A member of the Tautua Party believes an MP who used to be with them should be the target of the Prime Minister’s anger.
Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi said in Parliament on the day of the second reading of the Amendment Bill that MPs who change parties are the ones who want more benefits. But Levaopolo Talatonu of the Tautua Party said Tuilaepa should say this to the MP he is referring to.
“Say that to the other MP of Safata,” Levaopolo said. “We are not searching for material benefits, and the only good example of that kind of person is the one I’ve mentioned.” Levaopolo said this MP went to the Human Rights Protection Party's fundraising in New Zealand.
“We are not that type, we fight for the benefit of this country,” he said. The MP of Gagaemauga No. 1 said he strongly believes this is the kind of person who changes parties. “And I tell you, that person will end up nowhere,” he said.
He also reminded the PM that he is not a coward. “I say to Tuilaepa, if he is not a coward then we (only him and me) go back to by-elections,” he said. But in reply Tuilaepa said why him.
“Was I voted?” the PM asked. “Just tell him to go back to by-election but not me because I was not voted by my constituency. “I was selected.”
The media should stop interviewing the Tautua Party. This is the advice from the Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi. “Those are childish comments, you should not interview kids,” he told the media.
Asked about his comments on what the Tautua had said of him being a coward, Tuilaepa replied it was useless to answer these comments. “These are the types of comments you just bring it and throw them into the deep blue sea,” he said. He said the guidelines given to them are simple.
“It’s easy, they just have to go back to by-elections, and if not, then it’s true they are the cowards,” he said.
Asked comment on Palus
alue Fa’apo II’s accusation that he is a coward and that the HRPP might fall apart, Tuilaepa said Palu right now is very embarrassing. “He’s embarrassing because he has overstepped and gone beyond himself and found out later what he is doing is useless,” he said.
“That is why I said, just leave those childish comments and do some useful things for Samoa this time.” The row between the Tautua and the government is because of the Amendment Bill for the Constitution. The parliament waits for 90 days for these changes to become law.
If it passes, then Tautua will no longer exist and be considered as Independent MP’s in Parliament. Tautua said they will not take this matter to court but decided to take it and move forward.
The road to Jet Over Hotel is to be closed just days from now by the family claiming part of the land the road is on. No motor vehicles can access the hotel from then.
Guests will be able to get to the hotel if they go through the Bluebird Mall immediately inland of it. But earlier this month the same landowners, who claim part of the land the mall is on, have given notice they want use of their land for the mall stopped three months hence.
They gave the head of the mall (and Jet Over Hotel), Fa’amausili Andrew Ah Liki, the notice of three months, by letter on the 7th of this month, Fiu Gasologa V. Foloki, said yesterday.
Fiu Gasologa V. Foloki.
Fiu said he represents the family who owns the land mentioned. They will close the road in one week, he said. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has also been informed of their decision, he said.
They weren’t consulted on
the reclamation project before it was carried out by both MNRE and Fa’amausili, as is required, Fiu said. “It is not right.” Discussions with both parties have failed to resolve the matter to Fiu’s satisfaction.
The land used by Bluebird Mall was leased to them for 10 years. A new lease was entered to around 15 January this year, with his mother and sister signing for their family, said Fiu.
He said he put a stop to the lease out of discontent with certain aspects of it. He is also upset by aspects of the lease of the reclaimed area between MNRE and the businessman beyond the initial issue of not being consulted. They will lay a complaint in court about the matter, he said. He, his mother, two sisters and a younger brother are joint owners of the land concerned, Fiu said.
Fa’amausili could not be reached for comment yesterday. The hotel and mall is a five minute walk from Salelologa Wharf in Savai’i Island.
The road to Jet Over Hotel is to be closed just days from now by the family claiming part of the land the road is on. No motor vehicles can access the hotel from then.
Guests will be able to get to the hotel if they go through the Bluebird Mall immediately inland of it. But earlier this month the same landowners, who claim part of the land the mall is on, have given notice they want use of their land for the mall stopped three months hence.
They gave the head of the mall (and Jet Over Hotel), Fa’amausili Andrew Ah Liki, the notice of three months, by letter on the 7th of this month, Fiu Gasologa V. Foloki, said yesterday.
Fiu Gasologa V. Foloki.
Fiu said he represents the family who owns the land mentioned. They will close the road in one week, he said. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has also been informed of their decision, he said.
They weren’t consulted on
the reclamation project before it was carried out by both MNRE and Fa’amausili, as is required, Fiu said. “It is not right.” Discussions with both parties have failed to resolve the matter to Fiu’s satisfaction.
The land used by Bluebird Mall was leased to them for 10 years. A new lease was entered to around 15 January this year, with his mother and sister signing for their family, said Fiu.
He said he put a stop to the lease out of discontent with certain aspects of it. He is also upset by aspects of the lease of the reclaimed area between MNRE and the businessman beyond the initial issue of not being consulted. They will lay a complaint in court about the matter, he said. He, his mother, two sisters and a younger brother are joint owners of the land concerned, Fiu said.
Fa’amausili could not be reached for comment yesterday. The hotel and mall is a five minute walk from Salelologa Wharf in Savai’i Island.
Here is one of the main reason why business people should think twice about starting a business on custom land..They will lowball you and then kick your ass of once they see you have something..Never fails.
The road to Jet Over Hotel is to be closed just days from now by the family claiming part of the land the road is on. No motor vehicles can access the hotel from then.
Guests will be able to get to the hotel if they go through the Bluebird Mall immediately inland of it. But earlier this month the same landowners, who claim part of the land the mall is on, have given notice they want use of their land for the mall stopped three months hence.
They gave the head of the mall (and Jet Over Hotel), Fa’amausili Andrew Ah Liki, the notice of three months, by letter on the 7th of this month, Fiu Gasologa V. Foloki, said yesterday.
Fiu Gasologa V. Foloki.
Fiu said he represents the family who owns the land mentioned. They will close the road in one week, he said. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has also been informed of their decision, he said.
They weren’t consulted on
the reclamation project before it was carried out by both MNRE and Fa’amausili, as is required, Fiu said. “It is not right.” Discussions with both parties have failed to resolve the matter to Fiu’s satisfaction.
The land used by Bluebird Mall was leased to them for 10 years. A new lease was entered to around 15 January this year, with his mother and sister signing for their family, said Fiu.
He said he put a stop to the lease out of discontent with certain aspects of it. He is also upset by aspects of the lease of the reclaimed area between MNRE and the businessman beyond the initial issue of not being consulted. They will lay a complaint in court about the matter, he said. He, his mother, two sisters and a younger brother are joint owners of the land concerned, Fiu said.
Fa’amausili could not be reached for comment yesterday. The hotel and mall is a five minute walk from Salelologa Wharf in Savai’i Island.
Here is one of the main reason why business people should think twice about starting a business on custom land..They will lowball you and then kick your ass of once they see you have something..Never fails.
too much lokoleaga, like that saying, if you see someone doing better "e kaumafai a le isi Samoa e koso le isi Samoa i lalo. sad sad dad and dumb.
A member of the Tautua Party believes an MP who used to be with them should be the target of the Prime Minister’s anger.
Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi said in Parliament on the day of the second reading of the Amendment Bill that MPs who change parties are the ones who want more benefits. But Levaopolo Talatonu of the Tautua Party said Tuilaepa should say this to the MP he is referring to.
“Say that to the other MP of Safata,” Levaopolo said. “We are not searching for material benefits, and the only good example of that kind of person is the one I’ve mentioned.” Levaopolo said this MP went to the Human Rights Protection Party's fundraising in New Zealand.
“We are not that type, we fight for the benefit of this country,” he said. The MP of Gagaemauga No. 1 said he strongly believes this is the kind of person who changes parties. “And I tell you, that person will end up nowhere,” he said.
He also reminded the PM that he is not a coward. “I say to Tuilaepa, if he is not a coward then we (only him and me) go back to by-elections,” he said. But in reply Tuilaepa said why him.
“Was I voted?” the PM asked. “Just tell him to go back to by-election but not me because I was not voted by my constituency. “I was selected.”
