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Posted April 17 2008

Government supportive of initiatives by NGOs that will help develop their own communities

THE GOVERNMENT of Anote Tong strongly support and encourages local NGOs to develop initiatives that will assist in the development of their own communities now that the second phase of the European Union funding assistance program, through the EDF9 outer islands health project, gets underway.

And in his opening address which marks the start of a two-day EDF9 project orientation workshop at the Otintaai Hotel, Tuesday April 15, Minister of Internal and Social Affairs Development, Amberoti Nikora, says his ministry fully support this kind of initiative which develops and strengthens the capacity of rural non-state actors to help develop their own communities.

He says NGOs are the strong pillars of outer island councils and the national government which work together to help and support one another.

He explains the purpose and objective of the EDF9 project is to assist develop and improve the livelihood needs and health of outer islands people.

He says this support has been made possible through the strong initiative of the present government to negotiate a package deal with the European Union which sees the subsequent establishment of the KIR-EU outer islands infrastructural development project, and the disbursement of $1.5 million to KANGO for the development and support of small outer islands health projects.

He told the participants the underlying purpose of the EU-funded orientation workshop is to familiarize and prepare them for what is to come and expect when the project finally arrives in their respective islands.

About 40 outer islands council delegates, including social welfare group representatives, from different islands in the Gilberts Group, were amongst those invited to attend this important community development workshop.

They included chief councilors, island council clerks and chairmen of village welfare groups from the islands of Makin, Butaritari, Marakei, Abaiang, Maiana, Nonouti, Tabiteuea North and South, Onotoa, Beru, Nikunau, Tamana and Arorae.

According to the Manager of the EDF9 Project, Taiaki Irata, these are the islands that have not yet been visited by KANGO EDF9 team and there is a need to “inform and educate them about our activities and services in regard to the funding assistance that we can provide to them.”

Previous islands that have been visited and benefited from the project were Kuria, Aranuka, Abemama, and North Tarawa.

The official opening was witnessed by the President of KANGO Mr. Teekabu Tiikai, Executive Director of KANGO Roko Timeon, who also gave a welcoming and introductory statement on behalf of the KANGO Secretariat, and some senior government officials from the Ministry of Internal and Social Affairs Development. I.Tabureka

Gender and domestic violence awareness on Makin

Posted April 4 2008

OVER 600 family members including wives and husbands on Makin are now more aware of their rights as individuals to seek court redresses or to resolve their own family problems/differences by themselves over domestic issues as a result of a recent KANGO’s awareness workshop on gender and domestic violence conducted on the island from March 25 – April 1, this year.

Assistant NGO Development Officer Loria Kamauti, who led a three-man team to the island, says the response and feedback received from the workshop participants was overwhelmingly “positive and encouraging” in that spouses are now better informed to handle their domestic problems and exercise their legal rights once they have been abused or mistreated by their partners.

Loria Kamauti (right) and Ann Kautu during their visit to Banaba

Not only that, says Loria, but husbands and wives (especially parents) have expressed their gratitude to have had this kind of workshop because it shed new lights and helps them to understand and curb violence in their own homes.

Loria says that before their arrival on the island spouses, in particular wives, were not aware of their rights under the law to seek redress or assistance from local authorities because of the traditional belief that men were the “bosses” in the homes and that they should not be questioned about their actions whether they are right or wrong.

But this belief, according to Loria, appears to have now been thrown aside as KANGO shed new lights and created awareness about gender issues and domestic violence to the people who have had no idea or any legal understanding about such issues and how to effectively combat them.

Loria explains that married women on the island, more so than men, are now aware of their legal rights and obligations and are ready to defend themselves in a court of law or to resolve their problems with their husbands outside the courts when they have been unfairly treated.

The one week awareness workshop was conducted as part of KANGO’s ongoing program for NGOs/CBOs capacity-building exercise and is the second in a series of awareness trainings to have been launched by KANGO in three years time with funding support from NZAID.

And on the issue of gender awareness, Loria says the participants were taught the skills and knowledge of using or speaking the language of the virtues, how to recognize teachable moments, offer spiritual companioning, honor the spirit, and set clear boundaries.

She says the roles of a parent are like facets of a diamond where in each role, they can call on one of the strategies mentioned above as their primary tool.

“The Language of the Virtues provides a tool to be applied in all the roles a parent can play,” the officer adds.

Accompanying the officer to Makin were two other members of the Kiribati Gender and Domestic Violence Taskforce who also assisted with the workshop presentations. They were Mr. Namakaina Nauoko and Ms Anne Kautu, a legal Rights Training Officer with AMAK.

The Gender and Domestic Violence Taskforce was established in 2005 by KANGO to try to create awareness and understanding of issues associated with gender and domestic violence and to also help minimize the rising number of families breaking up because of such violence at homes.

The Gender and Domestic Taskforce is made up of representatives from various government and independent organisations namely Police, MISA, AMAK, AAFR, KCA, MBM, Kiribati Girl Guides and Kiribati Scouts. I.Tabureka.         

