Samoa

Coordinated by the Samoa Tourism Authority, the Forum was established to act as an effective vehicle to inform and promote dialogue within the tourism sector on key issues which influence and shape tourism development in Samoa, the region and the world. 

The Forum also began the Celebration of the Samoa Tourism Year 2018 on national efforts of guaranteeing a Beautiful destination by ensuring that Samoa is ‘Keeping it Beautiful & Keeping it Real.”

The prime minister blamed the village council, which includes village matais, for not taking immediate action to stop angry villagers blocking part of the main public road over the weekend after a rugby related brawl.

Tuila'epa is also the Rugby Union chairman and Minister of Police.

Meanwhile, the village councils of Falefa and Luatuanuu met on Monday to reconcile youths and reassure the Police Commissioner there would be no more fights.

One family on Savai'i had advertised a donated water tank for sale on an online market site due to relocating, saying they needed the money.

The CSSP responded on social media that donated equipment were not to be sold and has urged the public to report this kind of illegal activity to authorities.

The post selling the water tank has since been taken down.

Angry villagers blocked part of the main public road following a rugby-related brawl on Saturday.

RNZI reports the road block caused chaos and hundreds of workers and students arrived late for their jobs and school.

Police said the blockade came following a brawl after a rugby match between Luatuanuu and Falefa villages on Saturday.

A village matai said youths from Luatuanuu blocked the road in order to beat up youths in Falefa village.

Uili Manuleleua was one of four incarcerated at Tafa'igata Prison who broke out just a few days before Christmas last year.

Two were recaptured just a few hours later and a third a few weeks later.

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said a few weeks ago that Police were "tracing the prisoner".

Samoa police spokesman Auapa'au Logoitino Filipo said Manuleleua has been convicted of theft and breaking and entering.

On Thursday, at his press conference, Samoa's Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi played down signs that the proposed merger is in jeopardy.

He blamed past management of the Samoa Health Services for not implementing a Cabinet decision to give doctors a pay increase back in 2013.

But the previous day, his Minister of Health Tuitama Dr Talalelei Tuitama told the Samoa Observer that there was a conspiracy by the current NHS management to sabotage the process.

WBO champion Parker fights IBF and WBA champion Anthony Joshua in Cardiff on April 1 (NZT).

A week earlier, on March 25, the Samoan nation will concentrate their thoughts and prayers on Parker whose parents were born in the island nation.

It continues Samoa's strong support for Parker.

The Samoan government gave financial assistance for Parker's successful world title bid against Andy Ruiz in Auckland in late 2016 and again for his first defence against Razvan Cojanu last year.

He expressed grave concern at what might happen to the Samoa Police Service if its members were to take up an offer from New Zealand Police to work there.

The prime minister fears that police could sign up in large numbers leaving a depleted force in Samoa.

During last week's visit by New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern it was mentioned that the New Zealand Police were looking to recruit from the Pacific, including Samoa.

Tuila'epa said if a large number Samoan police move away the country will face a major problem.

The three, all former employees of the Samoa National Health Services, were caught in a police raid on a home in the hills of Apia which found boxes of pharmaceuticals believed to have been taken from the Services pharmacy.

Fou Sekone entered a not guilty plea through his counsel, Leafa Donald Kerslake.

The other two Pio Fesola'i and Amanono Mafualo have refused legal representation and have both entered guilty pleas on two charges, but Fesola'i entered a not guilty plea on a third charge.

They have been remanded for hearing in July this year.

Vaaimalu Omar Benjamin Toilolo, who was deported to Samoa from the US a decade ago, found there was no help or resources.

His lobbying led to the establishment of the Returnees Charitable Trust in 2011.

Since its inception 144 deportees, mainly from New Zealand and the US, have been helped.

He said he intended to meet a group of US deportees due to arrive n Apia this week.