American Samoa Governor Presents 2012 Flag Day Address

2012 FLAG DAY ADDRESS

Governor Togiola Tulafono

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Veterans Memorial Stadium

Tafuna, American Samoa

americansamoa.gov

"...But if we have any pride, we must seek to change that political status. All other countries, major and minor, have changed their status so they can be truly self-governed with self-determination. We must have that (for) American Samoa."

Talofa Amerika Samoa. Happy anniversary. One hundred and twelve!

I offer greetings to your excellencies, dignitaries, the government representatives, members of the diplomatic corps in the Pacific Islands representing your respective governments, I welcome you to American Samoa and thank you for gracing our shores in this celebration with your presence. Fa’afetai tele.

Welcome to the Honorable Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Fatialofa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, Prime Minister of the Independent State of Samoa; and also welcome to Assistant Secretary Anthony Babauta of the United States Department of the Interior, and Director of Insular Affairs Mr. Nikolao Pula. Talofa.

It is truly an honor to welcome His Highness Tupouto’a Ulukalala ’Aho’eitu - Crown Prince of Tonga. Thank you for joining us in this celebration. We welcome the Governor-General of Tuvalu Sir Iakoba Taei Italeli, and talofa to the Titular Head of Tokelau – Ulu o Tokelau, Le Aliki Faipule, Kerisiano Kalolo.

Greetings also to American Samoa’s representative in the U.S. Congress, the Honorable Faleomavaega Eni, U.S. military officials, invited guest and the people of American Samoa.

One hundred and twelve years ago, a couple of hundred people gathered on top of Sogelau Hill with a makeshift flagpole, and raised the United States flag over the islands of Tutuila and Aunu’u. It was not the first time the flag was raised as it was raised in 1872 and 1878. Then on April 17th 1900, it was raised again shortly after the signing of the Agreement of Cession. The agreement in its first part recites with no uncertainty, the action of the three major powers of the world; Germany, Great Britain and the United States of America. Where in 1899, they met in Berlin and executed the Berlin Treaty where they partitioned the sovereign nation of Samoa where they agreed that when they returned, all islands East of longitude 171 West of Greenwich would be under the control of the United States of America, and islands West of this line would be under the control of Germany.

We had no say. We had no agreement to be partitioned. We did not seek to be partitioned. We were a sovereign nation and the agreement does speak to that. It acknowledges that Samoa is a sovereign nation of its own. Since that time, our chiefs in Tutuila and Aunu’u, and four years later in Manu’a, have ceded the complete authority to legislate and control the islands to the United States Government.

So therefore, everything that we exercise today, we only exercise the power that is not ours; the power that belongs to someone else. That is why our forefathers thought to keep the agreement in an unorganized, unincorporated fashion. Perhaps that is why later generations of Samoans never sought to change the unorganized, unincorporated status.

For us, we have been too busy trying to define what those words meant. But we failed our duty as citizens to seek out the message and read between the lines what it meant. I think the time has come for us to do our duty and read between the lines. If we have been left unorganized and unincorporated for 112 years, I ask you, are you happy with that? Is that a political status that you would like your children to grow up in? I say this, life has been good. But if we have any pride, we must seek to change that political status. All other countries, major and minor, have changed their status so they can be truly self-governed with self-determination. We must have that American Samoa.

We cannot do that unless we do it for ourselves, and I say the time has come for us to rise up and determine for ourselves what it is that we want to do or self-determination will never come. Self-governance will not happen if we do not rise together and work together. You see, as I read more into the history of these agreements, Captain Benjamin Tilley in 1902 read it right and he promulgated the first, initial regulation that still lives today that said there shall be no alienation of communal and cultural land unless it is approved by the governor. Why did he seek to do that? Because he sought to read in between the lines the agreements in its most essential essence was that Samoa shall be preserved for Samoans. I believe that is the underlying essence of these agreements but we have failed to see it for all these years.

Captain Tilley saw it. And that regulation has become the law. It has been enacted by our own legislative enactments since that time. It was an effort to stop the rush to sell communal land to merchants and to people who were offering money. If that Captain had not seen the essence of that agreement and sought to do what he did, I dare say, American Samoa would not be what it is today. We would not have any land. We would not have the best of the lands that we have now. I say, it is time that we do our duty and rise up and make that determination for ourselves for no one else will.

The time is now and we must act. Let us have a great celebration today and let us have a moment to think about what it is that our forefathers left for us to do. Let us re-examine the essence of these agreements and do what our fore parents wanted us to do.

Soifua.

(Samoan version)

Lauga o le Sisiga Fu’a 2012

Afioga i le Kovana Sili o Amerika Samoa

Togiola T.A. Tulafono

Aso Lua, 17 Aperila 2012

Malae i Lupelele

Veterans Memorial Stadium

Tafuna, Amerika Samoa

Ua paia Lupelele. Ua paia le aso. Ua mamalu fo’i le fetalai mae’ae’a o le tu’ua o le saofiga – le tofa ia Afuola Nanai. Paepae ma teuteu fa’alaulelei sa ma faigata o lenei aso aua le paia o le Faleagafulu, aua le pa’ia o le Manu’a Tele, aua fo’i le tapua’iga a le usoga ia Pule ma Tumua. O pa’ia na o le atunu’usa o Samoa, o le a ou le toe au’ili’iliina, ae tau ia ina fa’apipii i ai lo’u leo fa’atauva’a.