No you know nothing abt our govt in Samoa hahaha Why dont you look at yourself you crooked ass person. People like you worried about how the government of Samoa run and how they spend the money....???? i hope you did help ???? stop talking non sesnse... Tuilaepa is doing a really good job. Aua le masalosalo...aua le lotoleaga! Go and plant some taro and fa'i in your dads back yard.
Senior heads in the media have been blamed for not establishing a council to monitor standards of reporting in Samoa. The blame came from Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi when he denied claims of aid relief abuse.
The Prime Minister told the media such claims should be investigated before they are publicised. “Why haven’t you been able to set up a body where you can investigate yourselves?” Tuilaepa asked.
“I’m talking about journalists who carry stories without investigating them first. In New Zealand and Australia, they have councils, who punish writers like that.
“But we cannot have a council in Samoa when the old heads running newspapers lead by example in bringing crooked stories. The Prime Minister said there are many “under-educated journalists” in Samoa.
“I’m challenging the newspaper operators, the senior heads, the ones who boast about preven
ting good stories from reaching overseas,” he said. “The only stories you are sending overseas are bad, unfounded stories. I urge your journalist association to form a special council to rule the reports by these boys and girls who write these make up stories.”
The Prime Minister denied claims of aid relief rorts saying international relief is reaching disaster victims. He challenged the media to go and see. “Stop relying on statements from the government. You go see,” he said.
The rainy season was a concern, he said. “The rainy season is here, the people fixing roads should look at fixing roads because of the dirt,” he said.
Tuilaepa saod help was on the way for people living in tarpaulins and tents. “Some houses are up. But others should begin this week.
Some families waited to see what kind of assistance they could get from the government, which is why the government decided to act immediately.” Cabinet has approved $18,000 for each family affected.
Senior heads in the media have been blamed for not establishing a council to monitor standards of reporting in Samoa. The blame came from Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi when he denied claims of aid relief abuse.
The Prime Minister told the media such claims should be investigated before they are publicised. “Why haven’t you been able to set up a body where you can investigate yourselves?” Tuilaepa asked.
“I’m talking about journalists who carry stories without investigating them first. In New Zealand and Australia, they have councils, who punish writers like that.
“But we cannot have a council in Samoa when the old heads running newspapers lead by example in bringing crooked stories. The Prime Minister said there are many “under-educated journalists” in Samoa.
“I’m challenging the newspaper operators, the senior heads, the ones who boast about preven
ting good stories from reaching overseas,” he said. “The only stories you are sending overseas are bad, unfounded stories. I urge your journalist association to form a special council to rule the reports by these boys and girls who write these make up stories.”
The Prime Minister denied claims of aid relief rorts saying international relief is reaching disaster victims. He challenged the media to go and see. “Stop relying on statements from the government. You go see,” he said.
The rainy season was a concern, he said. “The rainy season is here, the people fixing roads should look at fixing roads because of the dirt,” he said.
Tuilaepa saod help was on the way for people living in tarpaulins and tents. “Some houses are up. But others should begin this week.
Some families waited to see what kind of assistance they could get from the government, which is why the government decided to act immediately.” Cabinet has approved $18,000 for each family affected.
GOOD ON YOU PM SLAMS AND SPAM THEM FOREVER LOL WHY CANT THESE PEOPLE JUST WORRIED ABT HELPING OUT, RATHER THAN TRYIN TO BLAME THE PRIME MINISTER ALL THE TIME..MAKING UP FALSE INFORMATION AND MISLEAD STORIES ON THE NEWS PAPER....NOT ONLY THEY BLAME CHURCHES FOR GIVING LESS, THE GOVT, THE PRIME MINISTER WAT ELSE, WAT NEXT .....? MUST BE A VERY BORING JOB....LOL
Today’s topic: If it means refraining from publishing aid abuse, that simply cannot be done
Despite our freedom to express our differences of opinion – and we should be thankful that we are able to enjoy such a luxury when others in the world around us are denied it – we share a common goal.
It is to urgently assist the victims of the tsunami get back on their feet so that they can resume a normal life. That’s the priority.
And yet such a goal would be a futile task if we are to continue the finger-pointing, heavy-handed drubbing levelled at those at the forefront of this unenviable effort, and the ever ubiquitous, alleged abuse of aid.
Since the arrival several weeks ago of aid intended to help the tsunami victims there have been reports it was being abused. But that should not surprise anyone. We just have to keep reminding ourselves that like everything else that’s free, aid will be abused one way or another. There is no guarantee it won’t be. Such is the law of life which insists that neither human nature nor what else’s under the sun is perfect; which is why preventive measures are put in place to help trim the abuse.
But then aid is a somewhat nebulous commodity. All we know about it is that it is a gift from decent, loving people – some we know of, others we don’t – who are moved by their conscience to lend a helping hand. And since there are no conditions attached to this aid, it is surely vulnerable to abuse. Which is where the media – both public and private – have an important role to play; they are duty-bound to help control this abuse.
They do this by simply by making public any abuse wherever it rears its head with the idea of stopping it immediately, otherwise it would spread like a virus destroying any effort to achieve the desired goal. It follows that we all knew – perhaps with the exception of prime minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi – that aid abuse simply cannot be avoided. Last week he launched an attack against the media accusing them of irresponsible reporting in connection with the alleged abuse of aid; it was a condescendingly virulent assault.
Saying the reports – he was not particular which ones – should have been investigated before they were published, he wanted to know: “Why haven’t you been able to set up a body where you can investigate yourselves? “I’m talking about journalists who carry stories without investigating them first. In New Zealand and Australia, they have councils who punish writers like that.”
Well, what stories are we talking about here? Because as far as we are aware all the stories published in these newspapers about alleged aid abuse told the truth so that no investigation was necessary.
However, if the idea is to exert pressure on the media to refrain from publishing alleged aid abuse so as to avoid disruption to the incoming flow of aid, well that then simply cannot be done.
The way we see it, Samoa is neither New Zealand nor Australia. We are supposed to be a sovereign nation independent and free. Why then must our government continue to turn the clock backwards and look askance over its shoulder like a cripple incapable of walking unaided?
Besides Tuilaepa’s comparison is stiff punishment in itself. Why does the government insist on using veiled threats such as “punishing writers” as if this country’s so-called protectors of human rights had not frowned on those very rights, when it “punished writers” in the past? Now as if to prove he can also be brutally dismissive, he denounces: “But we cannot have a council in Samoa when the old heads running newspapers lead by example in bringing crooked stories.”
Fine. But what “crooked stories” is he talking about now? Would someone point one of them out? Since from where we’re sitting there’s none in view; which gives rise to the suggestion that perhaps a quid pro quo is what’s needed.
If the media is to be self-regulated by a media council, then Parliament should also be self-regulated by a parliamentary council. We know it’s ludicrous thinking about it, and we expect the government to start laughing boisterously the moment it hears about it. But given the kind of crude word slugging among our political leaders during recent times, some sort of civility should be exercised with the idea of restoring respect and dignity in the House.
Still, perhaps it’s time for the government to outgrow its fear of being criticised and think of the private media not as an enemy but as a partner in the national building process. Think also about the wicked legislation threatening freedom of expression such as the Printers and Publishers Act 1992, and the sinisterly archaic law of Criminal Libel.
Whereas the first impedes the free flow of information by threatening to punish their sources thus discouraging them, the second, designed to thwart treason and rebellion during colonial times, was used not long ago in an attempt to send a dissenting journalist to jail.
We believe that both laws are not needed in Samoa. They should therefore be repealed. Because clearly, neither of them is required in a peaceful country where not one journalist harbours any intention of doing anything more harmful than telling the truth, and nothing but the truth.
And finally, I feel – albeit reluctantly – that a response to “orator” who commented on the editorial “Church, politics and aid” published on the paper’s Online Edition on 18 October 2009, is warranted. Unedited, this is what “orator” said.
“First of all, I’ve never heard a donation from your newspaper, SamoaObserver to the people of the tsunami. Face the facts you are benefit alot from the disaster in filling your paper with news everyday. Again, it is not your choice to question EFKS money. It’s not yours ... Hope one day there will be a tsunami killing more than 10 people in your family, then you will understand that any donation from a Church will help you rebuilding the damage from the disaster…”
He said more. However what we want “orator” to know is that we don’t advertise what we donate, especially during times of grief. We prefer to keep that to ourselves and there it shall remain, until now that he has ruffled the pool of emotions.
