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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:20.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">News from Around the Pacific Today<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">In this bulletin:</span></b><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><br>
<br>
</span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><b><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#7030A0;text-decoration:none">1. COOKS --- PM Puna admits holiday inference</span></b></span><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#7030A0"><br>
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><b><span style="color:#7030A0;text-decoration:none">2. NZ --- Pacific MP supports government bill to allow medicinal cannabis for the terminally ill</span></b></span><br>
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><b><span style="color:#7030A0;text-decoration:none">3. IDN --- Fiji Defense minister meets with Indonesian counterpart</span></b></span><br>
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><b><span style="color:#7030A0;text-decoration:none">4. PNG --- Emergency Disaster controller calls on investigators to return to Mendi</span></b></span><br>
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><b><span style="color:#7030A0;text-decoration:none">5. VAN --- No bottle water shipment to Maewo: Water Cluster</span></b></span><br>
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><b><span style="color:#7030A0;text-decoration:none">6. TONGA --- Tonga’s Women and Children Crisis Centre strengthen skills to answer calls for help</span></b></span><br>
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><b><span style="color:#7030A0;text-decoration:none">7. NZ --- Pacific artists push for more support</span></b></span><br>
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><b><span style="color:#7030A0;text-decoration:none">8. PACNEWS BIZ --- PNG Hotel industry urged to be realistic in pricing</span></b></span><br>
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><b><span style="color:#7030A0;text-decoration:none">9. PACNEWS BIZ --- Air NZ's price rise for excess luggage a little too excessive for some Niuean travelers</span></b></span><br>
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><b><span style="color:#7030A0;text-decoration:none">10. PACNEWS IN FOCUS --- Work on Guam's $8.7 billion portion of Pacific realignment gaining momentum, officials say</span></b></span><br>
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><b><span style="color:#7030A0;text-decoration:none">11. PACNEWS DIGEST --- Wake up! Engaging youth in non-communicable disease prevention and control</span></b></span><br>
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><b><span style="color:#7030A0;text-decoration:none">12. PACNEWS DIGEST --- Nutrition education needed to reduce NCDs in Vanuatu</span></b></span><br>
<br>
</span><span style="color:#7030A0"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><br clear="all" style="page-break-before:always">
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after:avoid"><a name="i1"></a><b><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">PM Puna admits holiday inference</span></b><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after:avoid"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">RAROTONGA, 15 AUGUST 2018 (COOK ISLANDS NEWS) --- Caretaker PM Henry Puna has admitted people might have thought that there would be a public holiday on Friday, June 15, on Rakahanga based on
what he said during a Cook Islands Party (CIP) meeting on the island on June 12.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Puna, the party leader, took the stand before Chief Justice Sir Hugh Williams at the High Court Monday, to give evidence on the allegation leveled against him in the Rakahanga election petition
case. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Democratic Party leader Tina Browne, who lost the Rakahanga seat in the June 14 election to CIP’s Toka Hagai, alleged that during a meeting with the voters on June 12, Puna had declared that
June 14 and 15 would be public holidays on Rakahanga. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">The significant purpose for the declaration of a public holiday by the caretaker PM was political, namely to procure the election of Hagai, Browne alleged.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">During cross-examination, Browne’s NZ-based lawyer Isaac Hikaka asked Puna if he would accept that people could have taken that there was a holiday on Friday, June 15, from what he said during
the gathering. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">To which the PM replied, “I guess if they wanted to take it, yes, they might have.”
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Puna told the court the meeting on June 12 was to consolidate support. He said he was not sure who organised the meeting, adding he was being taken from campaign to campaign in the lead up to
the election. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">He also said the gathering was legal under the law, adding they could have held such a gathering right up until the election morning before the electorates went to the polling booth to cast
their votes. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Puna said during the June 12 meeting, he told the people present that Election Day was a day off, “in the sense that employers are required to give their workers time off to go to the polling
booth to cast their vote”. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Hikaka told the court that Puna had also said it was up to the mayor and the island government to give island residents the time off on Friday.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">“In fact, I laughed at the question because it was actually the mayor’s wife that asked the question and I said…’you ask your husband; he is the boss whether people get time off on Friday’.”
