by Emelda Davis on Saturday, March 26, 2011 at 7:25am
Ms Emelda Davis, CEO and Chairman of the 10-member Board of the recently established Australian South Sea Islanders (Port Jackson) Limited (ASSI PJ), in response to the Hon Ralph Regenvanu, Member of Parliament for Port Vilia and recently appointed Minister for Justice in his message to the Australian Government (Australian Online March 22, 2011 1:00PM) says:
"The Board and members of ASSI.PJ not only welcome but wholeheartedly support Vanuatu MP and Justice Minister Ralph Regenvanu’s message to the Australian Government seeking a closer working relationship between Australia and Vanuatu.
"It is gratifying to see someone in such a prominent position championing the issues of redress in relation to the history of not only Pacific Island States but also Pacific Islanders and their Australian-born South Sea Islander descendants’ industrial and economic contributions to the development of the Australian nation.
ASSI.JP is a not-for-profit Sydney based community representative body that provides a contact point for networking and community programs for descendants of the Pacific Islander indentured labourers."
Ms Davis continues: "Minister Ralph Regenvanu’s message is a timely and welcomed call for the Australian Government to resurrect the commitment which was derived from the 1992 HREOC Report "A call for Recognition”, the Commonwealth Governments subsequent recognition of Australian-born South Sea Islanders (ASSI) as a distinct minority of disadvantaged Australians in 1994, the need to address such disadvantage followed up by a Memorandum to Ministers of his NSW Cabinet by Premier Bob Carr in 1994, and Recognition by the Queensland Government together with a Strategic Plan of Action in 2000 which subsequently followed federal recognition.
"However ASSI are neither Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, nor immigrant and regardless of recognition, we are still not adequately provided for in programs and services delivered by federal, state, territorial or local governments and that is why the need to set up ASSI PJ has become urgent.
"Federal, State, Territorial and Local Interdepartmental Action plans, together with Church and Philanthropic bodies in the NGO community who have benefitted from the slave labour, from the unskilled labour, and the skilled labour of ASSI men and women in the development of Primary, Secondary, Tertiary and Technological Industries, to support ASSI and ASSI organisations like ASSI.PJ and ASSIC Tweed in New South Wales, for example... is long overdue, given that seventeen years will have elapsed by 25 August 2011, since federal recognition
"ASSI.PJ on behalf of its members and the ASSI community aspire to develop a culturally pluralistic society in Australia in reconciling with our Vanuatu and other Pacific Islander countries and families.
"Like the rest of the ASSI community, Members of ASSI.PJ are descendants from the many thousands of Pacific Islanders kidnapped or recruited during the latter half of the 19th century, from Islands mainly in Melanesia, Micronesia but also from Polynesia, to work in conditions of slavery at the start and development of industries of the British - squattocracy which became Australian-settler enterprises including Sugar, Cotton, Sheep, Cattle, Pearling, Harbours & Marine, Mining, Railways and Roadways, and were called and known as South Sea Islanders or Kanakas
"Some ASSI families have reached 7, 8 or more generations of being Australian and ASSI.PJ has been formed to bring an awareness of our place in the development of two centuries of Australian prosperity and society; and though up to now many ASSI are not persuaded that we have benefitted from that well-known prosperity, with the willingness from Governments and Public Sector assistance with ASSI.PJ Strategies for Access and Equity, our vision for the ASSI can become realities.
"ASSI.PJ's vision includes making widely known to the ASSI community, its rich history in both the islands from whence their Ancestors came, and their contribution to Australian Society; Family links and connections; and the untapped potential for business development opportunities that exist for us, not only in Australia, but beyond in the Asia, Pacific, American, African, Middle Eastern and European Economic Communities, respectively."
In conclusion, Ms Davis said "that she and the ASSI community and ASSI PJ in particular, take this opportunity to convey their congratulations and sincere good wishes to Minister Regenvanue in his important portfolio in the Vanuatu Government together with their appreciation and gratitude for the significant issues he has brought to the Australian Government, particularly for the ASSI community of Australians."
