La Primera Marcha Oscar Mandela en Puerto Rico

Compañeros Unidos para la Descolonización de Puerto Rico: Cita Patriótica ONU Junio 2012

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Acompáñanos mañana a la Conferencia de Prensa Posted: 19 Mar 2014 05:27 AM PDT El jueves 20 de Marzo de 2014, habrá una conferencia de prensa para discutir La Primera Marcha Oscar Mandela en Puerto Rico. La misma será en el Colegio de Abogados en Miramar, Puerto Rico a las 10 AM. El Comité Timón del Pueblo y Compañeros Unidos para la Descolonización de Puerto Rico le invita a la conferencia de prensa y a la marcha este 22 de Marzo de 2014 a las 2 PM. ¡Tenemos que marchar, porque los que tienen colonias no creen en la justicia para todos!

Support to the CARICOM Reparations Commission

COLONIALISM REPARATION

Starting from the second half of 2013 the Caribbean nations started demanding reparations for the genocide of the native people and slavery, with the creation of reparations Committees and the request to the United Nations General Assembly during the general debate of its 68th session.

On December 9, 2013 the Regional reparations Commission met to define its action plan, asking that the European nations responsible for the transatlantic slave trade, slavery and genocide of the native people, especially the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Denmanrk engage with the Caribbean nations in a restoring dialogue to accommodate the current heritage of these crimes and that the Caribbean nations lead the dialogue in a diplomatic, conciliatory and morally edifying way.

The Commission has then identified six key aspects of the Caribbean conditions that are the direct consequence of the transatlantic slave trade, slavery and genocide of the native people on which diplomacy and restoring actions must focus: public health, education, cultural institutions, cultural deprivation, psychological trauma and scientific and technological backwardness.

Finally, the Commission has met with the law firm Leigh Day, which will provide together with eminent Caribbean lawyers, legal assistance on the request for reparations for the damage caused by the transatlantic slave trade, the slavery and the genocide of the native people.

On January 27 and 28, 2014 the regional reparations Commission again met to end the first interim report to that will be submitted at the next meeting of the Heads of Government of CARICOM on March 10-11, 2014.

In support of the request for reparations of CARICOM some reparations Committees have already been formed inGuadeloupe, Martinique and Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Colonialism Reparation supports the path taken by the regional reparations Commission and calls on all Member States of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) that have not yet done it (Bahamas, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago) to form as soon as possible their own national reparations committee as decided during the thirty-fourth summit of the Heads of Government of CARICOM.

The Caribbean nations are demanding reparations

On July 6, 2013 the thirty-four summit of the Heads of Government of CARICOM decided to promote actions to monitor the reparations for the genocide of the native people and slavery by setting up some "national reparations committees" in each member State and a "regional reparations Commission" composed of the chairmens of the national committees.

The First Regional Conference on Reparations was held in Kingstown, the capital of Saint Vincent and The Grenadines, from September 15 to 17, 2013 with the attendance of twelve Caribbean nations and the presence of representatives from the UK, France, the Netherlands, the United States and Canada. The conference outlined the objectives of the "regional reparations Commission", proposed the relating offices that will be ratified by the Heads of Government of CARICOM, decided to create a web site of the Regional Commission and urged for setting up some national committees where they do not exist yet.

The general Debate of the 68th session of the UN General Assembly was held from September 24 to October 1, 2013 in New York; during the debate the delegates of Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia,Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago demanded reparations for the genocide of the native people and slavery. In the final press conference of the President of the General Assembly the request for reparations of CARICOM was evoked as well.

Colonialism Reparation supports the request for reparations for the genocide of the native people and slavery presented to the United Nations General Assembly by the members of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and calls on the former colonizers (United Kingdom, France, The Netherlands, etc. ) to apologize and pay compensation for the colonial period. This decision will help create a climate of friendship and cooperation among peoples and set an extremely positive precedent in international relations, promoting the supremacy of the "force of law" on the "law of force".

