Publication of Tuvalu MediaMay Department 04, 2015 Government of Tuvalu Email: [email protected] May 04, 2015 Fenui e-newsletter is publicized with the approval of the Tuvalu Media General Manager Melali Taape Relocation to bigger countries is not an op- Stories this week: Funafuti MP agreed tion, said Prime with PM on the issue of protection of is- lands Minister Sopoaga Page 3 Niulakita Island need new school’s building Page 4 Tuvalu’s vulnerability to climate change will be staged at 56th Ven- ice Biennale Page 5 TVF will host Secon- dary School Volleyball tournament RELOCATION to bigger countries the newly established government Page 12 because of impacts of climate change heard the voices of the people about is not an option favors by the govern- their fears and worries about disasters ment of the day. and climate change impacts getting ...and more In the Prime Minister and cabi- more intense for their small islands to net Minister’s tour to all the islands of bear. Tuvalu after Tropical Cyclone Pam, ...continue to page 2 1 NATIONAL NEWS May 04, 2015 ...continue from page 1 may be more challenging ‘pulaka’ plantation (a Most of the needs The islanders witnessed in the new location.” root crop similar to taro) raised by the people on firsthand the devastation He said education at Tonga side that the peo- the outer islands to gov- caused by strong wind and is the key for Tuvaluans ple depended on for food, ernment are similar such storm surges from Tropi- to survive. had been completely bur- as tractors for transporting cal Cyclone Pam which “Government pri- ied by sand and gravels the big rubbish during destroyed houses and oritizes the education of by the storm surges dur- clean up of the islands, properties as well as live- our citizens, so that they ing Cyclone Pam. water pumps to pump out stock and food crops. have the wisdom, skills “ We are now left the water from cisterns Hon Enelee Sosene and expertise to survive in with two smaller pulaka and tanks infiltrated by Sopoaga told the people these harsh climates.” plantations, if they die too seawater, new clinics to of the nation that the tour “And if we leave because of seawater intru- replace those that were was for the government our beloved country, we sion and likewise our destructed, seawalls, fish- Ministers to eye-witness will no longer have own- breadfruit trees , our peo- ing boats, new ramp or the devastation caused by ership of our waters and ple will no longer have boat harbor for Nanumaga and to come to one under- we will loose our identity pulaka nor breadfruits for and many more. standing with the people as Tuvaluans,” said Sopo- food,” said the President Hon Sopoaga em- in the nation about the aga. of the Nanumaga Kau- phasized the importance impacts of Cyclone Pam. Elders took in the pule , Paka Simona. of the support of islands, In consultations message courageously and The Acting Chief and Kaupules (Island with the people on Nanu- asked Government to of Nanumaga, Reete Councils) in working to- mea island, one of the speed up with protection Maluai proposed for relief gether with the govern- men proposed to the tour- of their islands before an- supplies for Nanumaga to ment to fulfill what is ing contingent for govern- other disaster strikes. continue for a longer pe- needed to be done as im- ment to assist locals in “ I was born and riod considering that it mediate, medium and long migrating to other coun- raised on this beautiful will take long for the is- term goals for the protec- tries overseas to escape paradise and into it’s earth land to recover from im- tion of islands and for the from impacts of climate I will go when I die,” said pacts of Cyclone Pam and safety of the lives of the Change on their tiny Lotonuu Nukualofa of storm surges. people from disasters. atolls. Nukulaelae. Compensations for The Islanders Prime Minister “ I don’t want to lost lands was also raised thanked the government Sopoaga responded that move away from my be- to the touring contingent. for paying a visit to the relocation is not an option loved island, but some- “It may be alright islands just after their new but asked instead for the thing must be done imme- for a person who pos- government was estab- people to have courage diately to protect my is- sesses three to four lands, lished to see with their and not to let impacts of land from natural disasters but a person whose only own eyes the destructions climate change make and especially storm land was amongst those caused by TC Pam■ them leave their beloved surges,,” said the Vice washed away, will have country. president of the Nanumea no coconut trees