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On an even more mundane level; since the
meeting was a ‘technical meeting’; only the
record of the meeting will not be accompanied by
the usual observance of protocol required by the
SOPAC Governing Council and what happened
this year was that a Summary of Outcomes
was cleared within a week of the meeting and
travelled up to the CRGA41 with the Director of
Division. It is envisaged that the meeting records
of the SPC Applied Geoscience and Technology
Division will only be released electronically.
It was extremely useful to the SOPAC Division
that Director-General Jimmie Rodgers took the
time to be there for the entire time of the to be
consulted with respect to protocols and the
proper SPC way of doing what needed to be
done. He was also sensitive that the format and
conduct of the new division’s annual meeting
retain some of the SOPAC Commission flavour,
giving unequivocal support to the continuation of
STAR with a view that the concept could usefully
be spread to the other sectors in SPC.
SOPAC-1 was chaired by the Government of the
Cook Islands, and was originally supposed to be
held in Rarotonga, Cook Islands. It was moved
to Nadi, Fiji; when it became clear that costs to
transit through New Zealand while it hosted the
Rugby World Cup were through the roof.
All in all, golden oldies associates were on hand
including Alf Simpson, former Director of the
SOPAC Commission Secretariat (1998-2003)
attended as special advisor to the Director of
Division, with some old friendships renewed; as
well as brand new friendships initiated.
Lala Bukarau
October – December 2011
2
Opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily
those of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, neither
does the mention of any firm or licensed process imply
endorsement by SPC.
Director : Russell Howorth
Email : [email protected] / [email protected]
Public Health, Land Resources and
SOPAC Divisions of SPC coordinate
response to Tuvalu water shortage
crisis
The Tuvalu Government declared a State of
Emergency on Wednesday the 28 of September,
2011 after a prolonged period of drought and
rationed the after distribution of fresh water from
the national reserve.
From 13th October to 5th November 2011,
the SOPAC Water Programme conducted a
collaborative SPC-Tuvalu Needs Assessment
Mission with the Agriculture Unit and Health
Unit within Secretariat of the Pacific Community
(SPC). The assessment focused on the central
and northern group of atolls in Tuvalu. This SPC
team mission followed a request from the Tuvalu
Government and an appeal to the international
community in Suva, Fiji for emergency assistance
and response after two atolls in Tuvalu (the capital
Funafuti and the southern island of Nukulaelae)
declared national crisis situations because of a
prolonged period of below average rain or no rain
and where the Government of Tuvalu identified
Water rationing in Nukufetau, Tuvalu.