Articles Search

$3 million loan will help restore tsunami damage
APIA, Samoa (Samoa Observer, May 5, 2010) - The World Bank yesterday
approved an additional US$3 million (7.5 million tala) in financing for
the
Samoa Health Sector Management Programme (HSMP) Support Project.

[PIR editor’s note: According to devex.com, Samoa has received a Credit from the International Development Association and Grants from the Australian Agency and New Zealand Agency for International Development to implement the Health Sector Plan. This assistance is being provided through the Health Sector-Wide Program with development objectives of "improving access, and utilization, of efficient, effective and quality health services".]

The funds will assist Samoa to rebuild the health sector following last year’s tsunami and increase access to quality health services for Samoans.

Samoa’s health sector was hit hard by the tsunami with the total recovery bill estimated at US$7.4...

Grant to cover budget shortfall, electrical upgrade

NUKU΄ALOFA, Tonga (Matangi Tonga, May 6, 2010) - The European Union has agreed to provide a grant worth 24 million pa’anga [US$12.2 million] to support Tonga's budget and improve its electricity distribution network to rural areas.

Tonga's Prime Minister, Hon. Dr. Feleti Sevele met with the European Commissioner for Development, Mr. Andris Piebalgs, and senior officials at the EU Headquarters on April 28-29.

The Grant consists of 5.5 million euros (16.5 million pa’anga [US$8.3 million]) for budgetary support, in response to an application made by the Government of Tonga.

In addition it also agreed to provide 2.5 million euros (7.5 million pa’anga [US$3.8 million]) towards improvement of the electricity distribution network to the rural areas, the first application under Tonga's Energy Facility II.

Prime Minister Sevele also visited the African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Headquarter and met with...

Project to build roads to market cash crops

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (PNG Post-Courier) - There is good news for smallholder coffee and cocoa farmers who have either given up or on the verge of doing so.

The World Bank’s board of directors has approved a US$25 million [PGK65 million] IDA Credit to support the PNG Government’s efforts to improve rural incomes and livelihoods in key coffee and cocoa producing areas of the country.

The credit will fund the Productive Partnerships in Agriculture Project (PPAP) which aims to increase the contribution of coffee and cocoa to the livelihoods of rural communities and improve the performance and sustainability of the coffee and cocoa industries. The project will ensure local roads are upgraded to improve market access for communities in the project areas.

"With more than 80 percent of people in Papua New Guinea living in rural areas, supporting agricultural production and helping improve the lives of rural...

Editorial
GUAM LEGISLATURE SHOULD ACT ON BOTTLE BILL

Marianas Variety

HAGÅTÑA, Guam (May 7, 2010) – The commitment made by Rear Admiral Paul Bushong, commander of Joint Region Marianas, to support Guam’s bottle bill introduced by Sen. Tina Muña Barnes must be a cue for the legislature to act on Bill 149, titled Guam Beverage Container Recycling Act of 2010.

Barnes first introduced the bottle deposit legislation in 2003 but it never took off because of the military’s resistance to the proposal. Local retailers refused to support the proposal without the military’s participation. It was a Catch-22.

Rear Admiral Bushong’s assurance of participation by military installations on Guam offers a new opportunity to breathe a new life into the dormant bill.

Bill 149 proposes a 5-cent refund for every empty beverage container taken to any redemption center. The proposal covers glass bottles, aluminum cans and plastic bottles that can be redeemed for...