REPUBLIC OF NAURU Nauru Bulletin INSIDE THIS ISSUE: I S S U E 2 2 - 2 0 1 2 / 7 3 13 NOVEMBER 2012 Parliament overview Another group of asylum seekers choose to return home Commonwealth Sec-Gen Kamalesh Sharma visits Nauru he number of asylum The 24 new arrivals yesterday Army which has been T seekers on Nauru is now morning comprise five contracted to assist with Taiwan donates 387 following yesterday‟s Sri-Lankans, eight Afghanis, support measures for the second set of solar (12 Nov) movement of 24 seven Iranians and four Iraqi asylum seekers, are panels and begins new arrivals and 14 men. monitoring the situation, and distribution of returnees. food and water are available energy saving lights Meanwhile, a group of to them at all times. The travel arrangement for transferees at the processing Regional agencies the return of the 14 centre are engaging in a Also, the Nauru Police Force assist Nauru with Sri-Lankan men has been peaceful protest. They have investigation into the climate financing organised by the Australian also indicated they have property damage last month options Department of Immigration stopped eating meals. (October) caused by a small and Citizenship (DIAC). group of asylum seekers is Civil servants and However, service providers ongoing▪ private sector learn including the Salvation innovative business ideas Nauru observes two minutes silence to remember the war dead Nauru students receive Taiwan art auru observed two the playing of the national awards N minutes silence as anthem. members of the Nauru Government, diplomatic Originally called Armistice missions and the public Day, 11 November is remember the war dead on commemorated each year to Remembrance Day at the remember the war dead weekend (Sunday 11 Nov). following the First World War. A four-man police memorial guard stood to order The signing of the around the cenotaph armistice was done on 11 throughout the official Guards stand at attention as November 1918 and was ceremony in front of the observed by Germany and its the national flag is lowered to Government offices. Allies. half mast As the flag flew at half mast, The red Flanders poppy has His Excellency President followed by two minutes been used as the flower to Sprent Dabwido led the silence at 11.00am. remember and honour the wreath laying ceremony. fallen. Reverend Roger Mwareow The Armistice Day Ode was said a prayer before the Its symbolism became then read by Justina Akubor Reville was played and the accepted throughout the from the office of the Chief national flag hoisted to full allied nations as the flower Secretary prior to the mast. This was followed by of remembrance to be worn playing of the „Last Post‟, on Remembrance Day▪ GOVERNMENT INFORMATION OFFICE INFORMATION GOVERNMENT P A G E 2 Parliament sitting - 6 November he Parliament of Nauru which he stated that providing are easier for the landowner T convened a sitting last there is sufficient cash flow to develop,” the President week (6 Nov) when a within treasury funds, the said. number of bills were tabled plan is to also have a payout and passed. by the end of the financial Members also questioned year. the salary levels and The parliamentary bills working conditions of local enacted on the day were: In a small island such as workers at the Regional * Public Finance (Control Nauru, the availability of Processing Centre (RPC) as and Management land space is increasingly well as the health and (Amendment) Act 2012 becoming a concern to wellbeing of the asylum * Criminal Procedure landowners and the seekers. (Amendment) Act 2012 government. * Currency Act 2012 The Minister for Foreign * Private Security Act 2012 Members raised concerns Affairs & Trade Hon. Dr. * Geneva Conventions Act that the government and Kieren Keke assured 2012 foreign agencies are members that the asylum * Chemical Weapons approaching land owners seekers were being well Conventions Act 2012 about purchasing land either looked after and the for long leases or complete agencies responsible for The initial question regarding ownership. One of the them keep a very close the Nauru Phosphate concerns were the benefits watch. Royalties Trust Fund was to either party. the amount remaining in the The Salvation Army has RONWAN Fund, when His Excellency President been contracted to assist Governments payout is expected and Sprent Dabwido stated that with support measures for where the money is from. it is not unusual for the asylum seekers while own land to governments to own land. Transfield is responsible for enable progress Minister for the Nauru catering, logistics and Phosphate Royalties Trust, “Governments own land to security. The International and development Hon. Marcus Stephen was enable progress and Health and Medical unable to give a definitive development therefore Services Australia is answer until a firm date was minimise land disputes.” responsible for health care. settled and proper advice and information was President Dabwido also Minister Keke also advised