing occurs within a safe and secure environment.

· Increased Runway length from 1,585m to 1,900m, and 90m x 90m Runway End Safety Areas at both runway ends;

· Aircraft pavements have been strengthened to cater for unrestricted Fokker-100 or similar jet aircraft operations;

· The apron has been widened to cater for 2 x F100/Q400 and 2 x Dash 8 aircraft parking positions at any one time. Originally only two aircraft parking positions were available;

· The new terminal building floor area is significantly bigger than the previous terminal. This comprises of both new departure and arrival facilities beneath a single roof, and the provision for undercover baggage processing and collection for increased passenger security and comfort;

· The new terminal building captures salient features of a modern terminal design. It has a visible sense of space for passengers with modern fixtures and finishes, modern ICT infrastructure as well as taking into natural lighting and ventilation for efficiency when in operation.

Local Support:

· The new Airport Market is 6m x 12m and is constructed within the airport boundary on the land side and securely fenced.

· The market can cater for 12 stalls/sellers to sell local produce, art and crafts and souvenirs.

· The markets up-keep will be managed by NAC ground staff at Hoskins Airport.

There are just two years to go before the world’s best Rugby League teams play in the Final of the Rugby League World Cup 2017.

To mark the two year milestone Rugby League World Cup 2017 Chief Executive Officer, Michael Brown, revealed the new Tournament logo today with current and future Rugby League stars at a South Sydney Rabbitohs community clinic.

In New Zealand, Kiwi stars joined players at a local Rugby League clinic in Auckland to celebrate the milestone.

“Rugby League has never been stronger in Australia, New Zealand and around the world with more people watching and playing the game than ever before,” Mr Brown said.

“We want the Rugby League World Cup to be a great celebration – not just for the players but we want to celebrate the diversity of the countries and cultures playing the game.

“It is important we give fans of all the nations playing in the Rugby League World Cup the opportunity to be part of a great experience and we want them to bring their culture, their heritage and their passion to the games.

“The logo we have revealed today represents the diversity of the hosting partners – Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea and also represents the speed and movement of the game.

“The Rugby League World Cup is the pinnacle event on the international calendar and I know players are passionate about representing their country on the world stage.” Mr Brown said.

The RLWC2017 logo was designed in consultation with Australian, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea cultural leaders. It represents the movement, agility and power of the sport and blends together the trophy as the ultimate prize of the event, the colours of the host nations and their cultures.

The RLWC2017 will be officially co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand from October to December in 2017 with the world’s best players from the world’s best 14 nations competing to become world champions.

There will be 28 matches in the Tournament played across three countries. Three Pool Matches will be played in Port Moresby, while the remaining matches in the Tournament will be allocated following consultation with potential Host Cities in Australia and New Zealand.

“To make this Tournament a true celebration of diversity, we also want to play the Women’s World Cup at the same time as the men’s. With more than 180,000 women and girls now playing and over 2.1 million female fans following the game in Australia alone, there is no better time to celebrate the women’s game,” Mr Brown said.

Mr Brown also welcomed the appointment of two new RLWC2017 Board members with Dr George Peponis appointed as Chairman and Andrew Fraser joining as the second ARLC representative.

“I am delighted both Dr Peponis and Andrew Fraser have agreed to join the 2017 Rugby League World Cup Board. They will bring with them an exceptional understanding of the game and great administrative experience that will help us to deliver a successful Tournament in 2017.”

www.RLWC2017.com

Superannuation funds in the country should be endowed to grow and not to be squeezed out, says Opposition Leader Don Polye.

He said this when commenting on the country’s largest pension fund Nambawan Super Limited being owed K2.5 billion by the state in superannuation contribution for its employees.

“Inside sources told me that those public servants who wish to withdraw their contributions will only be paid out their 6% employee contributions with related interest and not the state’s 8.4 per cent share with interests.

As such, he said, he was furious to learn that NSL would not pay out the employer’s component of the contribution with relevant interests until the government pays off its arrears.

Mr Polye said with this it was likely the fund might not pay out pensions quickly to bureaucrats. He said and that they might die pending the payment of their entitlements.

“Our industrious public servants deserve a better recognition from the government to enhance their livelihood after retirement.

“The government has budgeted less to cater for this and that I can confidently say that this government is completely irresponsible and careless,” said Mr Polye.

The fund now has over 130, 000 contributors from both the private and public sectors.