Ou te fa’atulou atu ma fa’anoi atu - fa’aagafua ia le tulaga ma le leo ona o fuafuaga o lenei aso. Pa’ia o le Malo o Amerika Samoa i lona tafatolu tutusa, ou te fa’atulou atu. Pa’ia fo’i o ekalesia i ona fa’auluuluga ma ona ta’itai o lo’o tapua’ia le saogalemu ma le filemu o le atunu’u ma nounou manu aua le manuia o Amerika Samoa. Ou te fa’atulou. Fa’amalilie, aumaia se avanoa, tau ia ona ou fa’afeiloa’i atu e fai ma sui o le Malo ma le tatou atunu’u i a tatou malo fa’aaloalogia.

Fa’atalofa atu i lau afioga i le ali’i Palemia Tuila’epa Lupesoliai Fatialofa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi ma le au malaga, ae maise ai o le mamalu o Pule ma Tumua ua pa’au mai e fa’amamalu ma fa’amatagofie lenei aso - mai alalafaga, o outou olo sa o le atunu’u, ae maise ai o le malu o malo ua outou tilitili anuanu mai ona o le fa’atalau’ula atu a lenei itu o le atunu’u. Fa’afetai tele i lau afioga, malo le fai uso, faafetai le fa’aaloalo.

Fa’atalofa atu i le afio mai o lau afioga i le sui failautusi - greetings to Assistant Secretary Anthony Papauta of the United States Department of Interior. O le matagaluega o lo’o tatou fai pa’aga ia ma lau faigamalaga. O se tasi fo’i o alo o le atunu’u, le susuga ia Nikolao Pula o lo’o va’ava’a lua i le galuega. Talofa.

Fa’atalofa atu i le mamalu tele i le susu mai o lau susuga i le perenise fa’au’uina, lau susuga Tupouto’a Ulukalala ’Aho’eitu - Crown Prince of Tonga. Lau Afioga i le Kovana Senerale o Tuvalu, lau Susuga Italelei ma le faletua, ia o le a ou le fa’apapalagi atu aua e te malamalama lelei i le gagana Samoa. Talofa, afio maia. Le Aliki Faipule, lau afioga i le Ulu o Tokelau, malo tauasa, fa’afetai susu mai e fa’amamalu le matou aso, Lau Susuga Kerisiano Kalolo.

Fa’atalofa atu i lau tofa Faleomavaega Eni, o le sui filifilia o le atunu’u i le Konekeresi, ali’i ma ta’ita’i sinia o le vaega’au a le Malo Tele, le vala’aulia, ma le mamalu ma le pa’ia o tagatanu’u o Amerika Samoa. Fa’afetai tala’a’ao mai.

Amerika Samoa, selau sefulu ma le lua tausaga talu ai i luga o si mauga laitiiti e igoa ia Sogelau i le tala fa’atai o le taulaga i Fagatogo, a o fa’afeagai ma le uafu tele o lo’o i ai nei, sa faia ai le sauniga o le sainiga o le feagaiga o le tu’uina atu. Ina ua uma le sainia o lea feagaiga, sa tala a’e loa a’ao o le Kapeteni Benjamin Tilley ma le mamalu o le atunu’u sa vala’aulia ma sisiina a’e le tagavai o le Malo Tele o Amerika i le tulaga aloa’ia. E le o le taimi muamua lea na sisi a’e ai le fu’a a Amerika i totonu o Amerika Samoa po o Tutuila ma Manu’a. Sa sisi i le 1872 ina ua faia le feagaiga ma le afioga i le Ma’oputasi felagolagoma’i ma le Malo Tele. Sa toe sisi fo’i la i le 1878 ina ua toe osi fo’i leisi feagaiga ma le afioga i le Ma’oputasi ma le talafaatai o le taulaga mo le puipuiga a le Iunaite Setete.

Sa fa’apena ona aluma’i ae peita’i i le 1899, sa o mai fa’atasi malo e tolu - Peretania, Siamani ma le Iunaite Setete. Sa o i Perelini, Siamani sa fai ai le latou fono, ma fai ai le latou maliliega o le a o mai e vaevae Samoa. O le a vaevae Samoa.

O motu uma i le itu i sasa’e, o le laina 171 o le a tu’uese mai, mai totonu o le pule’aga fa’asamoa o le atunu’u e tasi. Sa fa’apena ona fai lea e ta’ua i le ta fegaiga. O le vaega muamua o le fegaiga a Tutuila ma Aunu’u o lo’o faamatalatalaina ai e fa’apea: “Ua uma ona matou vaevaea outou. O lea ua matou malilie e tu’u mai le itu lea i sasa’e i lalo o le pule’aga a le Malo a le Iunaite Setete, a o sisifo o le a tumau ia Siamani.”

