1) Vanuatu’s New UN Ambassador Vows To
Relentlessly Pursue Priorities
2) National Games Headed to Papua in 2020
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1) Vanuatu’s New UN Ambassador Vows To Relentlessly Pursue PrioritiesTevi vows to fight for West Papua, human rights, and climate change
By Godwin Ligo
PORT VILA, Vanuatu (Vanuatu Daily Post, April 3, 2014) – The newly appointed Vanuatu Ambassador to the United Nations (UN), Odo Tevi, has vowed that he will continue to pursue the issues of West Papua and the human rights, Matthew and Hunter Islands, the climate change and other Vanuatu agenda with the UN once he takes up his position in New York.
Ambassador Tevi vowed before the Head of State, Iolu Abil, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Edward Natapei, Vanuatu Foreign Affairs and senior government officials and families that he will keep the present momentum built by the present government with the United Nations (UN) in New York.
"I will work closely with the present Government of Prime Minister Moana Carcasses and keep up the momentum already established with the United Nations that Vanuatu wish to see accomplished such as the issues of West Papua, the Human Right issue and the Climate Change, especially in regard to the effect it has on smaller Pacific Island countries," said the newly appointed Vanuatu Ambassador shortly after receiving his letter of credence from the Head of State and following an oath of allegiance he took that was supervised by the Attorney General Ishmael Kalsakau. He vowed that the UN will hear Vanuatu’s voice over and over again on these issues.
In his short remarks, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Odo Tevi, pledged his support to the Government and the people of Vanuatu to do his best in serving his country and people in the United Nations. He said it is his Prayers that he will perform his duties with pride and hope for and on behalf of the government and the people of Vanuatu with his ability and integrity.
"No one knows everything nor can do everything as in our customs. However, I assure the Head of State and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs that I will not involve myself in such issues as sales of passport and or such other issues and I say this from the bottom of my heart. I accept my appointment to work with the Government of the day and to uphold the integrity of the nation and her people. Long Live Vanuatu," newly Vanuatu Ambassador Tevi gave his assurance to the Head of State, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Prime Minister, the Government and the People of Vanuatu.
Prior to Ambassador Tevi’s remark, President Abbil stated in his short remarks that he has every confidence and trust in Ambassador Tevi in his new appointment.
"You possess the quality, the value and the trust for the job you are about to undertake in New York. I have confidence and trust in you which will reflect the duties you are expected to carry out at the UN which is a large organization in the world. You will carry out you duties as entrusted to you today. The image of this country will be reflected in your work. At the same time, we do not want you to be involved in the sale passports and the related issues. Protect the integrity of the country and our people because Vanuatu has voted Vanuatu again as the happiest in the world and so protect the nation’s image and integrity," President Abbil cautioned.
Ambassador Tevi is 41 years old. He was born in 1973 and is married with one son and two daughters.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) and went to receive his Master of Arts in Development Economics from the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom. He is also a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GACD).
Tevi occupied the position of the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Vanuatu for 10 years and represented Vanuatu in numerous international and regional conferences in which he presented position papers in many of these international and regional meetings that involve policy directions.
He told Daily Post after receiving his letter of credence from the Head State that the people of Vanuatu, especially the young generation, must not stop to pursue their goals of high attainments.
"My call to the young generation and even to the people of Vanuatu in all works of life is to aim high and continue to go forward for what you believe you can do for your country, your families and yourself," Vanuatu’s new UN Ambassador encouraged the people of Vanuatu as he prepares to take on the challenges in New York shortly.
Mr Tevi took up the post after turning down an offer from the Asian Development Bank.
He replaces former Ambassador Donald Kalpokas.
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2) National Games Headed to Papua in 2020
After contributing many top athletes for Indonesia, Papua has finally gotten its chance to showcase its homegrown talent in front of the nation as the host of the 2020 National Games, the Sports Ministry announced on Thursday.
The decision was taken during the National Sports Committee’s (KONI) annual meeting early March, and will make Papua only the second province in eastern Indonesia to host the Games after South Sulawesi held the 1957 edition.
Papua ran against two other strong candidates, Bali and Aceh, in its bid. The ministry then issued a decree signed April 2 to make the decision official.