Deep-sea mining ‘must responsibly respect ecosystems’

Papua New Guinea Mine Watch

by ramunickel Jonathan Amos | BBC News Elements such as lanthanum are in high demand for use in hybrid car batteries Scientists have made an impassioned plea for humanity to pause and think before making a headlong rush to exploit the deep sea. The researchers said the oceans' lowest reaches had untold riches that could benefit mankind enormously, but not if the harvesting were done destructively. The scientists called for a "new stewardship" of the deep sea. This would require effective ecosystem management and sustainable methods of exploitation. The researchers said the fishing sector had already initiated some very damaging practices, such as the widely criticised use of heavy-rolling, sea-floor nets, but that there was still time for other sectors to take more sensitive approaches. This includes the imminent development and spread of industrial-scale deep-sea mining. Technology-driven The ocean floor is being targeted as a source for a range of metals and minerals. Part of this is driven by the insatiable appetite for modern technology devices like cell phones and hybrid cars. The battery in a Toyota Prius hybrid car, for example, requires more than 10kg of lanthanum. Large tracts of sea bed have now been licensed to permit the prospecting of manganese nodules, cobalt crusts, massive sulphides to produce copper and zinc, and even phosphates to make fertilisers. Some of these licences are certain to turn into full-mining permissions this decade. "The deep ocean is a vast repository of resources, and looking over the long term - the next hundreds of years, say - we almost surely are going in there to mine," said Prof Lisa Levin, a biological oceanographer at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, in San Diego, California. "Even if some deposits are not currently economically viable, they probably will be in 50 years from now. "What we're trying to say is that we need to do this in a responsible way, and if we are going to extract these resources, we need to do it with the least amount of harm to ecosystems, and now is the time to start thinking about how we do that," she told BBC News. The researchers made their call for a new stewardship mentality at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Upfront science Mining of the deep ocean has been talked about since at least the 1970s, but the advance in underwater robotics and rising commodity prices have brought the notion much closer to reality. The International Seabed Authority has so far issued 19 prospecting licences, covering a combined area about the size of Mexico. These licences are held by governments and big contractors, such as Lockheed Martin, which operates in the aerospace, defence and civil sectors, and more requests are pending. Initial surveys have indicated that some of the metal reserves could be very lucrative, producing materials such as copper that would be worth hundreds of millions of dollars on the London Metal Exchange. But before the extraction can begin, thorough environmental assessments had to be done, said Prof Cindy Lee Van Dover, the director of the Duke University Marine Laboratory, in Beaufort, North Carolina. "The most effective time to do environmental management is before the mining begins. That mining has not yet commenced, and if we want to get really progressive environmental regulations, we need to do it now," she argued. "That environmental management needs to be informed by science, and that science needs support from international and national agencies to make it happen. It's not cheap to work in the deep sea."

European Union and Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat sign a FJ$90.8m. programme on climate change

JOINT PRESS RELEASE FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION 

AND THE PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM SECRETARIAT

The European Union (EU) with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) have signed a financing agreement for Adapting to Climate Change and Sustainable Energy (ACSE) programme worth FJ$90.8m.

The ACSE programme will help the 15 Pacific ACP countries (Cook Islands, East-Timor, Fiji, Kiribati, , Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu) to address three main challenges common to all of them: adapting to climate change; reducing their reliance on fossil fuels; and capacity building.

The total project cost is €37.26 (FJ$95.37) million with the European Union contributing €35.5 (FJ$90.86) million through the European Development Fund (EDF). For the implementation of this programme, the European Union will be working in partnership with the German International Cooperation Agency (Deutsche Gesellschaft furInternationale Zusammenarbeit - GIZ), the New Zealand Government, the Asian Development Bank and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC).

"I'm thrilled to be here signing this financing agreement. Climate change adaptation and sustainable energy are in the core of EU's support towards the Pacific countries. This project not only illustrates this but it's yet another example of the ever closer cooperation between the European Union and our partners in the Pacific,” says Mr DirkMeganck, European Commission's Director for Asia, Central Asia, Middle East, Gulf and the Pacific whilst signing on behalf of the European Union during the regional programming meeting for the 11th EDF, held at PIFS in Suva, Fiji this week.

