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PIANGO Monthly v1.1

This newsletter is produced with financial assistance from the Commonwealth Foundation, OSB and CCFD.

Editorial

Greetings to you all from the PIANGO Secretariat. This is not a replacement of the Piango Link but a supplement to keep members updated on a more regular basis on proceedings within the Secretariat. If you have an idea about what PIANGO's official logo should look like, please give us a call.

PIANGO Secretariat Set-up in Nadi, Fiji

The Pacific Islands Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (PIANGO) has finally set up base in Nadi, Fiji. PIANGO's first full-time coordinator, Henry Vira from Vanuatu moved with his family to Nadi on the 15th of January 1998 to take up a three year contract with the Association. The Secretariat is located in a double storey building on the corner of Zahoor Rd. and Haji St. in Martintar, Nadi. The office is suitably located due to its central location and close proximity to taxis, buses, and hotel facilities. The ground floor is being used as a office while the coordinator is housed upstairs. The Secretariat has 5 main rooms, one of whihc is currently being used as the main office. Two rooms will be set up for accomodation purposes for PIANGO or Non-Governmetnal Organisation members passing through Nadi. The living area will be set up as a resource center. The kitchen and dining area will be equipped to cater for those needing accomodation. The office is now up and running with its own fax, electronic mail system and postal address.

Setting up of the office has been no easy task. The main problem being that the coordinator's work permit has not yet been issued. This has led to a number of hassles such as difficulties in opeining a bank account and setting up the communication systems. These problems have largely been overcome but absence of a work permit has limited the extent to which objectives can be met. In addition, the Memorandum of Understanding between PIANGO and the Fiji Government is still in negotiation. Despite these setbacks, proceedings wouold not have progressed this far without the invaluable assistance of Mrs. Suliana Siwatibau, Mr Baleilevuka (Head Master of Namaka Public School, Nadi), John Taylor and Azam Kahn (both members of PIANGO's Management Working Group).

PIANGO Resource Centre

The PIANGO Secretariat is planning on developing a resource centre and is seeking the assistance of members to make this a reality. The main idea is to have a centre that reflects the composition of PIANGO's membership and the region that they represent. If your organisation wishes to contribute ideas or materials, contact the Secretariat by fax, phone, e-mail or by post on the numbers given.

Materials may include your organisation's pamphlet, newletters, reports, articles, photos, videos, recordings, artifacts, books, etc. As part of the resource centre, members passing through Nadi may also, with prior approval from the Coordinator, have access to equipment belonging to the Secretariat, such as fax, phone, email, etc, and of course for a small fee.

PIANGO Secretariat official opening

There is still no confirmed date for the official opeining of the PIANGO Secretariat. This was to coincide with PIANGO's Coordinating Committee meeting which was originally planned for February 1998 to be held in Nadi. A second date which was proposed for the 25th to the 27th of March did not have much support from members, most of whom have commitments during that perido. The current suggestion is for the 15th to the 17th of April 1998.

Convenors of PIANGO's Management, Indigenous Rights, Economic, Social and Environment Working Groups will also be attending this meeting. Current convenors and Working Group members include:
INDIGENOUS RIGHTS: Professor Kekuni Blaisdell (Convenor, Hawaii), Caren Wycliffe (Angoa), Roland Oldham (Hiti Tau), Joy Balazo (ACFOA), Hugo Chavez (Rapanui), KANAKY, WEST PAPUA
MANAGEMENT: Joe Ogai (Convenor, NANGO, PNG), Phillip Hoezenroeder (OSB), Hassan Khan (FCOSS), Azam Khan (FCOSS), John Taylor (CUSO)
Environment: SUNGO (convenor), TANGO, NIANGO, VANGO, CIANGO, WWF Pacific
Social: TANGO (Tonga, Convenor), NIANGO, FCOSS, TANGO (Tuvalu), KANGO, DSE, NANGO, PCC
ECONOMIC: Bill Armstrong (OSB).
(Membership and terms of reference still to be endorsed by the Coordinating Committee.)