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Hikaka also asked Puna if he was aware that the mayor and the island government had no power to declare a public holiday, to which the PM replied that at times, the island council had been known
to grant days off to its employees on special occasions. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Puna also told the court that the totality of the comments he made on the evening of June 12 had been in a jovial manner because it was such a happy gathering.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Hikaka and his counterpart Brian Mason also presented their final submissions yesterday to wrap up the Rakahanga petition case.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">The High Court will today hear the petition filed by the Demos’ Teina Rongo, who made an application against CIP’s Albert Nicholas for the Avatiu-Ruatonga-Palmerston seat.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">The hearing of the Ngatangiia petition from CIP’s Kaka Ama against Tamaiva Tuavera of the Democratic Party will take place tomorrow, followed by the Murienua petition filed by James Beer of
Demos against CIP’s Patrick Arioka, on August 20. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">The Mauke electoral petition filed by OCI’s Tungane Williams against CIP’s Tai Tura will be heard August 20.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after:avoid"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after:avoid"><b><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Pacific MP supports government bill to allow medicinal cannabis for the terminally ill</span></b><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after:avoid"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">AUCKLAND, 15 AUGUST 2018 (PACIFIC RADIO NEWS) --- A Pacific MP is supporting a proposed law change allowing medicinal cannabis to be prescribed by doctors for terminally ill people.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Currently, cannabis-based products requires Ministerial approval before it can be prescribed, supplied or administered.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">The Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill proposes to give terminally ill people, expected to die within the year, the right to possess and use cannabis-based products to alleviate pain.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Earlier this year, Labour List MP 'Anahila Kanongata'a-Suisuiki voted down a Green Party bill allowing medicinal cannabis to be grown and used by those who are sick.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">However, she says she supports the coalition government's current bill.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">“As a Tongan, I welcome the coalition government's bill because one, it will relieve pain and two, we're going to set up an organisation that will regulate how cannabis is grown in New Zealand,”
she says. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">“Chloe Swarbrick's bill was for people to grow their own and I don't support that... If you're able to grow your own there's no regulation authority to say what type of plant you can grow. That's
why I said no. I didn't support if the dangerous part of cannabis can be grown in your backyard and anyone can have access to it.”
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Kanongata'a-Suisuiki is on the Select Committee for the bill, which received 1786 submissions from the public and different organisations.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">She says in terms of Pacific input, there was very little to none.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">“There weren't a lot of Pacific people that came to voice their opinions, but for me personally and the people that I associate with, they believe that if this is going to ease the pains of
their loved ones then it's something that they will support.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Kanongata'a-Suisuiki is hoping more Pacific people speak up on issues like this especially when it is being considered in Parliament.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">“As a new member of parliament, we really need to understand the importance of our voice when things go through to Select Committee... Send an email, voice your opinion because members of parliament
do listen to it.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Submissions to the Select Committee have pushed for the bill to also allow the chronically ill people to access the drug as well.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Kanongata'a-Suisuiki says the Select Committee disagrees but the bill will be considered again when it goes back to Parliament for debate.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">The Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill also proposes to deschedule cannabidiol as a controlled drug and allow easier access to medicinal cannabis products.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after:avoid"><a name="i3"></a><b><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Fiji Defence minister meets with Indonesian counterpart</span></b><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after:avoid"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">JAKARTA, 15 AUGUST 2018 (DEPTFO NEWS) --- Fijian Minister for Defence and National Security, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola made a courtesy call to his Indonesian counterpart Gen. (Ret.) Ryamizard Ryacudu
this week. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">During the meeting, Minister Kubuabola and General Ryacudu discussed areas of cooperation including capacity building.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Minister Kubuabola also expressed his condolences on behalf of the Fijian government and the people of Fiji to the people of Indonesia affected by the recent earthquake.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">The Defence Minister also visited the Police headquarters in Jakarta and met with the National Chief of Indonesian Police, Police-General Muhammad Tito Karnavian and senior police officers as
part of the Melanesian Spearhead Group Police Ministers' Visit Programme in Jakarta, Indonesia.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">They discussed the use of latest policing techniques to combat crime, traffic management, counter-terrorism and cyber security. The Minister and his delegation were given a tour of the Indonesian
