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3-years of funding first tranche of 6-year agreement

By Ropate Valemei

SUVA, Fiji (Fiji Times, May 1, 2014) – Australia has committed $A21.6 million $US20 million) for the first three years of the partnership (2014-2016) with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS).

The new six-year partnership aims to leverage the efforts of Forum island countries to realise their aspirations for effective regionalism.

The Australia-PIFS Partnership (2014-2019) was co-signed by Australian Parliamentary secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Brett Mason and PIFS secretary general Tuiloma Neroni Slade at the Forum Secretariat headquarters in Suva on Monday.

"I welcome this long-term agreement with Australia, which remains an invaluable partner for the Pacific Islands Forum and the whole region," Mr Slade said in a statement.

"This partnership reflects the strategic positioning of the Forum Secretariat, in taking the regional agenda...

U.S. Constitution requires equal rights, brief asserts

By Fili Sagapolutele

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa (The Samoa News, April 30, 2014) – The American Samoan plaintiffs in the citizenship lawsuit have filed their merit brief with the federal appeals’ court in Washington D.C. and their main argument is that the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees them citizenship by birth on U.S. soil, according to their attorneys.

"Because we are born on U.S. soil, my family should have the same right as other Americans and be recognized as [U.S.] citizens," lead plaintiff Leneuoti Tuaua said in a news release upon filing the merit brief.

"How can we be Americans, but not citizens? That simply doesn’t make any sense," said Tuaua, a retired marshal of the High Court of American Samoa.

The plaintiff's appeal is the result of a June 2013 decision by U.S. District Court Judge Richard J. Leon who says that the plaintiffs have failed to state a claim...

Pollution, disease hurts economy by as much as 4% per year

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, April 30, 2014) – The Asian Development Bank says poor water supply and sanitation in Kiribati are costing the country up to four per cent of its gross domestic product every year.

A new report has made the economic estimate to guide reforms and boost urban development in the densely populated South Tarawa area.

It says the low-lying atoll has limited freshwater resources which are easily contaminated, and residents receive piped water for only two hours every two days because of high leakage from the system.

The report says poorly functioning sanitation systems and practices are polluting the groundwater and the marine environment.

Health officials say with three outbreaks of diarrheal disease every year and high infant mortality rates, vulnerable groups have the most to gain from money spent on improved water services in Kiribati...

Detectives who interviewed alleged killers take the stand

NUKU‘ALOFA, Tonga (Matangi Tonga, April 30, 2014) – The accused Police Constables Salesi Maile and Fatai Faletau had in their Record of Interviews denied assaulting Kali Fungavaka when he was in custody on the night of August 17, 2012 at the Nuku’alofa Police station.

Detectives from a special investigation team on the case were witnesses on day 14 of the trial into Kali’s death today, at the Supreme Court. Each witness read out the record of interviews carried out separately on Maile and Faletau prior to Kali’s death. Detective Sione Katoa who interrogated the accused Maile recorded his interview on August 22, 2012 read out over 60 questions that were put to the accused.

Maile’s answers confirmed that he was working on the night as part of the Tactical Response Group, that included the other four accused and three other officers. He had stated that one of their tasks was to patrol public areas and on...