What we also want “orator” to know is that we were among the first to arrive at the site of the tsunami after it’d struck. During the first two days we took over truck-loads of supplies, and donated money to victims as well. Besides, it was the paper’s prompt Online coverage that alerted the world about the plight of the tsunami victims, and resulted in the relatively quick inflow of assistance and aid.
But this newspaper’s service has been ongoing for the last 30 years; it did not just start after the tsunami. And since we don’t believe “orator” knows what’s involved in keeping such a service going and why, there’s no point in trying to educate him.
As for the EFKS, we are its strong supporters and will remain so until the bones drop away and die. When the church’s appeal for help for the victims came, we again donated without question. This is to say EFKS’ money is our money too and our church leaders also respect everyone’s right to ask questions.
As for “orator’s” wish for another tsunami to kill ten family members to teach the meaning of a church donation, well, perhaps he should mull that one over some more then tell us where his mind will have led him the next time he shows us what he’s thinking.
Senior heads in the media have been blamed for not establishing a council to monitor standards of reporting in Samoa. The blame came from Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi when he denied claims of aid relief abuse.
The Prime Minister told the media such claims should be investigated before they are publicised. “Why haven’t you been able to set up a body where you can investigate yourselves?” Tuilaepa asked.
“I’m talking about journalists who carry stories without investigating them first. In New Zealand and Australia, they have councils, who punish writers like that.
“But we cannot have a council in Samoa when the old heads running newspapers lead by example in bringing crooked stories. The Prime Minister said there are many “under-educated journalists” in Samoa.
“I’m challenging the newspaper operators, the senior heads, the ones who boast about preven
ting good stories from reaching overseas,” he said. “The only stories you are sending overseas are bad, unfounded stories. I urge your journalist association to form a special council to rule the reports by these boys and girls who write these make up stories.”
The Prime Minister denied claims of aid relief rorts saying international relief is reaching disaster victims. He challenged the media to go and see. “Stop relying on statements from the government. You go see,” he said.
The rainy season was a concern, he said. “The rainy season is here, the people fixing roads should look at fixing roads because of the dirt,” he said.
Tuilaepa saod help was on the way for people living in tarpaulins and tents. “Some houses are up. But others should begin this week.
Some families waited to see what kind of assistance they could get from the government, which is why the government decided to act immediately.” Cabinet has approved $18,000 for each family affected.
GOOD ON YOU PM SLAMS AND SPAM THEM FOREVER LOL WHY CANT THESE PEOPLE JUST WORRIED ABT HELPING OUT, RATHER THAN TRYIN TO BLAME THE PRIME MINISTER ALL THE TIME..MAKING UP FALSE INFORMATION AND MISLEAD STORIES ON THE NEWS PAPER....NOT ONLY THEY BLAME CHURCHES FOR GIVING LESS, THE GOVT, THE PRIME MINISTER WAT ELSE, WAT NEXT .....? MUST BE A VERY BORING JOB....LOL
Oh come on give the PM some B R E A K please hahaha! But im thinking i wish our Prime Minister at least gave the Construction Ltd 50,000 for each houses, 18,000 is NOT ENOUGH!
20 houses for a 1milllion dollar - thats a 50,000 for each house. To built 400 houses, we are looking at 20 million dollars. I'm sure we had more than 20 million dollars in the Tsunami schemes/Bank ..looking at all the fundings, and help from New Zealand, Australia, USA etc etc....I'm sure the government of SAMOA can afford 50,000 for each houses! And what ever left for the roads and eletricity, water etc etc....What do you think peoples? My heart goes out to these Companies offered to do the work, they cant pay these workers. These workers needs to put food on the table for their families as well.
Please Prime Minister at least 50,000 for each families NOT 18,000. thanks
Senior heads in the media have been blamed for not establishing a council to monitor standards of reporting in Samoa. The blame came from Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi when he denied claims of aid relief abuse.
The Prime Minister told the media such claims should be investigated before they are publicised. “Why haven’t you been able to set up a body where you can investigate yourselves?” Tuilaepa asked.
“I’m talking about journalists who carry stories without investigating them first. In New Zealand and Australia, they have councils, who punish writers like that.
“But we cannot have a council in Samoa when the old heads running newspapers lead by example in bringing crooked stories. The Prime Minister said there are many “under-educated journalists” in Samoa.
“I’m challenging the newspaper operators, the senior heads, the ones who boast about preven
ting good stories from reaching overseas,” he said. “The only stories you are sending overseas are bad, unfounded stories. I urge your journalist association to form a special council to rule the reports by these boys and girls who write these make up stories.”
The Prime Minister denied claims of aid relief rorts saying international relief is reaching disaster victims. He challenged the media to go and see. “Stop relying on statements from the government. You go see,” he said.
The rainy season was a concern, he said. “The rainy season is here, the people fixing roads should look at fixing roads because of the dirt,” he said.
Tuilaepa saod help was on the way for people living in tarpaulins and tents. “Some houses are up. But others should begin this week.
Some families waited to see what kind of assistance they could get from the government, which is why the government decided to act immediately.” Cabinet has approved $18,000 for each family affected.
GOOD ON YOU PM SLAMS AND SPAM THEM FOREVER LOL WHY CANT THESE PEOPLE JUST WORRIED ABT HELPING OUT, RATHER THAN TRYIN TO BLAME THE PRIME MINISTER ALL THE TIME..MAKING UP FALSE INFORMATION AND MISLEAD STORIES ON THE NEWS PAPER....NOT ONLY THEY BLAME CHURCHES FOR GIVING LESS, THE GOVT, THE PRIME MINISTER WAT ELSE, WAT NEXT .....? MUST BE A VERY BORING JOB....LOL
Oh come on give the PM some B R E A K please hahaha! But im thinking i wish our Prime Minister at least gave the Construction Ltd 50,000 for each houses, 18,000 is NOT ENOUGH!
20 houses for a 1milllion dollar - thats a 50,000 for each house. To built 400 houses, we are looking at 20 million dollars. I'm sure we had more than 20 million dollars in the Tsunami schemes/Bank ..looking at all the fundings, and help from New Zealand, Australia, USA etc etc....I'm sure the government of SAMOA can afford 50,000 for each houses! And what ever left for the roads and eletricity, water etc etc....What do you think peoples? My heart goes out to these Companies offered to do the work, they cant pay these workers. These workers needs to put food on the table for their families as well.
Please Prime Minister at least 50,000 for each families NOT 18,000. thanks
The last thing the PM wants ,is somebody to have a better looking home then his PIMPS(his government)You watch n see.
A New Zealand politician, who criticised the delivery of tsunami aid in Samoa last week, says she stands by her concerns. This is despite a statement by the Government that it has systems in place to monitor aid.
The government has challenged the deputy mayor of Porirua, Litea Ah Hoi to produce evidence that goods were being sold in shops. It says all goods and money received are recorded by the Treasury, and the movement of aid is observed by government officials at each stage.
Ms Ah Hoi admits she does not have evidence. But she says she will not be bullied by the Samoan government, and stands by what she saw and was told by people in Samoa.
“I mean it’s quite openly talked about, not just in the villages, but around within the city, where ever it is that you go, but you won’t find one person that will stand up and question it. I guess there is a fear factor among the Samoan people that the minute they do, they are going to get dumbed down.”
World Bank gives $108m The financial contribution from the World Bank to Samoa is to double, the Managing Director of the World Bank, Juan Jose Daboub has announced. It means an increase from US$20million (T$54m) to US$40m (T$108m).
The increase is to help respond to the recent devastating tsunami. The announcement was made by Mr. Daboub during a visit to Samoa for the opening of the joint World Bank Group and Asian Development Bank liaison office in Apia.
The Managing Director is the most senior World Bank official to have visited Samoa.
“While visiting villages on the South Coast of Upolu, I witnessed first-hand the devastating impact caused by the tsunami,” said Juan Jose Daboub. “I would like to express my profound sympathies to the Samoan government and people.
At the same time, I have seen through the eyes of those affected their strength, resilience, and desire to work hard to recover and continue on the path to prosperity. “I am pleased to reaffirm the World Bank’s commitment to support you.”