"The Forum Secretariat and its partner regional agencies warmly welcome the EU’s commitment to climate change and sustainable energy,” says Tuiloma Neroni Slade, The Secretary-General of the Pacific Island Forum Secretariat. “In almost every Forum communiqué in recent years, Leaders have emphasised the importance of securing access to energy, their commitment to renewable energy, the promotion of efficiency measures and the need for significant progress in diversification by developing domestic renewable energy to reduce their reliance on imported fuels. Similarly, Forum Leaders have given affirmation of the dangers of climate change – to the livelihoods, security and well-being of the peoples of the Pacific.”

The programme aims to strengthen the Pacific island countries' capacity to adapt to the adverse effects of climate change and to enhance their energy security at national, provincial and local/community level. The programmeseeks to deliver the following key achievements:

* Create and/or strengthen national technical expertise on climate change adaptation and sustainable energy;

*  Improved cost-effective and efficient energy systems to reduce fossil fuels dependency; and

*  Improvements in communities’ adaptive capacity to cope with climate change challenges.

Another aim of the ACSE programme is to enhance sustainable livelihoods through the support of government institutional efforts and empowering communities to increase their self-reliance and their ability to cope with the effects of climate change through appropriate practices in agriculture and coastal fishery, by disseminating improved plant varieties which are resistant to salt water, by securing their daily water supply and by improving their access to energy, among other initiatives.

Ends

For further information please contact:

Delegation of the European Union for the Pacific Suva, Fiji, Tel: (+679) 3313-633 Email: Delegation-fiji-media@eeas.europa.eu

Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat: Diane Abad, Communications Adviser (+679) 868 5166 Email:media@forumsec.org

Background

Climate change is already disproportionally affecting the Pacific island states, although islanders have done little to contribute to the cause - producing less than 0.03% of current global greenhouse gas emissions. They are among the first to be exposed, often disproportionally, and with limited means to adequately respond.

At the same time, despite efforts to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels, many small Pacific states remain almost 100% dependent on these imports for power generation and transportation. Sustainable energy and climate change adaptation are therefore top priorities for the Pacific ACP governments as expressed in regionally endorsed frameworks and in national policies and strategic documents.

Pacific Network calls for United Nations inscription of Rapanui (Easter Island) as non self-governing territory

Santi Hitorangi
Moana Nui/Rapa Nui

United Nations Millennium Development Goals

Eighth session of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals

Agenda Item

Rule of Law and Governance

We seek admission to the U.N. list of Non-Self-Governing Territories (NSGT), and join the ranks of our Pacific brothers and sisters from American Samoa, French Polynesia, Guam, New Caledonia, Pitcairn and Tokelau, working to create conditions for self-determination in accordance with UN GA Resolution 1514, “The Declaration on the granting of independence to colonial countries and peoples. “

Unlike Hawaii, and West Papua who seek re-enlistment to the NSGT list, Rapanui was never registered as a territory to the United Nations.

In 1946, when the signers of the United Nations were required to list their territories, the Administering Powers of 74 territories were placed on the NSGT list. The Administering Powers who listed their territories were Australia, Belgium, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.

Worldatlas.com

As an Administering Power, we ask why Chile never reported or listed Rapanui.

In 1946, despite formally replying to the Secretary-General’s questions on the administration of territories as covered by Chapter XI, we ask why Chile did not fulfill their obligation alongside the other Administering Powers, and list Rapanui as a Non-Self-Governing Territory.

We find the knowing omission of this obligation as being akin to fraud, and demand that this knowing omission of facts be corrected.

Chile has violated the trust mandate of the UN Charter, Chapter XI, by not assuming responsibilities for the administration of Rapanui, whose peoples have not yet attained a full measure of self-government.

Chile has failed to recognize the interests of the inhabitants of Rapanui as being paramount, and they have failed to 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 Rapanui, and, to this end:

Chile has failed to ensure, with due respect for the culture of the Rapanui, our political, economic, social, and educational advancement, our just treatment, and protection against abuses;

Chile has failed to develop Rapanui self-government, and failed to take due account of the political aspirations of Rapanui, and to assist us in the progressive development of our free political institutions, according to our distinct culture as Pacific Islanders belonging to Polynesia.

