Making ready

for the new jet-setters

Pacific islanders are fast joining the international jet set these days, as they keep up with the busy round of regional gatherings, getting things done Pacific-style.

Since April there has been the Festival of Arts in Suva, Western Samoa’s airport and Assembly build ing openings, followed in June by their Independence Day celebrations and then the PIPA conference in the Cook islands. After a brief pause at home, let’s hope, islanders will be winging their way to Suva and Apia shortly, for the next meetings of the South Pacific Forum and the South Pacific Conference respectively.

Western Samoa is obviously enjoying a fair share of all this inter island activity and preparations are now under way to receive probably over 100 participants for the forth coming 12th South Pacific Con ference, September 19-29.

Mr Fred Betham, Secretary-General of the South Pacific Commission which organises the conference, recently returned from a visit to Apia and indicated that the gathering will be presided over for the first time by a Pacific Prime Minister—Tupua Tamasese Leolofi IV, of Western Samoa. The session of commissioners afterwards, will have Mr Tone Naisara, Fiji Minister for Education, Youth and Sport as chairman. The setting will be an interesting departure from past meeting halls in Noumea, Suva and Lae, since the Islanders will gather in September in the new Maota Fono building of the Legislative Assembly in Apia.

Built after the style of the traditional Samoan fale, the Maota Fono is circular, with a dome roof and walls almost all of glass panels.

The building has facilities for simultaneous translation, treating English and Samoan during parlia mentary debates, while English and French are the languages of the South Pacific Conference.

The official opening of the Maota

Fono, together with celebrations marking the 10th anniversary of Independence Day, were attended by numerous Pacific personalities, including Mr John Marshall, Prime Minister of New Zealand, Prince Tuipelehake, Prime Minister of Tonga, Ratu Sir Edward Cakobau, Deputy Prime Minister of Fiji, Michael Somare, Chief Minister of Papua New Guinea, Mr Robert Rex, Chief Minister of Niue, besides diplomatic and cabinet delegates from Australia, Canada, India, UK, France and the USA.

There was a touch of nostalgia in Fred Betham’s manner as, back in Noumea, he described all the celebrations he had just attended in his home country—the fautasi races, between long boats with 40 oarsmen, beginning from the reef, five miles out; youth marching, and the Queen contest, judged on accomplishments in Samoan tradition and custom. This involved the girls m speech making using the proper form of address; making kava and serving it the correct way and performing Samoan song and dance. The Queen contest was won by Miss Tuiletufugai, with Miss Lupe Solomona in second place.

A , A . , , And, as Apia prepares to host the forthcoming South Pacific Conference, delegates are expected from about 17 Pacific Island groups, as well as from five of the big powers with Pacific dependencies, and various international aid agencies.

To accommodate guests, Aggie

Grey’s Hotel with over 100 rooms is always in keen demand. In addition, there is the Apian Way, while the Casino is rebuilding and hopes to have the first block ready for the conference. Jim Curry is building a new hotel and also hopes to have some rooms ready. Then 12 miles out of town is the Hideaway. Beyond that, if there are still more guests, Samoan hospitality will take over.

Entertainment during the con ference will include a golf tourna ment on Sunday, September 24, when the Roya i Samoan Country Club will challenge the conference participants on a 9-hole course. A race meeting is then planned for September 30.

This year Mr Betham expects at least four prom i ne nt Island leaders to attend—Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara of Prince Tuipelehake of Tonga, Alb ’ ert Henry of the Cooks, besides the Prime Minister of Western Samoa an d possibly President Hammer Deßoburt of Nauru. At last con f ere nce in Noumea, Premier Albert Henry was the only one of these p ersona lities to attend, „ , , . . , . Since the conference is being held immediately after the South Pacific Forum in Suva at least one agenda j t em s h o uld draw interesting debate: shou i d t h e South Pacific Commission headquarters be restored or rebuilt j n N oumea or perhaps eventually be estab i ishe d elsewhere, in Fiji or Western Samoa, as was mooted last year, at the session after the con ference?

The "Maota Fono", the new Legislative Assembly chamber in Western Samoa.