SOUTH PACIFIC REGIONAL ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME (SPREP)
Apia, Samoa
NEWS RELEASE
August 18, 2000
REGIONAL FORECASTERS IN APIA SEARCH FOR CLEARER SKIES
Weather forecasters from 20 Pacific Islands countries have
gathered for three days of talks in Samoa, on how to improve
meteorological services across the region. Joining them are
members from international meteorological organizations and
services from around the world.
On hand to officially open the meeting, Samoa’s Agriculture,
Forest and Fisheries Mafasolia Papua Vaai congratulated the 50
representatives on their work, which he described as frequently
difficult given the amount of public scrutiny, responsibility,
and trust involved.
"When you are correct no one seems to remember or people take for
granted (that) it’s your lucky day. However, when it is the
opposite, I am sure it will hit the front page. Nevertheless you
must remain patient and understanding," he said.
The director of the South Pacific Environment Program (SPREP),
Mr. Tamari’i Tutangata, told the meeting that the majority of
Pacific Island meteorological stations were struggling to provide
basic services to their communities, often due to constraints
within national budgets.
"This poses a dilemma to development partners which… prefer not
to be committed to any ongoing costs that may be associated with
the provision of technical infrastructure," he said.
Funding and other issues are likely to be thrashed out during key
talks on a Needs Analysis Project, which began in 1993 and was
completed in June. A Strategic Action Plan to take regional
meteorological services through to the year 2009, plus 21 other
technical reports, will also be up for discussion.
Mr. Tutangata emphasized that despite the numerous difficulties
faced by weather services and staff, SPREP believes that real
progress towards the goals of having "all metrological services
in the region being able to fully provide all appropriate
services to your respective nations through skilled and fully
trained professionals" is now being made.
The countries and territories attending are: American Samoa,
Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji,
Finland, French Polynesia, Italy, Kiribati, Marshall Islands,
Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea,
Peoples Republic of China, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Switzerland,
Tonga, Tuvalu, United States of America, Vanuatu and Wallis and
Futuna.
SOURCE: Pacific Islands Report
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