Police Metro Jaya Regional facilities including the Strategic Information and Tactical Operation Centre and the Traffic Command Centre. They were also briefed on the security preparations of the upcoming ASEAN games, IMF conference in Bali in October, 73rd
Independence Day celebration this month and the ensuing national election campaign.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Minister Kubuabola in the process noted the joint operations involving the Police and Military in the evacuation and rehabilitation of the people of Lombok on the recent earthquake.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">The Minister was also expected to meet the Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi to further Fiji's relations with Indonesia in areas of common interests.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after:avoid"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after:avoid"><b><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Emergency Disaster controller calls on investigators to return to Mendi</span></b><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after:avoid"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">PORT MORESBY, 15 AUGUST 2018 (POST COURIER) --- The controller of the Papua New Guinea emergency disaster restoration team, Dr Bill Hamblin is calling on the police investigators to go back
to Mendi to complete the job and make arrests as his office will fund the operation.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Dr Hamblin is also calling on the constabulary to come up with a genuine budget seeking assistance to fund the police operation in Mendi as his office is ready to help.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">He said this in response to the Post-Courier front page report that police investigators involved in the Mendi town mayhem and others were forced to withdraw due to lack of government funding.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Dr Hamblin said, in an interview, that while his state of emergency is in force and active, the Thomas Eluh-led state of emergency is not effective and therefore the constabulary should have
consulted his office if they needed assistance. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">He said police have a duty to the public and the nation and therefore they need to go back and complete their work by investigating and making arrest of all those involved in the destructions
in Mendi. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">“I want them to go and arrest those responsible for the destruction and looting of K2 million (US$615,000) worth of relief supplies in a warehouse in Mendi and therefore I will fund the allowances
and accommodation of the policemen involved in the operation. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">“I’m happy to see police come here. They have not come to ask for help to pay for the TA and the accommodation of the officers engaged to do a good work of addressing law and order in Mendi.
We’ll be happy to fund it,” Dr Hamblin said. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">“My state of emergency Act was the only one passed by Parliament and not the one led by Eluh so I’m not aware if the K6 million (US$1.8 million) earmarked for the operation has been paid or
not but since my Act has been passed, we are happy to help as it covers the Southern Highlands. However, I want them to also investigate the looting of the K2 million worth of relief supplies (food, shelter and clothing) from a warehouse in Mendi and arrest
those culprits to face the full force of the law. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">“We also want the K24, 000 worth of vaccines destroyed by criminals and also the theft of water tanks to be investigated and I want them arrested.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">“We will absolutely fund and we have to have a sensible budget and I will fund it as we can’t allow the investigations to stop.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">“If we cannot deal with the criminals then what is the future hold for PNG.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">“We have to make arrest and therefore the police have a duty to go back and complete the investigations and make the arrest as I will fund it. There is no excuse,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after:avoid"><a name="i5"></a><b><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">No bottle water shipment to Maewo: Water Cluster</span></b><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after:avoid"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">PORT VILA, 15 AUGUST 2018 9VANUATU DAILY POST) --- The Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Cluster lead by the Vanuatu Department of Water Resources has announced its decision to stop the shipment
of bottled water for evacuees on Maewo. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">The water on Maewo is safe for drinking, cooking and cleaning purposes, WASH Coordinator, Malatu Paolo, conveyed from Maewo.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">“We do not want to see more shipments of bottle waters to Maewo,” Paolo said.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">“It will pollute the environment here.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">“The 500 cartons of bottled water we (WASH Cluster teams) came to Maewo with are for emergency situations only.”
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">WASH Coordinator said these were distributed to the evacuees on arrival, while they are waiting for the Shelter Cluster to sort out their relocation sites.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">“Once they reach the host communities, they can rely on existing water systems,” Paolo said.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">“These existing water systems are small as they were built to provide water to a small population.With the influx number of evacuees, we will be upgrading all water systems to meet daily consumption
needs. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">“We are also ready to design and develop water systems in the permanent relocation sites once the materials arrive from Port Vila.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">“The affected families rely most on rain water back home. They are slowly getting used to water supply in their new locations.”