What Chile has done in the past, however, is to promote confusion as to our history and to whether we Rapanui even exist. While even now, they continue to sponsor programs that fabricate our history, as well as claim our ecological and environmental resources and cultural artifacts.

Chilean armed forces continue to be deployed on our island.

Chile is encouraging unchecked immigration to the island.

Chile is promoting unsustainable development on our island, which is a UN world heritage site, while privatizing our customary lands and resources.

Bearing in mind the principles embodied in the Declaration regarding Non-Self-Governing Territories and objectives set forth in Chapter XI of the Charter, we are ready to submit all the factors and criteria to be taken into account in deciding whether Rapa Nui is a territory, whose people have not attained a full measure of self-government.

Moana Nui, a network of Pacific-wide rights-holders focusing on justice issues concerning resources, trade, militarization and indigenous rights.

Scientists call for tougher treaty to protect the deep ocean

Papua New Guinea Mine Watch Oleg Klimov / Panos | Sci Dev Net A new treaty could be used to police the expected rise in deep-sea mining It could also ensure that gains from marine genetic resources are fairly shared Capacity building is needed to help developing nations exploit their resources A new international agreement is needed to police the exploitation of the deep ocean because of the rising threats of deep-sea mining and bottom trawling for fish, say scientists. Speakers at a symposium this month (16 February) urged the UN to negotiate a new treaty for the deep ocean to supplement the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.The symposium took place at the annual meeting of the AAAS (American Association for the Advancement of Science) in Chicago, United States. “This is an opportunity for scientists to voice their concerns about mounting human impacts on the once-remote deep ocean to those who have the power in their hands to make the changes,” says Kristina Gjerde, high seas policy advisor for the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The deep sea makes up about two-thirds of the world’s oceans. It begins at a depth of around 200 metres, both within and beyond zones of national jurisdiction. But deep-sea environments are threatened by “imminent” mining and bottom trawling for fish, said the scientists at the meeting. “We’re calling for a new treaty to sew the gaps in international law that don’t currently include biodiversity, conservation, marine genetic resources, capacity development and technology transfer for areas beyond national jurisdiction,” says Gjerde. The UN-sanctioned International Seabed Authority (ISA) was established in 1994 to regulate mineral extraction from the deep seabed outside national zones of jurisdiction. The ISA, based in Jamaica, has so far approved 19 mineral prospecting licences in the deep ocean around the world for companies and government bodies, including China and India, as well as those sponsored by the Pacific island nations of Kiribati, Nauruand Tonga [See map]. The Cook Islands have also applied to explore deep-sea mining opportunities. The map shows prospecting licences approved so far by the International Seabed Authority. The colour-coded arrows show the approximate location of licences held by larger countries. Several smaller nations, circled in orange, have permission to prospect in the Pacific ocean. Credit: SciDev.Net But the ISA does not regulate marine genetic resources, which could be valuable to the medical and pharmaceutical sectors, or biodiversity conservation, says Lisa Levin, director of the Center for Marine Biodiversity & Conservation at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, United States. “The problem is that the ISA’s mandate is to facilitate the extraction of minerals. They don’t have a mandate to identify which parts of the sea floor are most critical to ecosystem health in the ocean,” says Linwood Pendleton, senior scholar in the Ocean and Coastal Policy Program at Duke University, United States. The new treaty would ensure that financial gains made from marine genetic resources are shared between all nations, and that new mechanisms are developed to transfer marine technology and developcapacity in this field, says Gjerde. Significant deep sea resources are often found within the deep seas of the developing world, often within the nations’ exclusive economic zones [that stretch up to 200 nautical miles from their shore] of those countries, says Levin. “Yet those countries often don’t have the necessary expertise or technology to explore the deep seabed. So they often rely on countries that do have the technology and expertise,” she says. “It’s very important that we do a lot of capacity building, information sharing and transfer of expertise so that those countries are able to manage their own deep ocean resources.” The scientists at the meeting also warned that extracting minerals and precious metals from the deep sea could cause catastrophic long-termdamage to marine ecology unless managed carefully. New technology, dwindling land-based resources and high commodity prices mean that deep-sea mining is not only feasible, but imminent, says Pendleton. “Precaution is essential,” says Gjerde. “This means rules should be in place before mining begins, including measures such as environmental impact assessments, comprehensive systems of marine protected areas and the mechanisms for monitoring and controlling impacts.” She adds: “It is important to set and maintain common standards so that a few unscrupulous operators can’t take advantage of countries with weak legal systems, causing irreparable harm in return for very short-term gain.” New mining ventures are underway off various Pacific islands and off the African coast, as well as on the international seabed area that lies outsidenations’ jurisdiction, says Gjerde. Canadian company Nautilus Minerals had planned to mine hydrothermal vents in Papua New Guinea, but this has been delayed, says Levin. And the Namibian government is considering leasing the deep sea bottom in its national waters for phosphate mining, although last September it placed an 18-month moratorium on all mining decisions, while it gathers new information, she adds. “Because no mining has happened yet [anywhere in the deep sea], there’s time to put some major environmental management in place,” she tellsSciDev.Net. The key is to identify places where mineral wealth is high and ecological impacts are low and target mining there, says Pendleton. Deep-sea trawling for fish has already had terrible long-lasting impacts on the deep sea, says Gjerde. The deep sea fish populations are quickly depleted because the fish aggregate, which makes them easy to catch, and they are slow growing, living over one hundred years, says Levin. One-fifth of the world’s continental margins, an area the size of the United States and Canada combined, have already been trawled, she adds.