Thumbs up for NZAID

Posted 28 March 200

THE KIRIBATI Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (KANGO) continued to receive core funding support from NZAID to cover expenses and cost of its operations.And as the official umbrella organization for the 52 local Kiribati NGOs, KANGO aims to support and empower the local NGO community and to achieve their development goals through their own initiatives, working in partnership with government, donors and other regional bodies.Core funding meets the basic running costs of the organization such as core staff salaries, administration costs and the cost of KANGO’s core activities, newsletter production, holding meetings, workshops and training sessions for KANGO staff and staff from local NGOs, strategic planning sessions and the fees for external consultants who will assist KANGO.

KANGO Board Director urges adoption of PIANGO's teaching methods

THERE IS  a need to introduce and maintain PIANGO’s so-called Project Cycle/PIMER teaching methods by KANGO’s staff when conducting local workshops for NGOs and CBOs in Kiribati because it is much more effective and easy to understand, says KANGO Board Director Raion Bataroma.

Raion made the statement in his official report to the Executive Director of KANGO, Roko Timeon, on the eve of his return from Banaba where he accompanied the EDF9 Project team on their 10 days visit to the island to conduct and carry out the Training of Trainers and Needs Assessment workshops as well as the selection of a new Project Liaison Officer for the island.

Raion says the workshop was not only a success in itself but it is a highly commendable undertaking which reflects the EDF9 Project team’s high level of professionalism in organizing and carrying out the training program.

Mr. Raion Bataroma, KANGO board director

Raion says PIANGO’s teaching methods PIMER stands for what he refers to as Planning, Implementation, Evaluation and Reporting. 

In all there were more than 60 local representatives from different NGOs, church groups, youth and other members of the community attending the two workshops.

The two workshops were conducted from February 25 – March 1 2008 with funding provided from the European Development Funds under the EDF9 Project funding assistance. I.Tabureka.            

Abortion on demand in Kiribati is illegal

A REPORT received by KANGO on Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Situation Analysis for Kiribati has stated that abortion on demand in the country is illegal.
But it says that the penal code offer protection for medical officers to perform an abortion to safeguard or save a woman’s life if the woman’s physical health is in danger.
The report says the interpretation of the law surrounding abortion is conservative with a penalty of life imprisonment.
But the legal situation with regards prostitution in the country is not clear and so far there has not been a case to confirm the interpretation of the law.
The report comes in the wake of recent studies undertaken by UNDPF to identify gaps in knowledge and evidence among adolescences with a view to improve these young people’s sexual and reproductive health and therefore be able to formulate and implement appropriate long-term strategies and polices.
Prostitution is a criminal offence in Kiribati and penalties range from fines to imprisonment.
“Procuring sex and managing brothels in order to earn an income from prostitution is illegal while obscene or indecent behavior is banned,” the report says.
But the law does not prohibit sexual harassment, although it sometimes occurred, it generally was not regarded as a major problem. I.Tabureka

Increase in submission of EDF9 funded project proposals

OVER 60 health related project proposals have now been submitted to KANGO’s EDF9 Outer Island Project Office in Bairiki for funding consideration and approval.
EDF9 Project Manager Taiaki Irata said more submissions are anticipated and prioritization may need to be done at the time of grant disbursements around March this year.
The submissions, according to the project manager, followed a series of successfully conducted workshops trainings, awareness raising and training of trainers by the EDF9 project team on the islands of Abemama, Kuria, Aranuka, and North Tarawa recently.
Most applications relate to water supply and sanitation, while a lesser number are associated with various activities such as vegetable gardening, and sports activities.
Taiaki provided the above information at the recent meeting of the Advisory Project Steering Committee (APSC) when he gave a presentation on the overall performance of the European funded project held at the ministry of health conference room in Nawerewere, October 30.
He informed the APSC meeting various community-based groups are involved, including women, church, youth, and sports groups
The manager said that whilst the current scheme requires groups to obtain technical certification prior to submission, he admitted that this was sometimes difficult as the level of technical expertise on the islands is limited.
He said grant requests are mostly very small, mostly up to AUD1,000 up to a maximum of around AUD50,000. I.Tabureka

KANGO gets new AVI Health Project Support Officer

KANGO has a new Health Project Support Officer from the Australian Volunteers International.
She is Catherine Crane, a Bachelor in Applied Science (occupational therapy) and certificate holder in International and Community Development from the University of Sydney and the Deakin University in Victoria.
Catherine will work with KANGO’s EU-EDF9 NSA Outer Islands Project for the next 18 months, commencing from January 16.
Catherine had previously worked as a senior occupational therapist at the Royal Prince Afred Hospital in Sydney for three years.
Asked about her first impression of the country she says it is a “tropical paradise and the people are lovely and beautiful.”
She says she is looking forward to working with KANGO and learning more about the Kiribati culture. She says her family are very excited about visiting Kiribati later in the year.
Miss Crane replaces Tiana Fermingham who has left the country at the end of her 2 year contract with KANGO in late November last year. I.Tabureka

