Pacific Notes
Pacific Notes
Nov/Dec 2006
PALAU
Capital Relocates On Independence Day
Palau’s 12th Independence Anniversary celebrations saw the relocation of the national capital from Koror to the state of Melekeok on Sunday October 1.
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| The Palau National Flag was carried over 20 miles from Koror to the new capital at Melekeok. [Photo: Kevin Davidson] |
A crowd of over 2,000 gathered at the foyer of the nation’s new National Congress (Olbiil Era Kelulau) to celebrate the historic event. The Republic of Palau’s national flag had been relayed on foot over 20 miles as it was relocated to the new capital in Babeldaob, Palau’s largest island, which has been opened up to development as a result of construction of the so-called “Compact Road.”
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| Harley Davidson riders from Guam were a popular feature of Palau’s Independence celebrations. [Photo: Kevin Davidson] |
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TUVALU
Media Freedom Tops PM’s Agenda
Tuvalu’s new Prime Minister Apisai Ielemia told Pacific Magazine he intends to get legislation passed in the parliament to give the government media freedom. Of his four years in opposition, Ielemia said, “I was not happy with the way the government was dealing with freedom of the press.”
During a tense period recently when there was a struggle over which group would control Parliament—and therefore be the ruling government—Ielemia said that Radio Tuvalu was “gagged” by the then-government.
“They were stopped from broadcasting news,” he said. “We knew we had the majority and people were waiting to hear about the change.”
The opposition party sent out media releases that were ignored by the radio station, which was under orders not to broadcast news, he claims. “We wanted to tell people what was happening,” Ielemia said. “The problem lies with the Cabinet.”
It was this experience that “triggered my intention to let the press—Radio Tuvalu—be free,” he said, adding that the government radio station must operate “according to international guidelines.” The government radio station needs “to let the people know what’s happening and keep the government accountable.” — Giff Johnson
REGION
Melanesian Festival Considers Weighty Issues
Artists, academics and officials from Solomon Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and the Torres Strait converged on Fiji in October for the Third Melanesian Arts and Cultural Festival.
And while the performances of choirs, pan pipers, the Fijian military brass band and log drummers were among the highlights, so too were discussions about the future of Melanesian cultures.
Opening the festival, Fiji President Ratu Josefa Iloilovatu Uluivuda said the relationships between Melanesians “is rooted in countless centuries ago when our forefathers traversed the mighty oceans to settle in the various islands that we now inhabit.”
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| Papua New Guinean delegates to the Melanesian Arts and Cultural Festival, which featured myriad performances and a number of symposiums about the future of Melanesian cultures and traditions. [Photo: Bruce Southwick/ZoomFiji] |
That message seemed to resonate, as Pacific Island youth played a key role in many discussions and innovative activities.
At the Melanesian Arts and Culture Festival Symposium, Vice President Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi said he is “wary about the preservation of art and culture.
“To preserve something that is alive is a contradiction in terms. It is what a taxidermist, botanist or zoologist would do. Preservation suggests capturing a particular moment in time. What one ought to be discussing is how these living, dynamic forces which comprise our heritage can be strengthened and enhanced. Being part of ourselves, they must be something we can relate to and embrace even if it is at times difficult and uncomfortable.”
Ratu Joni told participants he does not despair despite the challenges of globalization, challenges he describes as centuries old.
“We survived the missionaries. We survived the colonial era. We can also survive this onslaught, but we must be ready and willing to ride the tide. The teaching of our languages is the starting point. This poses special challenges for our neighbors, I know. However, we must begin somewhere.” — Samantha Magick
REGION
Pacific States Urge IMF To Speed Reforms
Pacific Islands nations have appealed to the International Monetary Fund to implement commitments to increase the voting rights of small states.
Speaking during the joint annual discussions during the annual meetings of the IMF and the World Bank Group in Singapore in September, Darcy Lilo, Solomon Islands Minister for National Planning and Aid Coordination, warned that the fund’s smallest members—which include Pacific Island states—need the most help.
“To improve the Fund and bank’s responsiveness to the needs of the Pacific Islands constituency and other small nations, we welcome and support both agencies moves to increase their engagement and devote greater resources to our needs. We also welcome and support the debate on strengthening Fund governance and the review of arrangements with respect to quota and voice,” Lilo says.
“We call on the Fund to quickly implement any commitment to increase basic votes or other decisions that increase the voice of those whose voice is smallest but whose need is greatest.”
All IMF member states’ voting powers are determined by quotas, which are broadly determined by its economic position relative to other members. Various economic factors are considered in determining changes in quotas, including GDP, current account transactions, and official reserves.
Pacific states have some of the lowest voting powers in the IMF, epitomized by Palau having 281 votes (0.01 percent of the total) compared to the United States with 371,743 votes (17.08 percent of the total).