President of the Asian Development Bank Haruhiko Kuroda has previously expressed his deepest sympathy to Samoa for the tragic loss of lives and committed immediate assistance for the country’s rehabilitation efforts following the tsunami.
As well as a US$1 million (T$2.7m) grant for emergency relief efforts that has been disbursed, ADB plans to provide Samoa with US$26 million (T$70.2m) in new loans, to assist during these difficult times, having been seriously impacted by the tsunami and the economic crisis.
The opening of the joint ADB and World Bank office represents the strengthening of the partnership by both Banks with the Samoan Government and with each other.
“The new office in Apia demonstrates the World Bank’s long-term commitment to its activities and programmes in Samoa,” said Juan Jose Daboub. “This presence on the ground will enable us to be more responsive to the Samoa’s development needs and better engage with the government, local communities and other stake-holders.
“The joint engagement between the World Bank and the ADB reflects our commitment to respond to the call by Pacific Leaders in Cairns for improved development coordination. We look forward to continued support from shareholders to ensure that the World Bank is able to scale up support for developing countries even further.”
“The establishment of the joint ADB/World Bank offices in Tonga and now Samoa is a practical expression of our determination to deliver on commitments made under the Paris Declaration,” said Keith Leonard, Regional Director of ADB’s South Pacific Subregional Office, who represented the ADB.
The Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness was adopted on 2 March 2005 at the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee (DAC) meeting and commits adhering donors and developing countries to improving the distribution and management of aid aimed at increasing its effectiveness.
Samoa has been a member of the World Bank since 1974. The World Bank has committed approximately US$88 million in highly concessional credits to the Government. World Bank supported programmes have helped to underpin improved roads throughout Samoa, as well as the countries successful efforts to meet the millennium development targets to improve maternal and child mortaility.
In addition, investments of US$20 million by IFC, the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, have encouraged private investment of over US$80 million in Samoa, helping increase the number of people with access to telephone services from about 12,000 to 115,000 in less than a decade.
ADB has maintained a long and active presence in Samoa, providing a range of development assistance in the form of loans, grants and technical assistance. The island-nation joined ADB at the Bank’s founding in 1966. Since that time, ADB has committed approximately US$160 million to the country.
World Bank gives $108m The financial contribution from the World Bank to Samoa is to double, the Managing Director of the World Bank, Juan Jose Daboub has announced. It means an increase from US$20million (T$54m) to US$40m (T$108m).
The increase is to help respond to the recent devastating tsunami. The announcement was made by Mr. Daboub during a visit to Samoa for the opening of the joint World Bank Group and Asian Development Bank liaison office in Apia.
The Managing Director is the most senior World Bank official to have visited Samoa.
“While visiting villages on the South Coast of Upolu, I witnessed first-hand the devastating impact caused by the tsunami,” said Juan Jose Daboub. “I would like to express my profound sympathies to the Samoan government and people.
At the same time, I have seen through the eyes of those affected their strength, resilience, and desire to work hard to recover and continue on the path to prosperity. “I am pleased to reaffirm the World Bank’s commitment to support you.”
President of the Asian Development Bank Haruhiko Kuroda has previously expressed his deepest sympathy to Samoa for the tragic loss of lives and committed immediate assistance for the country’s rehabilitation efforts following the tsunami.
As well as a US$1 million (T$2.7m) grant for emergency relief efforts that has been disbursed, ADB plans to provide Samoa with US$26 million (T$70.2m) in new loans, to assist during these difficult times, having been seriously impacted by the tsunami and the economic crisis.
The opening of the joint ADB and World Bank office represents the strengthening of the partnership by both Banks with the Samoan Government and with each other.
“The new office in Apia demonstrates the World Bank’s long-term commitment to its activities and programmes in Samoa,” said Juan Jose Daboub. “This presence on the ground will enable us to be more responsive to the Samoa’s development needs and better engage with the government, local communities and other stake-holders.
“The joint engagement between the World Bank and the ADB reflects our commitment to respond to the call by Pacific Leaders in Cairns for improved development coordination. We look forward to continued support from shareholders to ensure that the World Bank is able to scale up support for developing countries even further.”
“The establishment of the joint ADB/World Bank offices in Tonga and now Samoa is a practical expression of our determination to deliver on commitments made under the Paris Declaration,” said Keith Leonard, Regional Director of ADB’s South Pacific Subregional Office, who represented the ADB.
The Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness was adopted on 2 March 2005 at the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee (DAC) meeting and commits adhering donors and developing countries to improving the distribution and management of aid aimed at increasing its effectiveness.
Samoa has been a member of the World Bank since 1974. The World Bank has committed approximately US$88 million in highly concessional credits to the Government. World Bank supported programmes have helped to underpin improved roads throughout Samoa, as well as the countries successful efforts to meet the millennium development targets to improve maternal and child mortaility.
In addition, investments of US$20 million by IFC, the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, have encouraged private investment of over US$80 million in Samoa, helping increase the number of people with access to telephone services from about 12,000 to 115,000 in less than a decade.
ADB has maintained a long and active presence in Samoa, providing a range of development assistance in the form of loans, grants and technical assistance. The island-nation joined ADB at the Bank’s founding in 1966. Since that time, ADB has committed approximately US$160 million to the country.
The Big Question Now .... Where is all that money???
Our Schools @ villages are suffering ,Teachers @ every levels are in short demand. The Pay sucks ..Why whould anybody wants to be a teacher ... Our hospitals n our health system are in great needs ..Some villages are still without basic needs ..Like water and medicals ..My Distric sucks ..These Faipules has done nothing for Asau distric for way too long. Private companies cannot compete with the Government...As you can see why ..the government is keeping all the money and benefit from the world Bank...That is also why the Government is in trouble , they have to Pay some of those Loans back.. Thats why they pass the law to tax your customary lands...and there goes your family lands and your Samoa.. Soifua
The two most senior officials of the Samoa Umbrella of Non Government Organisations (SUNGO) have drawn the ire of Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi. President Va’asilifiti Moelagi Jackson and Chief executive Roina Vavatau were called several names, among which is a “disease called self promotion.”
The Prime Minister’s outburst was made in a letter to Va’asilifiti, dated 27 October 2009, obtained by the Weekend Observer. It is not clear what angered Tuilaepa, who is also the Minister of NGOs. But the letter reveals the relationship between SUNGO and their Minister has hit an all time low. “My observation of members of your committee these days is that the only thing they are heavy on is promoting yourselves in public,” the Prime Minister wrote.
“In other words, too much want to be known. This weakness is a sickness especially for you the President and the CEO, especially now the two of you are together in one organisation, no one can handle you too – you are too heavy. You have no opposition.” The Prime Minister said previous managements of SUNGO weren’t like that. For example, he said he was able to meet with them to constructively discuss issues at hand.
But the present leadership has even strained relationships between SUNGO and some of its own members. “There is too much time wasted on arguing about unfounded issues which is stopping help that should be given directly to organizations,” the Prime Minister said. Tuilaepa advised the leadership of SUNGO to reassess themselves if their working relationship is to improve in the future.
Asked for a comment, Mrs Vavatau said she does not want to respond to the Prime Minister’s allegations in public. “We are just humble servants and this is a good example of a leader without control,” she said. Asked why the Prime Minister was angry, she said the letter in question was in response to a letter by the Executive Board of SUNGO to the Prime Minister, on a number of issues. She did not elaborate.
President Va’asilifiti said she was shocked by the Prime Minister’s response. “I just want to tell the Prime Minister we are doing our job according to the governing policies of SUNGO,” Va’asilifiti said. “Let him say what he has to say but we are just humble servants who are performing our roles given.” SUNGO was at the forefront of opposition to the road switch in September. The Prime Minister’s letter in Samoan is published in full below:
27 Oketopa 2009
Peresetene o le SUNGO
Fa’afetai tele i lau tou tusi mai o le Aso 9 Oketopa 2009.