--
For Media Enquiries:
Contact: Emelda Davis - Chairperson / Administrator
Australian South Sea Islanders (Port Jackson)
PO Box 117, Pyrmont SYDNEY NSW 2009
m: (61.2) + 416300946 f: (61.2) 95714326
e: assi.pj@gmail.com
Join our facebook members page;
(supported by www.onyxmanagementgroup.com)
"The Board and members of ASSI.PJ not only welcome but wholeheartedly support Vanuatu MP and Justice Minister Ralph Regenvanu’s message to the Australian Government seeking a closer working relationship between Australia and Vanuatu.
"It is gratifying to see someone in such a prominent position championing the issues of redress in relation to the history of not only Pacific Island States but also Pacific Islanders and their Australian-born South Sea Islander descendants’ industrial and economic contributions to the development of the Australian nation.
ASSI.JP is a not-for-profit Sydney based community representative body that provides a contact point for networking and community programs for descendants of the Pacific Islander indentured labourers."
Ms Davis continues: "Minister Ralph Regenvanu’s message is a timely and welcomed call for the Australian Government to resurrect the commitment which was derived from the 1992 HREOC Report "A call for Recognition”, the Commonwealth Governments subsequent recognition of Australian-born South Sea Islanders (ASSI) as a distinct minority of disadvantaged Australians in 1994, the need to address such disadvantage followed up by a Memorandum to Ministers of his NSW Cabinet by Premier Bob Carr in 1994, and Recognition by the Queensland Government together with a Strategic Plan of Action in 2000 which subsequently followed federal recognition.
"However ASSI are neither Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, nor immigrant and regardless of recognition, we are still not adequately provided for in programs and services delivered by federal, state, territorial or local governments and that is why the need to set up ASSI PJ has become urgent.
"Federal, State, Territorial and Local Interdepartmental Action plans, together with Church and Philanthropic bodies in the NGO community who have benefitted from the slave labour, from the unskilled labour, and the skilled labour of ASSI men and women in the development of Primary, Secondary, Tertiary and Technological Industries, to support ASSI and ASSI organisations like ASSI.PJ and ASSIC Tweed in New South Wales, for example... is long overdue, given that seventeen years will have elapsed by 25 August 2011, since federal recognition
"ASSI.PJ on behalf of its members and the ASSI community aspire to develop a culturally pluralistic society in Australia in reconciling with our Vanuatu and other Pacific Islander countries and families.
"Like the rest of the ASSI community, Members of ASSI.PJ are descendants from the many thousands of Pacific Islanders kidnapped or recruited during the latter half of the 19th century, from Islands mainly in Melanesia, Micronesia but also from Polynesia, to work in conditions of slavery at the start and development of industries of the British - squattocracy which became Australian-settler enterprises including Sugar, Cotton, Sheep, Cattle, Pearling, Harbours & Marine, Mining, Railways and Roadways, and were called and known as South Sea Islanders or Kanakas
"Some ASSI families have reached 7, 8 or more generations of being Australian and ASSI.PJ has been formed to bring an awareness of our place in the development of two centuries of Australian prosperity and society; and though up to now many ASSI are not persuaded that we have benefitted from that well-known prosperity, with the willingness from Governments and Public Sector assistance with ASSI.PJ Strategies for Access and Equity, our vision for the ASSI can become realities.
"ASSI.PJ's vision includes making widely known to the ASSI community, its rich history in both the islands from whence their Ancestors came, and their contribution to Australian Society; Family links and connections; and the untapped potential for business development opportunities that exist for us, not only in Australia, but beyond in the Asia, Pacific, American, African, Middle Eastern and European Economic Communities, respectively."
In conclusion, Ms Davis said "that she and the ASSI community and ASSI PJ in particular, take this opportunity to convey their congratulations and sincere good wishes to Minister Regenvanue in his important portfolio in the Vanuatu Government together with their appreciation and gratitude for the significant issues he has brought to the Australian Government, particularly for the ASSI community of Australians."
--
For Media Enquiries:
Contact: Emelda Davis - Chairperson / Administrator
Australian South Sea Islanders (Port Jackson)
PO Box 117, Pyrmont SYDNEY NSW 2009
m: (61.2) + 416300946 f: (61.2) 95714326
e: assi.pj@gmail.com
Join our facebook members page;
(supported by www.onyxmanagementgroup.com)