Government reaffirms its commitment to freedom of expression in Kiribati

BERETITENTI ANOTE Tong has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to freedom of expression, saying it would vigorously defend and uphold the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual I-Kiribati citizen as guaranteed under the national constitution.
His latest propaganda message comes as he delivered and outlined his government’s 2007-2010 policies which he said is based on the principles of good governance.
The head of state was addressing the Second Meeting of the Ninth Parliament which was attended by newly elected MPs, church leaders, members of the diplomatic corps in Kiribati, and community leaders, in Ambo, South Tarawa Monday December 10, 2007.
He said good governance will continue to underpin the objectives of his newly appointed administration and he will do all he can to “defend and uphold” those democratic rights and freedom as enshrined in the constitution.
The beretitenti said the media in Kiribati plays an important role in informing the public about what is happening in the country and within the government and encourage them to play their part in nation building.
But the 56-year-old politician who holds a masters degree in economics from the London School of Economics strongly pointed out that the freedom enjoyed by the media and the public must be exercise responsibly.
“We cannot exercise those rights without limitation and without due regard to its consequences,” he said.
“To do so would not be conducive to the maintenance of peace and order in society,” he told parliamentarians.
Opposition MPs have however brushed aside the beretitenti’s good governance policy statement as nothing more than a political ploy to win more supporters and it is something that should not be taken seriously, they said.
They told Kango News the beretitenti and members of his political party had made many promises to the people in their first term of office but many of these promises have not been fulfilled.
Said one senior government official soon after the beretitenti had delivered his policy statement: “It is like giving empty promises to young children when in fact these young children  know the beretitenti is not telling them the truth and will not fulfill his promises.” I. Tabureka

I-Kiribati national takes on directorship post at PIANGO

THE ASSOCIATION of Non Governmental Organizations, PIANGO, has a new executive director.
He is Bakanebo Tamaroa, PIANGO Programme Manager for Capacity Building and former Coordinator of Kiribati Association of Non Governmental Organisations (KANGO).
Mr. Tamaroa took up the position of ED January 25, 2008. The Secretariat was without an Executive Director since December last year after the previous ED Cema Bolabola completed her contract of three years.
Drew Havea, PIANGO Board deputy chair, said that it was a significant day for PIANGO as the Board fully supported the new ED in taking the Secretariat forward.
“From the Board’s perspective, we are confident that Bakanebo with his experience can bring about NLU members to participate and move forward PIANGO’s vision and mission. Bakanebo stood out in both exercises of the interview, where management skills, understanding of national NLUs and their issues, working with donors and other partners, internal workings of the Secretariat and leadership styles made him the best candidate”.
The panel for the selection included a PIANGO Board member, a PIANGO Fiji NLU Board representative, a PIANGO consultant and a representative from NZAID. Mr. Tamaroa graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Management & Public Administration and Educational Administration in 2001 at USP. He has also gained training in MYOB Accounting Software, and International program for Development Evaluation Training.
He has worked with the Peace Corps Volunteers from 2000 to 2001 as a Language and Cultural Instructor before joining the Kiribati Technical Institute as a Management Trainer, training private and NGO workers on communication and management skills. Bakanebo Tamaroa tremendously contributed to the Graduate Diploma Programme (GDP), a course for NGO coordinators managed by PIANGO in collaboration with Unitec of New Zealand.
He was a school teacher by profession with vast knowledge of NGOs and their development needs before joining PIANGO as its Capacity Building Programme Manager. PIANGO Link

Government pledges to assist outer island communities improve income earning activities

GOVERNMENT has given its words to work more closely with people in the outer island communities to improve current income earning activities and identify new opportunities for them on income earning.
Beretitenti Anote Tong made the pledge as he announced his government’s four year policy plan on rural development which he said will be firmly grounded in the further enhancement of equitable distribution of development benefits to the people of Kiribati. He said over 50 percent of the total population of Kiribati resides outside the main island of South Tarawa and Betio.
“The residents of these islands face acute difficulties in meeting their needs and obligations where the cash economy is becoming increasingly prevalent,” he said.
Anote explained that it is the responsibility of his government to provide on-going development programs and explore new initiatives to address the needs of this sector of our population.
The development of the outer islands is a key element of his government’s objectives, he said.
“Our people residing in the outer islands should also benefit from the developments taking place in our nation.”
Beretitenti Anote Tong was addressing parliamentarians and a group of high ranking government officials and members of the diplomatic corps during the Second Meeting of the Ninth Parliament in Ambo, Monday December 10, 2007. I.Tabureka

Increased incidence of family breakup in Kiribati

THERE IS an increasing incidence of families breaking up in Kiribati.
And according to recent reports published by the UNFPA Office for the Pacific based in Suva, Fiji, there is increasing occurrences of domestic violence and disagreements over child maintenance.
The reports say that traditionally, brothers have looked after their sisters if they have been abandoned by their husbands.
But now women are increasingly turning to welfare agencies and NGOs as this support is weakening.
These changes are even felt in villages in the outer islands as men migrate to South Tarawa looking for work, sometimes abandoning their wives, the reports say.
Alcohol is often an aggravating factor for domestic violence and increasingly there is an expectation among women, government and church leaders in society and the police, that the situation must change now. I.Tabureka

