Samoa

The Asian Development Bank has approved a loan of up to US$2 million to facilitate the development of solar projects in the country.

The ADB-administered Canadian Climate Fund for the Private Sector in Asia will provide an additional US$1 million concessional loan and also a preparatory technical assistance grant to help overcome any early-stage barriers to developing PV in the region.

Using the financing, Jarcon Pty and Sun Pacific Energy (SPEL) will expand a 2.2MW solar farm in Samoa that is in partial operation to up to 4MW.

At the conclusion of PACP Leaders meeting, Tuilaepa is calling out the European Union to relax its dogmatic process which has detained the Pacific ACP from tapping into $166 million euros in the European Development Fund.

“The EU should consider the consequences of the delay,” he said.

“The PACP understands their position all very well but the EU also must consider the plight of the Pacific ACP countries if funding is not released,” he said.

“We’re talking unemployment and benefits for many of the island nations,” added Tuilaepa.

From 9 October the fee for a permit for up to 14 days will double to $US20.

For urgent issuance the fee will be $US30.

A multiple entry for 12 months will cost $US150.

For people who overstay their permits, a new fee of 200 Samoan tala, or $US80, has been added.

Samoa's consul general in American Samoa Auseugaefa Vaasatia Poloma Komiti told KHJ News that the fees had not been changed for years and the increase reflected higher costs of providing these services.

The two leaders declined to say what was discussed except to confirm they had agreed to proceed with the talks next month.

According to a release from Tuilaepa's office, outstanding issues to be addressed include trade and economic integration, agriculture, immigration, health, education, transport, telecommunication and tourism.

At least 30 local people supporting the West Papua independence movement took part in a peaceful protest this week in front of the hotel where the Pacific Island Forum leaders’ summit is held in Samoa.

A member of Mr Yahya's delegation also accused one senior journalist of asking provoking questions in support of the West Papua issue.

The Ambassador said the reporter's questions was based on outdated information.

West Papua was one of the issues raised by the civil society delegation in this week's Forum leaders meeting.

Speaking at a press conference in Apia, after their meeting with the Forum Leaders yesterday, Politini said the region should use Fiji’s COP23 Presidency as leverage to access the funds.

“The funding that is become available under the Green Climate Fund it is difficult to access for small Island states. 

“So I pleaded with the leaders because it comes through government level, they would have to negotiate for this to try to use their influence particularly that we have the COP23 chairmanship in the Pacific the most vulnerable through Fiji.

While officially opening the 48th Forum Leaders Meeting in Apia on the theme, “The Blue Pacific, Our Seas of Islands, Our Security through Sustainable Development, management and conservation” Tuilaepa said COP23 will require the region’s collective voice.

“The year ahead, provides regional and international engagements where we will be required to advocate our collective positions on our agreed priorities and articulate such through a collective voice such as the UN General Assembly and the 23rd Conference of Parties (COP23) of the UNFCCC.

Tabled at the group’s meeting in Apia this week, the One Polynesia document is designed to overcome the expensive cost of internet facing the 9 PLG member countries.

“The challenge that we have is that we lack buying power,” says Board Director of the Tui-Samoa Cable Pepe Christian Fruean in his presentation to the group.

A traditional Ava ceremony was accorded the heads of the Forum-member delegations as well as the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Secretary General Dame Meg Taylor at the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum.

Samoa Prime Minister and Chair of the meeting, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi called on the leaders and member countries to stand together and implement the decisions that the leaders endorse at this year's meeting.

He also encouraged the Pacific to support Fiji's co-presidency of the COP 23, the annual round of the ongoing UN climate negotiations in Germany later this year.

He told media this means more cooperation in all areas of development between Polynesian countries.

Other members of the PLG are French Polynesia, Tonga, Tuvalu, the Cook Islands, Niue, American Samoa and Tokelau, while Easter Island and Hawai'i attend as observers.

One area where countries will start cooperating is the proposed regional submarine cable, Manatua, which is being driven by Samoa.

RNZI reports the cable aims to position Polynesia as a key player in the digital economy with fast and reliable connectivity.