New Visa Category for Processing Asylum Seekers Lives On
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REPUBLIC OF NAURU Nauru Bulletin INSIDE THIS ISSUE: I S S U E 2 1 - 2 0 1 2 / 7 2 30 OCTOBER 2012 New housing set for construction The spirit of Angam New visa category for processing asylum seekers lives on Nauru launches its he Government of Nauru processing will begin or how “The centre has an extremely first MDG report T has imposed a new visa long it will take. well-equipped and expertly category for staffed medical centre Pacific leaders’ processing of asylum where an important decision explained seekers that is focus is on the mental at national level designed to take into well-being of the account their needs asylum seekers. Correctional and resources while on officers train in Nauru. “From the Government basic ops of Nauru’s viewpoint The new fee of $1000 advocates are welcome per month for each to come here,” asylum seeker stems Minister Keke said. from new laws and regulations passed by “The last time we parliament this month Asylum seekers on Nauru has reached 356 (Nauru) hosted such a (10 Oct). centre access to the File photo asylum seekers by The reason for the new advocates was fee, apart from the cost restricted.” of processing, takes into account the needs of “The processing time will be Talks are still ongoing processing asylum seekers determined by the processing between the Governments of on a small island such as itself. Ideally we’d like to Nauru and Australia to Nauru. It will address the start processing immediately organise administrative impacts of water and but it is better to do it properly infrastructure including the electricity supply also. rather than a rush and make secondment of experts in the mistakes. handling of refugee Under the previous processing along with processing system the cost “Australia shares our concern on additional legal assistance to for asylum seekers’ visas delays but agrees that ensure the actual processing varied dramatically and systems must be firmly is conducted according to towards the end of the established,” Minister Keke best practice. centres life in early 2008 the said. visa fees had reached $7500 The total count of asylum per month for each asylum In response refugee advocate seekers on Nauru has seeker. claims in the media that reached 356 with 232 from asylum seekers were being ill Sri Lanka, 22 Iraqis, 26 In a recent interview with -treated and suffering from Iranians, 58 Afghanis and 43 international media Nauru’s sickness and inadequate Pakistanis▪ minister for foreign affairs medical and mental health Dr Kieren Keke has stated facilities, the Minister said that both governments of such allegations were grossly Nauru and Australia cannot exaggerated and were far GOVERNMENT INFORMATION OFFICE INFORMATION GOVERNMENT put a timeframe on when the removed from reality. P A G E 2 New home owners awarded housing loan Two applicants from each of the 14 The design consists of three districts were to be selected bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen however, only 26 applications were lounge and laundry. deemed successful. The district of Denigomodu only had three The two most important areas applications – one application was for evaluation and selection are incomplete and the other two had over crowdedness in the land issues, hence the district was current dwelling and the not awarded a housing loan. applicant’s ability to repay the loan. The signing of contracts between the Justice department and the Another criterion is to ensure recipients of the loan scheme. the land intended to be built on he twenty-six successful Construction is expected to begin is secured and ownership is T applicants of the Nauru soon. established. government’s housing scheme were announced this month (11 The new housing scheme is a loan The new housing scheme is a Oct) kick starting the planning and project whereby the successful new project which the construction process. applicant is awarded a house to the government had included in value of $40,000. The loan is this financial year’s budget to The recipients of the loan program repayable over a 15 year period. assist Nauruans own their own were invited to the Chief Secretary’s homes. With the assistance of department to discuss details of The housing scheme was an- loan repayments, the scheme is the program including when nounced earlier this month whereby expected to continue into the construction is expected to begin funding would be provided for the next budget where other and expectations of both government construction of 28 new houses for Nauruans will have the and the home owner. Nauruans. opportunity to apply▪ The spirit of Angam lives on ighty years on and the spirit Thirteen years later on 26 October baby remains the official E of Angam is still remembered 1932 the 1500th Nauruan baby Angam day – 26 October. and celebrated with sporting was born – a baby girl called events, song and district Eidagaruwo. This year the government beautification. organized gift baskets and $50 There was great triumph and for those aged 80 years and The word Angam means jubilation feasting for “Angam” was over. and celebration to have triumphed reached. The date has since over all hardship. been celebrated every year. The district beautification which is sponsored by the Twice in the history of Nauru However, the jubilation was Nauru Rehabilitation Corporation has the population dropped short lived as the arrival of the was won by Anabar with Ijuw Irene Detsiogo, 81 owing to disease, war and death. Second War World once again and Uaboe in second and third nearly wiped out the population. place. years old, at her The Nauruan people set home accepting her themselves a goal to increase their The population target of 1500 The home and school head garland and population count to 1500 in order was again set and in March beautification competitions are gifts to ensure that their race should not 1949, the second Angam baby the newest categories but die out in the years to come. was born. Her name was results were not available at Bethel Enproe Adam. However, time of publication of this the birth date of the first Angam edition▪ NAURU BULLETIN I S S U E 2 1 - 2 0 1 2 / 7 2 P A G E 3 Nauru launches its first MDG progress report auru’s first progress report on the encouragement and for mobilizing The Progress Report aims to inform the N Millennium Development Goals UNDP technical experts to assist and people of Nauru about progress on the (MDG) was launched this month (Oct provide guidance to the Nauru MDG MDGs and to identify what more can be 24) following broad consultations locally Taskforce. done to achieve both national and and with development partners. millennium development priorities as He also thanked Patrick articulated in the National Sustainable The Nauru National MDG report – Status Tuimalealif’ifano from UNDP and Ms Development Strategy (NSDS) Progress 1990-2011 has been made Tatiana Prokhorova from the UN Joint 2005-2025. possible by the efforts of the Nauru Present Office for developing the first MDG Taskforce, working under the draft of Nauru’s MDG Report. MDG citation Ministry of Finance and closely guided MDG 1 - Eradicate extreme poverty by the United Nations Development “The Nauru Progress Report and hunger Program (UNDP). 1990-2011 is the result of broad MDG 4 - Reduce child mortality consultations with decision makers at MDG 5 - Improve maternal health The UNDP Environment Program Analyst all levels, as well as the general public, MDG 6 - Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria Ms Emma Mario read remarks on parliamentarians, the media, and other diseases behalf of UNDP Fiji Resident Government, UN agencies and other MDG 7 - Ensure environmental Representative, Mr Knut Ostby offering development partners, the private sustainability his congratulations to the Government sector and NGO’s. MDG 8 - Develop a global partnership of Nauru on producing its initial for development national report. “This report provides the baseline of where Nauru is at now in regards to The MDG’s remain a high priority for the Mr Ostby reiterated the importance of Nauru’s progress on the Millennium government of Nauru and is committed to the eight Millennium Development Development Goals targets . translating this at the household level▪ Goals that were universally agreed in 2000 by world leaders to tackle poverty “It will be a useful document to guide across its many dimensions. Government and policy makers in Copies of the report will soon be distributed to their decisions in developing activities government departments, schools and In response, Nauru’s acting Secretary for accelerating Nauru’s progress state-owned entities but in the meantime for Foreign Affairs and Trade Michael towards achieving its MDG targets by copies may be obtained from the Aroi thanked Mr Ostby for his continued 2015,” Mr Aroi said. Statistics Office Pacific leaders’ decision explained at national level maller Island States Programme Officer Mr. Taomia Fakavae Besides the regular reporting on the S was on island earlier this month (Oct 15 -19) to conduct a pacific plan implementation Mr consultation workshop between representatives and officials from Aroi’s duties will increase following the the Smaller Island States (SIS) and the Pacific Islands Forum implementation of SIS Leaders Secretariat (PIFS). decision in August. Michael Aroi Government line ministries and state-owned entities met at the The participants also discussed Menen Hotel for the one week workshop where Mr Fakavae and identified short term SIS Pacific Plan Desk Officer presented and explained key decision following the 2012 Smaller priorities of the SIS Devel- Island States Leaders and Forum Leaders meeting in the Cook opment Fund Programme Based Approach (SISDF) which Islands in August.