KANGO board director attends consultation workshop on Safeguard Policy in Sydney

THE KIRIBATI ASSOCIATION of Non-governmental organizations (KANGO) is sending a representative to a one-day Pacific Consultation for ADB’s Safeguard Policy Update workshop (SPU) to be held at the Swissotel, Sydney from January 30-31, 2008.
The representative is Timau Tira, a current board member with the KANGO Executive Board.
Executive Director of KANGO Roko Timeon says the consultation workshop will involve group work sessions to enable focused discussion on major features of the Safeguard Policy Statement.
Roko says this is the first time a representative from a non-government organization has been invited to such a consultation and it is expected Mr. Tira will focus his presentation at the meeting on the role of indigenous peoples. I.Tabureka

Previous News

KANGO members assist in reducing coastal threats vulnerability

COMMUNITY groups on South Tarawa and Betio, which included members of the Kiribati Association of Non-Government Organizations, KANGO, were among 26 other government ministries and organizations invited to a workshop on coastline protection held at the Otintaai Hotel from March 12-13, 2007.
Called “Caring for our coastlines; Protecting lives and Livelihoods in Kiribati,” the workshop looked at issues affecting coastal vulnerability in the country and what can be done to mitigate their threats.
Member of KANGO Executive Board of Directors, Aako Ritema Betaia, who represented the mother NGO in the two-day discussion, says the aim of the workshop, which was funded by SOPAC and the European Union, is to help improve planning and management of the country’s fragile coastal areas, especially those of the main islands of South Tarawa and Betio.
She says the discussions were centered on the development of integrated planning and management in three key focal areas namely hazard mitigation and risk assessment, aggregates for construction, and water resources supply and sanitation.
Aako says the discussions were interactive, providing a two-way communication between the workshop presenters and participants and provided a forum of greater understanding for NGO on how to deal with coastal threat issues.
The KANGO board director explains some of the key issues raised and discussed at the workshop included the dangers of removing material and sand from the beaches and how this will contribute to long term coastal erosion on the islands.
The workshop also looked at the prospect of setting up a lagoon dredging company which may resolve the problem of beach sand mining and shoreline erosion, and carried out cost-benefits analysis of lagoon dredging.
The workshop was conducted by the Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC) based in Fiji in close collaboration with the European Union (EU) and the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resource Development (MFMRD). I.Tabureka

Paper examines human rights issues in Pacific

THE SECRETARY General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Greg Urwin, has urged Pacific leaders to make use of the paper Pathways for Pacific States as an important guide for how the recognition of international human rights conventions served to improve governance.
He said the paper is a tool that will help Pacific states “achieve the goals of sustainability, quality governance and the observance of human rights as outlined in the vision of the Pacific Plan endorsed in 2005.”
The paper found that the Pacific region faces significant human rights issues which included discrimination, protection and equal treatment for those living with HIV/AIDS, violence against women and children and how substandard housing and water supply threatened the right to health.
Mr. Urwin explained that at the same time the effectiveness of existing human rights mechanisms was hampered by a lack of funding and coordination, communication problems and the need for more awareness of international human rights standards.
But New Zealand Human Rights Commissioner, Joy Liddicoat, said there are already national human rights institutions in the region that meet international standards.
She said there is a good foundation to build on and to ensure that organizations reflect the traditional strengths of Pacific cultures.
She said these included the importance of family, a cooperative approach to economic and social activitiy and the resilience gained from living in small populations spread over vast distances.
The Pathways for Pacific States was published by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat with the assistance of the New Zealand Human Rights Commission, based on visits to Tuvalu, Niue and Samoa recently.

How big is corruption in the Pacific

THE QUESTION of how big corruption is in the Pacific was a major point of discussion at the recent half-day roundtable meeting in Suva by representatives of the UNDP Pacific Centre, EU, AusAID, ADB, USP, NGOs from the region, and UN agencies.
A paper presented by UNDP Pacific Centre official Manu Barcham discussed the findings and recom
mendations contained in the draft report with the final report to be released before the end of the year.
The findings and recommendations focused attention on the preliminary report on corruption in the Pacific region.
Mr. Barcham told the meeting the definition used by Transparency International, defines corruption as the misuse of entrusted power for private gain
But the officer pointed out that UNDP is concerned that corruption directly impacts on human development and in the Pacific there is a lack of understanding about the extent of corruption in the region and that further more corruption is contextual.
The draft report identified linkages between corruption and foreign investment and sometimes foreign aid.
It also called for better practices in foreign aid and its monitoring.
It says trends in corruption were directly linked to the use of resources in the country.
But in Melanesia, the report explains, corruption was linked to the extraction of natural resources as in mining and timber industry.
In Polynesia and Micronesia corruption was seen in the use of fisheries resources.

