Pacific Notes
Pacific Notes
Pacific Notes
Fiji
Era Ends At Suva Housing Estate
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| The close living quarters has created a sense of community that’s unique to Raiwaqa and Raiwai. Photo: Bruce Southwick/ZoomFiji |
For half a century, Suva’s infamous housing estates have provided affordable accommodation for young families and those lured by the promises of the big city.
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The oldest PRB estates and perhaps the most notorious are the blocks of four-story flats – or taba va as it is called in Fijian. Five blocks of 184 flats are situated along Grantham Road, a main thoroughfare into the central business district, and another five blocks of 160 flats are in Raiwai, a short distance away.
Initially intended as short-term accommodation for couples and young families moving into the city, the 10 blocks housed nearly 2,000 people before the PRB noticed structural problems.
The close living quarters has created a sense of community that’s unique to Raiwaqa and Raiwai. Some residents have lived in these flats all their lives and it is common to find two or more generations of family members who were born there.
“We’re used to living in a crowded area because it’s more fun compared to living in a house alone,” Paulini Koroi, 31, told Pacific Magazine. She’s lived in Block 2 in Raiwaqa for 25 years and is now bringing up her four children in the same flat.
For years, this area was notorious for its crime rate and cramped living conditions, now it’s widely acknowledged that social conditions have improved. But the crowd of humanity packed into tiny flats—each of which has a living space of not more than about 12 square metres— has now posed problems of its own.
In 1996, the PRB first began to notice problems, says general manager Mesake Senibulu, and three separate independent studies have confirmed the blocks are especially vulnerable in earthquakes.
For the past four years the PRB has been trying to persuade tenants to accept state help to move away, fearing a human disaster in the event of an earthquake. The board has had only limited success.
In June, only two of the blocks in Raiwai have been totally evacuated and ready for demolition.
Joeli Cati, 22, had lived on the fourth floor of Block 2 in Raiwaqa since he was born and only moved away when his son was born last year. Despite the memories of growing up in the close-knit community, he feels it’s a good thing that the blocks are demolished.
His childhood friend and “blockmate” Maikeli Moce, also 22, says: “When there’s an earthquake we can feel the building moving.”But despite the dangers some residents are loath to leave the place. Long-time tenant Koroi says the flats should be renovated although the PRB says studies have shown it would not be feasible to attempt to reinforce and renovate the buildings.
The only thing left is to persuade the tenants to finally move out. They were presented with several options including repatriation to their villages, assistance to relocate to another PRB location and a complete package that includes a small amount for business start-up for the poorest. Only a handful has taken these options.
Senibulu says the PRB has continually impressed on the residents the dangers of living in the blocks. By the end of the year, though, he plans to have at least 50 percent of the flats evacuated.
—Ricardo Morris
Papua New Guinea
Changes In New Ireland’s
Chinese Community Create Tensions
Anti-Chinese riots in the Solomon Islands and Tonga last year put the spotlight on the growing presence of new Chinese communities in the Pacific. Although there has been no anti-Chinese violence of that magnitude in Papua New Guinea, sporadic acts of violence and comments in the national newspapers show that the issue of Chinese immigration is on the minds of many Papua New Guineans.
Perhaps surprisingly, some of the most vocal critics of Chinese immigration are members of Papua New Guinea’s long-standing Chinese community itself. This is particularly true in New Ireland, where the small local Chinese community has particularly close ties with the indigenous community.
The Chinese influence in New Ireland is easy to see. Besides the tourist hotels and guesthouses, there are few shops or food outlets that are not Chinese owned. At election time there are always Chinese names on the campaign posters that spout up everywhere, the most noticeable being former Prime Minister Sir Julius Chan and current New Ireland Governor Ian Ling-Stuckey.
With four generations of inter-marrying with New Irelanders, all New Ireland Chinese have New Ireland relatives. A few have even been made maimai (clan chiefs). Kavieng businessman Clement Tong says, “I take great pride in becoming a maimai only on condition that I fulfil all the duties as maimai, not just ceremonial.” As Lavongai Island politician and businesswoman Ellen Fong explains, “We do custom, we give money at funerals, we bring food to the haus krai (mourning house). People respect us.”
At the same time, New Irelanders have become comfortable with their Chinese neighbors selecting leaders with Chinese heritage. Besides the Chan family with MPs Sir Julius and Byron Chan, Robert Seeto was provincial premier and Ian Ling-Stuckey provincial governor.
Chinese first came to New Ireland 125 years ago at the beginning of German colonialism. Most were craftsmen recruited from Hong Kong and Singapore to build the new township of Kavieng. Many returned at the end of their contracts, but others stayed to open shops or manage plantations.