nor That was the mes- Falekaupule Tailolo Petio. ‘utanu’ (germinating nuts) sage he took to the people Most of the islands to live on”, said Iosua on all the islands of Tu- visited in the tour have Lauave of Niutao Island. valu. lost a lot of lands and tra- For lost lands, the “We cannot run ditional food trees and Prime Minister said that a away from a problem. If crops have to started to survey has to be done in we leave our islands and die from the salty water order to get accurate data move to another country, that swept onto the lands. to support Tuvalu’s voice What remains of Kalilaia islet we may also encounter On Nanumaga when asking for assis- island, the biggest tance from donor partners. on Nukulaelae island after TC problems and issues that Pam: PM’s visit. 2 NATIONAL NEWS May 04, 2015 Funafuti Member to Par- Taiwan Government presented Tuvalu liament agrees with Prime Government with LED lights and solar Minister that protection of street lights By Pua Pedro islands is priority By Yvette D’Unienville THE Funafuti Member to Parliament totally agreed with the Prime Minister Hon Enelee Sosene Sopoaga that the protection of is- lands from impacts of cyclones and espe- cially storm surges has to be the number one priority for the nation considering the damages caused by TC Pam storm surges . During consultations between Cabi- net Ministers and Funafuti people, Hon Kausea Natano said that the protection of islands is of the utmost importance before another disaster strikes. “ We have seen and heard about the severe impacts of cyclones on all islands of Tuvalu , but my worst fear is abut the de- structive impacts of storm surges, so we Hon Prime Minister thanking Taiwan Ambassador HE Jason Wan for the need to act quickly to protect our islands.” kind donation Photo: Semi Malaki He pointed out that if the recent TUVALU Government received a donation of LED lights and storm surges had continued for two more solar street lights from Taiwan through its Ambassador His Ex- days, most properties would have disap- cellency Jason Wan. peared. At the Cabinet’s conference room ( when) Cabinet Min- Funafuti also raised the need for isters received the LED bulbs and tubes and solar street lights coastal protection such as seawalls, re- and His Excellency Wan said that the when the new lights are claimed land, beach nourishment, a break- used, the current lights will be given to families. water to prevent the waves from reaching Acting Director of Energy Kapuafe Lifuka told Tuvalu the shore of the island, an alumimium land- News that the current lights used at the Government building ing craft for Funafala people, clinic, School consumes a lot of power but the new LED lights will consume building and power for Funafala. less power which is great news to the government. The island also need the paths lead- The new LED bulbs and tubes will soon be installed. ing to its church and Falekaupule to be tar Lifuka said that these lights and solar street lights are sealed to prevent soil erosion and for better purchased under annual funding donated by Taiwan to the En- access for vehicles as the venue is where ergy Department and instead of receiving cash, the Department most of the government functions are held, requested Taiwan to donate the fund through such items that an investigation to be conducted on oil benefit the country as a whole. spills in the Funafuti lagoon and for the Apart from the bulbs and tubes, Taiwan also pre- government to sort out the issues regarding sented solar street lights. the borrow pit project . He said that Government usually spends around eight Hon Enelee Sosene Sopoaga said thousand dollars per month for electricity, and this covers lights the Government will work together with the only excluding air-condition and other electricity appliances. Kaupule and Falekaupule to fulfil be ad- The new LED bulbs and tubes lasts three years and Tai- dressed■ wan has confirmed that it will continue to replace the lights■ 3 NATIONAL NEWS May 04, 2015 Niulakita needs a new school building By Yvette D’Unienville Hon Prime Minister Enelee Sosene Sopoaga stressed that edu- cation is critical to developing the capacity of our people so that they could save themselves in times of disasters. According to Maani, the proposal regarding the need to in- crease the size of the Niulakita School building will be submitted to Cabinet for approval. Minister for Health Hon Satini Manuella in support of the need for a new school building pointed out that education always goes together with health. “Education will be in vain if the minds and bodies of our people are not healthy,” he said.