Executives warn against imprest outstanding

THE KIRIBATI Association of Non-Government Organizations Executive Committee has issued a strong reminder to staff members of the Secretariat, who traveled abroad on official business, to retire as soon as possible any outstanding imprest that they may have taken out for their travel expenses in the past.
And it warns that those who do not comply with this directive will not be issued with any further imprest when traveling abroad on official business and may face disciplinary action or likely dismissal as a result.
The warning comes following an independent auditor’s report findings on KANGO’s 2006 financial accounts which reveal that a substantial amount of cash imprest was advanced to certain staff members of the Secretariat prior to taking overseas trips for business have not been retired.
There were also other issues of discrepancies and irregularities discovered by the independent auditor but the auditor, Kab Beriki and Associates, has advised the committee through management to write to each staff concerned with the view to collecting the proceeds of the un-retired money.
He also advised the committee to exercise more stringent control over imprest’s entitlements and payments.
He pointed out that the reliability of the accounting records is directly related to the effectiveness of the organization’s internal controls.
“Strong internal controls enhance the accuracy and reliability of financial records,” says managing director of the firm Mr. Kabunare Beriki to the committee.
Mr. Beriki says there are several basic principles which must be followed if sound internal control is to be achieved and these includes separation of duties, competent personal, proper procedures for authorization, adequate documents and records, and independent checks on performance.
KANGO Executive Chairman Karawe Teroroko told Kango News the details of the auditor’s findings will be disclosed to KANGO members as this part of good governance, accountability and transparency in a democratic workplace like KANGO.
But he pointed out that members have the rights to put forward questions on this issue at their next Annual General Meeting scheduled for September 29 at the KNYC Mwaneaba. I.Tabureka

A case for change: Domestic issues in Kiribati

A NATIONAL report on the Pacific Prevention of Domestic Violence Programme in Kiribati has been completed by the PPDVP baseline research team which visited the country in June 2007.
The report list the data presently available on domestic violence and related issues, perceptions of the extent and nature of domestic violence and people’s reponses to this including public and media debate.
PPDVP research officer Dr. Denise Lievode, who visited Kiribati in March this year, says the focus of the first section of the report is on police understandings and responses to domestic violence and the second is on government, NGO and community understandings and responses.
But a major finding was that despite the fact that Kiribati had made a national-level commitment to address domestic violence, there is still a lot to be done to raise community understanding that domestic violence is not acceptable behavior.
The report noted that a small group of police on Tarawa and a small but growing number of community members are starting to look at domestic violence acts within the context of human rights framework.
Dr. Lievode says the stance was supported through national networks like KANGO, and AMAK with regional organizations such as the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre (FWCC) and the Regional Rights Resource Team (RRRT) programme.
Dr. Lievode pointed out that they were often challenged by the level of gender-based violence and apparent social acceptance of this.
“But this feeling has been well outweighed by the rewards of raising these issues for discussion and contributing to such a worthwhile and groundbreaking project,” the doctor adds. I. Tabureka

Kiribati, safer place to live

THERE IS a need to promote Kiribati as a safer place to live in the wake of increasing domestic problems associated with road traffic accidents, HIV/AIDS, family violence, gender and children issues among many others.
And it is for this reason that the national government, through the Kiribati Police Service, set up a steering committee comprising of selected representatives from different NGOs and other public sector organizations to oversee this problem.
Their task is to create awareness and understanding by members of the public of the impending problems associated with those issues and how to effectively combat them.
And on Wednesday August 15 the committee launched a two-day roadshow program featuring live talks and presentations by members of the committee to members of the public on those common issues at selected locations starting from Betio to Buota village in North Tarawa.
KANGO Assistant NGO Development and Project Officer Lolia Kamauti, who is also on the committee, told Kango News the live presentation covered a wide range of social and health issues which were presented by resource persons from the Police Service (Traffic and FASO), AHD, MEYS, HIV/AIDS Task Force, Unicef, KANGO, Ministry of Health, AMAK, and FSPK.
But the major highlight of the two day PRP (AusAID) funded show, according to some spectators in Bikenibeu who watched the performance, was the presentation made in person by Mr. Buraaua Itimwemwe, the first brave I-Kiribati HIV/AIDS positive who openly declared his infection status to the press and the nation in 2004.
Many have heard or read in the local newspaper about Burauaa’s ordeal when he first contracted the disease but have never met or seen him in person.
“We were amazed at the courage and sincerity of this young gentleman to come forward and talked about his own personal ordeal and sufferings from HIV/AIDS but he did manage to convince us of the dangers and adverse impact of the pandemic on society if you know nothing about it before,” says Biromina Bakeeua, a Bikenibeu woman who is married to a seaman working on SPMS ship in Germany.
“He was the focal point of interest for most people who came to watch the show and he actually boosted and improve the group’s presentation and performance with his presence.
“Indeed the show was a success in terms of creating awareness and understanding of the specific issues raised and discussed by resource persons involved,” says a Buota man who also watched the show when the group performed in his village.
“My only advise and suggestion however is that it would have been more effective if the road show is organized and conducted on a more regular basis, say every three months so as to refresh people's memories,” says the gentlemen.
“People tend to forget easily what they hear and see today so they need to be reminded,” he advises.   

