Pacific Notes
Pacific Notes
SAMOA: Navigating The Future Of Tourism The theme was navigating the future, and that future was tourism. This was the clear message from Samoa's first ever Tourism Conference, held in Apia September 21-22. "Tourism is the one industry in the region which has some form of sustainable competitive advantage," Tony Sullivan, ANZ Bank's Regional Tourism Executive told the conference. The evidence is compelling, at least in Samoa's case. Agricultural exports, once the backbone of Samoa's economy, have dwindled to a fraction of former volumes. Even tuna fishing, which experienced a boom in the 1990s, has fallen off. Tourism is now second only to remittances as Samoa's earner of foreign exchange, and growing. Ross Hopkins of the South Pacific Tourism Organization told the Conference that the South Pacific region registered a record 1.18 million arrivals in 2003. And yet, these numbers represent a mere 0.15 percent of world totals. Samoa itself received 92,000 visitors in 2003, a large number of who were Samoans visiting families. The conference coincided with the recent opening of the new Aggie Grey Beach Resort and Spa Hotel. Construction is starting soon on two Warwick resorts. The conference also preceded the start in November of direct flights to Sydney and Auckland by Polynesian Blue, a joint venture between Virgin Blue and the Samoan government. Virgin Blue's Aviation Relationships Manager Tony Wheelans told the conference that since they entered the Australian domestic market in 2000, passenger numbers had grown from 32.6 million to 40.4 million. There is a similar story for Vanuatu, and Fiji where growth in sectors operated by Virgin Blue has been 37 percent and 21 percent respectively. Similar results are expected in Samoa. ANZ Bank sponsored the conference. ANZ Samoa's general manager Mandy Simpson says the bank sees potential for much greater investment in the industry, and sponsoring the conference was one way to inform potential clients about available banking financing, and to help them with business proposals preparation. The conference will be an annual event. -- Afamasaga Toleafoa SAMOA: New Mormon Temple Rises From Ashes And Tears It had been one of the great fires of Apia. Not long after dark, on 9th June July 2003, smoke started pouring out from inside the almost completely renovated Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at Pesega on the outskirts of Apia. The under-equipped and poorly trained Apia Fire Services could only watch and try to stop the inferno from engulfing the nearby buildings of the vast church compound. For the faithful, it was heartbreaking. When the raging fire had finally run its course, the House of the Lord, as these temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints are called, was reduced to smoldering ashes. The destroyed building had been opened on 5th August 1983, the first of its kind in the Pacific Islands. Temples were later opened in Tonga, Fiji, Tahiti and New Zealand. But like the phoenix rising from the ashes, now standing in its place is a larger and more imposing House of the Lord, with a square footage of 18,961 feet to be exact The new building is one of some 122 such temples the church has all over the globe, serving the needs of the church's 12 million followers, spread over some 160 countries and territories.. "Houses of the Lord," says Elder Robert K Dellenbach, President of the church's NZ and Pacific Area, "serve to perform special rites for couples and families to continue after life." The new temple will now allow these rites to be resumed for the peoples of Samoa and of American Samoa in their own area, denied to them since the old temple went up in smoke and flames. Church President and world leader Gordon B. Hinckley officiated at the dedication on September 4th. Before the dedication, the general public had a rare opportunity to view the interior of the building during conducted tours before it was closed to the public. In a country where church buildings dot the landscape like giant mushrooms, and where religion is a dominant force in people's lives, the imposing new building will not be out of place or time. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the fastest growing denomination in Samoa with some 64,000 members. It began its history in Samoa some 150 years ago with the arrival of two missionaries from Hawaii. Since then, the church's distinctive church architecture may be seen in almost every village in the country, no matter how remote. This growth together with the entry of newer evangelical Christian groups, at the expense of the more established church denominations, have led to less than Christian friction between churches, with some church men and women calling for a limit on the number of new churches entering the country. The government has ignored the call. Whatever one's religious beliefs, one cannot help but admire this new addition to Apia's rising skyline. -- Afamasaga Toleafoa CNMI: What Future For North Field? Phil Mendiola-Long got into some hot water last year when he was discovered selling pieces of North Field on eBay. North Field is, of course, the airstrip on Tinian that was the launching point for the bombers that carried atomic bombs to Japan in 1945. It's a National Historic Landmark-meaning it's been designated an exceptional place that is important to American history-albeit not the sort of exceptional place that must by law be preserved. It used to be the busiest airstrip in the world during the last years of World War II, when B-29s constantly took off from and landed on its four runways. "They were fantastic runways," says Marty Zapf, who was stationed on Tinian as a member of the 9th Bomb Group from April until August, 1945. The runways are now falling apart. They're broken up and rotting, with pieces of the runways ending up in