Independence saw a decline in the local Chinese population. But about 10 years ago the trend changed. Since then, the Chinese community has been growing again, mainly because of new immigrants from Hong Kong and China, who have bought or rented shops left vacant by local Chinese families moving to Australia. Because few speak English or Tok Pisin, it is difficult for them to assimilate into the local culture. Even for New Ireland Chinese, there are often cultural barriers. As one man said, “Our descent and origin are Chinese, but the Chinese born here, we’ve lost a lot. The new Chinese, they’re still in China.”
This is an attitude echoed by many. Some question the legal status of the newcomers, especially after seven were jailed in Kavieng last year for visa and work permit violations. Others question the low amounts paid for vanilla or sea produce.
Ellen Fong is particularly outspoken. “They don’t know the culture and treat our people like slaves in their own country. Go home, we don’t want you.” She points to the depletion of protected sea species and over-logging in the province as signs of problems Chinese cause “that make me boiling hot.”
For Clement Tong, “it is hurtful to me when Asian or Chinese are criticized in the newspaper. If it were just for the money, I’d be elsewhere. I’m here for the lifestyle.” Regarding the newcomers, “we’ll need to see if they will settle and make a contribution to our society.”
Changes In New Ireland’s
Chinese Community Create Tensions
 |
| Politician and businesswoman Eileen Fong says of some newcomers, “They don’t know the culture and treat our people like slaves in their own country.” Photo: Craig Volker |
Anti-Chinese riots in the Solomon Islands and Tonga last year put the spotlight on the growing presence of new Chinese communities in the Pacific. Although there has been no anti-Chinese violence of that magnitude in Papua New Guinea, sporadic acts of violence and comments in the national newspapers show that the issue of Chinese immigration is on the minds of many Papua New Guineans.
Perhaps surprisingly, some of the most vocal critics of Chinese immigration are members of Papua New Guinea’s long-standing Chinese community itself. This is particularly true in New Ireland, where the small local Chinese community has particularly close ties with the indigenous community.
The Chinese influence in New Ireland is easy to see. Besides the tourist hotels and guesthouses, there are few shops or food outlets that are not Chinese owned. At election time there are always Chinese names on the campaign posters that spout up everywhere, the most noticeable being former Prime Minister Sir Julius Chan and current New Ireland Governor Ian Ling-Stuckey.
With four generations of inter-marrying with New Irelanders, all New Ireland Chinese have New Ireland relatives. A few have even been made maimai (clan chiefs). Kavieng businessman Clement Tong says, “I take great pride in becoming a maimai only on condition that I fulfil all the duties as maimai, not just ceremonial.” As Lavongai Island politician and businesswoman Ellen Fong explains, “We do custom, we give money at funerals, we bring food to the haus krai (mourning house). People respect us.”
At the same time, New Irelanders have become comfortable with their Chinese neighbors selecting leaders with Chinese heritage. Besides the Chan family with MPs Sir Julius and Byron Chan, Robert Seeto was provincial premier and Ian Ling-Stuckey provincial governor.
Chinese first came to New Ireland 125 years ago at the beginning of German colonialism. Most were craftsmen recruited from Hong Kong and Singapore to build the new township of Kavieng. Many returned at the end of their contracts, but others stayed to open shops or manage plantations.
Independence saw a decline in the local Chinese population. But about 10 years ago the trend changed. Since then, the Chinese community has been growing again, mainly because of new immigrants from Hong Kong and China, who have bought or rented shops left vacant by local Chinese families moving to Australia. Because few speak English or Tok Pisin, it is difficult for them to assimilate into the local culture. Even for New Ireland Chinese, there are often cultural barriers. As one man said, “Our descent and origin are Chinese, but the Chinese born here, we’ve lost a lot. The new Chinese, they’re still in China.”
This is an attitude echoed by many. Some question the legal status of the newcomers, especially after seven were jailed in Kavieng last year for visa and work permit violations. Others question the low amounts paid for vanilla or sea produce.
Ellen Fong is particularly outspoken. “They don’t know the culture and treat our people like slaves in their own country. Go home, we don’t want you.” She points to the depletion of protected sea species and over-logging in the province as signs of problems Chinese cause “that make me boiling hot.”
For Clement Tong, “it is hurtful to me when Asian or Chinese are criticized in the newspaper. If it were just for the money, I’d be elsewhere. I’m here for the lifestyle.” Regarding the newcomers, “we’ll need to see if they will settle and make a contribution to our society.”
—Craig Volker
Vanuatu
New Hotel Operators Look Elsewhere In Region
The Australian operator of Vanuatu’s new hotel, the Sebel Vanuatu, is looking for other opportunities in the Pacific Islands region after the property opened its doors in June.
While the Sebel Vanuatu is owned by Melbourne family business, Zagames, which also has interests in the Iriki Resort in Vanuatu, it is being managed by the Mirvac group, one of the top 50 companies on the Australian stock exchange. Mirvac had over A$24.7 (US$20.3) billion of assets under the control of its property development, investment, funds management and hotel divisions at the end of March 2007.