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Apart from water, the WASH Cluster is distributing hygiene kits to evacuees and constructing public toilets in host communities.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Tarpaulins have also been distributed for affected families to set up temporary shelters.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after:avoid"><a name="i6"></a><b><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Tonga’s Women and Children Crisis Centre strengthen their skills to answer calls for help</span></b><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after:avoid"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">NUKU’ALOFA, 15 AUGUST 2018 (UN WOMEN) --- After launching late last year, the Women and Children Crisis Centre (WCCC) 24-hour helpline is now funded for the whole of 2018, with UN Women support,
to sustain its valuable service for women and child survivors of violence. <o:p>
</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">This toll-free helpline provides safe, confidential access to essential information, referrals, and counselling – and helps to ensure that women and children in remote and rural areas are reached
and supported. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">To assist staff operating the helpline, UN Women ran a training session in Nuku’alofa, as part of its ongoing commitment to support the work of WCCC. Training topics covered include Crisis Counselling
on a Gender-Based Violence Helpline Training, Mental Health Consequences of GBV Training, and Suicide First Aid Training.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">WCCC has also released 19 stories of resilience, to give a voice to rural Tongan women and girls online by sharing their stories.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">The multi-media initiative, 'This is my story of resilience: Women of Tonga', was supported by UN Women Fiji Multi-Country Office, in conjunction with Australian Aid-funded WCCC psycho-social
support work to affected areas.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after:avoid"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after:avoid"><b><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Pacific artists push for more support</span></b><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after:avoid"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">AUCKLAND, 15 AUGUST 2018 (PACIFIC RADIO NEWS) --- Pacific artists based in New Zealand are pushing for a broader pool of funders they can draw on to help support their work.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Creative New Zealand's deputy chair Caren Rangi says that is one of the common themes emerging from a two-day Pacific Arts Summit in Wellington earlier this year.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">The summit brought together senior, contemporary and emerging Pacific artists looking to lay foundations for their successors.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">“There are other organisations that Pasifika artists would like more of a chance to connect to,” says Rangi.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">“The message to us was 'can you help us facilitate that so we can widen our sense of connections and networks'.”
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Rangi is pleased with the response from public and staff to the summit, and says Creative New Zealand is taking its time to ensure voices from smaller communities are also heard.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">The feedback and discussions will all contribute to Creative New Zealand's Pacific Arts Strategy - a framework to guide and fund Pacific arts over the next five years.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">“Post-August is when we hope to announce the strategy, making it clear to people where we're heading and also making clear what we heard them tell us,” says Rangi.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after:avoid"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after:avoid"><b><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">PNG Hotel industry urged to be realistic in pricing</span></b><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after:avoid"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">PORT MORESBY, 15 AUGUST 2018 (POST COURIER) --- The Independent Consumer and Competition Commission has called on major high-end hoteliers in the capital of Port Moresby to be realistic in their
room rates in light of what it said was ever increasing prices. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">With the onset of major events like APEC, the consumer watchdog has received numerous complaints from visitors from abroad and within on the expensive rates in the capital major hotels that
continue to border beyond realism. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">“We have over the years noticed increases in the room rates in the hotel industry since the LNG project came onboard.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">“We experienced a good number of hotels in Port Moresby increasing their rates over this period and this is concerning especially for our consumers who wish to travel into Papua New Guinea for
business, tourism, and for any other purpose. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">“We would like to ask the hotel industry to reconsider the room rates they are applying currently in PNG,” ICCC Commissioner Paulus Ain said.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">He said while the LNG project resulted in the cost of hotel rooms to increase the opportunity with hotels expanding in Port Moresby, it was the commission’s view that supply is enough in market