While the IMF in its Regional Economic Outlook for 2007 says the Pacific region has big potential for development in tourism, fisheries, forestry, mining and agriculture, Lilo emphasized that Island states needed the help of the two Bretton Woods institutions to overcome problems triggered by global market forces.
“The situation of the small island states requires imaginative measures, and this includes financing modalities, such as trust funds, that can overcome problems of small size, lumpiness and untimely fluctuations of inflows and outflows, and flexibility of end use, in a fully responsive, transparent and accountable manner.”
While there has been success among Pacific Island states to embrace challenges posed by the global economy, Lilo said the region on average continued to perform poorly as local economies contracted at an average rate of 0.3 percent per annum compared to a developing world average of 2.6 percent growth. — Alex Rheeney in Singapore
REGION
Islanders’ Future Lies North
After a two-year hiatus, the blue, white and red colors of the Pacific Islanders rugby team have once again been reactivated, this time for a tour to the United Kingdom in November.
It will be the second tour for the Pacific Island Rugby Alliance (PIRA) and their first sojourn to the Northern Hemisphere with three test matches lined up against Wales (11 Nov), Scotland (18 Nov) and Ireland (26 Nov). PIRA boss Sakopo Lolohea says the islanders’ future looks to be in the north with the next planned tour scheduled for Europe in 2008.
“We will go to Europe again in 2008 and thereafter the islanders will tour every four years to avoid clashes with the schedules of the individual unions,” he told Pacific Magazine. The 2008 tour is likely to include games against England, France and perhaps Italy.
Whether the focus on Europe is an indirect snub of the SANZAR (South Africa, New Zealand, Australia Rugby) unions is not certain. But after SANZAR rejected PIRA’s proposal for an islanders’ team to be included in an expanded Super 14 or Tri Nations two years ago based on economic and logistical grounds, it could be some redemption for years of their players being plundered by Australian and New Zealand rugby scouts. Touring the Northern Hemisphere has its benefits. The stadiums are bigger, the crowds idolize the Pacific Island brand of running rugby and most of the players are based in Europe anyway, which saves costs on assembling the team.
Coach Pat Lam was looking forward to the challenge. He has played and coached extensively in Europe before.
“It will be a different experience from the 2004 tour but a lot of the players are based in Europe so they know what to expect,” Lam said. “The stadiums and crowds are bigger and the atmosphere will make it tougher to win these games, but we have the players capable of winning.”
Before the Islanders concept was bandied around in the early parts of this decade, there was some feeling that the Fiji, Samoa and Tonga would not be able to work together because of ancient rivalries, and not just those of the rugby field.
The cost of the tour in estimated at AUD$700,000 (US$519,925). A Fijian-based company was expected to be announced as the team’s main sponsor with Cotton Traders coming on board as the outfitting uniform sponsors.
Allowances for the 30 players and management will also take a huge chunk from the overall budget. Lolohea was not able to provide a figure, but it is believed the players from the last tour received NZ$7,000 (US$4609) each for playing up to five games, including three test matches against New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.
Lolohea also says PIRA now has legal standing, after a new company by the name of Pacific Rugby Ltd had been registered in Apia to run PIRA as a limited liability. A grant from the International Rugby Board (IRB) to assist with the tour will cover PIRA’s overheads but Lolohea said the team will ultimately rely on sponsors.
The Pacific Islanders team is as follows:
PROPS: Deacon Manu (Fiji), Taufaao Felise (Tonga), Tevita Taumoepeau (Tonga), Census Johnston (Samoa)
HOOKERS: Aleki Lutui (Tonga), Mahonri Schwalger (Samoa)
LOCKS: Simon Raiwalui (Fiji, Captain), Daniel Leo (Samoa), Maama Molitika (Tonga), Isoa Domalailai (Fiji)
LOOSE-FORWARDS: Epi Taione (Tonga), Pila Vake (Tonga), Semo Sititi (Samoa), Henry Tuilagi (Samoa), Aca Ratuva (Fiji), Nili Latu (Tonga)
HALFBACKS: Mosese Rauluni (Fiji), Junior Polu (Samoa)
FLYHALFS: Seremaia Bai (Fiji), Tasesa Lavea (Samoa)
CENTRES: Seilala Mapusua (Samoa), Kameli Ratouva (Fiji)
WINGS: Sailosi Tagicakibau (Samoa), Lome Faatau (Samoa), Rupeni Caucaunibuca (Fiji)
FULLBACKS: Norman Ligairi (Fiji), Loki Crichton (Samoa)
STANDBYS: Seru Rabeni (Fiji), Isa Nacewa (Fiji), Sireli Bobo (Fiji)
— Peter Rees