O la’u va’ai i sui o lau tou Komiti i le taimi nei- na’o le pau lava le mea o lo’o mamafa iai le pulega, o le fa’ailoa ma fa’alauiloa ma fa’asalalau fa’alauaitele o outou lava tagata ma o outou lava foi foliga ae le’o fa’ataua au tou fuafuaga e pei ona fa’atuina ail au tou fa’alapotopotoga. Lona uiga ua tele na’ua le fia iloa. O le vaivaiga lea o lo’o gasegase ai tele lau Afioga i le Peresetene ma le CEO ae maise lava o le lua palalasi fa’atasi ai i le fa’alapotopotoga e tasi e matua le to gafatia e nisi le lua uilua- e te lua mamafa tele. Ua leai ni au lua paga e taofi i’umaea.
Sa le fa’apea i isi pulega na muamua atu. Sa mafai ona maua feiloa’iga tausa’afia faifai pea- ma le constructive ma a’u nei o le Minisita o NGO’s- na faigofie ai ona tu’u atu le fale o le Malo tout e fa’aaogaina sa iai le va fealoa’i ma le tausa’afia. I le taimi nei, i le va tapuia a outou ma isi fa’alapotopotoga o lo’o avea ma sui auai i le SUNGO, ua atagia ai fo’i lava le agaga fetuaia’i.
O lo’o tele foi le taimi alu i le finau vale i mataupu le fa’avaea ona taofi ai lea o fesoasoani sa tatau ona ave sa’o i fa’alapotopotoga.
Lona uiga ua avea nei le iai o le tou fa’alapotopotoga o le SUNGO ua tele ai le mau fa’afitauli ma tuai ai ona maua fesoasoani se meamanu ua leva ona maua pe ana deal sa’o le fa’alapotopotoga ia ma le donor, e aunoa ma le tou fa’alavelave iai. Oute matauina ai o lo’o tou fesoasoani e taofi fesoasoani e ave i nisi o NGOs ae fa’avae i luga o uiga fa’ale-tagata e mafi ai tele lau susuga i le CEO ma le peresetene o lo’o iai nei. Sa le fa’apea uiga o isi na iai muamua. Ai ona ua tele naunau o le lua popoto ma le lua maualuluga tele. Lea la ua lua pulea le SUNGO ma ua lua maua le lua avanoa e fa’atino ai lua uiga ua atagia ai oulua va’ava’a, oute fautua atu ia matua toe sasa’a le fafao i le amio pe afai e toe fia fa’alelei lo tatou va ua matua masofa lava.
O le tusi atu lea ma le alofa i NGOs ua mao i le SUNGO
Here is an English translation of the letter by the Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malailegaoi, which was published in Samoan yesterday:
President of SUNGOThank you very much for your letter of 9 October 2009.
From my observation of representatives of your committee, the only thing your organisation focuses heavily on is to promote, and publicise yourselves and your faces and not taking the importance of your roles and plans as why your organisation was established.
Meaning you want to be known. This weakness is a sickness especially for you the President and the CEO, especially now the two of you are together in one organisation, no one can handle you – you are too heavy. You have no partners to try and stop you.
The previous managements were not like this. Discussions in pleasant vein continued constructively between me and the Minister for NGO’s - that is why the government buildings were easily given for you to use because of good and pleasant relations..
This time, your relationship with other organisations who are representatives of SUNGO, reflects the spirit of clash. A lot of time is spent on debating unfounded issues and it stops help which should directly be taken to organisations.
It means the existence of your organisation of SUNGO brings lots of conflict and causes much delay. This assistance can be on time if the organisation deals directly with the donor, without you interfering.
I observed that you are trying to stop the assistance given to other NGOs and is founded on personal reasons which you the current CEO and president like to do. Previous managements were not like this. Maybe it’s because you two are too smart and high.
This causes you to authorise SUNGO and gives you the opportunity to show your manners which reflects the type of person you two are. I advise you to reassess your manners if you want to rebuild good relations with us because it’s totally destroyed. This is my letter with love to all NGOs who went to SUNGO without understanding
Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sa’ilele Malielegaoi Prime Minister Cc: Donors All NGOs
How high does a lunatic rise before the descent begins?
Well, what do you know? It takes a tragic tsunami to reveal Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele has another obsession we did not know about. It now appears the man is greedy too.
He already owns Parliament, Cabinet, the Public Service, the Church, the business community, all the villages and their happy, itching mayors as well, the public media and the little boys and girls there jumping eagerly to his command - in fact, the man owns practically the whole country.
And now he wants to own the private media too, that tiny part of Samoa struggling to remain independent from his control so that it can do as good a job as it possibly can under his regime’s austere policies.
What is he planning to do with all those minds and souls he’s skillfully gathering around him by the way? Use them as platforms at Tiafau and Tuana’imato for more monuments when filthy-clothed children are hawking for a living on the streets of Apia since their parents are too poor to care whether or not they’re in school?
The mind shudders trying to imagine the enormity of one man’s incredible power! Last week our PM sent a love letter to JAWS (Journalists Association of Samoa) telling it all reporters in Samoa are idiots so they should go back to school.
He reminds about a recent public address of his where he proposed JAWS should set up a media council to control the way reporters write their stories, and punish the fools. Although he did not specify at that point who he was referring to, in last week’s letter he singled out the “Observer” as the major culprit.
“I talked publicly about the Observer and its unfounded reports giving a bad image of Samoa despite the good deeds done, which suggests a low level to which Samoan journalism has descended,” the PM writes. “What has happened with the proposal discussed with Sano Malifa and others about setting up a media council to control its members from writing reports that are unfounded and stupid?”
Well, unfounded and stupid? Is the truth unfounded and stupid? Where are we going from here by the way? How high does a condescendingly bold lunatic rise before the descent begins?
In any case, since Tuilaepa insists, this is what happened. Several years ago the matter was discussed by JAWS during a visit by a legal representative of the Commonwealth Press Union (CPU), Mr Ian Beales. Among the matters discussed were existing laws designed to protect members of the public against possible media abuse.
Two of them - the Printers and Publishers Act 1992 and the criminal defamatory libel - were looked into thoroughly. Incidentally, the first one is one of the first laws the governing Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) enacted. It requires publishers to reveal their sources of information to those who claim to have been defamed by them.
Since previously this requirement had been the jurisdiction of the court alone, the new law is a sinister threat to freedom of information. It appears it had been designed to protect corrupt bureaucrats from being exposed by unnamed sources, which in turn effectively impedes the free flow of information.
Criminal defamatory libel, on the other hand, is even more evil. It is an ancient British law designed to quell rebellion and treason in its far-flung colonies, by throwing troublemakers in the dungeons.
And even now that Britain has long ceased to be politically responsible for Samoa, we are still holding on defiantly to the evil called criminal libel. Why? Well, the last time it was paraded along Samoa’s system of justice for longer than a year was around December 1998; it was when the late PM Tofilau Eti Alesana used it in an attempt to put the editor of the Observer behind bars.
The maximum penalty is six months. Fortunately for the editor, Tofilau passed away and the matter was discontinued. Which takes us once more to one of Tuilaepa’s previous growls: “Why haven’t you been able to set up a body where you can investigate yourselves? “I’m talking about journalists who carry stories without investigating them first. In New Zealand and Australia, they have councils who punish writers like that.”
Well, to remind him, neither New Zealand nor Australia who are so dear to him had deliberately drafted a law called Printers and Publishers Act to thwart freedom of expression and impede the free flow of information.
Neither have they been holding defiantly on to the British law of criminal libel to punish reporters and editors who insist on exposing corruption despite the odds stacked up against them. Like all other former British colonies, New Zealand and Australia have long ago erased that evil law from their law books.
Which was why JAWS and Mr Beales agreed that for a media council to go ahead, the government should perhaps agree to some sort of compromise. Mr Beales therefore offered to write to the Attorney General requesting that the two laws in question be repealed, and in turn JAWS would set up a media council. The council would insist on its members to respect set-down ethical standards, accept complaints about its members, investigate where necessary, and punish when this is warranted.
Later Mr Beales showed the writer a letter showing the Attorney General’s positive response saying the request was accepted; it also promised the matter would be raised with the proper authority and JAWS would be advised accordingly. Since then the writer has been waiting. But since the government’s pastor and senior official in the Prime Minister’s Department, Papali’i Uale, is also now the president of JAWS, perhaps he is in a better position to help his boss.
