News and information service for Banaban Network Worldwide!

All Blog Posts (1,094)

Tonga offers to host regional energy organisation

MATANGI - Tonga Online - South Pacific News: Pacific Islands - 24 Apr 2009, 11:45 Nuku'alofa, Tonga: TONGA is interested in becoming a host country for a regional energy unit, Tonga's Deputy Prime Minister Dr Viliami Tangi told a Pacific Energy Ministers Meeting in Nuku'alofa yesterday. He noted that the Pacific Island Forum leaders had decided to rationalise the functions of SOPAC with… Continue

Added by Stacey King on April 27, 2009 at 4:30pm — No Comments

The £100m fallout - Court decision due, but 'too little' cash - HBomb testing Christmas Island

THE PEOPLE.CO.UK - Sarah Jellema

Furious H-bomb veterans whose lives have been blighted by nuclear testing are finally set to get answers - after 50 YEARS of waiting. More than 20,000 British servicemen were exposed to terrifying levels of radioactivity during nuke tests between 1952 and 1958 And their… Continue

Added by Stacey King on April 27, 2009 at 3:36pm — No Comments

Wilmington Rotary Club collects WWII books for Kiribati

WORLD NOW - Posted: April 27, 2009 01:56 PM Reported by Max Winitz - Posted by Laura Sinacori

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) - The Wilmington Rotary Club is asking for your help to bring education and knowledge to an area that's known for a large part of WWII history. Wilbur Jones, a member of the club is asking the public for new and used WWII books and movies. The material will be sent to the Republic of… Continue

Added by Stacey King on April 27, 2009 at 3:00pm — No Comments

Thumbs up for island fathers

FIJI TIMES ONLINE By THERESA RALOGAIVAU Sunday, April 26, 2009

AMID much anticipation and festivity the new Rabi Island Council of Leaders was elected on Friday night after a day of voting on the island. Voting day was a gay affair as sheds were erected near polling stations at the four main villages Tabiang, Tabwewa, Buakonikai and Uma. Kava drinking sessions were accompanied by local renditions of island music strummed on… Continue

Added by Stacey King on April 27, 2009 at 10:28am — No Comments

Actual Election count figures supplied by Biara Touakin, Rabi Fiji

Kam na mauri

Aio ngkanne mwiin te rinerine irouiia kauntira n te ririki aio

Tabwewa

Elders Seat

Bauro 398; Katauea 165; Namatan 109

General Seat

Bureni 159; Manate275; Baeba 185; Terikano 53

Uma

Elder's Seat

Burentau 26; Ioane 92; Tebaia 254; Tuateira 114

General Seat

Butau 50; Kaiea125; Kato 44; Teatu 267

Tabiang

Elders Seat

David 115; Tiare 155

General Seat

Iekerua 108;… Continue

Added by Stacey King on April 25, 2009 at 1:21pm — 4 Comments

Commemorating ANZAC Day – 25 April 2009

Australian War Memorial - Canberra

ANZAC DAY is probably Australia's most important national occasion. It marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War. ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. The soldiers in those forces quickly became known as ANZACs, and the pride they soon took in that name endures to this… Continue

Added by Stacey King on April 25, 2009 at 7:30am — No Comments

Newly elected and declared members of Rabi Council of Leaders, 24th May 2009

Tabwewa - Elders seat - Paulo Vanualailai. General seat- Manate Tabakea.
Uma -Elders seat -Teatu Rewi. General seat - Tebaia Tawita
Tabiang - Tiare Bureti; Iekerua Noere
Buakonikai -Takire Timeon; Titaku Tabuariki

See you next Friday when Chairman count down takes place.

Added by Ken Sigrah on April 25, 2009 at 12:00am — 1 Comment

Vote Counting on Rabi happening now - Live broadcast on Skype by Biara and Ken's Skype link

They are counting the first round of voting on Rabi now - 6.50pm Rabi time. Biara has a live broadcast of the counting now on Skype. Type in Ken.Sigrah on Skype and Ken can invite you into the group Skype phone call so you can hear results as they come through.

Added by Stacey King on April 24, 2009 at 4:30pm — No Comments

Rabi islanders go to the polls

FIJI TIMES ONLINE By THERESA RALOGAIVAU Thursday, April 23, 2009

MORE than 2000 Rabi islanders are expected to take to the polls starting today to elect a new island council. The term of the old council expired yesterday in accordance with provisions of the Banaban Settlement Act which dictates the demise of the old council on the eve of election. Altogether 22 candidates from the four villages on the island -- Tabiang,… Continue

Added by Stacey King on April 23, 2009 at 11:23am — 3 Comments

Banabans go to the polls

21-Apr-2009 09:41 AM - Fiji Daily Post

THE Banaban Community in Rabi Island go to the polls this week to elect their council of Leaders. Elections for the nine members Rabi Council of Leaders is scheduled for Thursday and Friday. This election was supposed to be held in January 2009, but was deferred because of the floods in the Northern Division. There are altogether a total of 2971 registered voters… Continue

Added by Stacey King on April 22, 2009 at 9:32am — 1 Comment

Fiji government gives 30k for Rabi elections

Fiji Broadcasting Corporation LTD

Monday, April 20, 2009

Government has provided $30,000 to meet election costs for Rabi Island. The Banaban Community goes to the polls this week to elect their council of Leaders. There are altogether a total of 2,971 registered voters from the four main villages - that is Tabwewa, Uma, Tabiang and Buakonikai - as well as those Banabans living in Vanua Levu and Viti… Continue

Added by Stacey King on April 21, 2009 at 10:56am — 1 Comment

Now is the best time to send money back home to Fiji as dollar falls by 20%

With the drop in the Fiji dollar by another 20% now is the best time to send money home to family in Fiji. We also need to become EXCHANGE RATE SAVVY!!!