Pacific Organisations: "Climate change represents the greatest development and human rights challenge"

Preparatory Committee Meeting for SIDS 2014 Conference 

24-26 February 2014

SECRETARY GENERAL TUILOMA NERONI SLADE

PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM SECRETARIAT

STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF 

THE COUNCIL OF REGIONAL ORGANISATIONS OF THE PACIFIC (CROP)

FIRST PREPARATORY COMMITTEE MEETING FOR SIDS 2014 CONFERENCE

24 - 26 February 2014

samoaobserver.ws

Distinguished Co-Chairs,

I have the honour to make this statement on behalf of nine inter-governmental and development agencies of our region all serving Pacific Forum countries and other island communities and coordinated as the Council of RegionalOrganisations of the Pacific (CROP).

We congratulate AOSIS and the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) for the inter-regional outcomes document which we believe is an informed and sound basis to guide the engagement of other stakeholders as we seek an agreement which is forward looking, and one which allows for true ownership. We note that, by design, implementation is by the global community in supportive collaboration with SIDS, and thus a broad engagement by local, national, regional and international stakeholders.

Our region has had long engagement with the negotiations and outcomes of both the Barbados Programme of Action (BPoA) and the Mauritius Implementation (MSI) agreements. Having built on those solid foundations, we need now to move with even greater perspective, to be even bolder in what we strive for in Samoa and beyond. 

The Samoa outcomes must reflect the urgency of global challenges which now threaten world-wide livelihoods and sustainability. Climate change represents the greatest development and human rights challenge, for it is exposing people and their security to serious and multiple risks, in particular amongst the most vulnerable and disproportionately affected communities like SIDS. There is need to generate a global response of immediacy and of justice. 

The Oceans is home, and the natural setting for all island communities. It is the major driving force in the global environment and the sustainable development of SIDS, indeed, of the rest of the world. We are concerned about the state and management, rather mismanagement, of the world’s Oceans and Seas. By their nature and inert-linkages, we think the Oceans, Seas and Islands demand a place of stand-alone prominence in the post 2015 framework.

The special case for SIDS requires much more than repeated affirmation. There is need to address modern challenges in real and practical terms and to work out effective solutions, innovative and inclusive of private sector and civil society and maximising opportunities through harnessed strengths and comparative advantages. For this, we would seek leadership and defined commitment in the outcomes of the Samoa conference, together withinstitutionalised frameworks of accountability and structured assessment against commitments agreed to. We note, Mr Chairman, that several paragraphs of the inter-regional document, on capacity building (134) and institutional support and linkages (158 and 163), for example, call for precisely such a result.