 KANGO premiers “Love Patrol” video film on Tarawa

ABOUT 100 invited guests turned up at the Otintai Hotel, Friday evening September 3, 2007 to attend the Kiribati premier of  “Love Patrol,” a production from Wan Smolbag Theatre.
“Love Patrol” is a mini TV Series for the Pacific that also aims to look at the causes for the growing HIV/AIDS epidemic in the region.
Co-hosted jointly by the Pacific Regional HIV/AIDS Project (PRHP) based in Suva, Fiji and KANGO, the Association of Non-Government Organisations in Kiribati which is also supported by PRHP in its programme to combat the spread of the pandemic in Kiribati, the premiership was witnessed by MPs, senior government officals and other important guests and was later followed by a cocktail party involving cheese and wine. I. Tabureka

......more to come.

Features

KANGO profile heightens as it works to develop outer island communites

By Iaram Tabureka

WHEN KANGO was appointed as an intermediary between NGOs, the donor community and relevant government ministries in 2002, there was no consensus among stakeholders that it could assume a coordinating role as an umbrella association in the country.
No one, not even the government for that matter, believed that KANGO could take on that leadership role and guide the way for NGOs as they struggle to find solutions to their many problems in developing their community.
And as pointed out by the Minister of Internal and Social Affairs, Amberoti Nikora, during the last Non-State Actors forum in Tarawa to discuss amendments to the Incorporated Societies Act, “before nobody trusted KANGO.”
But those misconceptions appear to have been overstated and largely exaggerated as KANGO went through a process of transition to consolidate its memberships, develop and improve its office management systems, and secure projects that will allow it to demonstrate its worth as an intermediary.
By the beginning of 2004, KANGO has developed into a modest establishment and was by then ready to take on its initial responsibility but was still facing an uphill struggle as it moved to spearhead its support and plan of action for its members.
However with a moderate staff of 2 locals and 2 VSOs, and funding grant from the Pacific Skills Link Project and a small rented office in Abarao, the umbrella association set in place what was to become the early “foundation but credible framework”for KANGO’s future activities for NGOs and Civil Societies, according to a report prepared by Philip Cox for Voluntary Services Overseas.
Today, KANGO, with an increase in staff membership of 13 locals plus an expatriate health support volunteer from AVI, and core funding support continuing to be provided from NZAID, has grown into a fully-fledged umbrella organization with NGOs and CBOs gravitating toward it to take up full memberships.
And as of late, the total number of memberships under KANGO has doubled from a mere 33 in 2000 to more than 50 different organizations this year with that number expected to rise as the mother organization expands it outreach activities to the rest of the islands in the Gilberts Group.
But what are the main contributing factors that have been pivotal in making that dramatic turn of events a possibility?
According to some NGO members, the turn around was made possible through the high profile promotion that KANGO has been advocating on a range of important political and social issues for its members with the government and the donor community.
But equally important in this undertaking, was the recent high profile coverage from the local press, most notably its own news publication the Kango News, which has been instrumental in publicizing information of interest and concern for its members, stakeholders and civil society organizations in the country.
The role of staff members in also  organizing and conducting  successful awareness campaigns and carrying out capacity-building activities on Tarawa and some of the outer islands, was also another contributing factor that has raised KANGO’s profile as the best able entity to coordinate activities for the community at the national level.
These capacity-building exercises, according to KANGO Executive Director Roko Timeon, have not only highlighted KANGO’s position as the provider of useful services but have also heightened its visibility to government and the donor community as a respected and credible organization for NGOs.
Today KANGO is markedly stronger than it was 10 years ago and more resilient in its approach to working effectively with NGOs and CSOs.
But the association still has a long way to go in terms of developing and improving the livelihood needs of disadvantaged communities as it works to improve and facilitate the sector’s integration into the country’s development policy and programming.
With the continuing core funding support from NZAID, the association is poised to play an even greater role for NGOs but will need time to build up and consolidate its own resources and raise funds in order to be able to support its future activities in the event that overseas funding support ceases to be forthcoming from donors
As KANGO moves forward to continue its good work in the country, it will undoubtedly faces new challenges and difficulties but these will only help to streamline and strengthen its goals of reducing poverty and improving the livelihood needs of the poor and marginalized communities in the outer islands.