the boonies, and the boonies taking over what is left of the pavement. And the U.S. federal government-which has exclusive control over North Field-seems disinclined to do anything about preserving what's left. Mendiola-Long says the eBay idea came about as a way to draw attention to North Field's decrepitude. "We figured why not sell broken pieces of the runway from the boonies? We tried to go through legal counsel but it took too long. Figured we'd put the pieces of the runway on eBay to see what they were worth. Figured the Feds left it sitting there for 60 years. Finders keepers...The eBay ad had a plea: Please contact your congressmen and ask them to preserve North Field." Instead of contacting Congress, someone contacted the CNMI Historic Preservation Office, which contacted a lawyer at the Office of the Attorney General. The lawyer, according to Mendiola-Long, tried to get the Feds involved. It all sort of fizzled out after Mendiola-Long took down the eBay ads and kept quiet for a little while. Then, this past August, Marty Zapf and a couple hundred other people came to Tinian to participate in a peace-focused commemoration of the atomic bombings. The veterans were anxious to revisit North Field-but they were very upset to find it in such a state of disrepair. "The veterans said it was a disgrace. How could 300 of their buddies have died fighting for this island and there is nothing?" says Mendiola-Long. And so a petition was written, asking the U.S. government to make North Field into a National Historical Park to be run by the National Parks Service. It should be noted that in 2001, the National Parks Service concluded that North Field would make an excellent National Historic Park, except that the Navy-which has leased North Field since 1983-objects to this use. Zapf would like North Field to become a National Historic Park, but he'd settle for something much smaller: "Clear the foliage so you can see the runways." But Zapf isn't very hopeful even about this modest goal, though he is bringing copies of the petition to his upcoming 9th Bomber Group reunion. -- Arin Greenwood GUAM: Passing Of A Legend Anthony A. Leon Guerrero, Bank of Guam board chairman, president and chief executive officer, died Oct. 10 in San Francisco following a long battle with cancer. He was the son of the bank's founder, the late Jesus Leon Guerrero.
Tony Leon Guerrero began working at the Bank of Guam in 1974 and held various positions from commercial loan officer to senior vice president. In 1992, he was named board vice chairman, president and CEO. He was appointed board chairman in 2002. Leon Guerrero contributed to regional economic initiatives, served as chairman of the Guam Economic Development Agency (now GEDCA) and was a member of the University of Guam Board of Regents. He was an advocate for the promotion of culture and humanities and served on the boards of the Guam Humanities Council and Pacific Islanders in Communications. He was active in numerous other civic, charitable and commercial organizations. He is survived by his mother, Eugenia A. Leon Guerrero, his wife Mari Flor Herrero and three children: Maria Eugenia, Alexandra and Jesus. He is also survived by his brother Jesse A. Leon Guerrero and his sister, Senator Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero. -- Frank Whitman SOLOMON ISLANDS: Tok Stori To Build Peace Villagers in the formerly devastated Weather Coast region of Guadalcanal in Solomon Islands have come together as part of an innovative Tok Stori concept, to rebuild peace and stability in the conflict-wracked communities. A three-day workshop held in the village of Kuma on the isolated southern coast of Guadalcanal, provided the chance for people from surrounding areas to share their views on how to advance peace and reconciliation in the region that was formerly the stronghold of former rebel militant Harold Keke. A statement issued by participants at the meeting said that more than 80 people, including chiefs, leaders of churches, women's groups, and youth groups, came together "to share our personal stories about the tensions that affected and continues to affect the relationships within and between our communities and the institutions of government in the Solomon Islands". "We believe that telling, listening to, and sharing our stories about these issues are critical for peace-building, reconciliation, and the reconstruction of long-term stability and security in our communities and hence in the Solomon Islands as a whole," the statement said. Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) Special Coordinator James Batley and Police Commissioner Shane Castles told the gathering that they recognized the important role played by chiefs within the community in maintaining law and order, and encouraged them to work closely with and support police in the area. "Effective partnership between the police and communities is important in solving problems," Commissioner Castles said. "It's important for the community to gain the confidence and trust of the RSIP," he added. "I pledge to work with you and regain your trust." Director of the Pacific Islands Development Program Dr Sitiveni Halapua facilitated the week-long gathering, supported by the Solomon Islands National Peace Council. Halapua said the idea had previously been endorsed by Pacific Island leaders and that Tok Stori is very much part of the Melanesian and Polynesian culture. Two more Tok Stori meetings are scheduled to be held in northwest Guadalcanal and in Malaita Province before the end of the year. -- Bruce Edwards REGION: ICC Eyes Pacific As Breeding Ground It is quite clear the International Cricket Council (ICC) does not expect any of its Pacific Island affiliates to break into the top tier anytime soon. But that hasn't stopped cricket's world body from showing more than a passing interest.