for consumers to at least see some reduction in the rates. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">“This has not been happening and they seem to be increasing. With the recent experience with APEC coming onboard we are seeing a lot of room rates being increased and this is indeed a concern
to us the ICCC as the consumer watchdog. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">“It is a disincentive to potential investors’ tourists and anyone else who wish to visit this country given the current rate of affordability is restricting entry by people from abroad and the
neighbouring countries. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">“With the feedback that we are getting that the room rates are not affordable comparably to our neighbouring economies, some of our hotels similar to these hotels the room rates in our view
are slightly unreasonable.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">He added that the increases observed by the authority were for the high end part of the industry in major hotels operating in the city.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Ain said that while ICCC does not regulate the hotel industry, it will continue to monitor the prices from a distance.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Asked how it could intervene if it considered the industry does not budge to its call, the commission stated it would be subject to a market inquiry which would take place only after various
requirements were met before the industry could be regulated, which the commission stated would not be the case at present.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after:avoid"><a name="i9"></a><b><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Air NZ's price rise for excess luggage a little too excessive for some Niuean travellers</span></b><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after:avoid"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">AUCKLAND, 15 AUGUST 2018 (PACIFIC RADIO NEWS) --- A recent price hike in excess baggage on Air New Zealand flights has disappointed some Niueans.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Air New Zealand, the only carrier to fly in and out of the Rock, increased the cost to purchase additional bags at the check-in counter by $50 (US$32), across its network.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">The first additional piece on a short-haul flight to and from some Pacific Islands costs $170 (US$111). A second piece costs $250 (US$164) and a third or subsequent additional pieces cost $300
(US$197). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Pre-paid baggage options are not available on Niuean flights and travellers can only get the two pieces option on a Works Deluxe Fare.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">A Niuean resident in New Zealand, Jenna Jacobsen Toeono, says options are limited for Niueans and they'll complain, but still pay the extra fees.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">“With most airlines, if you prepay your baggage within your ticket, you can save your costs on paying it at the airport but we can't even do that, we're not even provided with that opportunity
in the first place,” she says. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">“I guess that's the power that they [Air New Zealand] have because they're the monopoly and they can call the shots and us as consumers don't have an option.”
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Another Niuean resident who wishes to remain anonymous says Niueans have been “robbed”.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">“They [Air New Zealand] know that no matter what, our people will not stop travelling with excess kilos whether coming or going home."
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">“Politicians in Niue should do something to help their constituents who voted them into Parliament in Niue.”
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Air New Zealand says the price increase is a result of increased operating costs.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;page-break-after:avoid">
<a name="i10"></a><b><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;page-break-after:avoid">
<b><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Work on Guam's $8.7 billion portion of Pacific realignment gaining momentum, officials say</span></b><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after:avoid"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">By Matthew .M Burke<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">DEDEDO, 15 AUGUST 2018 (STARS AND STRIPES) --- Driving north on Route 3 toward the site of the yet-to-be-built Marine Corps Base Guam, signs of construction are everywhere. Workers clearing
land and signs warning of detours because of unexploded ordnance are common sights.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">The U.S. Pacific island territory is undergoing an US$8.7 billion metamorphosis that will see about 4,000 Okinawa-based Marines relocate here in the mid-2020s. About US$3 billion of the cost
is being picked by the Japanese government. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">While no firm date has been set for the massive project’s completion — a fact criticised last year by the Government Accountability Office in Washington — U.S. military leaders on Guam say they’ve
overcome significant challenges to keep things on track since ground was broken.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">“It is clearly moving forward,” said Capt. Daniel Turner, commander of Naval Facilities Engineering Command Marianas. “We’re in the early stages of the main base … There are a lot of very senior
leaders that are, I think, pleased with where we’re going because we are showing actual progress with clearing this site, and I think it’s gaining momentum … so it’s great to see.”