Sa fa’apena ona fai ae peita’i sa le finagalo le Manu’a Tele e saini lea maliliega. Afe iva selau ma le fa (1904) Iulai 16 fa’ato’a sainia ai se maliliega mo Manu’a. Ae i lea fo’i feagaiga i lona ulutala, sa fa’amatalaina ai le mea na tupu i Perelini (1899): “Ua uma ona matou vaevaeina le atunu’u.” Ona fa’ato’a fai lea o le feagaiga i le vaega lua, o le tu’uina atu; Tu’uina atu ma le fa’amautuina o le pule e fai ai le tulafono ma le fa’atautaiga atoa o motu i sasa’e o Samoa. Selau sefulu ma le lua tausaga o Tutuila ma Aunu’u, selau sefulu ma le valu tausaga o motu o Manu’a. Mai ia tausaga uma, o lo’o tatou galulue i lalo o le ta’u “e le’i tu’ufa’atasia” - unorganized. E le’i tu’ua i totonu, unincorporated. O ia tu’ufa’atasiga ma ia fa’amaumauga o lea ua tatou tini taunu’u i le aso; selau sefulu ma le lua tausaga o tatou fa’afuata’ape ai lava ma le tu’uina ai i totonu.

O le a fa’apu’upuu a’u tala. O le fesili ou te fa’atula’ i lenei aso Amerika Samoa, o ‘e fiafia i lea tulaga? O le fesili lona lua, ua tatou malilie ea tatou o fa’asalalau ai lava fa’apea mo seisi selau sefulu ma le lua tausaga? I lo’u su’esu’e i nei maliliega Amerika Samoa, ua atagia mai ia te a’u le le mautu ona fa’ataunu’u o tatou tiute fa’atagata nu’u. O le fesili e sili ona taua, o le a le mea na finagalo ai o outou tua’a ma o tatou matua e tu’u ai fa’apea maliliega fa’apea? Tu’u ai fa’asalalau pe fa’afuata’ape ai pea, aua ne’i matua, filogia i totonu ae tatou feso’ota’i pea? Ua alu le selau sefulu lua tausaga o tatou taumafai e fa’amatala le uiga o upu ae o le mea ua tatou le faia i o tatou tiute faa’atagatanu’u, o le faitau le feau la e ta’u mai i totonu o upu ia. Ua alu uma le tatou taimi e fa’amatala le upu a ua galo le agaga o le maliliega ma le feagaiga.

O le mea lea ou te tula’i ai i lenei aso Amerika Samoa. Pe le ua o’o ea i le taimi e tatou va’ai i totonu o le agaga o ia feagaiga po o taunu’u pe leai? Pe tatou te o fa’asalalau ai fa’apea mo seisi selau ma sefulu lua tausaga? O le tatou tiute mo tupulaga lumana’i, saili, fa’atonu, fa’alelei, fa’amautu ina ia manuia tupulaga o lumana’i.

Ia soifua ma ia manuia le sisigafu’a o lenei tausaga. Soifua.

US military eyes Cocos Islands as a future Indian Ocean spy base

         Phillip Coorey

Sydney Morning Herald

Eye in the sky … the Global Hawk can cover a vast expanse of ocean.

United States military aircraft, including drones undertaking surveillance operations over the South China Sea, could be based on Australia's Cocos and Keeling Islands in the Indian Ocean.

As part of enhanced US-Australian military co-operation announced in November by Julia Gillard and the US President, Barack Obama, the islands would replace the US's present Indian Ocean base of Diego Garcia, which the US leases from the British and is due to be mothballed in 2016.

The Washington Post reported yesterday that the US was eyeing the Cocos Islands, 2700 kilometres east of Diego Garcia, as ''an ideal site not only for manned US surveillance aircraft but for Global Hawks, an unarmed, high-altitude surveillance drone''. Aircraft based in the Cocos would be well positioned to launch spy flights over the South China Sea,'' the Post reported.

When Mr Obama visited Australia in November, he and Ms Gillard announced an increased US presence in Australia that experts said was all about containing a rising China. The three priorities were an increased rotation of up to 2500 US Marines through the Northern Territory, more US war planes using NT air bases, and increased access by US Navy ships and submarines to the HMAS Stirling base in Western Australia.

After Mr Obama's visit, the Defence Minister, Stephen Smith, hinted that US ships and aircraft would use the Cocos Islands eventually.

''But that's well down the track. Indeed, there would be a requirement for substantial infrastructure changes to be made for further air or naval engagement through the Cocos Islands,'' he said in late November.

Speaking yesterday at a nuclear security summit in South Korea, Ms Gillard said ''there has not been any substantial progress'' on using the Cocos Islands since Mr Smith's comments last year.

She said the focus had been on implementing the arrangement that was struck about the deployment of Marines.