ICC officials believe the game has a future in the logistically and economically challenged Pacific region. The ICC was ecstatic with Vanuatu's hosting of the East Asia-Pacific (EAP) Cricket Cup in Port Vila in October. This year saw a new format with two Asian countries included: Japan and Indonesia joined Samoa, Cook Islands, Tonga and hosts Vanuatu. And for the first time, there was in place a clear identifiable path for Pacific nations to qualify for future World Cups. But don't hold your breath; it is unlikely to happen until 2011 at the earliest. "The standard of cricket is constantly improving (within the region) and it would be great to think that one day one of our Pacific countries could qualify for the ICC Cricket World Cup," ICC East Asia-Pacific development officer Martin Gleeson told Pacific Magazine. Gleeson says development programs are concerned with ensuring the sport in each country is governed in an appropriate manner and that programs and growth are sustainable in the long term. Gleeson believes Papua New Guinea has the most potential to go all the way. PNG is the region's leading country and by finishing 11th in the ICC Trophy in Ireland last July they were only six places away from qualifying for the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup in the West Indies. The winner of this year's tournament Japan and runner up Cook Islands will play Fiji for the EAP Cricket Trophy in mid-2006. The winner of this three team event will qualify for the World Cricket League Division 3 in 2007, the first global tournament on the way to the 2011 World Cup. -- Peter Rees REGION: Weightlifting Centre On The Move Again Oceania Weightlifting guru Paul Coffa has lived a gypsy lifestyle for over a decade, first moving from his home in Australia to Nauru to set up the region's first weightlifting institute, in the process transforming the tiny Micronesian nation into a world ranked power. Then in 2001 he moved the institute to Sigatoka, Fiji. Again his influence saw a renaissance in the sport there. Now he hopes to spin his magic in Samoa after the institute moved yet again in October to its new base at Tuana'imato, a few miles south-west of the capital Apia. It is a strategic move with Samoa set to host the next South Pacific Games in 2007 and as new facilities are erected at the main venue site in Tuana'imato. The institute will be housed at one of the recently completed indoor gymnasiums. The gymnasium boasts 24 platforms, 9 warm up platforms, saunas, medical rooms, and a seating capacity of 2,000 plus, according to Coffa. The Samoan government, in conjunction with the Oceania Weightlifting Federation (OWF), has also built brand new accommodation where the region's top lifters training at the institute will live. Coffa, who is the OWF general secretary, will also be reunited with his close friend and former champion lifter, Seiuli Paul Wallwork, the current OWF president who is also a consultant to the government for the South Pacific Games. "Weightlifting will develop further in Samoa," Coffa said in explaining the move. Weightlifting proved the most successful of all sports where Pacific nations were represented at last year's Olympic Games in Athens. Papua New Guinea's pocket rocket Dika Toua was placed sixth; Yukio Peter from Nauru was placed eighth while Manuel Minginfel from the Federated States of Micronesia finished in the top ten of his category. Toua and Peter are expected to be in the medals at the Commonwealth Games next March, and contenders by the next Olympics in Beijing in 2008. The pair set various records at the South Pacific Mini Games in Palau in August. -- Peter Rees
|