We suggest then that if he has received a letter of advice from the Attorney General’s Office, would he be kind enough to pass a copy of it on to his boss so that he stops referring to me when matters pertaining to JAWS arise. I say this because quite frankly, the JAWS I once knew no longer exists. Perhaps the government might as well take over JAWS and turn it into another member of the public media. Better still, why not just turn JAWS into the media council Tuilaepa wants?
What’s to stop them from doing anything they want? Go ahead boys and girls! Have fun! And why not? They’ve done it before with the land bill, the road switch, and now the election bill. They can do anything they want. All we have to do is sit back and watch.
Then when they start expelling foreign journalists and jailing resilient dissidents, remain quiet still. Don’t be impatient. Your turn will come. Meantime remember always that Frank Bainimarama is watching; he will surely be chuckling the loudest. Have a peaceful Sunday Samoa, God bless.
Not only is this man very greedy, selfish and self seeking. I think his dress code for the burial of the tsunami victims I find was inappropriate. Does anyone care to inform him that he is the Prime Minister, and that Samoans worldwide would be watching him and his every move. How is it, that he wears the aloha shirt to the burials and foreigners are wearing suit and tie, and bearing the heat. This man, needs to be replaced. no wonder there is no moving forward in Samoa. Change seems to be in his hands. im disgusted.
A meeting has been proposed by the Prime Minister to discuss issues of ethics in journalism, a letter has revealed.
Dated 26 October 2009, the letter was from Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi to the President of the Journalists Association of (Western) Samoa (JAWS), Uale Papali’i.
“For the future of the profession, a meeting must be called to discuss these things which have brought shame to the profession because some people who have been writing for many years are putting money first instead of doing things to improve the profession,” the Prime Minister said.
Tuilaepa’s comments appear to have been stirred by reports about aid rort following the tsunami of 29 September 2009. The Prime Minister has strongly denied claims that aid have been abused, instead wielding the axe on the media, the Samoa Observer in particular. Here is the letter in English and Samoan:
26 October 2009
Uale Papali’i President of the Media APIA
I talked publicly about the Observer and its unfounded reports giving a bad image of Samoa despite the good deeds done, which suggests a low level to which Samoan journalism has descended. What has happened with the proposal discussed with Sano Malifa and others about setting up a media council to control its members from writing reports that are unfounded and stupid? For the future of the profession, a meeting must be called to discuss these things which have brought shame to the profession because some people who have been writing for many years are putting money first instead of doing things to improve the profession.
Tuilaepa Lupesolia’i Sa’ilele Malielegaoi PRIME MINISTER
26 Oketopa 2009
Uale Papali’i Peresetene o le Media, APIA
1. Sa ou talanoa fa’alaua’itele fa’atatau i le observer ma ana reports i le tusia so’o o tala le faavaea e ta’uleaga ai Samoa ma taumafaiga lelei o fai e atagia ai le maulalo tele ma le mataga o le mea ua o’o iai le maulalo o le profession a Tusitala Samoa. 2. O le a ea le tulaga ua iai lena fo’i fuafuaga ua leva ona talanoa ai ma Sano Malifa ma latou fa’apea mai o le a fai le Council fa’apitoa a le Media e Fa’atonutonu ai ona sui i le tusia o ni tala le fa’avaea ma le fa’avalevalea? 3. Mo le lumanai o le profession, e tatau ona talo se tou fono e talanoa ai mea nei ua matua aliali lava le mataga ma le luma o le profession i le fa’amuamua o le mataitupe o latou nei ua leva ona tusi tala ae leai se faiga e faaleleia atili ai le profession.
Why aren’t these kids in school? Written by Mata’afa Keni Lesa on 11-11-2009 18:41
I had an interesting visitor on Monday morning. Just as we’d finished our morning editorial meeting and the reporters had shot out to begin their day, I heard a faint knock on the door.
Come in, I said.
No one opened. Curious, I got up to see who it was. A little boy, who said his name was Ioane, was standing there. “Fa’amolemole pe fa’atau sau pepa tamato,” he politely asked in Samoan, which translates can you please buy a pack of tomatoes. The first thing which struck me was how young he looked. My 5-year-old daughter, Solania, is taller than him.
So I asked; “How old are you?” “Six,” he responded. Where are your parents? “At home.” Do you go to school?
“No we’ve just moved from Tufulele.” The answers came pretty quickly. For someone so young, he sounds like he’s used to being asked. The pack of tomatoes was $3 by the way. So I bought a couple and asked him that I was interested in buying his entire load so he could go home. “My brother is at the front,” Ioane told me. Where, I said. “There.”
I was then introduced to Peruse, slightly taller. He was pushing a wheelbarrow loaded with tomatoes and egg plants, all being sold for $3 a pack. Peruse told me he was seven. He said “we live just up the road from here.” Why aren’t you at school? “We don’t go to school. My parents told me this is all the school we need, learn to sell these things so we can make some money.” Peruse and Ioane said as long as tomatoes are ripe, they will be on the streets pushing them to potential customers. They cover the entire Vaitele industrial zone by foot.
“Sometimes people give us food but most of the time we don’t eat,” they said. If they make more than $20 a day, their parents will be happy, they said. I was heartbroken. I started to picture my Solania in their shoes, I couldn’t. What sort of parents would do this to their children, I asked myself. You would have to be pretty desperate. Stupid too, I thought. As they walked away, the clouds above Vaitele were gathering fast and thick. Later in the afternoon, it started to pour.
I wondered how Ioane and Peruse were faring. I told one of the reporters to follow them and sure enough, they were still pushing their wheelbarrow. They had apparently reloaded their supplies. What a tragedy that such young children are not in school. What’s frightening is that Ioane and Peruse are not the only ones at Vaitele. There are many of them, new faces by the day. Some are girls. One normally sells “talo vela” and “luau.” They sometimes bring fa’apapa, maukeni and esi.
All these children are supposed to be in school. Isn’t education in this country compulsory? Didn’t Parliament recently pass a law whereby parents face a hefty fine if their children are not in school? What’s being done about this? Who’s responsible for these children? And why has this country turned a blind eye to these kids? We are seeing poverty in its purest form. When you have beggars harassing you just about everywhere you turn in town, you know something is terribly amiss about this country.
A relative had just hopped off a plane recently when a young girl asked her if she was interested in a pack of “koko Samoa.” As if that was not bad enough, another one was enjoying a Coca Cola at the airport when a boy asked him for the bottle and the remainder of its contents. Our beloved Samoa has become a hunting ground for beggars. What’s worse, these are our people. A sign of the times? Of course.
More and more people are poor. They are desperate. So desperate they are no longer ashamed. Ua le ma le mativa, is something we are used to hearing. How true is that these days? The question is, what is being done about it? Where is our government? What are its priorities? Where is the Ministry of Education? What is the Minister of Education doing? Our Samoa is starting to resemble India and countries occupied by millions of beggars. What a shame!
Up to a dozen police officers sealed off the road to Siva Afi Investments Ltd at Sogi yesterday morning. Seeing a photographer, an officer, one of several in shorts, T-shirt and cap – all black - hurried over. He waved his hands below his waist like a rugby referee declaring the ball has gone over the dead ball line, saying, “No, no, it is forbidden to take photos.
“At this time there is no permission for photos to be taken here,” he said. In the middle of the road entrance was a wooden sign, knee-high in height, saying “Ua Sa le Fale” – “The house is forbidden.” For some reason, it was yanked out of sight by the officer.
Another officer, this one in the more commonly seen uniform featuring the blue ie faitaga, came over to state again the no-photos message. He was asked if it was on the instructions of the Commissioner of Police.
“No, instructions from the Government,” he said. Two young females were turned away at the entrance by police officers – and so were two young men who arrived together, and another bald-headed man.
The bald-headed man argued vehemently to be allowed to entrance, producing at least two documents. After looking at them, the officers insisted the man leave.
An officer pushed him towards the road. By the afternoon the no-photos was lifted.
Another officer said photos may be taken from the gate but entry was still off limits. The Ua Sa Le Fale sign was back.
The road to Siva Afi leads straight to the company’s premises where they run an entertainment centre, printing and signage operation and a shop which sells T-shirts.
None of the staff appear to have been allowed in. Police officers could be seen sitting outside the company’s shop.