''Clearly, the alliance we have with the United States is pivotal to our security. It's of long standing and we took the next natural step in my view in the evolution of that alliance last year when I agreed with President Obama that we would host the Marines on a rotational basis in the Northern Territory exercises.''

Yesterday, a spokesman for Mr Smith said the details of drones, planes and ships using the Cocos Islands had yet to be discussed.

''Cocos Islands is a longer-term option for closer Australian-US engagement but is not one of the three priority levels of engagement,'' he said.

''In the first instance, our Indian Ocean arrangement will be, in my view, greater naval access to [HMAS Stirling].''

The maritime version of the Grumman Global Hawk drone is likely to be introduced into the defence forces of both countries later this decade, under a program known as Broad Area Maritime Surveillance.

With a wingspan of almost 40 metres, it can cruise for 30 hours at a speed of 575 km/h, covering a vast expanse of ocean with its cameras, radar and other sensors.

The news that they are becoming part of Mr Obama's ''pivot'' into south-east Asia is slowly seeping out among the 600 residents of the Cocos Islands.

The caretaker-manager at Cocos Beach Bungalows, who gave his name as Bill, said he had seen reports on the internet but had not noticed any unusual activity, aside from the occasional air force plane with mechanical trouble.

The islands attract a handful of tourists each year, mainly snorkellers and birdwatchers.

For the Royal Australian Air Force, the Global Hawk will be part of the mix replacing its maritime patrol aircraft, the four-engine turboprop P3C Orion, along with a new manned aircraft, a development of the twin-jet Boeing 737 called the P8 Poseidon.

''The idea is to integrate drones and aircraft so you need fewer manned aircraft,'' said Derek Woolner, a defence expert at the Australian National University.

The progress report of the Defence Force Posture Review recommends the upgrade of the Cocos airfield.

Charges of human rights violations by British in the Turks & Caicos Islands brought to United Nations High Commissioner