For a proper understanding of the implementation of international agreements, we believe that all development partners must complement the national assessments of SIDS with their own frank partner assessments of performance. Such collective stakeholder assessments will, assuredly, point the way to best practice performance and the effective evaluation of results, whether positive or not. 

We think there is merit in adopting and refining the approach taken with the original BPoA of 1994 by which, in respect of each issue, opportunity and emerging challenge identified, there is a clear statement of the necessary actions and responsibilities to be addressed at country, regional and international levels. This makes it easier to develop reporting and monitoring frameworks, for all stakeholders, and not leave just the SIDS to bear the major responsibility.

We thank and congratulate the Government of Samoa for the theme of the conference. There cannot be a more effective pathway to sustainability than by the assurance of genuine commitment and enduring partnerships. Clear criteria need to be developed very quickly and we are committed to assisting, applying our own regional experiences of partnerships and their accountability frameworks, including those launched as Type II partnerships at the Johannesburg Summit. 

As I close, Mr Chairman, let me say that we in the vastness of the Pacific Ocean have lived by a code of Pacific regionalism developed over the past six decades and more, including the Pacific Plan for closer regional cooperation and integration, now currently undergoing significant review and recalibration in keeping with the changing times. It is in the name of regionalism that I appear to speak for the Regional Organisations of the Pacific, and to commend the well tested place of regional cooperation and coordinated approaches in the sustainable development of small island developing States. 

On the SIDS conference and its processes, all CROP organisations will continue and remain ready to provide needed support and assistance to all Forum and Pacific States.

THANK YOU.

Prime Minister: Vanuatu only hope for West Papua

By

 Godwin Ligo
SEE VIDEO OF THE ADDRESS OF VANUATU PRIME MINISTER MOANA CARCASSES KALOSIL HERE .

“Vanuatu is the only country in the world that is not afraid to stand up and speak out for the right of freedom for the West Papuan people whether in the United Nations (UN), or other meetings anywhere in the world,” Vanuatu Prime Minister Moana Carcasses Kalosil, told Acting Prime Minister Willie Jimmy Tangapararua, State Ministers, Senior Government Officials and representatives of West Papua on his arrival in Vanuatu yesterday afternoon.

He said not every country around the world is supportive as Vanuatu to voice the concern of the suffering and brutality faced by the West Papuan People.

“I fully agree and uphold the quote by the late Father Walter Lini, first Prime Minister of Vanuatu that Vanuatu is not totally free until other colonized people in the region are politically freed ,” said PM Carcasses.

“The West Papuan people are a suffering community. It is therefore the duty of Vanuatu which is the only country in the world that is not afraid to face up to such a powerful nation as Indonesia to bring the issue of West Papua to the UN Committee on Human Right.

“It is a God-given right that Vanuatu must gain independence in 1980 and so the same with the people who are still being colonized and the duty of an independent state of Vanuatu to stand up and speak out for the freedom of these colonized people because it is God’s will for this people to be freed, “ said PM Carcasses.

Prime Minister Carcasses said the Chairman of the UN Committee on Human Rights who is from South Africa told him that he admired the prime minister’s courage in the manner in which he stood up and spoke out for the freedom of the West Papuan people. He also said other world leaders that he met after his speech also expressed the same.

“We have already discussed with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs (Edward Natapei) in New York to prepare a document on West Papua case to go before the Council of Ministers to approve for Vanuatu to host a Special Forum which will bring together leaders of West Papua from around the world to come together to Port Vila to deliberate on the new roadmap towards the freedom of West Papuan people.

“This was confirmed by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Edward Natapei who said the Forum will take place around July or thereafter pending funding from international supports and arrangements to be in place.

“I am confident we have full support from the government, and the people Vanuatu on the stand we have taken in speaking out for the West Papuan people in the UN Committee on Human Rights,” said Prime Minister Carcasses.