Asked if the shut out will bankrupt them, director of Siva Afi, Leota Lene, said, “Oh yeah – big time.” Work they did for companies in their signage business, including stickers for the visiting Hurricanes players from Wellington, lay unclaimed in the premises, Leota said.
“There are jobs laying there we should be doing,” he said. “Everything to do with my businesses is there. They’re all locked in there.” Leota indicated he was tired of the row with Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) which resulted in the shut out yesterday. It has taken both parties through one court case.
“I’m not going there any more,” Leota said of his business premises. Confirmation of the shut out was given him by staff by telephone.
When he arrived at work, he didn’t want to argue with the Police. “They were only doing their job, so I left.”
Leota said he collected staff members standing opposite the road at To’oa Salamasina Hall and drove off to Piula for breakfast and a swim. Thirty staff will lose jobs. “I’m sorry for all these kids, man.”
It could spell the end of the knife dance club Leota has developed over the years. Since 2006, he has battled government for what he calls “fair” compensation to move off the premises his businesses are located. Two valuers he hired and six sent by government have worked on the issue of compensation.
The Attorney General, government’s lawyer, has their financial statements of 2006 – 2008, “All the things they requested,” said Leota. Siva Afi leased the land from government in 2005 for 20 years. Government wanted them to move to make way for an office building and conference centre.
Regarding the shut out yesterday, Attorney General, Aumua Ming Leung Wai said via email: “Government has taken ownership of the leasehold interest previously held by Siva Afi by way of Proclamation signed by His Highness the Head of State under the Taking of Land Act. “The Proclamation was signed last week and became effective as of Friday 13 November 2009.
“Compensation for the taking of the leasehold interest has been paid to the Public Trust Office. “The owners of Siva Afi can collect the compensation amount upon vacating of the leasehold land.” Aumua said he was not aware of any ban on the taking of photos.
“Perhaps you should direct this query to the Commissioner of Police.” The commissioner could not be contacted by press time yesterday.
The Associate Minister of Education, Solamalemalo Keneti Sio appeared in the District Court yesterday. The 40-year-old Member of Parliament for Sagaga le Falefa did not enter a plea against two charges of threatening to kill.
The charges follow a complaint filed by Sauleone Solomona, of Faleula, over a domestic dispute. The Associate Minister is represented by lawyer, Patrick Fepulea’i. Before Judge Tauili’ili Harry Schuster, the police sought an adjournment of three weeks to complete their investigations.
They also sought orders to prohibit the MP from contacting witnesses and people involved in the hearing. Judge Tauili’ili continued bail. He is also not prevented from leaving the country on official government work. Judge Tauili’ili said everyone knows Solamalemalo is an MP and will not run away. The hearing is 1 December.
All money donated to government for tsunami relief is to be declared. “They will all be tabled in Parliament,” chairman of Disaster Advisory Committee, Taule’ale’ausumai La’avasa Malua, said. Included will be where the money was spent, Taule’ale’ausumai said.
All money that comes in to government from overseas for a purpose becomes public money, he said. “If it is for assistance in electricity, some of the money heads there … if it is help for agriculture, some of the money goes there.”
Government may not under law distribute such public funds to individuals, Taule’ale’ausumai said.
Samoa Observer understands members of the Opposition are already calculating the amount of funds donated for tsunami relief. The intention is to ask for an account of how they were spent.
I se fa’atagana mo le fa’atuina o se pamu penisini i Tuna’imato e le agava’a lea tulaga e pei ona fa’amaonia mai i le Ofisa o le Tineimu i le aso To’onai. O lenei atinae o lo’o fausia e fito tonu lea i le aiga o le Sui Fofoga Fetala’i o La’auli Leuatea Polataivao, lea e aofia ai se supa maketi ma se pamu penisini. O lo’o fausia lenei atinae i le agai lea i le auala a Talimatau ma le maga’ala e fa’aigoaina o le Oli Str. Pei ona silafia o le taumafai ai o le susuga ia La’auli e fausia lana pamu penisini, ua fa’aalia ai le le fiafia o se tasi o ali’i Faifeau le susuga ia Isaia Tiatia lea e tuaoi.
Na fa’aalia e le ali’i Faife’au le Susuga a Isaia Tiatia, fa’apea e le tatau ona fausia ni pamu penisini i totonu o nofoaga e nonofo ai tagata ma o latou aiga, ona e le gata e le saogalemu, ae fa’apea ai fo’i ma le leai o se soifua maloloina lelei e maua mai ai.
Na saunoa le ali’i Faife’au e fa’apea, a mae’a ona fausia lenei pamu penisini, o lona uiga o le’a matua lat
alata atu lava i le mea o iai lona fale Samoa, e na’o le lua mita le va.
“O le’a matua avea lenei pamu penisini ma fa’alavelave ia i matou aemaise o le’a matou manavaina uma le ‘ea palapala mai lenei panu penisini, ma o le ala tonu lea o lo’u matua tete’e i le fa’atuina o lenei pamu penisini i lenei nofoaga mo tagata ma aiga e alala ai .” Ae na fa’aalia e La’auli i le Observer o le fa’ai’uga o le vaiaso e fa’apea, o le tusi na auina atu e le PUMA, o le fonotaga i le va o le PUMA ma ia.
Ua fa’amautu mai ai le fausia ai o le pamu penisini. Sa saunoa le Sui Fofoga Fetalai, e iai le aia tatau a Tiatia e fa’aali ai ona lagona. “E leai ma se mea ou te tete’e ai aga’i ia Tiatia,” o lana fa’aaliga lea.
“Na ou faia lenei galuega ina ua mae’a le faia ai o ni ta’iala, ma ni Tulafono aga’i i le saogalemu.” Na ta’ua e La’auli o lo’o ia te ia ni pepa o fa’amaumauga mai Matagaluega uma pei o le PUMA, o Leoleo fa’apea ma le ‘Au’aunaga a le Tinei Mu. Pe’ita’i na fa’ailoa mai e le Tineimu, e nao le fa’atagana mo le supa maketi. Ae lea’i se fa’atagana mo le fausiaina ai o se pamu penisini.
An associate Minister facing court charges has left the country for Luanda, Angola. The Associate Minister of Education Sports and Culture, Solamalemalo Keneti Sio has been approved by Cabinet to represent Samoa at the 18th Session of the ACP Parliamentary Assembly and the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly.
The meeting started yesterday. It ends on 3 December. The Associate Minister appeared in the District Court at the beginning of the month to face two charges of threatening to kill. The charges follow a complaint filed by Sauleone Solomona, of Faleula, over a domestic dispute. The Associate Minister was represented by lawyer, Patrick Fepulea’i.
His hearing was scheduled for 1 December, which he would obviously not be in the country for.
Minister defends wharf plans. Saturday, 28 November 2009 Written by Marieta Heidi Ilalio
Plans to rebuild the $14-million-tala Aleipata Wharf and Slipway were vigorously defended by the Minister of Works, Tuisugaletaua Sofara Aveau yesterday.
“The government is rebuilding the wharf for a good reason,” he told the Weekend Observer. He reiterated the wharf will benefit the people of Aleipata and Samoa in that it would reduce time and costs of most things. The Minister rejected claims by independent MPs that money spent on the wharf was a waste of time.
Palusalue Fa’apo II said the wharf was an example of how the government spends money on useless projects.
Palusalue said he has been told $108 million from the World Bank will be used for this project. “This is another big amount of money the government will be loaning,” he said. “People are still suffering from the high cost of living and it’s because of all these loans the government is getting for useless projects. “Why is the government keen to rebuild the wharf?” Palusalue asked. “It’s a waste of money.”
Tuisugaletaua disagreed. He said people of Aleipata will be able to get jobs at the wharf. “They will get jobs, develop their businesses and will be strong to move on,” Tuisugaletaua said. Suggestions that most families have moved inland leaving the wharf on its own are ludicrous, the Minister said.
“You can’t relocate a wharf on a mountain,” he said. The Minister said people have to move inland for safety reason but it’s not suitable for a wharf and businesses. “These are all weak reasons and the government will go ahead in rebuilding the wharf,” he said.