Open Letter: Former premier seeks OHCHR intervention
TCI News Now
Wednesday 18 April 2012 Her Excellency, Navanethem Pillay  High Commissioner for Human Rights Office of the United Nations  High Commissioner for Human Rights  Palais Wilson 52 rue des Pâquis Ch-12011 Geneva Switzerland Dear Madam Commissioner, SEEKING OHCHR INTERVENTION IN TURKS AND CAICOS POLITICAL SITUATION I am the former Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands, a country located in the Caribbean and which is a colony of the United Kingdom. I would like to bring your attention to, and seek your assistance regarding, a number of human rights violations that have been taking place in the Turks and Caicos Islands in general, and to me and some of my former Cabinet ministers in particular, because of the stand taken by our political party, the Progressive National Party (PNP), and my Administration which was in office from 2003 to 2009, on advancing and achieving independence for our country.  The violations have been conducted by the British Government and their Interim Administration in the Turks and Caicos Islands. It is my submission that their actions contravene the UN Universal Declaration on Human Rights plus a number of other international conventions to which the British are a signatory. BELOW ARE EXAMPLES OF THE CONVENTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN VIOLATED: (1) UN Universal Declaration on Human Rights Article 2 states: “Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.”  In my view, the British Government has violated this article. They have discriminated against the citizens of the Turks and Caicos Islands because of the colour of their skin and because of our status as a colony. They have also discriminated against the Turks and Caicos Islands citizens because of our desire to seek self-determination. They have taken away a number of our rights under this declaration or refused to grant us some.  Article 7: “All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.”  Article 8: “Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.”  Article 10: “Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.”  Article 11(1): “Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence.” Article 11(2): “No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed.” Article 12: “No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.” Article 17: “(1) Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others. (2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.” Article 19: “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” Article 20: “(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.” (2) “No one may be compelled to belong to an association.” Article 21: “(1) Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives. (2) Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country. (3) The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.” (2) The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Furthermore, the British Government and by extension the Interim Administration, are also in violation of The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Article 1 reaffirms the right of self-determination; Article 14, the right to a fair hearing; Article 25(a), the right and opportunity to take part in the conduct of public affairs, directly or through freely chosen representatives, and Article 25(b) grants the right to vote and to be elected at genuine periodic elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret ballot, guaranteeing the free expression of the will of the electors. In the Turks and Caicos Islands we have not had elections for almost 3 years, although they were constitutionally due two years ago. As such, for the past 3 years the islands have been a virtual dictatorship, operating without an elected government. Furthermore, the British-appointed Governor has sole executive and legislative powers and in addition, he appoints the Prosecutor and all of the Judges, who have no security of tenure and therefore rely on the Governor and the British government to renew their contracts, creating automatic room for abuse. (3) UN Charter In addition, the British are in violation of the UN Charter. Chapter 1: Purpose and Principles. Article 2. “To develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, and to take other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace.” Chapter XI: Declaration Regarding Non-Self-Governing Territories. Article 73. “Members of the United Nations which have or assume responsibilities for the administration of territories whose peoples have not yet attained a full measure of self-government recognize the principle that the interests of the inhabitants of these territories are paramount, and accept as a sacred trust the obligation to promote to the utmost, within the system of international peace and security established by the present Charter, the well-being of the inhabitants of these territories, and, to this end:  (a) to ensure, with due respect for the culture of the peoples concerned, their political, economic, social, and educational advancement, their just treatment, and their protection against abuses; (b) to develop self-government, to take due account of the political aspirations of the peoples, and to assist them in the progressive development of their free political institutions, according to the particular circumstances of each territory and its peoples and their varying stages of advancement.” For countries that have adopted the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the first Optional Protocol to the Covenant gives the option of recognizing the Human Rights Committee as qualified to receive and examine communication from individual people. When people or groups of people have exhausted local remedies, the Protocol allows them to petition the Committee directly about their government’s alleged violations of the Covenant. EXAMPLES OF THE SPECIFIC VIOLATIONS AND ABUSE IN THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS In the Turks and Caicos Islands, we are faced with the following: 1. Denial of our right to self-determination and our right to freely and without fear conduct open national debate in that regard. 2. Denial of our right to hold free and fair elections.  3. Denial of our right to fair trial.  4. Denial of our rights to freedom of expressions and assembly.  5. Introduction of retroactive criminal legislation with the view of securing convictions.  6. Persons were compelled to testify against themselves at a Commission of Inquiry and that information was subsequently used to charge individuals. This is a violation of Article 14 of The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. 7. There is no independence of the Judiciary: a. The Governor is the sole authority in the colony in that he is the sole person that makes executive decisions, he alone makes legislation and he alone appoints the Prosecutor and the judges. The current governor is Ric Todd. b. Governor Ric Todd has said at a public meeting that all of the accused former ministers are guilty and will be convicted. c. Furthermore in an article that appeared in the Miami Herald online on the 9th of April, Governor Todd was quoted as saying that "the elected government has deliberately and systematically stolen the assets of the people of the TCI for personal gains". In this light, I and former Ministers who have been accused of corruption can never get a fair trial. How can we ever get a fair trial when the person that has the sole power to appoint the Prosecutor and judges in the colony is making such pronouncements before a trial? 8. There is also interference with the right to a political life, with Governor Ric Todd and his Attorney General Huw Shepheard bringing legal action to unlawfully confiscate our party headquarters and to demolish it. They are systematically trying to eliminate my party, the PNP, from the political life in the Turks and Caicos Islands by arresting and charging most of the senior members including the new Leader who is a lawyer who has never one day served in any Government in the Turks and Caicos Islands. It is my belief that the reason for this is to silence the party because its public stance has been to seek independence from Britain. It is also my belief that despite the public stance of Britain about liberty and equality for all, it is their desire and objective to retain the colonies and to pursue a purely commercial ambition from them without regard for the human rights and political will of the populations in those countries. It is well known that the British territories in the Caribbean have natural beauty and sunshine, excellent tourism opportunities and many prospects in terms of financial services, all of which can be turned to ultimate profit for the British. It is further my belief that as the British economy nosedives in the world recession, Britain is taking an opportunistic position in relation to its colonies and former colonies purely for commercial and financial gain, ignoring the harmful effect of their actions on those countries and their people. 9. The Governor has abused his powers and has had land confiscated from individuals who received land lawfully. 10. Abolishing of our right to trial by jury in order to secure convictions. 11. The Governor has changed a number of laws and procedure and has made it retroactive in order to secure a conviction of the persons accused. That is why he can speak with certainty that we will all be convicted. If a crime was truly committed why could the accused not be tried under the system that has tried thousands of prior cases. Why change a whole legal system to convict persons on charges that are politically motivated? It is my submission that the whole Commission of Inquiry, the criminal charges, the change in the laws, the abolishing of the jury system, the suspension of elected government in the colony was all because my party and I seek to move our country to independence, which Britain does not want, for the reasons mentioned further above. The best way for the British Government to stop my party’s movement was to drum up charges of corruption. That would allow the Governor to make the changes that they have made to secure a conviction against me and my colleagues. More disturbingly, charges of corruption are emotive and frightening to the people. These charges allow the British government to pursue almost any device in order to secure a conviction, including the suspension of democracy. In summary we are being politically persecuted because of our political belief, being that we want to live in an independent Turks and Caicos Islands. Moreover, the political persecution is also set in a context of apparent racial superiority, on the part of the British. The above are a number of human rights violations that have been inflicted upon the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands, a colony of the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom as a permanent member of the security council has an added responsibility to uphold international laws and treaties especially those involving human rights. It is a blatant double standard when they talk about human right abuse and violations in other parts of the world and they themselves are chief offenders in their colonies. I am therefore asking your good office to intervene as a matter of urgency and to ensure that every country complies with their international obligations no matter how powerful they are. I end by quoting Martin Luther King Jr: "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”  I remain,  Yours sincerely,  Michael Misick Former Premier Turks and Caicos Islands