Sex trade, well organized illegal activity on Tarawa

By Iaram Tabureka

SEX TRADE or prostitution as it is better known internationally, is becoming a well organized illegal activity, if not a booming industry in Kiribati, especially in the urban and over-crowded centers on the main islands of South Tarawa and Betio.
And as the trend in population growth for uneducated and unemployed young people on South Tarawa rises, more girls as young as 13 to 18 years old are engaging themselves full time in the illegal business to either earn a living for themselves or to support their unemployed and poverty-stricken families in the face of acute food shortage and rising cost of living on the islands.
Although there are no known official or licensed brothels on the capital island, these girls numbering about 30-40, are known to be plying their illegal trade in groups or gangs of up to four or six people in bars and around public places in Betio and Bairiki.
Their aim is to lure older men into having quick sex with them or offer them what is known as “blow-jobs” in return for money, booze and sometimes food.
And according to public bar operators many men in their late 40s and 50s  have fallen preys to this kind of unsafe and quick sex business, losing as much as $100 or more from their hard-earned fortnightly wages and having nothing left for their children and family to live on until the next fortnightly pay.
A 56-year-old married man in Betio who had lost about $250 in a single day after taking advantage of these girls, told Kango News he was tempted into doing it because the “girls were young and attractive” and he feared he may never get the chance to sleep again with them given his old age and the fact that he was a married man.
Despite the enforcement of existing and well-defined laws in Kiribati, forbidding girls under the age of 21 to consume alcohol in public places and engage in prostitution, police and local authorities appear to be turning a blind eye on this illegal activity.
While these girls randomly enters and leaves the bars in broad daylight and night times there appeared to be no apparent attempts on the part of on-duty or patrolling police officers to prevent or arrest these teen-agers for unlawfully entering the premises.
But KANGO, as a leading non-state actor which participates in promoting and campaigning against the spread of HIV/AIDS in the country, is concerned about the alarming growth rate of this unlawful trade and is now working in close collaboration with the Kiribati Police Service and members of the Safer Kiribati Steering Committee to highlight and address this issue in one of their road-show programs.
Assistant NGO Development and Project Officer Lolia Kamauti told Kango News the Secretariat is concerned because the trade may soon develop into a full blown enterprise and increasing the current infection rates of the pandemic.
“It is better to put an end to this illegal activity now rather than to turn a blind eye against it and pretend that it never existed,” warns the officer.
But the girls have hit back at the move saying they are totally dependent on the trade as a source of income to support themselves and their families and any effort to undermine their operations will inevitably put them “out of business.”
“Since we could not afford to get paid employment in the public service or the private sector  due to our lack of literacy, we feel government should be supportive and sympathetic towards our cause and legalize our trade,” argues an 18 year-old Betio girl who has been in the business for the last 5 months now.
Six other girls, aged between 15 and 18 who were sitting besides her in the Gateway bar in Betio, nodded their heads in agreement as they were being interviewed by a staff member of KANGO.
One of the girls who called herself “Lucy” was sitting on the lap of a man in his late fifty, apparently drunk..
The man had in front of him on the bar’s concrete table four fifty dollar notes, 5 twenty dollar notes, four $10 bills and some coins, amounting to about $450.00 in all.
All eyes were apparently fixed on the money as the gentleman sternly announced that he will give each girl a $20 bill plus booze and food if they agreed to sleep with him at the Betio Seamen Hostle.
They all left the bar 10 minutes later, looking quite happy, contented and partly drunk. 

South Tarawa faces water pollutant crises

Edited and compiled by Iaram Tabureka

KIRIBATI’S capital island of South Tarawa (and that includes Betio) may have a reticulated sewerage system but unfortunately this is not available to a growing number of informal settlements around the island and therefore has not solved the current problem of open defecation on the beach, advises international environmental experts.
And they have described the situation on South Tarawa as like “sitting on a time bomb” that one day will explode if nothing is done to quickly improve and address living standards and the adverse impact on the environment.
The frightening news comes as leading environment experts from Australia and Fiji reveal the result of their recent studies on the impact of solid waste being dumped into the lagoon and on the beaches on South Tarawa and the adverse impact of informal and illegal settlement of squatters around the island.
Head of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community Population Division, Dr. Gerald Herberkon based in Fiji, says in his recent report that nationwide, Kiribati has a population density of 127 people per kilometer but on South Tarawa alone, at least 40,311 people are living on 15.76 square kilometers of land, a density of 2558 per square kilometer.
However if we look closely at the figures for Betio alone, an over-crowded sandy islet of 1.2 square kilometers, the population density balloons to 10,400 per square kilometer.
But implications on waste management and the health risks they posed have already been sounded off by Donovan Storey of Massey University in New Zealand in a recent study he did for AusAID.
Donovan says most sewage and solid waste on the island continues to be disposed along the waterfront, making South Tarawa one of the dirtiest and unattractive places for tourists in the Pacific.
And a cover report in the June edition of Island Business has quoted one survey as saying that local residents in squatter settlements on South Tarawa were more likely to dump solid waste into the lagoon, use the beach as a toilet and use dirty water for drinking, as a result of being cut off from infrastructure and services.
The monthly news magazine went on to say that water and sanitation facilities on the island are only provided to those living in government housing but private households are required to pay for their own connections.
The rest or majority of those who could not afford to pay or choose not to pay for the service end up dependent on wells or rainwater and basic toilets or squatting on the beach.
The practice of using the beach as a squatting place for local residents and the dumping of accumulated garbage alongside the lagoon and roadsides on South Tarawa and Betio have already been condemned by many foreign visitors and also highlighted in media reports by a well known and respected AFP Pacific journalist, Michael Field.
That report had subsequently angered local authorities and prompted the then Teburoro Tito’s government to enforce a ban on the journalist from ever setting foot again in the country.
But for what reason? Was it because the journalist was simply telling the truth about waste pollutants in the country and trying to convince government about the need to clean up the islands?
Donovan Storey’s report meanwhile points out that the water quality is a significant problem, as is the de-foliation of the atolls to make way for housing. Much of the commercial and residential areas on South Tarawa, says Donovan, are still being plagued by garbage and the country still does not have proper legislation to deal with solid waste management or pollution of the lagoon.
And until the government can put in place “proper legislation” to tackle this environment setback, and have the resources and capacity to deal with solid waste management and illegal settlement “the problem will remain with us for a long time to come, ” says executive chairman of KANGO, Karawe Teroroko.
As an NGO umbrella association, KANGO plays a crucial role in encouraging NSAs and Civil Society Organizations in the country to actively take part in decision-making processes that aims to improve and resolve the problem.
“Lagoon pollution, in part exacerbated by the closing of the lagoon for causeways, is of increasing concern that threatens public health,” he said.