Media Release

A 19-YEAR-old male youth in New Ireland Province in Papua New Guinea was sentenced to a year in prison with hard labour for raping a five-year-old boy.

Justice Lawrence Kangwia at local Kavieng National Court sentenced Ruchard Namui, from Bagail village in Kavieng, to Kavieng Correctional Service to serve his time.

The incident took place in August 10, 2011 when Namui was 16 years old while the victim was four years old.

Namui was alone with the victim and the victim’s younger sister at the victim’s house where they were playing hide and seek.

In the process, Namui sexually penetrated the victim.

Though the offence had been committed four years ago, it was not reported and dealt with by the court of law until recently.

The judge sentenced Namui as a juvenile, saying the decision on sentence was delayed by two years.

“He was denied a lesser penalty he would have been entitled to as a juvenile,” Kangwia said.

“And now the age of maturity has caught up with him through no fault of his.”

Namui was found guilty after a trial and the victim was forced to give evidence and relive the incident.

“The offence is serious and prevalent and the prisoner abused a relationship of trust and showed no remorse,” Kangwia said.

“And when the sentence was delayed by two years, the prisoner had reached adulthood.”

He said compensation was out of the question and had no value or relevance to the victim who was now seven years old and the sentencing is the option for the incident.

Kangwia, while sentencing the prisoner, warned the people not to breach the trust on you by relatives and friends by abusing them.

“We must maintain the trust that is vested on us by our relatives and friends to treat them well,” he said.

New Zealanders have chosen a silver fern on a black-and-blue background as their preferred option if the South Pacific nation decides to dump Britain's Union Jack from its national banner, officials say.

The design beat four other contenders in a nation-wide referendum, according to preliminary results released by the New Zealand Electoral Commission.

Simply titled “Silver Fern (Black, White and Blue)”, the design will go head-to-head with the existing flag in a second referendum in March next year.

“While this is a preliminary result, New Zealanders can now turn their attention to deciding whether to keep the current flag, or replace it,” Deputy Prime Minister Bill English said.

Prime Minister John Key has led the push for reform, saying the existing ensign is a colonial relic that is too easily confused with Australia's flag.

He had previously nominated the winning design as his favourite, describing the silver fern as an instantly recognisable symbol of New Zealand.

The flag and an almost identical banner from the same designer, Kyle Lockwood, were clear winners in the five-way race, each receiving more than 550,000 first-choice votes of the 1.5 million ballots cast.

The second-placed design simply changes the colour of one section of the flag's background from black to red.

However, polling indicates the current flag is still on track to beat any contender in next year's run-off referendum.

Formally adopted in 1902, it has a Union Jack in the right corner alongside four red stars representing the Southern Cross on a dark blue background.

Once part of the British Empire, New Zealand is now independent, although Queen Elizabeth II remains head of state.

However, her power is seen as largely symbolic, and changing a flag is seen by some as helping cut lingering colonial ties.

Opponents of a flag change say New Zealanders have fought and died under the existing banner and also criticised the NZ$26 million (U$24.25 million) cost of the referendum.

PACNEWS

SINGAPORE - Singapore fell 43-44 to Papua New Guinea (PNG) in the opening game of netball's Mission Foods Nations Cup on Sunday.

When asked about the performance, Singapore's head coach, Ruth Atiken said: "A one-goal loss is always hugely disappointing, but in terms of the fire of the team finishing strongly I was really pleased.

"It was a great game over 60 minutes and is a reflection of what this tournament is going to be about, we knew that they are a every strong team, they've been very close to us, so it's all on."When asked about the newer players in the team she added: "I think Yasmin (Ho) played really well as a goal shooter, she scored five or six in a row and her availability was excellent."

Micky Lin, Singapore captain, said: "We were a bit too careful to start, we played really short stuff and slowed the game down quite a fair bit. We usually play a much faster game, and took awhile to settle in, but we definitely got better over the last few quarters, and I think if we had a better start it would have been different for us, definitely something we need to bring back and work on."

Singapore play Northern Ireland on Monday. Northern Ireland are the top-ranked side in the six-team tournament. The other teams are Botswana, Chinese Taipei and a Singapore invitational side.

In other matches, Northern Ireland defeated Botswana 41-37 while debutants Chinese Taipei lost 25-57 to a Singapore invitational side.

The Nations Cup is held at the OCBC Arena Hall 1 and will run till Dec 19.