Perhaps best known for building the Sydney Olympic Village, Mirvac’s hotel division manages 40 properties with some 5,000 rooms in Australia, New Zealand and now, Vanuatu. It has also just signed agreements to begin managing a number of properties in the Middle East.
The Sebel Vanuatu has 74 ocean-view guest rooms, meeting facilities, and is in the center of Port Vila. Its general manager is a former Le Lagon Resort executive, Geoff Branch.
Chief Executive Officer of Mirvac Hotels and Resorts, Andrew Turner says Vanuatu is a positive investment for the group. “When you look at what else is happening, Fiji is obviously a fantastic destination but it clearly has some political things that need to be sorted out… Solomon Islands is amazing… but they have some issues there with Honiara, but as a destination Vanuatu really has
an opportunity.
“It’s very stable, that’s the most important thing from an economic point of view…so a lot of companies are seeing Vanuatu as a place to put their resources as opposed to Fiji in the short term.”
Turner says the hotel will be working with the Vanuatu tourism authorities and other hotels to promote the country—citing the leisure and business travelers as their target markets. And he hopes the opening and refurbishment of new hotels will create some critical mass in improving air access to Vanuatu.
“Ideally you need Fiji-type access in terms of direct flights from LA, Japan and Sydney. Air access is terribly important,” he says.
Mirvac is actively looking for other opportunities in the Pacific.
“We’re very keen on the Pacific. We did have a heads up agreement for a Fiji site which we hope will proceed. It’s on hold at the moment, but I think it will happen. I was in Solomon Islands recently, that was for business, just looking at an opportunity there.
“PNG has wonderful opportunities, but maybe it’s a bit further behind, but I think the Pacific is just a wonderful destination. What it lacks is political stability, and therefore media perception. And I think media perception is significantly different to what reality is.” Turner hopes that by getting a foothold in Vanuatu, other investors will begin to consider Mirvac for further property
management opportunities in the region.
New Hotel Operators Look Elsewhere In Region
 |
| An exterior view of the new Sebel Vanuatu. Photo: Courtesy Mirvac |
The Australian operator of Vanuatu’s new hotel, the Sebel Vanuatu, is looking for other opportunities in the Pacific Islands region after the property opened its doors in June.
While the Sebel Vanuatu is owned by Melbourne family business, Zagames, which also has interests in the Iriki Resort in Vanuatu, it is being managed by the Mirvac group, one of the top 50 companies on the Australian stock exchange. Mirvac had over A$24.7 (US$20.3) billion of assets under the control of its property development, investment, funds management and hotel divisions at the end of March 2007.
Perhaps best known for building the Sydney Olympic Village, Mirvac’s hotel division manages 40 properties with some 5,000 rooms in Australia, New Zealand and now, Vanuatu. It has also just signed agreements to begin managing a number of properties in the Middle East.
The Sebel Vanuatu has 74 ocean-view guest rooms, meeting facilities, and is in the center of Port Vila. Its general manager is a former Le Lagon Resort executive, Geoff Branch.
Chief Executive Officer of Mirvac Hotels and Resorts, Andrew Turner says Vanuatu is a positive investment for the group. “When you look at what else is happening, Fiji is obviously a fantastic destination but it clearly has some political things that need to be sorted out… Solomon Islands is amazing… but they have some issues there with Honiara, but as a destination Vanuatu really has
an opportunity.
“It’s very stable, that’s the most important thing from an economic point of view…so a lot of companies are seeing Vanuatu as a place to put their resources as opposed to Fiji in the short term.”
Turner says the hotel will be working with the Vanuatu tourism authorities and other hotels to promote the country—citing the leisure and business travelers as their target markets. And he hopes the opening and refurbishment of new hotels will create some critical mass in improving air access to Vanuatu.
“Ideally you need Fiji-type access in terms of direct flights from LA, Japan and Sydney. Air access is terribly important,” he says.
Mirvac is actively looking for other opportunities in the Pacific.
“We’re very keen on the Pacific. We did have a heads up agreement for a Fiji site which we hope will proceed. It’s on hold at the moment, but I think it will happen. I was in Solomon Islands recently, that was for business, just looking at an opportunity there.
“PNG has wonderful opportunities, but maybe it’s a bit further behind, but I think the Pacific is just a wonderful destination. What it lacks is political stability, and therefore media perception. And I think media perception is significantly different to what reality is.” Turner hopes that by getting a foothold in Vanuatu, other investors will begin to consider Mirvac for further property
management opportunities in the region.
—Samantha Magick
Marshall Islands
What’s Old Is New Again
Marshallese clothing mats are: A. almost a lost art form, B. some of the finest weaving in the entire Pacific, C. a potential source of income for Marshallese women, D. all of the above. When you realize the answer is D, you begin to see why the mats have attracted so much attention.