Analysis

Absolute freedom a must for the media in Kiribati

By Iaram Tabureka

THE MAINSTREAM media in Kiribati, whether we talk about print, radio and television, still have a long way to go in terms of providing specialized reporting, analytical and interpretative, as well as investigative journalism to the public.
And proofs to support this argument can be seen in the inability of the six independent news media outlets, including the state-owned Te Uekera and Radio Kiribati, to effectively and responsibly provide a balanced, analytical and interpretative reporting on the recent issues covering the controversial bank overdraft by the government, and the last general elections for MPs to the Mwaneaba ni Maungatabu.
All that we heard over the radio and read in the local newspapers were sketchy and brief news items apparently taken out and compiled from the high court and the court of appeal judgments without attempting to consult or interview the two political parties and persons concerned for their comments before and after the court hearings.
Similarly, press coverage on the results of the first and second round of elections, could have been, in my opinion, made much more interesting and informative had there been a follow-up action by reporters to interview some, if not all, of the successful leading candidates as well those who failed to make it back to the House, for their comments on why and how they had lost or won the elections.
I am sure their recorded statements would have provided an interesting and meaningful human-interest feature or hard news stories that many would have loved to hear on the radio or read about it in the papers.  
The role of the media in any democratic society, if Kiribati can be categorized as such, is not just to investigate, report and inform the public about what is happening.
The media is there to also analyze and interpret the news as they unfold to the people so that members of the public are made fully aware of the positive consequence or otherwise of the issues at stake so that they are prepared well in advance to make informed choices and better decisions on what to do accordingly. That is what I call advancement to democracy.
But the outgoing Anote Tong administration, like previous governments before him, has always been very skeptical and fearful about giving the media  absolute power and freedom as can be seen his stifling style of control to allow only minimum or zero freedom to the BPA.
This is in stark contrast with his party’s campaign promise in 2004 to make the government-owned statutory corporation an independent media body like “the BBC in London or ABC in Australia.”
Quite the reverse, the BPA and other media outlets in Kiribati are now seen more or less as government’s puppets with no clear mandate or freedom to carry out their work independently and effectively without any interference from outside. 

Keeping democracy alive: But what effects does party system have on good governance and accountability issues in Kiribati?

By Iaram Tabureka

WHEN politicians argue or talk about ethics and accountability issues and perceived levels of corruption in government or society, they are most often referring to a system of administration that is not functioning democratically and requires immediate “fixing up” to set it right.
That, according to political analysts, is a good way of keeping us informed of the activities of our elected leaders in the government, and maintaining the values of good governance in a small but developing economy like ours in Kiribati.
But how effective and successful have our MPs been in organizing and mobilizing campaigns against corruption, and to what extent have they gone through in curtailing the rising tide of concern felt and expressed by members of their own constituencies as a result of media publicity given by one newspaper against the government over such issues in the past?
Not much, I would say, if I may recall the past events in the Mwaneaba ni Maungatabu during which issues of ethics, accountability and transparency against the government, were often turned down or defeated as motions by members of the ruling BTK party which holds the majority of MPs in the House through what is known as party system consensus.
Party system consensus, whatever that term implies, certainly plays a crucial and decisive role on voting system in parliament.
But this system, according to political observers, does not constitute a true form of democracy or real meaning of the word in its true sense. 
It tends to deprive MPs of their own individual and constitutional rights to vote for something which they think is in the best interest of their people and the nation, and robs people of their rights to have access to information which they need to know in order to make informed choices and decisions about their elected leaders.
In other words, it serves only to strengthen the power base and credibility of those in authority to seek yet another term in office, whether we like it or not.
If party system is not used properly to advance the goals of good governance in Kiribati, then it can be a dangerous and destructive tool of propaganda to mislead and misinform the people.
But as equal citizens under a democratic constitution, we have an important responsibility and duty to help protect the poor and hold the powerful to account.
And as NGO members under KANGO, the national umbrella association which also promotes good governance through practices of accountability and transparency among NGOs and Civil Society Organizations, we should be wary of how this system is being used and perhaps start creating awareness of rights based approaches to the people so they know where they stand.
In doing so, the people can be assured of their rights to stand up against those responsible and help fight the cause of injustice and thereby undermine the facade of respectability so created by the government  to protect its reputation from being harmed.
Quite sadly, the four independent news media organizations in Kiribati, which should have helped create awareness of such issues, are so preoccupied with trying to make a good impression on the government they forgot to know where they should stand.

....more to come soon!