On the question of how Indonesia reacted to his speech and the call for the freedom of the West Papuan people, Prime Minister Carcasses replied that, Indonesia used a diplomatic way in rejecting the call by Vanuatu’s Prime Minister.

“This is normal for Indonesia to find a diplomatic tact to reject to the call, but Vanuatu will continue to apply pressure with a new roadmap for the freedom of the West Papuan people,” said PM Carcasses.

Prime Minister Carcasses was accompanied by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward Natapei, MP Joe Natuman and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director General, Johnny Koanapo.

Virgin Islands Minister for Education and Culture calls for more awareness of territory's African history

Statement by Honourable Myron V. Walwyn

Minister for Education and Culture

Government of the Virgin Islands

IN OBSERVANCE OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2014

Officially started in the United States in 1976 and now recognised by governments around the world, Black History Month is a time where citizens around the world, of all races, take the time to understand the journey of Africans on the continent and in the diaspora. It is also a time for us to appreciate our struggles and contributions to this new world.

BVI.GOV.VG

It is a time that I hope we here in the Virgin Islands will use to learn even more about our history as Virgin Islanders and our connection to people of African decent throughout the world and indeed in our region. While we celebrate our local heroes such as the Honourable H. Lavity Stoutt, Dame Janice Pereira, Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal and Mr. Noel Lloyd, we must also equally celebrate the contributions of names such as Errol Barrow, Franz Fannon, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr., and yes, Barack Obama.

As Virgin Islanders, it is important for us to remember that our journey is very much connected to those of persons of African ancestry throughout the region and throughout the world and the freedoms and opportunities that we enjoy today, have been inspired by King, Mandela, Barrow and many others.

We must also recognise that black history does not start with the Atlantic Slave Trade. While our ancestors came to the Americas as slaves, we should be fiercely proud to learn about their history as independent and free men and women throughout Africa prior to the 16th century.

Reflection on one of my favourite quotes, our Jamaican brother, Marcus Mosiah Garvey, where he said, “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.”

Upon becoming the Minister for Education and Culture, one of the first things I had the opportunity to do was to utilise members of our community through the African Studies Club to work along with the Department of Education in putting together a curriculum for Virgin Islands History to be taught in our secondary schools. We were able to get this completed and have instruction started for the 2012-2013 school year.

Going back to that quote by Marcus Garvey, I do not believe that we can build young people to further these Virgin Islands without first giving them an understanding of their heritage and inspiring an appreciation for that heritage. This firmly plants them in our community and gives them an understanding of their purpose and their responsibility as citizens of these great Virgin Islands.

I want to commend Mr. Gill Trott and members of the Virgin Islands African Studies Club for their continuous efforts to refine our self image. On Sunday, February 2, I had the opportunity to attend the wreath laying ceremony to commemorate the lives of our ancestors that were lost during the travel to the Americas as well as those that died since.

At the ceremony we were given a broad history of the journey of slaves that ended up in the Virgin Islands by our very own Dr Catherine Smith. We also heard from local authors, Dr. Quincy Lettome, Dr. Pat Turnbull, Mrs. Verna Penn Moll and Ms Eugenia O’Neal, who have all woven in the history of our ancestors in their work.

Annually this event pays tribute to our ancestors and it reminds us of our connection to a significant event in world history. We have indeed come a very long way and now it is time for us to make our contribution to the rich history provided by our ancestors.

Throughout the month I will be highlighting significant individuals of African ancestry on my Facebook page. I encourage other members of our community to do the same. During this month of February, I would ask our teachers throughout our schools to have our students select a person of African decent that has made a significant contribution to the development of our race, their community or the world. I ask that these presentations be made by the students during class and general school assembly.

This presents an opportunity to expose our students to the lives and works of men and women who have changed the world for the better and to whom they are connected. This will give our youth knowledge of their past history, origin and culture and firmly root them in our community with confidence to become productive citizens.

Let this month be a great opportunity for all of us in the Virgin Islands to learn more about the history of both Virgin Islanders and other persons of African heritage.

Happy Black History Month 2014 Virgin Islands!