Samoa

The issue was raised by Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi during bilateral talks with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters in Apia this week.

And Prime Minister Tuilaepa during his weekly media programme with Taimi male Palemia and Talamua.com remains confident that Wellington will consider the merits of the request from Apia.

“The RSE employers are singing praises for our Samoan workers.

It followed last year's suspension on imports imposed by American Samoa out of fears the neighbour's taro could carry a virus.

The Samoa Minister of Agriculture Lopao'o Natanielu Mu'a advised Filifaatali of the ban which was in response to more stringent conditions required by American Samoa for taro imports.

Lopao'o was concerned at the new requirement that American Samoa inspectors would first inspect plantations of taro exporters to the territory.

Jacinda Ardern is visiting Apia as part of her Pacific Missions trip which also includes legs in Tonga, Niue and the Cook Islands.

Speaking at a press conference with her Samoan counterpart Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, Ms Ardern announced her government has committed increased funding for a private sector development progamme in Samoa.

The seaside village near Apia in Samoa was visited by a New Zealand delegation of business leaders and MPs yesterday, including Climate Change Minister James Shaw.

The trip is part of the Prime Minister's whirlwind tour as Jacinda Ardern kicks off what the government has called its "Pacific reset".

Ofeira Faasau has lived in Moata'a since she was a child. The walkway that connected the village now gets swamped during high tide, effectively cutting it off, she said.

The President is facing charges of assault and weapons charges in the District Court.

Papalii John Taimalelagi of the Ministry of Justice and Courts said the Chief Justice who is the chairman of the Judiciary Commission has accepted the President's application for leave.

Fepulea'i Attila Ropati, will appear in court on Tuesday.

The complainant in the case is the Ministry of Justice's night watchman.

The president is accused of actual bodily harm, assault and being armed with a dangerous weapon.

In Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's first official visit to Samoa, she joked to her counterpart Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, that she has been called the daughter of Niue and to not be offended.

The two leaders emphasized the importance of their relationship, especially around climate change, and the economy.

They spoke at length about the recent Cyclone Gita, and in particular, an unprecedented landslide.

Minister of Finance Sili Epa Tuioti announced new prices effective from 1 March 2018.

The price of a litre of petrol has increased by 2 sene to now cost $2.69.

Diesel has increased by 5 sene to $2.70 a litre.

The price of kerosene has increased by 6 sene from $2.31 to $2.37 a litre.

A statement said the March prices reflected January Singapore Prices ‘MOPS’ which recorded increases between US $3.00/bbl and 5.50/bbl.

Freight Costs decreased by US$3.50/ MT and the TALA strengthened against the US$ by 2.3% easing some of the impact of the higher MOPS.”

Foreign Minister Winston Peters is accompanying Ardern on a week-long trip to Samoa, Niue, Tonga and the Cook Islands.

A sudden downpour of rain in Samoa today sent the media and delegations scrambling, but stopped just in time for Ardern to inspect the guard of honour.

Ardern also announced today that $3 million worth of extra funding has been committed to Samoa to help with the recovery from Cyclone Gita last month.

She said the country suffered damage to business and homes, as well as a large landslide that will cost a lot to clean up.

Arden is leading a 50 plus strong delegation that includes Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, Cabinet Ministers, Parliamentarians, members of NGOs and the Private sector.

This is Ardern's first visit to Samoa.

She was greeted by Deputy Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa and Chief of Foreign Affairs Peseta Noumea Simi.

Ardern’s Pacific tour includes Niue, Tonga and the Cook Islands.

RNZ reports the tour will give the Prime Minister a chance to meet the heads of the countries one-on-one before the Pacific Islands Forum later in the year.

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele said the move would help sustain a vital part of the ocean's ecosystem.

"We will not sit idly by while the demand for shark products robs our future generations of these culturally, ecologically and economically valuable species," he told the Samoa Observer this week.

"Let us together continue to safeguard these imperilled species for our future generations."

While Samoa's landmass is tiny, its waters cover 129,000 sq km, an area larger than South Korea.