“On behalf of Papuans, we thank the government and KONI members for appointing Papua to host the Games,” Yusuf Yambe Yabdi, the secretary general of Papua provincial administration’s sports agency, said at Thursday’s press conference in Jakarta. “We are honored to bear the trust and responsibility.”
Yusuf added it was at first difficult to assure KONI members to give Papua a chance to host the Games.
“But we believe it was not the hardest part. The most difficult challenge will be to prepare the Games very well. We hope Papua can give a huge contribution to national sports development,” he said.
Yusuf said security would be a major issue to tackle, but made assurances that the local government would do its best effort to guarantee the safety of participants and visitors during the Games.
The region has for decades been the site of a low-level armed insurgency and hosts a heavy military and police presence.
“Security is a national issue which needs supports from all over the nation. We will work with police to maintain security in the province. And I can say right now that Papua is safe,” Yusuf said.
Benyamin Arisoy, the provincial administration’s finance chief, said he hoped that the hosting of the Games in Papua would “strengthen the relationship between the province and the whole nation.”
Yusuf vowed there would be full transparency in the budget for the sports extravaganza, amid fears of a repeat of the massive corruption that took place ahead of the 2012 Games in Riau and that led to the jailing of several top officials, including the Riau governor, Rusli Zainal.
Yusuf said Papuan officials would work closely with the State Finance Development Comptroller (BPKB) to ensure that the budget of Rp 9 trillion that it has requested will be put to good use.
The budget plan calls for building new sports infrastructure and renovate nine existing venues in Mimika, Biak, Merauke, Wamena and Jayapura.
“The budget will come from the local and central governments, and also sponsors. There’s an allocation for the Games in our regional budget,” Yusuf said.
Djoko Pekik, a Sports Ministry official, called the decision to award the Games to Papua, an impoverished province that has over the years churned out some of the country’s top football and track and field athletes, a “huge step that shows equality in our country’s sports development.”
The decision was taken during the National Sports Committee’s (KONI) annual meeting early March, and will make Papua only the second province in eastern Indonesia to host the Games after South Sulawesi held the 1957 edition.
Papua ran against two other strong candidates, Bali and Aceh, in its bid. The ministry then issued a decree signed April 2 to make the decision official.
“On behalf of Papuans, we thank the government and KONI members for appointing Papua to host the Games,” Yusuf Yambe Yabdi, the secretary general of Papua provincial administration’s sports agency, said at Thursday’s press conference in Jakarta. “We are honored to bear the trust and responsibility.”
Yusuf added it was at first difficult to assure KONI members to give Papua a chance to host the Games.
“But we believe it was not the hardest part. The most difficult challenge will be to prepare the Games very well. We hope Papua can give a huge contribution to national sports development,” he said.
Yusuf said security would be a major issue to tackle, but made assurances that the local government would do its best effort to guarantee the safety of participants and visitors during the Games.
The region has for decades been the site of a low-level armed insurgency and hosts a heavy military and police presence.
“Security is a national issue which needs supports from all over the nation. We will work with police to maintain security in the province. And I can say right now that Papua is safe,” Yusuf said.
Benyamin Arisoy, the provincial administration’s finance chief, said he hoped that the hosting of the Games in Papua would “strengthen the relationship between the province and the whole nation.”
Yusuf vowed there would be full transparency in the budget for the sports extravaganza, amid fears of a repeat of the massive corruption that took place ahead of the 2012 Games in Riau and that led to the jailing of several top officials, including the Riau governor, Rusli Zainal.
Yusuf said Papuan officials would work closely with the State Finance Development Comptroller (BPKB) to ensure that the budget of Rp 9 trillion that it has requested will be put to good use.
The budget plan calls for building new sports infrastructure and renovate nine existing venues in Mimika, Biak, Merauke, Wamena and Jayapura.
“The budget will come from the local and central governments, and also sponsors. There’s an allocation for the Games in our regional budget,” Yusuf said.
Djoko Pekik, a Sports Ministry official, called the decision to award the Games to Papua, an impoverished province that has over the years churned out some of the country’s top football and track and field athletes, a “huge step that shows equality in our country’s sports development.”
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