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Seeing shovels in the ground has also pleased officials from Japan’s Ministry of Defense, Turner said. A nearly US$165 million contract — paid by the Japanese government — for site preparation
and utilities was awarded last summer to Granite-Obayashi, a joint venture based in Watsonville, Calif.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Turner said workers are clearing out the jungle and disposing of World War II-era munitions ahead of nearly 60 projects. Construction on unaccompanied barracks, which will be the first piece
built, is about two years away. While the barracks go up, the rest of the site will be cleared and prepped.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">There is also steady progress being made on a US$28.5 million contract for power upgrades for the new base. That work is expected to be completed in 2020.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> Okinawa issues
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">The Marine Corps’ Asia-Pacific realignment was born out of massive protests after the 1995 rape of a 12-year-old Okinawan girl by two Marines and a sailor. Locals demanded the closure of Marine
Corps Air Station Futenma due to safety concerns in a densely packed urban area and sought a smaller U.S. military footprint on the southern island prefecture.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">The prefecture is home to about 30,000 U.S. troops — about half of all American servicemembers based in Japan — despite having about the same land area as Tokyo.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">In 2006, some locals bristled when it was decided to keep Futenma’s air operations on Okinawa by moving them to Camp Schwab on the remote northern coast.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">In an attempt to appease locals, subsequent agreements promised to send an Okinawa-based KC-130 squadron to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni on the Japanese mainland and move about 4,100 Marines
to Guam. An additional 2,700 Okinawa-based Marines are to be sent to Hawaii, 800 to the U.S. mainland and 1,300 on a rotational basis to Australia. U.S. bases on Okinawa are also be consolidated.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Air facilities at Schwab were supposed to be completed by 2014, the GAO reported, but progress has been slowed, most notably by unsuccessful court challenges by Okinawa’s anti-base Gov. Takeshi
Onaga, who died suddenly last week after a bout with pancreatic cancer. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">From his hospital bed on July 27, Onaga launched one final battle with the central government, vowing to revoke permitting later this month for the base’s new runway over environmental concerns.
Its chances of success are seen as limited, based on previous court decisions. Landfill work for the runway is slated to begin on Aug. 17.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Active projects
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Realignment plans call for the Marines’ relocation to Guam to happen sometime between 2022 and 2026, said Donald Baldwin, deputy officer in charge for Marine Corps Activity Guam.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">The ground-combat element, the logistics-combat element and much of the command-and-control operations will be at the new Marine base at Finegayan.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">The aviation-combat element, along with its command and control and logistics support, will be at facilities being built at Andersen Air Force Base’s north ramp, which hosts Marine and naval
aviation. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Training ranges are also planned for Tinian and Pagan islands in the Marianas, but those projects have been delayed by local opposition over cultural and enviornmental concerns, the GAO reported.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">About US$500 million worth of projects have been completed on Guam, Turner said. The biggest so far are at Andersen’s north ramp.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">A US$50 million contract paid for by the Japanese prepared the site, which now hosts a US$23 million parking apron for Marine aircraft, along with a US$55 million aviation maintenance hangar
— one of two planned. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">The first is designed for the MV-22 Osprey helicopter-plane hybrid, while the second, which has been awarded but not yet begun, will be compatible with several types of aircraft, including the
F-35 joint strike fighter. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">There is also a new north gate at Andersen for direct access to the Marine facilities from Route 9.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">“There are a lot of active projects at the north ramp,” Turner said.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">A massive utility and site-improvement project — including water, sewer, power, steam, compressed air and oily waste infrastructure — has also been completed at Apra Harbor. The facilities will
support Marine embarkation and debarkation from Navy vessels. That construction was paid for by the Japanese through a US$97 million contract.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">A Marine wing support squadron facility at Andersen is almost finished, as are ground-support element shops.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Turner said the Defense Department is also funding off-base projects to improve the lives of Guamanians. About US$50 million went into the island’s commercial port, and more than US$125 million
is planned for wastewater treatment upgrades. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">There also have been road projects between Naval Base Guam and the northern part of the island: $30.6 million for sewer interceptor repairs along Route 9; and $3.7 million for expanded monitoring
of the aquifer. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">In addition, they recently held a site dedication for a Defense Department-funded repository that will house cultural artifacts discovered on the island. About 5,000 endangered orchids have