received from the highlighted that benefits to that the Government of Chairperson the NPRT. the landowner whom some Australia funds the RPC are currently leasing their hence is responsible for Finance Minister Hon. land for 15 cents a year. contracting the companies Roland Kun responded to a that provide services to the question raised about the “Why don‟t we sell now? camp. In that regard, Nauru now repealed Provident Government to own it and has no involvement in the Fund, in which he stated the landowners can benefit selection of companies or that the government is from the money now. the determination of wages▪ looking at commencing payments at the end of the “We (government) are year but would not asking for land that speculate on the exact date landowners might not be Parliament statements and of commencement. able to develop, such as the the Bills and Acts tabled mined out lands. and passed on 6 November Minister Kun also responded to have been circulated a question of paying out the “We are not asking for separately via email. superannuation funds in coconut land because they NAURU BULLETIN I S S U E 2 2 - 2 0 1 2 / 7 3 P A G E 3 Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma visits Nauru as well as government Ministers and to the needs of its citizens and is more Members of Parliament. impactful in its activities,” Mr Sharma said. Most of the discussions evolved At last year‟s Commonwealth Heads of around the country‟s national Government Meeting (CHOGM) in development priorities. Areas of Australia, leaders agreed to a number of interest included democracy, good recommendations by an Eminent Persons governance and public administration, Group to reform and renew the human rights, climate change, gender Commonwealth. Commonwealth Secretary- equality, economic development, General Kamalesh Sharma met debt management, and information The reforms were to sharpen the impact, and communication technology. strengthen networks and raise the profile of with Government officials and the Commonwealth and to achieve greater MPs, here speaking with Minister The meetings provided the Secretary practical commitment to the 2009 Affirmation of for NPRT Hon. Marcus Stephen General an updated perspective of Commonwealth and Principles. how the Commonwealth is viewed in Nauru and how the Commonwealth Mr Sharma also informed the government he Commonwealth Secretary- could provide greater assistance and of Nauru about the development orientation T General Kamalesh Sharma made his relevance to the country. desired by the Chair at next year‟s first official visit to Nauru last month (29 CHOGM in Sri Lanka and invited Nauru‟s - 31 Oct) on his way to neigbouring Mr Sharma briefed the President and input in drawing up the agenda for island Kiribati. Foreign Affairs Minister Hon. Dr. discussions at the biennial summit. Kieren Keke on current Mr Sharma made courtesy calls to His Commonwealth priorities and plans The Commonwealth General Secretary was Excellency President Sprent Dabwido, to reform and renew its agenda. accompanied by his wife Mrs Babil the Speaker of Parliament Ludwig Scotty Sharma and three officials. The delegation “Our goal is to ensure that the departed on 31 October for the Republic of Commonwealth remains responsive Kiribati▪ Taiwan donates second set of solar panels and begins distribution of energy saving lights he Republic of China the main power grid at the During that same T (Taiwan) Embassy in the Nauru Utilities. month (October) the Republic of Nauru handed over Taiwan Embassy Taiwan funded solar panels the second set of solar panels at The solar power system was had also commenced installed on the roof tops of the government office last installed by engineers from auditing government the government office building month (23 Oct) enabling 30360 Taiwanese company SpeedTech offices for the installation has a capacity to generate watts of electricity to be who are also the manufacturers of energy saving bulbs 30360 watts of solar power generated by the system. of the household mini solar bars and tube lights. This and the solar street lights around separate donation of The second set of grid connected the island. 50,000 light bulbs and tubes solar power system which is will also be installed in Nauru worth USD$100,000 was The display board shows current households. installed just three months after reductions of carbon monoxide, the first set on 18 July. temperature of the panels and The Republic of China (Taiwan) also the amount of sunlight the has been a big supporter of The first set of 66 solar panels is panels absorb in watts and watts Nauru‟s vision and will continue to able to generate 15180 watts. per square metre. cooperate closely with Nauru on The solar power generated from energy saving issues▪ the entire system feeds back to P A G E 4 Regional agencies assist Nauru with climate financing options t the invitation of resources and improve delivery “We anticipate that this study A the Government of support to communities.