Source: Straittimes

At long last, a solution to the chronic housing issue in PNG has been found as the government endorsed the construction and delivery of 40-000 social housing roll out program at Durham Farm at 8mile, NRI and Gerehu 7A undertaken by the National Housing Corporation.

Minister for Housing and Urban Development Paul Isikiel said public servants who have been neglected by successive governments will be the main beneficiary while Papua New Guineans in other sectors will also benefit from the program.

Minister Isikiel said living conditions are set to improve at the completion of the social housing roll out program spearheaded in Port Moresby and soon to roll out to other provinces.

An initial 5,000 affordable and durable houses will be constructed at the Durham Farm at 8 mile for public servants and Papua New Guineans in other sectors as well.

He said thousands of public servants have been forced to live in substandard living conditions in the settlements due to the chronic housing problems in the city.

The Australian Government is funding the resealing of the road from Momote Airport to Lorengau town as a part of its support for Manus Province.

This investment will significantly improve the condition of the road, resulting in reduced travel time and improved access to services for local communities.

In addition to resealing of the road, maintenance works undertaken through this project will include bridge maintenance and rehabilitation of the area surrounding the new Australian funded market in Lorengau.

Rehabilitation works around the market will result in improved storm water drainage and an upgrade to the road surface that will reduce dangerous flooding of the marketplace. The new footpath around the market will also improve access for people with disability.

Manus Governor, Hon. Charlie Benjamin MP, said: "Having this project underway means real and tangible benefits for the people of Manus. Not just the jobs that it creates now, but the flow on effect that this improved infrastructure will have.

"Improving the resilience of our transport network against the seas and rains is vital to ensuring that our people and local businesses will be able to access the market and essential services all year round."

A spokesperson for the Australian High Commission said that Australia's funding of these improvements in the transport infrastructure of Manus helped provide the foundation for economic and social development in Manus, as good quality roads and bridges provided better access to essential services, connected people and offered economic opportunities.

This project is funded by the Australian Government through the Australian aid program and managed by the Transport Sector Support Program (TSSP). Works are being delivered by civil engineering company Shamrock Civil, which was selected through an open international competitive tender process.

PNG Opposition Leader Don Polye says Miss Pacific Island Abigail Havora made the country proud at the pageant last weekend in Rarotonga.
“She has been crowned as the toast of the Miss Pacific Island pageant and that she has raised among others our flag with red, black, gold and white colours to fly high above the Pacific Ocean,” Polye said.
He said Havora had achieved a record victory for the country by claiming the title for the first time.
Polye also commended the other participants representing their countries.
“They all are not only worthy ambassadors of women in the region but also of their countries as well,” Polye said.
Polye recalled that in 1975, Eva Arni won the Miss Asia-Pacific title in the Philippines in which 18 countries participated.
Polye also commended those who put their efforts and commitment in representing the country through sports and other professions.
He said the beauty pageants were also goodwill ambassadors, raising issues on women’s rights.n community work including raising funds for charity.

A young man from Western in his 20s has died over the weekend in Port Moresby after being stabbed several times on his upper thigh and genitals by his wife.

Eyewitnesses at the scene said the wife stabbed him after an argument over a huge amount of money that the wife allegedly spent without him knowing about it. He was rushed to the Port Moresby

General Hospital where he remained in intensive care until his passing late Sunday evening.

The wife is still in hiding and police are urging her to surrender herself to them for her own safety and that of her family, due to possible retaliation from the young man’s relatives and friends.

The dead young man and his wife are both children of police officers.

Papua New Guinea's trade volume with China has reached more than US$2.1 billion (K6.17 billion) this year, according to Chinese Ambassador to Papua New Guinea Ruiyou Li.

He told PNG media that the total volume was for the first three quarters of the year.

Li said this was an increase by 54.98 per cent over the same period the previous year. China imported goods from PNG worth $US1.3 billion (K3.8 billion), a growth of 46.55 per cent, and exported to PNG US$793m (K2332m), an increase by 71 per cent.

Li said more commodities were sold to China than imported, which was good for Papua New Guinea.

He said during that period, China’s direct investment to the country in the non-financial sector amounted to more than US$26m (K76.4m). Li said China’s main import was in PNG’s commodities, including as a major buyer of the PNG LNG (liquefied natural gas).

He said this would continue with the Chinese firm Sinopec, which was expected to buy LNG from PNG for the next 20 years with two million tonnes per year.