been relocated from construction sites and there are plans to restore 1,000 acres of forest on Guam, free from invasive species.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">“We do have a fair amount in the rearview mirror … but there’s still a lot more to come,” Turner said.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> ‘It’s really happening’
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">The next substantial projects will be a multipurpose machine-gun range at Northwest Field and a residential neighborhood for Military Operations on Urban Terrain, or MOUT, training hosted at
Andersen South Training Complex, Turner said. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Construction on the known distance ranges and live-fire training range complex has just begun. The $78 million project — scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2020 — will include four ranges
and some support facilities. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">The MOUT facility is one of several training areas being built at Andersen South Training Complex, according to Naval Facilities Engineering Command Marianas. Others include a driver and convoy
course, hand-grenade range, shoot house and breacher facility, as well as range-support facilities and telecommunications. That contract is expected to be awarded in January, Turner said, with completion in 2021.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">“The facilities are going to be state of the art,” said Baldwin, the deputy officer in charge for Marine Corps Activity Guam. “They’re going to be configurable … it’s going to be a very modern
facility.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">At Naval Base Guam, an US$18 million waterfront headquarters is expected to be completed next year and a US$56.7 million medical and dental clinic by 2020. A water well area at Northwest Field
is also in the works to meet the increased water demand. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Military officials said their greatest hurdles appear to be behind them. They listened to the people of Guam and agreed to a more gradual development schedule — one that was more sensitive to
environmental and cultural concerns. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">They are also starting to see relief in the form of more temporary workers. A new interpretation of labor policies threatened to derail the realignment in 2016 when fewer H-2B visa approvals
put a strain on Guam’s local skilled labor force. Gov. Eddie Calvo threatened to pull his support as a result.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Turner said that 130 additional skilled foreign tradesmen have been approved and are on island, though only 45 were working onsite. The rest were awaiting security clearances, but are able to
help with pre-fabrication work outside the fence line. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Baldwin said that, according to local surveys, about 80 percent of Guamanians support the relocation of Marines to Guam. The plan of record is set, though minor changes could occur according
to a number of variables. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">“The messaging has been very positive here locally, so I think that’s the nice takeaway here,” he said. “Guam is very pro-military … if you go to north ramp on Andersen and you look at that,
you’ll say, ‘Wow, it’s really happening.’”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;page-break-after:avoid">
<b><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Wake up! Engaging youth in non communicable disease prevention and control</span></b><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after:avoid"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">SUVA, 15 AUGUST 2-018 (SPC) --- The Pacific Islands are well known for their root crops, traditional meals and customary cooking styles.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">In this unique part of the world, food is often prepared by digging a hole in the ground and burying raw natural crops and meat or fish with hot stones to create an ‘earth oven’. This style
of cooking has provided an organic and healthy diet for many generations.However, traditions are changing, and modern development has had a major impact on health in the region. The rapid increase in the consumption of imported processed foods and rise in
physical inactivity has contributed to a rapid increase in diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">At the same time, increasing tobacco consumption and alcohol abuse are contributing to respiratory disease and cancer. These trends are increasingly evident among the region’s youth and are
an issue of great concern across the Pacific. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">However, many Pacific youth are determined to reverse these trends and raise awareness of the dangers of unhealthy lifestyles. In support of this effort, the Pacific Community (SPC) and United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have launched the ‘WAKE UP’ project. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">In 2017 SPC launched a call for proposals, inviting youth aged 15 to 25, to create videos that would promote healthy living as well as show the harsh consequences of NCDs. Unlike more traditional
awareness campaigns, the WAKE UP project wanted the youth of the region to be the lead voices behind this critical issue. 33 young Pacific Islanders from youth groups from across the Pacific were selected to produce videos, representing seven Pacific Island
countries and territories (PICTs) – New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Wallis and Futuna, Tonga, Fiji, Vanuatu and New Zealand.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">The situation in the Pacific
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">According to Dr Colin Tukuitonga, Director-General at SPC, “seven out of ten countries in the world, with the highest prevalence of diabetes, are from the Pacific. Our region is also the epicentre
for obesity. We are losing family members, friends and breadwinners to diseases which are largely preventable.”
