Samoa PM

Samoa PM plays down fears over China in Pacific

 While Canberra and Washington fear China's long-term ambition is a military base in the Pacific, Malielegaoi said he was more interested in the practical aid Beijing offered.

 “The bigger geopolitical issues don't have importance to us as small island countries, whose only interest is to provide a modern living,” he told TVNZ at the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) meeting being held in Tuvalu.

 Australia and other western-aligned nations have launched diplomatic campaigns to limit China's inroads in the region but Malielegaoi said all nations that offered help were welcome.

Samoa police investigating alleged plot to assassinate PM

Police Commissioner Fuiavailili Egon Keil is reported to have confirmed that his office is carrying out the investigation, but he declined to comment further.

Samoa Observer reports two people have been detained by police for questioning in connection to the ongoing investigation.

The Lauli'i village council is helping police with their investigations, as it is alleged that a man who is under investigation is married to a woman from the village and that they both live there.

PM defends donation to Manu Samoa

Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi defended the donation at a fundraising radiothon held two weeks ago in American Samoa.

Another $US50,000 was raised from other sources during the radiothon.

There's been an angry reaction from the public in American Samoa regarding the donation towards Samoa's Rugby World Cup campaign.

One of the main complaints was that $US100,000 had been promised to the recent American Samoan Pacific Games team, but only $US20,000 was given.

Tuilaepa said public opinion is part of a democratic society and people have a right to complain.

Samoan PM Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi hits out at Laurel Hubbard

The issue has been ignited by Kiwi transgender weightlifter Laurel Hubbard winning three medals at the latest Pacific Games, which finished at the weekend.

Hubbard won two gold medals and one silver in the women's 87kg and over category at the games. She has been cleared to compete under International Olympic Committee guidelines.

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi made it clear he didn't support trans athletes competing in women's sport.

Samoan PM withdraws from archery at Pacific Games

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, 74, voluntarily withdrew from Friday's bronze medal event in archery mixed doubles compound category to allow his 17-year-old team mate to compete.

Mathew Tauiliili is the youngest member of Samoa’s archery team, and also the top male compound shooter in the team. He will play in the bronze medal decider with Tahiti at the Sports Fields, Faleata.

Samoa PM Tuilaepa in bronze medal contention

He will be competing in the Mixed Doubles Compound Category along with one of the youngest member of the Samoa archery team and bronze medallist Naifoua Vise Timai.

They will be taking on Tahiti for the bronze in Fridays’ finals.

And while the Prime Minister is reserving his predictions saying that he will do his talking on the field, 19- year old Timai is overly confident.

“To compete side by side with Samoa’s longest serving Prime Minister to represent Samoa? I don’t have the words to describe it,” said the Leulumoega Fou College graduate.

Samoa PM competes at Pacific Games

Tuilaepa is one of 15 archers in Team Samoa.

According to a report on Inside the Games, Tuilaepa scored 163 points including one bullseye at the end of the first round.

Tuilaepa is a Pacific Games bronze medalist in 2007.

Cecile Reuillard of New Caledonia leads the women's compound with 332 points, from Fiji's Lisa Noreen Leota on 304.

Two Australian women top the women's recurve standings,  Alice Ingley on 309 from Deonne Bridger on 301.

Samoa PM backs call for retirement age increase

The former cabinet minister, Gatoloaifa'ana Amataga Gidlow, has called for the age to increase from 55 to 65.

The age had been lowered to 55 to clear vacancies for young returning Samoans, but Gatoloaifa'ana says that's a waste of knowledge and experience.

The prime minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, acknowledged the call, saying he's asked the attorney general to investigate.

     

Samoa PM says govt tired of speeding bus drivers

Referring to a crash last week, Tuila'epa Sailele Malielegaoi said the government was tired of speeding and reckless drivers.

He also lashed out at bus owners, saying they should get harsher penalties than the drivers.

"The government has had enough of these bus drivers acting stupid on the roads," he said.

Police said preliminary investigations show that overloading and speeding was a factor in the crash that injured more than 20 of 50 school students on board.

Samoan PM to compete in Pacific Games

Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi made the team after trials during the weekend, which also doubled as a test event for Samoa 2019. He represented Samoa in 2007, the last time Samoa hosted the Pacific Games, where he won a silver medal. 

James Larven, the technical delegate for archery, highlighted the participation of the prime minister in representing the country.

"Not too many sports around the world would get the prime minister involved in the Games, which is very impressive. [It is] very rare for any country to have the prime minister involved," Larven said.