China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) is one of the four firms with long-term purchase contracts from the project. The ship Papua, custom-built by China Shipping Group, Sinopec and Mitsui OSK Lines specifically for PNG LNG, arrived in Port Moresby in early 2015 to load the first LNG supply.

He said PNG remained the largest trading partner and most important investment destination for China in the Pacific region.

PACIFIC businesses will pay a high price from the current proposals in the regional trade agreement known as PACER-Plus, according to a report.

The report, released by the Pacific Network on Globalisation, details the dangers posed by PACER-Plus for Pacific livelihoods and how out of touch with the Pacific reality such free trade agreements are.

PACER-Plus will see Pacific Island countries making binding commitments on their import taxes, placing a ceiling on them all as well as planning their lowering over a number of years.

“PACER-Plus is sold as a great economic outcome for the Pacific but what we’re seeing is an agreement that is not being designed to support a dynamic Pacific economy,” Pacific Network on Globalisation campaigner Adam Wolfenden said.

“Rather, it is one that will allow the bigger companies from Australia and New Zealand to further their already significant interest in the markets of the region.”

The report titled “Bad for Business: How PACER-Plus is a price too high for Pacific livelihoods and businesses” warns that an agreement in its current form will see weak safeguards unable to best protect local industries, significant loss of revenue for Pacific governments, and a shrinking ability to support domestic producers.

“Safeguarding local and infant industries is crucial to creating vibrant economies that support domestic producers,” it said.

“Yet the mechanisms proposed by the chief trade adviser under PACER-Plus are too narrow.”

Things look like getting much worse before they get better for oil producers, with the first signs of rapidly declining demand for oil emerging at a time of "unrelenting oversupply".

With prices in both the key US and European markets tumbling to seven-year lows — below $US40 a barrel — the International Energy Agency (IEA) said the first signs of slowdown in demand growth are starting to appear.

The analysis dragged both Brent Crude and West Texas Intermediate prices down by as much as 5 per cent overnight.

Both commodities have fallen by more than 10 per cent over the week since unity among OPEC members finally collapsed, leading to fears that Gulf producers would continue to raise production, no matter the price.

Brent futures slipped below $US38 a barrel for the first time since December 2008 while WTI fell below $US35 a barrel and is rapidly approaching its GFC low of $US32.40.

In its monthly Oil Market Report, the Paris-based IEA, the key energy advisor to the OECD, found a nine-month long rally of strong demand growth for oil in the US came to an abrupt halt in September.

"Preliminary indicators for October and November [are] pointing to further outright declines," the IEA said.

"Rapid gains in OECD oil demand growth may be on the verge of a sharp deceleration if the latest preliminary indicators of US, German, French and Japanese deliveries can be used as a ‘canary in the mine’."

While demand shows signs of crumbling, the same can’t be said of the OPEC producers’ determination to keep their taps open.

In what the IEA described as an "unrelenting oversupply", supplies are gushing out at 1.8 million barrels a day (mb/d) more than a year ago.

OPEC has effectively been "pumping at will" since Saudi Arabia convinced fellow cartel members a year ago to refrain from supply cuts and defend market share against the rapidly growing production in US shale oil fields and Russia.

Saudi Arabia’s decision earlier this month to abandon OPEC’s 30mb/d supply ceiling — a cap that had been roundly ignored anyway — signalled a renewed determination to pump non-OPEC producers out of business.

- abc news

One of China’s richest men, Guo Guangchang, has been detained by police.

His company, Fosun International, confirmed on Friday that he was assisting authorities with an investigation.

The confirmation followed reports that he had gone missing.

Financial magazine Caixin said that staff at Fosun had been unable to contact Mr Guo since Thursday afternoon.

Fosun, one of China’s biggest private conglomerates, halted trading of its Hong Kong shares following the reports. The company said that its shares would resume trading on Monday.

Fosun said that Mr Guo, 48, who has been described as China’s Warren Buffett, was still able to be involved in major decisions. It was not clear why police had detained him.

Earlier, a source close to the Fosun Group had told the BBC: "It’s very likely he’s been asked by the Chinese authorities to co-operate in an investigation. He is not being investigated himself."

He declined to speculate about the details of the investigation. Sally Yim, senior credit officer at Moody’s Investors Service, said: "Guo is one of the high-profile Chinese entrepreneurs and this incident will raise eyebrows among foreign regulators, as Fosun has been aggressively expanding its global insurance footprint. But it is too early to say how this incident will impact Fosun’s operations."