Curacao Prime Minister Visits Haiti to Strengthen bilateral Relations

Update on the working meeting with Colombia and Curacao

Haitl Libre

http://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-5314-haiti-security-the-colombian-vice-president-angelino-garzon-on-official-visit-to-haiti.html

S/ HaitiLibre 

"...we just had a meeting to strengthen Haiti's relations with Colombia and Curacao, which came with a group of investors in the fields of energy and waste management. They also come with people which will provide us a technical assistance in our reconstruction program of popular neighborhoods as we had asked them, during our last visit http://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-4916-haiti-politic-the-president-martelly-on-official-visit-to-curacao.html

We told them that it is important for us to see how things are done in other countries, [...] this is why Angelino Garzón, Colombian Vice-President came, to share what they were able to accomplish in the management and in the improvement of popular neighborhoods in Colombia. Medellin has many popular neighborhoods, residents lived in difficult conditions. With their experience, they managed to put these neighborhoods to another level. That's why we have a unit that works on the renovation of popular neighborhoods, especially Jalousie. We will send a team in Colombia to see how they did it, we will work with various partners, we will seek solutions for our people [...] A Commission will visit Colombia for that and we will also create a bilateral commission Curacao-Haiti for, first work on the visa issue, so that the Haitian traders who travel in Curacao, can travel with fewer problems, we also asked the same thing to Colombia [...] 

The other important point that we discussed, concerns the cooperation in the field of security with the National Police [...] we have asked the General Oscar Naranjo, the Director of the Colombian National Police, to work with the Director of National Police of Haiti and especially with the Secretary of State for Public Security, Mr Réginald Delva [...] Colombia has one of the best anti-kidnapping units in the world and they will give us a technical assistance on the issue, so that we are able to move forward.

Overall that's it, they will establish a Joint Commission which will follow up on all these issues and we will do the same for Colombia to follow up all the files we discussed today [...] 

We also asked Colombia to grant scholarships to Haitian students, what they already do, we asked them to continue this program because Haitian youth deserves and we need this training abroad for our future leaders [...] 

The 6th Summit of the Americas, taking place in Colombia on 14 and 15 April 2012, every President of America will be there, including Barack Obama, every President of the region, [...] and we will follow up with the Heads of States, when we will be at this 6th Summit [...]" 

The Colombian Vice-President, Angelino Garzón, the General Oscar Naranjo, Director of the Colombian National Police and the Prime Minister of Curacao, Gerrit F. Schotte who was accompanied by a group of businessmen and investors are arrived yesterday in Port-au-Prince for an official visit. Following the first working meeting with government officials, Laurent Lamothe, Foreign Affairs Minister and Prime Minister-designate gave an update.

Executive Council St Eustatius approves Spatial Development Plan

SabaNews.nl 

The Executive Council of St. Eustatius has given its approval of the amended Spatial Development Plan to facilitate the expansion of the Statia NuStar terminal in Culde- Sac.

In a statement that was provided by the Government Information Service of St. Eustatius it was stated that NuStar Energy N.V. had formally requested the Island Council for a decision on allowing the expansion of the current oil terminal. The in-depth statement provides detailed information about the procedures that were followed, as well as about the Executive Council’s motives to adapt the Spatial Development Plan to facilitate the terminal’s expansion.

NuStar had applied for a number of permits, including a building permit, planning permissions and an amendment of the Spatial Development Plan 2011 (SDP). The SDP makes the expansion plan possible by including an amendment procedure within the comprehensive planning document. At the time of adoption of the current SDP the expansion project was insufficiently concrete and the required impact assessments were not available. This justified an amendment procedure for the proposed expansion of the oil terminal.

Many organizations and individuals made formal objections against the draft amendment. The Executive Council received 1,034 reactions, primarily through several signature drives. Of these 238 were counted as formal objections with identifiable signature, name and address.

According to the Executive Council, all objections were thoroughly considered. These considerations can be found in a Memorandum of Reply in which the objections are summarized and evaluated.

The entire document with the objections and answers is published here:

http://www.nustarexpansion.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Memorandum-of-Reply-Zoning-Amendment-Plan-NuStar-30th-of-March-2012.pdf

After assessing all the arguments that were submitted, the Executive Council made adjustments to the draft amendment plan on a number of aspects. Concerning the main issues, the amendment plan has remained the same as the draft amendment plan. No fundamental changes have been made. The Executive Council has made the decision, Memorandum of Reply and other relevant documents available for public review.

Source: “The Daily Herald” 2012-04-14

Hong Kong Chief Executive addresses Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)

"The relationship between China and Latin America and the Caribbean is mature enough to think about enhancing quality," stated today Antonio Prado, Deputy Executive Secretary of ECLAC, when welcoming the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (HKSAR) Donald Tsang, who delivered a keynote speech at the organization's headquarters.