In ancient times Marshallese women created mats of pandanus fiber that were so finely woven, they were as pliable as cloth. Wrapped around the body and held in place with a woven belt, they featured symbolic geometric patterns and stylized shapes of fish, turtle and birds. With the influx of western imported goods, the Marshallese people substituted fabric clothing for the traditional attire. This resulted in a gradual loss of the knowledge of fine mat weaving.
Less than a year ago, collaboration between three visionary women, local Marshall Island organizations and a museum in Hawaii resulted in the exciting revival of these nearly forgotten weaving skills. Traditional leader Maria Kabua Fowler and Dr. Irene Taafaki of the University of the South Pacific, felt that it was crucial to revive this unique tradition. They met with MaryLou Foley, of Honolulu, who arranged to have Marshallese master weavers travel to Hawaii to view the Bishop Museum’s rare collection of historic Marshallese clothing mats.
Fowler and Taafaki organized a workshop for master weavers with the help of the NGO Women United Together in the Marshall Islands (WUTMI). Inspired by the mats they had seen at the Museum, the master weavers managed to relearn the techniques and thus were able to resurrect the art form.
Competition in the form of a weaving contest with prize money totaling $5,000 for the top eight mats added excitement, public interest and an incentive. Within a six-month period,
19 master weavers throughout the Ralik and Ratak island chains worked on producing 25 mats of exquisite beauty with patterns that had not been seen in contemporary times.
On April 26, 2007, an exhibit and silent auction was held at the Marshall Islands Resort. Interest was high and tickets were sold out. After intense silent auction bidding, all 25 mats were purchased.
What’s Old Is New Again
 |
| One of the many outstanding mats created by Tobonieon Samuel of Kabinmeto. Photo: Caroline Yacoe |
Marshallese clothing mats are: A. almost a lost art form, B. some of the finest weaving in the entire Pacific, C. a potential source of income for Marshallese women, D. all of the above. When you realize the answer is D, you begin to see why the mats have attracted so much attention.
In ancient times Marshallese women created mats of pandanus fiber that were so finely woven, they were as pliable as cloth. Wrapped around the body and held in place with a woven belt, they featured symbolic geometric patterns and stylized shapes of fish, turtle and birds. With the influx of western imported goods, the Marshallese people substituted fabric clothing for the traditional attire. This resulted in a gradual loss of the knowledge of fine mat weaving.
Less than a year ago, collaboration between three visionary women, local Marshall Island organizations and a museum in Hawaii resulted in the exciting revival of these nearly forgotten weaving skills. Traditional leader Maria Kabua Fowler and Dr. Irene Taafaki of the University of the South Pacific, felt that it was crucial to revive this unique tradition. They met with MaryLou Foley, of Honolulu, who arranged to have Marshallese master weavers travel to Hawaii to view the Bishop Museum’s rare collection of historic Marshallese clothing mats.
Fowler and Taafaki organized a workshop for master weavers with the help of the NGO Women United Together in the Marshall Islands (WUTMI). Inspired by the mats they had seen at the Museum, the master weavers managed to relearn the techniques and thus were able to resurrect the art form.
Competition in the form of a weaving contest with prize money totaling $5,000 for the top eight mats added excitement, public interest and an incentive. Within a six-month period,
19 master weavers throughout the Ralik and Ratak island chains worked on producing 25 mats of exquisite beauty with patterns that had not been seen in contemporary times.
On April 26, 2007, an exhibit and silent auction was held at the Marshall Islands Resort. Interest was high and tickets were sold out. After intense silent auction bidding, all 25 mats were purchased.
—Margo Vitarelli
Region
New Friends, New Diplomacy
And it is not only
At recent bilateral discussions with
In May, Sarah van Gelder, executive editor of YES! Magazine who had recently returned from
Van Gelder says Cubans dispatching of doctors aboard, and training of international medical students in
“As they had often done, Cuban doctors rushed to the disaster zone to help those suffering the aftermath.
“But when it was time to go home, it was clear to the Cuban teams that the medical needs extended far beyond emergency care. So
She quotes Cuban officials as saying that all they ask for in return is “solidarity.”
Not everybody is so impressed, however.
Luis M. Garcia, the author of Child Of The Revolution, Growing Up In Castro’s
“Get it? The Castro regime will pay the Cuban doctors their normal Cuban salary – most likely the equivalent of between US$30 and US$40 a month. If they are lucky,” Garcia writes in his blog. “And guess who gets to keep the rest of the money? Why, those great humanitarians, the Castro brothers. “It’s enough to make you sick.”
Back at home, the Fiji Indigenous Business Council says the strengthening of relations with
-Samantha Magick