Mr Guo was linked to a corruption court case in August.

BBC Asia-Pacific analyst Michael Bristow says Mr Guo’s empire extends across the world, while Forbes magazine estimates his fortune at $7bn (£4.6bn).

Fosun Group has interests spanning media, insurance, real estate and retail. It recently took control of French holiday group Club Med.

- BBC news

The climate deal struck by 195 nations in Paris will fail to save low-lying island nations from being overcome by rising sea levels, the President of Kiribati has warned.

Kiribati lies in the Pacific Ocean 4,000 miles from Australia and its average height is just two metres above sea level, putting it among the countries most threatened by climate change.

The deal struck in Paris at the weekend to limit temperature rises from global warming to 2°C is too little, said Kiribati’s President, Anote Tong.

He and other leaders from island states had called for the rise to be limited to 1.5°C at the most “if we are to be given a chance” of surviving.

Asked if the Paris accord would be enough, President Tong told the BBC: “No, I don’t think so. Even with 1.5 degrees, we would still have a problem.”

Crucial to his hopes, however, is a fund agreed in Paris that should help Kiribati and other islands adapt to climate change – if enough money is put into it by developed nations.

The next test, he said, was to see “how committed” wealthy countries were to providing the promised U$100bn for the fund to assist vulnerable nations suffering loss and damage from climate change.

Tong’s belief that any rise above 1.5°C would be a disaster was backed by Tony de Brum, Foreign Minister of the Marshall Islands.

During the negotiations de Brum had repeated the mantra “1.5 to stay alive”. However, while aware the deal was not a panacea, he said it offered hope.

“We have made history,” he said as the accord was agreed. “With this agreement, I can go back home to my people and say we now have a pathway to survival.

“Climate change won’t stop overnight, and my country is not out of the firing line just yet, but today we all feel a little safer.”

This hope was shared by 18-year-old Marshall Islands resident Selina Leem, who addressed the Paris conference, handing out pieces of coconut leaf to delegates to remind them of her homeland and their contribution to helping save “a little island and the whole world”.

She said: “This agreement is for those of us whose identity, whose culture, whose ancestors, whose whole being, is bound to their lands.

“This agreement should be the turning point in our story, a turning point for all of us.”

Some small island states’ politicians were reassured that the deal agreed at the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change conference would go a long way towards protecting them.

Thoriq Ibrahim, the Environment Minister for the Maldives – an island nation in the Indian Ocean that is no more than 2.4m above sea level – described the deal as a victory as he arrived home last night.

Before leaving Paris, he had said: “I hope it will not take another 25 years to achieve our goals. I hope that my children and my grandchildren can be thankful for the work we have done here.”

Small island nations are among the most threatened from the impacts of climate change, the IPCC says, with sea-level rises and the impacts of extreme weather cited as the chief problems.

“Many small island states are threatened with partial or virtually total inundation by future rises in sea level,” the IPCC said in a statement. “In addition, increased intensity or frequency of cyclones could harm many of these islands.”

As sea levels rise, the inhabitants of small islands are increasingly forced to move to higher ground or emigrate to other countries. Plants and animals found only on these islands are threatened with extinction.

SOURCE: THE INDEPENDENT

THE country’s national examination system for Grades Eight and Ten students has been abolished.

Instead, it will be compulsory for students to continue on to complete Grade 12 and regardless of poor performances.

Education Secretary Dr Uka Kombra announced this but stressed that the real challenge to the government policy was the lack of infrastructure to cater for the increased number of students. Currently, there is no capacity in all existing schools to cater for more students in terms of classrooms, dormitories, equipment and other necessities. Mr Kombra said there is an urgent need to build more infrastructure to cater for the extra 50 per cent intake in all secondary and high schools.

In a related matter, Mr Kombra also announced the abolishing of grade 10 intakes for teacher training.

He said the requirement has been upgraded to Grade 12 level. He said teaching positions in secondary and high schools will require degree qualifications with the aim of improving the quality of education. Mr Kombra said technical schools and colleges were other options for students who wished to further their education if they encounter difficulties during studies. He also said the purpose of the new changes was to eliminate the high rate of school leavers returning to the village with nothing to do. He said that the secondary and high school selection process also contributed to the high number of school leavers and should now be a thing of the past.

Tuvalu is planning to train up more counsellors to deal with high rates of domestic violence.