For families in Australia and New Zealand - the ANZ bank and Westpac banks are your direct bank links with Fiji. You can get your daily Fiji exchange rates online via your ANZ or Westpac banks in your country. The most economical way to send money to families is to have a bank account set up in Australia at ANZ or WESTPAC to take… Continue

Added by Stacey King on April 19, 2009 at 10:15am — No Comments

Great Opportunity for Banaban Musicians - Enter Pacific Break Music Competition

This competition is sponsored by Radio Australia especially for Pacific Island Music. Full details of this year's competition are at:

http://banabanvoice.ning.com/forum/topics/enter-the-pacific-break-2009

The competition began on 1 March and entries must be in before 1 September 2009

So come on all our talented Banaban musicians... get your entries in… Continue

Added by Stacey King on April 19, 2009 at 9:00am — No Comments

Obama promises united effort against piracy

By Andrea Stone, USA TODAY

Crewmembers of the Maersk Alabama celebrate the rescue of their captain, Richard Phillips.

***Eventhough this story is not about the ship relating to our Tuvaluan and Banaban captives, it is good to see the US Navy now starting to act. Let's hope it helps the captives and this story will explain the threat our… Continue

Added by Stacey King on April 17, 2009 at 7:00am — No Comments

Recovery of loan unclear - FNPF, Fiji Development Bank, Banaban Trust Fund investment invoved

Thursday, April 09, 2009

Fiji Broadcasting Corporation- Fiji Boadcasting Corp. Ltd

It’s not very clear at this stage on how and when the Fiji National Provident Fund will recover a substantial amount of loan, which had been given out to the Momi Bay Resort project few years ago for hotel development. A member of the FNPF Board and national president of the FTUC Daniel Urai says the Momi Bay Resort project has been abandoned by the contractors, and the project is lying… Continue

Added by Stacey King on April 9, 2009 at 9:00am — No Comments

Correction on name of Ship Captured by pirates

The name of the ship is the "Hansa Stavanger" and not "Hans Scavenger' as earlier published. Error made is regretted. Thanks

Added by Mr. Atabi Ewekia Baoa on April 8, 2009 at 8:53am — No Comments

Update: Captured Tuvaluan Seamaen

Over the news last night, the ship "MV Hans Scavenger" has been sighted by a German Warship. However, according to news, the pirates allowed the captains of both ships to communicate in German but the warship was warned to keep distance to prevent hostility from the pirates.

Hopefully, goodwill prevails and ask for your continuous prayer for the safety of these twelve Tuvaluan seamen.

Kam bati n ra'ba

Added by Mr. Atabi Ewekia Baoa on April 8, 2009 at 8:36am — 1 Comment

Remittances start to dry up as global economic crisis bites

ABC RADIO AUSTRALIA

Updated Tue Apr 7, 2009 3:39pm AEST

The sending of remittances plays a major part in providing much needed foreign currency to many of the Pacific Island states, but as the economic crisis bites deep into developed economies, the knock on is also starting to be felt in the Pacific. There is anecdotal evidence that some Pacific Islands workers overseas are turning to loan sharks… Continue

Added by Stacey King on April 8, 2009 at 8:34am — No Comments

Kaimoan Tuvalu e Tauaki Aia Kaibuke Irouia "Pirates"

Te kaongora mai Tuvalu ibukin te kanganga ae reke irouia aia kaimoa n tauakin aia kaibuke irouia taan iowawa (pirates) i aoni kawaia mai Dubai nako Mumbasa i Kenya. Te rongorongo ae reke ma iroun aomatan te kambana ae te Tuvalu Maritime Services (TMS) ibukin kamakuraia kaimoa, e taekinna b'a tengaun-ma-uoman (12) kaimoa iaon te kaibuke anne bon kaimoa mai Tuvalu. E tauaki aia kaibuke i nanon te nama ae aranaki ba te "Gulf of Aden", te tabo aei e bon nangin ataki b'a maiti iai aekakin aomata… Continue

Added by Mr. Atabi Ewekia Baoa on April 7, 2009 at 9:30am — 4 Comments

Historical and Original Banaban Photographs and documents for Exclusive Banaban Student Use Only

Ken and I have been contacted by various Banaban students who are keen to do papers on their own island and history.

We want to encourage our younger Banaban generation to learn all they can about their own history and unique Banaban identity. We have released some important historical photos for the exclusive use by Banaban Students and if you would like more information or photos covering a particular topic please contact either Ken or Stacey… Continue

Added by Stacey King on April 2, 2009 at 1:00pm — No Comments