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">The statistics on youth in the Pacific are troubling. Approximately 34% of those aged 13–18 years in Samoa and Wallis and Futuna are active smokers; 78% of youth in Niue first drank alcohol
before the age of 14; and over 35% of students are classified as obese in Cook Islands. (WHO)
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Pacific leadership
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Pacific leaders have recognised the challenge of NCDs and have taken concrete steps to combat the problem. In 2011, the Pacific Economics and Health Ministers declared the region to be in an
NCD crisis and commissioned the development of the Pacific NCD Roadmap as a multi-sectoral approach to prevent and control NCDs in the region and at national level through these key strategies: Strengthened tobacco control; development of policies to reduce
consumption of unhealthy foods and drinks; Improved efficiency and impact of resources to target primary and secondary prevention and Strengthened evidence base for better investment and effectiveness.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">PICTs, under the WHO Framework Convention for Tobacco Control, have also committed to the ‘Tobacco Free Pacific by 2025’ where 5 percent or less of the adult population use tobacco.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">In 2016 Pacific Island leaders, ministers and officials from regional and global development agencies gathered for the first ever Pacific NCD Summit in Tonga, where the leaders joined to address
the need for a more urgent and high level political leadership. Presented in this form was an update on the PICTs progress with implementation of the Pacific NCDs Roadmap.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">As well as providing the platform maximising the opportunities in linking and aligning country actions to the SDGs provides a good platform for addressing NCDs and meeting PICTs commitment to
the SDGs. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">The high-level gathering maximized the opportunities to link and align country actions and to address NCDs to meet the countries’ commitments to achieving the SDGs. The Pacific leaders continued
to focus on the need for specific and measureable actions to prevent and control NCDs in the region. As SPC’s Director-General noted at the time, “There’s no shortage of declarations, commitments and strategies aimed at addressing NCDs, but with up to 75
per cent of deaths in the Pacific related to NCDs, current efforts just aren’t enough.”
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">SPC chairs the Pacific Monitoring Alliance for NCD Action (MANA) taskforce which is responsible for the Pacific MANA, established to provide an accountability mechanism for better coordination
and strengthened NCD monitoring in the region. One of the tools developed was the MANA Dashboard to track PICTs’ actions on NCD leadership and governance, prevention policies, health system response programmes, and routine monitoring.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;page-break-after:avoid">
<a name="i12"></a><b><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Nutrition education needed to reduce NCDs in Vanuatu</span></b><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;page-break-after:avoid">
<span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">AUCKLAND, 15 AUGUST 2018 (PACIFIC PERISCOPE) --- Education on nutrition is one way of addressing the problem of non-communicable diseases, says Vanuatu Chamber of Commerce member Carolyn Ernst.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Ernst was invited to attend the Private Sector Dialogue Preparatory Meeting in Auckland from 6-8 August.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">The meeting was organised by the Pacific Cooperation Foundation (PCF) in association with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) and the Pacific Islands Private Sector Organisation (PIPSO).
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">The closed-door meeting was open to the media to interview the delegates from each of the Forum Island Countries during the networking event held in the afternoon on Day 1. Pacific Periscope
spoke with Ms Ernst about the impact of non-communicable diseases (NCD) on ni-Vanuatu communities and what the private sector could do to assist to bring down the high rate of NCDs.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Carolyn Ernst is a partner in two businesses in Vanuatu: Eden on the River, Eco-Tourism Business and Yo’Ku Farm, a small commercial free-range piggery.She has lived on Efate for more than 30
years. She and her husband manage the farm and ecotourism project on 18 hectares of land bought at Rentapau in 2005. Aside from this she takes a hand in accounting for other small businesses and landscaping.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">It’s a busy life for this member of the Vanuatu Chamber of Commerce.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Ernst said the causes of NCDs was quite complex with a wide range of reasons for the increased number of NCDs in Vanuatu.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">The region is vulnerable to cyclonic weather resulting in disaster with damaged homes, infrastructure and food and water sources.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">When Cyclone Pam struck Vanuatu in March 2015 and crops were damaged, rice was distributed widely through relief agencies. People did not prefer local foods, instead choosing “white man” foods
that they see as better Ernst said. “We are now seeing spikes in the diabetes rates due to too much rice distributed in months following Cyclone Pam.Many NGOs have no understanding of the people’s needs,” Ernst said.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Cooking for the family is generally done by women who are in some cases also the income earners outside the home. Culturally men don’t work in the house. Even in urban areas, women still do
the cooking, so rice and a can of fish rather than root vegetables is a quicker option for meals she said. Produce at the local market can also be very expensive she said.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">More education on nutrition and first aid was needed as often people with diabetes left cuts and sores untreated leading to a high rate of amputations, Ernst said.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Ernest believes Aid Donors needed to work together more.....<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">For more information please contact: Ian Furlong, PTI NZ Trade Development Manager on
<a href="mailto:ian.f@pacifictradeinvest.co.nz"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">ian.f@pacifictradeinvest.co.nz</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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