Asked how much money they plan to spend on it, he said below $9 million. He said damages were minimal at the Slipway. The wharf suffered the most damage. As for claims the wharf was not insured for natural disasters, Tuisugaletaua said they are not true. “The wharf was insured and will get money from it to rebuild,” he said.
Bus owners get boot at meeting. Tuesday, 01 December 2009
The highest ranking representative of bus operators in Upolu was told to leave a meeting on public transport safety.
“I don’t understand it,” said vice-chairman of Association of Bus Operators of Upolu (ABOU), Nanai Taiwan Yu Hoi. Nanai said he was told to leave as he entered the meeting.
“I didn’t want to cause a disturbance,” he said, “So I walked off.”Tusa Misi Tupuola, Manager of Road Use Management, at Land Transport Authority (LTA), told him to leave saying “politics is useless here,” Nanai said.
The incident could not be confirmed with Tusa. He said he had a meeting on and couldn’t talk further on the phone. The meeting was called by a sub-committee of Land Transport Authority to consider the safety aspects of wooden buses and drivers of public transport. “I should have taken part,” Nanai said.
That is because the chairman of their association, To’omalatai Lauvai II, was not available. To’omalatai is overseas. Perhaps Tusa did not know of the office he holds in the bus association, Nanai said. Nanai has never run for political office.
A former Member of Parliament, and bus owner, Le Anapapa Laki, was also not allowed into the meeting. Tusa told him only owners of many buses may enter, Le Anapapa said. He said he has four buses in Upolu his family operate another 12 in Savai’i.
Le Anapapa is treasurer of ABOU. “I don’t understand it,” he said of the rejection since he and Nanai are office bearers in the association. The secretary of their association, Amituana’i Winston Tufuga, and bus owner, Samau Solamaali’i Samau, were allowed.
Amituana’i said details of their meeting were not for the public yet. It was a request by chairman of the subcommittee, Galuvao Viliamu Sepulona, for publicity to be avoided until everything was finalised, he said.
“It is only the beginning,” he said of yesterday’s meeting. Before the meeting took place, Chief Executive Officer of LTA, Leasi Galuvao, said the media were not allowed to attend.
$27billion to tackle climate change Tuesday, 01 December 2009
A non-government organisation says it’s encouraging that a US$10 billion (T$27b) fund to help developing countries adapt to climate change has been announced.
Commonwealth leaders say ten percent of the Copenhagen Launch Fund should be earmarked for small island states and low lying coastal states. Barry Coates from Oxfam New Zealand says he’s pleased countries are prepared to help fund climate change adaptation.
But he says the amounts being talked about are grossly inadequate for the scale of damage being caused by climate change.
“I guess the fact that finally they are starting to talk amounts of money is a good thing, but there’s a long way to go before the kinds of funding that are being discussed are anywhere near what’s needed.” Barry Coates says its disappointing Commonwealth leaders could not agree on targets to reduce greenhouse emissions.
HOPE TUILAEPA HRPP PARTY WILL BE OUT OF GOVERNMENT BY THEN.. OTHERWISE THE USUAL SELF GAIN AND IN THEIR POCKETS..
Agreement on climate change
Tuilaepa says meeting did not shy away from difficult items ranging from climate change to illegal arms trade
Commonwealth leaders wrapped up their three-day summit in Trinidad and Tobago agreeing on a united front to try to seal a firm deal on climate change at the United Nations conference in Copenhagen, Denmark within weeks.
Host Prime Minister Patrick Manning said leaders met in extensive discussion and have come to a conclusion on the matter of a climate change international policy.
The resolution reached during the meeting, called The Port of Spain Climate Change Consensus; Commonwealth Declaration, 2009, highlighted the need for “an ambitious mitigation outcome at Copenhagen to reduce the risks of dangerous climate change without compromising the legitimate development aspirations of developing countries”.
“We stress our common conviction that urgent and substantial action to reduce global emissions is needed and have a range of views as to whether average global temperature increase should be constrained to below 1.5 degrees or to no more than 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels,” the document said, adding that an internationally legally binding agreement in Copenhagen is essential.
“We agree that an equitable governance structure to manage the financial and technological support must be put in place. We agree that a future governance structure should provide for states to monitor and comply with arrangements entered under a new Copenhagen agreement,” it continued. United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon advised leaders to stay focused, stay committed and to seal a deal in Copenhagen.
“We are united in purpose, not yet in action. Our proposed agreement must be ambitious, comprehensive, binding and with immediate operational effect, both in the short and long term. We must give priority to the most vulnerable s
tates,” he said at a press conference with Manning, Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma, Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and Australia’s Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, whose country will host the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in 2011.
“Momentum is growing and most leaders are committed to participation in Copenhagen. The United Nations will continue to support efforts in this regard.”
“The fact that we have combined our voices as one...is itself a remarkable achievement,” Rudd said, while Samoa Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi said the meeting “did not shy away from difficult items ranging from climate change to illegal arms trade”.
Prime Minister Manning said he was convinced an ambitious agreement could be reached in Denmark and confirmed that 90 Heads of Government, including him, had agreed to attend next month’s conference.
On the global economic and financial crisis, the Commonwealth leaders said they welcomed the various initiatives to help lessen the impact and expressed their support for the commitment to avoid protectionism and to strengthen financial supervisions and regulation.
However, they expressed concern that the social and economic impact of the crisis would continue to affect a vast majority of the developing countries, particularly the smallest and most economically vulnerable members of the Commonwealth.
The leaders also felt that measures were needed to “address the plight of many middle-income countries which are highly susceptible to external shock but do not have access to concessionary loans and grants”.
“Heads therefore welcomed the Commonwealth Secretariat’s work to address the economic challenges facing these economically vulnerable member states and urged that urgent measures be taken to provide support for them, especially in accessing adequate financing,” the communiqué added.
This year’s meeting was attended by Rasmussen and French President Nicholas Sarkozy, whose countries are not members of the 53-nation Commonwealth. Their presence was part of the effort to form a common position on climate change ahead of Copenhagen. – Caribbean News
Minister defends wharf plans. Saturday, 28 November 2009 Written by Marieta Heidi Ilalio
Plans to rebuild the $14-million-tala Aleipata Wharf and Slipway were vigorously defended by the Minister of Works, Tuisugaletaua Sofara Aveau yesterday.
“The government is rebuilding the wharf for a good reason,” he told the Weekend Observer. He reiterated the wharf will benefit the people of Aleipata and Samoa in that it would reduce time and costs of most things. The Minister rejected claims by independent MPs that money spent on the wharf was a waste of time.
Palusalue Fa’apo II said the wharf was an example of how the government spends money on useless projects.
Palusalue said he has been told $108 million from the World Bank will be used for this project. “This is another big amount of money the government will be loaning,” he said. “People are still suffering from the high cost of living and it’s because of all these loans the government is getting for useless projects. “Why is the government keen to rebuild the wharf?” Palusalue asked. “It’s a waste of money.”
Tuisugaletaua disagreed. He said people of Aleipata will be able to get jobs at the wharf. “They will get jobs, develop their businesses and will be strong to move on,” Tuisugaletaua said. Suggestions that most families have moved inland leaving the wharf on its own are ludicrous, the Minister said.
“You can’t relocate a wharf on a mountain,” he said. The Minister said people have to move inland for safety reason but it’s not suitable for a wharf and businesses. “These are all weak reasons and the government will go ahead in rebuilding the wharf,” he said.
Asked how much money they plan to spend on it, he said below $9 million. He said damages were minimal at the Slipway. The wharf suffered the most damage. As for claims the wharf was not insured for natural disasters, Tuisugaletaua said they are not true. “The wharf was insured and will get money from it to rebuild,” he said.
Haha the wharf was insured. Thats a good one show me an insurance company that will insure against tsunami waves which are an act of God and I will show you some really good investments in Dubai.
WHY CANT THESE PEOPLE JUST WORRIED ABT HELPING OUT, RATHER THAN TRYIN TO BLAME THE PRIME MINISTER ALL THE TIME..MAKING UP FALSE INFORMATION AND MISLEAD STORIES ON THE NEWS PAPER....NOT ONLY THEY BLAME CHURCHES FOR GIVING LESS, THE GOVT, THE PRIME MINISTER WAT ELSE, WAT NEXT .....? MUST BE A VERY BORING JOB....LOL 
