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Tue
31
May

Habele Founder: Interior Dept. Worsening Bad Situation for Migrants

Submitted by PIR Editor on Tue, 05/31/2016 - 11:34

 

America’s Department of State should replace the Department of the Interior (DOI) as the primary US agency responsible for relations with Micronesia. That’s the argument made by former Peace Corps Volunteer and founder of the “Habele” charity in an opinion column published on May 31st on the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. In his editorial, Mellen cites both the struggles of migrants in the US, as well as failure of DOI –and specifically its Office of Insular of Affairs (OIA)– to effectively “advance social, political and economic develop [within] in Micronesia and the Marshalls,” as indicators of the problem.

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Mon
06
Jun

Cook Islands Delegation Attends International Labour Organisation Conference

Submitted by PIR Editor on Mon, 06/06/2016 - 13:25

 

Cook Islands representatives are attending the International Labour Conference, in Geneva, Switzerland, for the first time since becoming a member of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in 2015. The country delegation, led by Secretary of Internal Affairs Bredina Drollet, is fully tripartite including representative participation by Government, Workers and Employers, as required by the Constitution of the ILO.

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Mon
06
Jun

Pacific Community Study Finds Wave Energy Feasible In The Region

Submitted by PIR Editor on Mon, 06/06/2016 - 13:34

 

On the eve of World Oceans Day, the Pacific Community (SPC) has released a study confirming that wave energy could be a cost-effective energy resource for Pacific Island countries and territories. Entitled Cost analysis of wave energy in the Pacific, the study analysed wave energy resources in the Pacific and calculated the costs and potential power generation of a wave energy converter in a variety of locations, to determine whether wave energy could be a feasible alternative to fossil fuels.

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Wed
08
Jun

World Bank Approves $16.62 Million To Expand Samoa's International Airport Aviation Project

Submitted by PIR Editor on Wed, 06/08/2016 - 13:47

 

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors today approved a US$16.62 million credit to the Independent State of Samoa to expand the scope of work under the Samoa Aviation Investment Project, further advancing the objective of improved safety and security of international air transport and associated infrastructure.

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Thu
09
Jun

Cooks Islands, Kiribati Looking To Improve Labor Relations

Submitted by PIR Editor on Thu, 06/09/2016 - 14:02

Government of the Cook Islands
Rarotonga, Cook Islands

June 9, 2016

Furthering labour relations between the two Pacific Island nations was the focus of bilateral discussions between the Cook Islands and Kiribati governments on June 6.

Central to the discussions was the proposed Manihiki Pearl Divers Initiative Scheme that is currently being developed between the Manihiki pearl farmers, the Ministry of Marine Resources and the Kiribati Government.

“We were able to continue the discussions initiated by the Ministry of Marine Resources regarding this labour initiative and in particular the necessary protections for workers as well as the benefits to the Manihiki pearl farmers," said secretary of Internal Affairs, Bredina Drollet. Kiribati took the opportunity to outline several training initiatives delivered in Kiribati relating to the hospitality industry.

The Cook Islands noted that with shortages in the tourism sector there may be potential...

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Mon
13
Jun

SPREP Signs Host Country Agreement With Fiji, Formalizing Suva Office

Submitted by PIR Editor on Mon, 06/13/2016 - 12:57

 

The Government of Fiji and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) today signed a Host Country Agreement, formalising the establishment of a SPREP office in Fiji.  Minister for Foreign Affairs Ratu Inoke Kubuabola and SPREP Director General Kosi Latu signed the agreement in Suva today. Minister Kubuabola said the signing marked a new chapter in the partnership between the Fijian Government and SPREP.  Minister Kubuabola said the Government of Fiji was committed to its obligations towards regional organisations such as SPREP.   He said the signing of the agreement was a testament to that.

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Wed
15
Jun

Cook Islands PM To Launch New National Sustainable Development Plan

Submitted by PIR Editor on Wed, 06/15/2016 - 13:57

 

Cook Islands Prime Minister Henry Puna and Finance minister Mark Brown will launch the new National Sustainable Development Plan (NSDP) 2016-2020 at the Office of the Prime Minister on Thursday morning. The event marks the third iteration of the National Sustainable Development Plan which looks to encapsulate the aspirations and ambitions of our entire country over a five-year period into a single document.

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Thu
16
Jun

EU, Samoa Sign $22.7 Million Water And Sanitation Deal

Submitted by PIR Editor on Thu, 06/16/2016 - 13:56

 

The European Union and Government of Samoa sign a new Agreement for €20.2 million/SAT 58 million [US$22.7 million] in Water and Sanitation  The European Union (EU) and the Government of Samoa have signed a Financing Agreement for a value of SAT 58 million (€20.2 million) on the occasion of the Prime Minister attending the European Development Day summit in Brussels. The Agreement was signed by the Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and the European Union Commissioner for International Cooperation & Development Mr. Neven Mimica on Wednesday the 15th of June.

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Mon
27
Jun

President Obama Urged To Create Worlds Largest Marine Reserve

Submitted by PIR Editor on Mon, 06/27/2016 - 15:22

 

Scientists attending the International Coral Reef Symposium (ICRS) in Honolulu, Hawaii released a joint letter to President Barack Obama on June 24 emphasizing the international marine science community’s unified support for expanding the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. “The decision is scientifically supported and provides substantial hope of leaving a legacy of ocean resources and benefits for future generations,” said Dr. Robert Richmond, director of the Kewalo Marine Laboratory at the University of Hawaii and the convener of the ICRS. “The international marine conservation science community is unified in our support to expand the monument.”

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Mon
27
Jun

Samoa Ombudsman Responds To Complaints Against Samoa Observer

Submitted by PIR Editor on Mon, 06/27/2016 - 15:25

 

The Office of the Ombudsman has received a number of complaints in relation to the article “Suicide in Church Hall” which was published on the front page of the Sunday Samoan on 19 June 2016. Many of the complaints the Office received requested the Ombudsman to initiate an inquiry into the Samoa Observer, the publisher of the Sunday Samoan. The Office of the Ombudsman has the power to investigate matters of good-governance in public administration and to promote and protect human rights in Samoa. 

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