Samoa

Tuila'epa had the utility company in his sights after a power outage delayed an event last Saturday when he was having lunch with Samoa athletes at the Games venue at Tuanaimato.

Speaking at the event, Tuila'epa sent a message to the Electric Power Company staff that they must prevent any power interruption while the Games, which start this weekend, are on.

The prime minister said the company's technical staff should not sleep until the Games are finished.

Malele Atofu was arrested and locked in police custody for the second time.

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi is alleged to have been defamed in the first social media video rant by King Faipopo which resulted in his arrest three months ago.

Tuila'epa is one of the prosecution witnesses in the case against Faipopo.

The defendant's application for the matter to be quashed because Samoa has no jurisdiction to hear the case will be heard next Monday.

Urban Village Tattoo Studio owner, Michael Hickey says they are proud of the work they have done over the years.

“It’s been about 15 years now and it all started with a friend who was deported back from America. He is a tattoo artist and I was doing CDs and operating a coffee shop at that time. Back than he was looking for job. And I felt sorry for him and I had space in the shop and we started a tattoo studio and we started here. That’s how it started. It got so busy that we started dropping off the café and focusing more on the tattoos,” Hickey said.

About 3,500 athletes from 24 nations across the region will compete in 26 sports from next Monday.

Samoa was only awarded the hosting rights in September 2017 after the Tongan government claimed it could not afford to stage the event.

But Pacific Games Council CEO Andrew Minogue says the Pacific Games Office in Samoa has done a very good job in a very short amount of time to ensure everything is ready to go.

"The organising committee opened for business on the 1st of March last year so really it's only 15 or 16 months," he said.

The $US6.8-million facility was opened by Samoa's prime minister on Friday and inmates were transferred on Saturday.

The Samoa Observer reports that over 400 prisoners are housed in the new facility and the transfer operation cost $US37-thousand.

The Ministry of Prisons and Correctional Services hired 10 buses for the transfer -- 15 trips were made by the motorcade.

The minister, Tialavea Tionisio Hun, says that about 80 people can fit into each of the six cell blocks at Tanumalala.

The Laser Radial sailor will be competing in her second regional meeting.

“I am doing sailing, the laser radial for women, me and another lady representing Samoa. And I’ve been sailing since I was 8. Had a big gap in between with abit of travel, University, Work and now back again at work. So I had a ten year gap. Now I’m back into representing Samoa. I did represent in 2007 Games. So this will be my second Pacific Games.”

Ripley is expecting a tough competition this year and believes the team is well prepared for the games.

He will be attending the meeting for the confirmation of the selected names.

"Today we will know who will be picked to be one of the referees at the Pacific Games. And I am ready for it," said Lafita.

The businessman has been a local football referee for almost five years now.

The Vaiala native is grateful they are hosting the games this year.

"The games will create alot of opportunities in Samoa. And we are proud to be hosting this year."

Lagita also runs a stall at the flee market and is expecting the business to bloom this year.

Talamua Online named the defendant as Liutagata Uesile of Foaluga Village.

Police said speed was the suspected cause of the accident.

They said the bus was allegedly carrying 64 passengers, double the legal limit and was coming downhill at Auala village, when it crashed at a bend while overtaking another vehicle.

The District Hospital in Sataua did not have enough beds for all the injured and photos posted on social media following the accident showed more than one patient to a bed.

“To say that the minimum wage is extra sensitive is an understatement and Government is fully aware of the implications when it comes to income issues as they represent the livelihood for families especially those categorised in the low income bracket,” Lautafi said.

“But we must not be oblivious to the fact that affordability on the part of the employers is also another main contributing factor in calculating the minimum wage.”

The new note design celebrates Samoa’s youth and sporting legacy.

The images on the note depict their daily lives and the realisation of their sporting dreams.

A team at the Central Bank of Samoa has been busy designing and preparing the 10 Tala Commemorative Note to be ready in time for the Games.

Samoa will get to see the note out in circulation through the various commercial banks.

The Pacific Games will be held from 7-20 July.

Photo supplied