The country has a small population of just under 10,000 so familiarity and cultural sensitivities mean victims are often reluctant to seek help.

The Director of Tuvalu's Gender Affairs Department Asita Molotii told Sally Round a Family Protection Act is now in force and efforts are now going in to enforcement and providing services for the victims.

ASITA MOLOTII: At the moment we only have maybe one or two counsellors who can actually help. Those two, you know, maybe have some relatives who are uncomfortable to talk to me. So in a very small place like that, when everybody knows each other that well, it's a very challenging work for us. So we are planning to have training for counsellors and also credit them so that they could be able to deliver the services. Including the religious leaders as well, at the moment they also deliver some kind of counselling but we want them to provide it at a professional level. So we want them to provide their skills, their knowledge and some other people including our trainers, some male trainers, that we have trained on gender sensitisation. So that we have many more people for the victims to choose who they are comfortable with.

SALLY ROUND: What would you say are the challenges that Tuvalu faces in trying to combat this problem?

AM: Yeah. Reporting these matters publicly is a challenge on its own because there is stigmatisation and people not willing for us to formally report to police. There are many many issues and confidentiality is one big huge challenge where they don't trust to even share with the counsellors and policemen. And that is why we have turned to police to actually take the lead on this domestic violence or violence against women, so we would be able to look into developing the knowledge, expertise of police officers to deal with these cases. In the early years when we tried there was only one police female officer who was not also at the domestic violence unit. But at the moment they are trying to set up the domestic violence unit within the police department so that they would be able to look into any violence against women.

SR: And are there any other cultural sensitivities around this issue which are hampering you going forward?

AM: There are lots of cultural issues, I would say, in terms of where the victim is, there could be settlements between families, there could be parents trying to agree to those cultural settings without the consent of the victim. There is a lot influence from many many different angles and you can look at it, as a Tuvaluan, I understand those consequences and the difficulties around those issues. It's very difficult, and sometimes when the victims themselves try to come out and speak about their issues, you know the families or relatives might hear and they intervene. But at the end of the day the victims are going back to their families so sometimes they just shut up or they don't want us to really work on their case. We do have a culture of silence..

SOURCE: RNZI/PACNEWS

Police nab 18 people for being violent and causing disturbance

GIZO Police in the Solomon Islands say the tense situation at the provincial capital caused by retaliatory confrontation by two ethnic groups has now been brought under control.

Provincial Police Commander Western Province Fred Satu said Gizo Township is now peaceful and calm after the havoc had caused public panic.

Mr Satu said the violent incident was sparked by confrontation between two ethnic groups last Saturday.

He said, this was an act of retaliation for an earlier incident in which a brawl incident resulted in the injury of one man who was later sent to the National Referral Hospital for treatment.

Mr Satu said relatives of the injured man attempted to retaliate in revenge against the other group whose family member was believed to have inflicted the injury.

He said three boat loads of relatives of the injured man arrived in Gizo last Saturday and started assaulting the family whose member was believed to have involved in violent brawl incident.

Police said the group went into a rampage damaging property and removed a number of items owned by Gizo Waterfront night club.

Gizo police said 18 people had been arrested following the rampage.

Twelve (12) of those arrested are males while six are females.

Gizo police said relatives of the injured man were demanding a $50,000.00 compensation payment for the incident.

Western provincial authorities have vowed to deal with the issue and resolve the problem amicably between the two ethnic groups concerned.

In the meantime Assistant Commissioner of Police, Crime and Prevention, Gabriel Manelusi has appealed to the members of the two ethnic groups to show retrain and allow the law to take its course.

He said the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) have dispatched additional police officers both the local Rapid Response Team and RAMSI military to Gizo to help maintain law and order and are ready to send more resources if the need arises.

Mr Satu said, Gizo police are investigating the matter.

He cautioned members of the public in and around Gizo that the law will severely deal with anyone taking the law into his/her own hands.

Mr Manelusi said the immediate family of the injured victim appealed for calm and prefers people pray for their son and not retaliate in violence.

He said immediate family members of the injured man prefer peace than violence and do not want to see unnecessary provocation and scaring of innocent people.

“Additionally the RSIPF have sought a ban on the sale of alcohol in Western Province and are negotiating with community leaders,” the Assistant Commissioner NCCP added.

Solomon Star understand that a similar confrontation between the two ethnic groups also occurred in Gizo more than two years ago.

Source: Solomon Star

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