 

Antonio Prado, Deputy Executive Secretary of ECLAC, welcomes the Chief  Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's  Republic of China, Donald Tsang, during his visit to ECLAC headquarters  in Santiago, Chile. Photo: Carlos Vera/ECLAC

Tsang gave a speech entitled "Hong Kong's role in China's development", which was attended by authorities, representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in the country, the academia, international organizations officials and civil society representatives. 

"The countries of the region urgently need to develop new linkages to strengthen innovation, productivity, competitiveness, diversification of the productive and export base, a more qualified workforce, and a less unequal income distribution," said Prado when welcoming the Chinese high-level official. 

"I am convinced that HKSAR can, and should, be an active partner of the region in this endeavor," added Prado. 

Donald Tsang mentioned that, like ECLAC and its Member States, Hong Kong is a firm believer in multi-lateral dialogue, networking and sharing knowledge. "As one of the most free, open and globally connected economies in the world, we in Hong Kong readily support initiatives that expand opportunities for economic as well as cultural co-operation," he said. 

According to ECLAC, China will take over the European Union as Latin America and the Caribbean's second most important trade partner in a few years. The robust Chinese demand for commodities has benefited the countries of the region exporting such goods, allowing them to improve their terms of exchange and stimulating their growth. 

Likewise, Hong Kong's exports and imports to and from Latin America and the Caribbean amount to nearly 6 and 5 US dollars billions, respectively, which has made this territory a key actor for re-exports on to continental China, which represent half of the total commercial exchange. 

The Deputy Executive Secretary of ECLAC specified that the great progress shown by Hong Kong in the last years makes it an excellent candidate for mutual cooperation between this territory and the countries of the region. Some of the areas for cooperation are trade and services - including tourism; science and technology - including nanotechnology and advanced materials; education; small and medium-sized enterprises; information and communication technologies; and supply chain logistics and management. 

"This is the time to identify, in a cohesive manner, the region's priorities with respect to its relationship with China and come up with ideas on how HKSAR can contribute to achieving this goal," concluded Prado.

Read Spanish text here.

Turks & Caicos Popular Democratic Movement Prepares for return to Elected Government

British have yet to announce election date for its Caribbean dependency

People's Democratic Movement (PDM) ready to rule

Turks and Caicos Islands

Turks & Caicos Sun

The People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) kicked off its political campaign...April 11, with a high-energy rally at its headquarters down town Providenciales, to drum up support among its base and the wider public in anticipation for elections this year, also using the event to express its readiness to take the reins of government once again. 

Distributing party campaign T-shirts with a call for elections this year emblazoned across the front, many of the speakers, including party leader Derek Taylor, announced that a PDM Government would reverse majority of the laws now being implemented by the Interim Administration, while easing the current economic and social burden now being faced by the populace.

Taylor announced that the 10-year vision that the PDM crafted for the country sometime ago, which would bring prosperity for all the people of the country, was still relevant, and would be used as a vehicle in the party’s pursuit for political office.

He said that the PDM would reopen the civil service for employment, while balancing the budget without putting the people under duress, a feat he said was accomplished in the past by that party. Taylor said also that he would introduce legislation to create a development bank so that local businesses would be able to access loans at cheaper interest rates, while seek to introduce an equal pay law, so as to create income parity in the respective categories within the job market.

Party members said the PDM would also revisit the InterHealth Canada contract, which they said was not serving the best interest of Turks and Caicos Islanders, especially those who had lost their jobs. They said also that the Immigration and Labour laws would also be put under the microscope so as to safeguard the borders, while giving Turks and Caicos Islanders a fair shake in the job market.

“We envision a Turks and Caicos Islands with long term economic stability, and that can only happen under a People’s Democratic Movement government. We are not going to have this nonsense again,” Taylor said, referring to the economic abyss in which the country has found itself. “And we are going to engage each other every step of the way. You are going to have a government that is open, that you can challenge, that you can honestly sit down and talk to.”

“We envision a vibrant economy of Turks and Caicos Islanders that are able to sustain and exceed the growth of the past. And we envision a Turks and Caicos Islands where a strong economy and social empowerment are the order of the day for all Turks and Caicos Islanders.

“We will introduce equal pay legislation, to ensure that all workers are paid based on the work performed rather than on race, colour, gender or national origin. This will give further emphasis to what have already been expressed in the Constitution of the Turks and Caicos Islands,” Taylor said.

Addressing the issue of setting up a financial institution that would provide Turks and Caicos Islanders, especially those who would be able to access loans from commercial banks, with loans at cheap interest rates, Taylor declared: “In 2003, we had already engaged the Caribbean Development Bank; we had already engaged European investment bank, with the intention of making sure that Turks and Caicos Islanders and Turks and Caicos Small businesses are able to access loans at lower interest rate. 

“We are going back and we are going to engage those two financial institutions – one in the Caribbean and the other in Europe with the intention of lowering the interest rate, and we are going to again legislation for a development bank.”

In the meantime, the PDM Leader lashed TC Invest for not serving the interest of small businesses, stressing that the interest rate that it was imposing was higher than that of commercial banks.

