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Aim to boost tourism, development in Samoa

APIA, Samoa (Samoa Observer, March 2, 2010) - A new [US$15 million] ferry described as a lifeline is further indication Japan is serious about strengthening links with Samoa.

Lady Naomi III, which can carry 740 passengers and 40 vehicles, arrived two weeks ago.

The Samoa Observer spoke with Japan’s Ambassador to Samoa, Toshihiro Takahashi, about the ferry and other Japanese projects here among other issues. The interview is as follows:

Lady Samoa III (inset) Japanese Ambassador to Samoa, Toshihiro Takahashi

Samoa Observer: What is Japan’s hope in providing Samoa with a new boat?

Takahashi: I hope this new vessel will contribute to achieving the goals of the Strategy for the Development of Samoa (SDS, 2005 to 2008), particularly "Strengthening the Private Sector and Tourism Development". It will also help to fulfill the vision of "Improved Quality of Life for All" reflected in the SDS, 2008 to 2012...

Costly highway repairs ineffective

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (PNG Post-Courier) - Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare bluntly stated in Parliament yesterday that he would call in international contractors to fix the Highlands Highway.

Sir Michael said the Government had already spent PGK600 million [US$219 million] in rehabilitating and maintaining the road but there was still no improvement.

"There is a problem here and the problem is the contractors engaged to fix the road," Sir Michael lashed out. "I’m looking at the possibility of bringing in international contractors to fix our roads. I want to bring in international contractors who will fix the highway properly and even redirect it."

The Prime Minister noted that the work local contractors were doing on the road was showing no improvement and was quickly deteriorating.

Sir Michael said this when asked by Enga Governor Peter Ipatas during question time why the responsible government...

Collections down from $90 million to $69 million

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, March 3, 2010) – Tongans have been warned there’ll be significant cut backs in some ministries in this year’s Budget as the government tries to cope with a big drop in its tax take.

The country introduced a consumption tax three years ago but returns are not as high as expected, while government income has also been affected by the global economic crisis, lower imports and remittances.

Our correspondent, Mateni Tapueluelu, says the Finance Minister Afu’alo Matoto, has this week warned government departments they face cut backs of between eight and 20 percent.

He says public servants have also been called on to trim spending over the remainder of the current year.

"The target usually is 170 million to 180 million pa’anga [US$90 million to US$95 million] by this time of the year but they have said that so far they have collected only 130...

70 percent of Pacific population without financial services

PORT VILA (Vanuatu Daily Post, March 1, 2010) - Central banks have made a commitment to support each other in building more inclusive financial systems.

This was agreed during a two-day meeting of senior representatives of central banks from Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Samoa and Fiji facilitated by the Pacific Financial Inclusion Programme (PFIP) and Alliance of Financial Inclusion (AFI).

The goal of financial inclusion is to extend access of financial services to rural and low-income communities.

In the Pacific an estimated 70 percent of the population lack access to basic financial services such as financial literacy training, savings accounts or money transfer. Participants recognized that basic financial services and training are critically important to reducing poverty.

Establishing an inclusive financial system requires public, private and non-profit participation...