Samoa

The nurse has been charged with negligence causing death and perverting the cause of justice relating to the deaths of the two babies following measles, mumps and rubella immunisations last month.

The association's president, Solialofi Papali'i, said they were confused as to why the nurse has been arrested, and also why a second nurse, who apparently administered the vaccine, was not charged as well.

She also said that Commission of Inquiry into the matter was not complete and that the post mortem results, done by Australian experts, were not even in the country.

Aggie Grey's in Apia, Samoa has been sold by Aggie Grey's grandchildren and other family shareholders for $50 million.

Grey, born Agnes Swann, was a half English-half Samoan woman who opened the hotel in 1933. She hosted many notable actors, including Marlon Brando, and was friends with American writer James Michener. 

Her hotel is now managed by Sheraton, a 175-room establishment which was completely rebuilt after a devastating cyclone in 2012. The sale includes the hotel's Black Sands casino.

Katerina Auatalia Lesatele was arrested and held for five days in April last year, and accused of being the person behind the Ole Palemia Blog.

Ms Lesatele faced several charges over comments and opinions on the blog, which the police said had defamed a number of people.

However, the charges were later withdrawn for a lack of evidence.

The attorney general, on behalf of the police ministry, and the three officers are being sued for more than two hundred thousand US dollars.

The civil case is scheduled to be called for mention this week.

The nurse has already been charged with conspiracy to defeat the course of justice and negligence.

RNZ Pacific understands police filed the manslaughter charge last Friday against the nurse who is still in custody.

The nurse will appear in the district court tomorrow but it's likely the matter will be referred to the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile the head of the Samoa Nurses' Association said she would visit the nurse who faces the charges.

The PRPW has launched a campaign to address what they call the under representation of Pacific nations at the council.

'Seats At The Table' is a new initiative seeking to highlight the fact that Samoa, Tonga and Fiji have less voting power on the council than Canada, Georgia, Romania and the USA and far less influence than Japan and Italy.

Samoa, Tonga and Fiji have a share of two of the 48 votes on the World Rugby Council - those two votes are held by Rugby Oceania, which represents 12 countries, including New Zealand and Australia.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop announced on Thursday the new disaster-resistant building in Apia.

Funding was not specified but will be on top of the $US7.7 million US dollars already being provided towards the construction of Samoa's Parliament House.

Australia is giving Samoa US$3 million dollars for a new transmitter mast.

It is a continuation of aid to the station's AM frequency radio station that is a vital tool of information, especially during natural disasters.

The current mast was built by Australia after cyclone OFA in 1990 and needs replacing.

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop announced the funding on Thursday saying it is vital people are kept in the loop during natural disasters.

Fialua Samuelu questioned the need to bring in parking meters where drivers will have to pay to park in the metered zones.

“I feel like everything else will no longer be free in this country,” he said.

A taxi driver of DB Taxis, Jerry Atatia wanted to know why they will have to pay more to the Land Transport Authority which is installing the parking meters.

“I don’t see any difference in the money we already paid the LTA for passing our car licenses and these coins we’ll be putting inside those small machines,” Atatia said.

The Samoa Shipping Corporation suggested a Bed and Breakfast facility for the inter-island wharf where ferries pick up passengers travelling between Upolu and Savai'i.

Earlier the minister responsible for the corporation, Papali'i Niko Lee Hang, told local media he would ensure that no public funds went to such a project because the government should not compete with the private sector.

Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has now told KHJ News the cabinet will make the final decision and no proposal has been formally presented.

China's ambassador to Samoa Wang Xuefeng said the lack of direct flights is a major obstacle in getting Chinese tourists to the country.

Mr Wang told people attending a China tourism workshop in Samoa there's a legal guarantee of direct flights under an agreement signed between the two countries.

"While time is not yet mature to have the direct flights immediately, we may try to start with chartered flights," he said.