“TC Invest was not put in place to make a profit at the expense of our people. Yes, we have to take care of administration overheads, but there should be no reason why the interest rate from TC Invest should have been higher than the commercial banks.

Taylor said also that a PDM government would utilize the Small Business Enterprise Development Centre to provide training for small business entrepreneurs and those facing problems in their businesses.

On the matter of education, Taylor pointed out that monies collected from the private sector for scholarships would be placed in a special fund by his administration, that would go solely towards its intended purpose, instead of funneling into the consolidated fund, which he said was the current practice.

“We are going to make sure that the private sector contribution towards scholarships would be placed in a special fund as we had it before, in order that you can know exactly the contribution from the private sector towards scholarships, and we are going to make sure that the private sector businesses benefit from the same also.

“Under a Derek Taylor administration, you can go sleep and wake up in the morning knowing that the public purse is intact, and it would not be attacked. You can rest assured that there will be responsibility and accountability,” he said.

Among the other speakers at the event were National Chairman, Reuben Hall; National Treasurer, Dwayne Taylor; National; Secretary General, Euwonka Selver; her father and former deputy leader of the party Clarence Selver; Cheryl Astwood-Tull; O’Neil Delancy; and Samuel Harvey.

Martinique's Contribution to the National Basketball Association

Miami Heat center Ronny Turiaf, a native of the Caribbean, enjoying his new life in South Florida

By Ethan J. Skolnick 

Palm Beach Post 

It is always the same, and never an argument.

"We have a routine," Ronny Turiaf says. "Every time I come home to Martinique, my dad already knows, we're not going anywhere until I go back where I grew up."

Georges Louis knows he might need to wait for hours while his oldest child pays respects to friends and mentors he left half a life ago.

"There's no such thing as a celebrity, because they knew me before I was the Ronny Turiaf that you know," says Turiaf, the Heat's new center. 

"You don't know the real Ronny Turiaf. They do. So whenever I go back home, I allow myself to be the Ronny that I truly am, with no boundaries, no walls, the one walking around barefooted and not worrying about being photographed, not worried about being bothered.

"Because those guys know what I am, and who I am. It's just pure joy whenever I go home, because I can be home."

Read the full article here.

Northern Marianas wants renegotiation with U.S. on military land use

CNMI GOVERNOR WANTS TO RENEGOTIATE 

TINIAN MILITARY LEASE

Fitial claims no ‘promised developments’ took place

By Haidee V. Eugenio

Saipan Tribune

Gov. Benigno R. Fitial asked U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta to initiate "direct discussions" on the future uses of U.S. military land on Tinian and "renegotiation" of the existing lease agreement between the CNMI and U.S. Department of Defense because none of the promised developments on the island has materialized for 35 years.

"Sadly, not a single element of the United States Department of Defense plan was ever implemented on the island and all of the United States land has been sitting idle for 35 years which has caused direct and significant harm to the community in four areas," Fitial told Panetta.

The removal of land from private use has inhibited economic development, Fitial said.

The other are: limitation of economic development has undermined the ability of Tinian's economy to be self-sustaining; uncertainty over possible military use has inhibited development of private land; and abandonment of the military infrastructure has caused a health and safety concern.

Fitial wrote the letter to Panetta on Feb. 27, but such letter was discussed with CNMI mayors only on Thursday afternoon, Tinian Mayor Ramon Dela Cruz told Saipan Tribune.

Two-thirds of Tinian land is leased by the U.S. Department of Defense.

Fitial said the U.S. made promises of development to Tinian 37 years ago in exchange for land rights, "and as of yet not a single element of development has occurred."

"These unfulfilled commitments have undermined the continued existence of this small insular community, and this requires restructuring of this agreement," Fitial told Panetta.

As of yesterday, there's been no response yet from Panetta to Fitial.

Tinian played a crucial role during World War II due to its strategic location.

Fitial said recognizing the importance of Tinian, the U.S. Defense Department wanted to maintain a right to use the island for future needs after the war and entered into a 100-year lease for some 65 percent of land on Tinian.

When the lease was initially established, it presumed the establishment of a large military presence as it provided for civilian and military cooperation in medical and education facilities, harbor and airport development, construction of a fuel deport and public utilities, base-exchange and commissary privileges, and economic opportunities, Fitial said.

"For these reasons, it is time to have a realistic and good-faith discussion on the future use of the island of Tinian by the United States. History has shown that the people of the Mariana Islands have a deep respect for the United States military, and we have always accommodated requests for our assistance," Fitial told Panetta in his two-page letter, a copy of which was obtained yesterday.

Back in September, the Tinian mayor-as a member of the CNMI Military Integrated Management Committee-asked the governor to provide support for negotiations on a new land development management agreement on U.S. Department of Defense leased lands on Tinian, for maintenance of roadways and historic sites.

But Tinian is bracing for roughly 175 U.S. Marines who could start training on Tinian as early as May 8 if the ongoing development of a scope of work goes as planned.

Saipan Tribune: http://www.saipantribune.com