Samoa

Police told the Samoa Observer the step-father had been charged and will appear in court next month.

The girl was reported to have left the family home last Wednesday and was found on Friday.

An unnamed police officer claimed there were bruises on her body.

Telei'ai Lagipoiva Dr Lalotoa Mulitalo Seumanutafa said the Lands and Titles Registration Act 2008 states the alienation of customary land is prohibited.

She said the Customary Land Lease Registry shows that in 80 percent of Samoa's customary land, only 1-point-5 percent is under a customary lease.

Telei'ai recently raised the subject at a conference held in New Zealand recently.

Photo supplied.Caption: Samoa Law Reform Commission CEO, Telei'ai Lagipoiva Dr Lalotoa Mulitalo Seumanutafa  

The government said work on the apron and taxiway was the first priority and would start in May.

Rehabilitation of the runway will start in February next year.

The Samoa Airport Authority has also signed a $US 1,023,286.28 contract with the Hawaiian company LYON Associates Inc., for technical advice.

The airport rehabilitation project is funded by the World Bank and the Samoan government.

Photo supplied 

This was one of several recommendations in the Ava Awareness Outcomes Report released by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Labour (MCIL) following the completion of two initial awareness programs in Savaii and Upolu. 

With the Samoa Ava Regulations and Ava Standard soon to be introduced, consultation programs were held to canvass the views and support of the ava growers and exporters of the quality standard and regulation. The Ava Standard will facilitate safe trade by ensuring product safety and quality standards of ava and ava products for human consumption. 

The Samoan domestic winners finished second in last month's qualifying tournament in Pago Pago, behind Tupapa Maraerenga, to advance to the main draw.

Their only slip-up was a 1-0 defeat against the Cook Islands club, where they were reduced to ten men.

Coach Paul Ualesi said discipline remains a key focus.

"Trying to get the boys to work as a team. For now we're still working hard for the discipline - that's the main thing that we need to improve from the first round, that's an area that we're trying to work," he said.

The bank has issued the warning in a press statement for the general public to be on the lookout for internet organized crime.

The Bank says it's has been brought to its attention that there are supposedly some people or well organized criminals, using Facebook as a tool to get to people's money.

"Please be alert and vigilant of these scammers on the social network like Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram and the like," the CBS said.

This is the first time the Samoa women have been on the global stage since the 2008 World Cup.

Former Australian rugby international and current Cronulla Sharks rugby league player Oneata Schwalger has traded green and gold for blue.

Coach Frank Fuimaono said she was one of a number of senior players wanting to give back to their Samoan heritage.

"One is awesome: she brings a wealth of experience to our side and especially to our young girls coming through," he said.

A voter's fingerprint will be scanned and registered digitally, with the information to accompany the voter's choice of candidate on polling day.

RNZ Pacific reports in the past votes from rural areas like the island of Savaii had to be delivered by ferry to Upolu.

The new system would solve major delays on polling day.

The new electronic voting system is coming from South Korea at a cost of $US2.28 million.

New Zealand-born Samoan business woman, Tofilau Esther Tofilau Tevaga, was speaking at the Samoa Business Network's first gathering of the year.

Tofilau said jealousy was a big hindrance to growing business in Samoa but she said sharing ideas would be the key to success.

"You got to really hustle and I think I've failed a few times, but in business you learn and sometimes I've learnt that people in the Pacific, we have a big heart and we always give from our heart."

Siloga Mauigoa, who was forced to resign because his wife is also a police officer, told the Samoa Observer only married couples were being targeted while those in de facto relationships were allowed to continue in their jobs.

The father of three, who served the force for seven years said that was unfair.

The Observer reported 23 married couples had been affected by the order which was issued in November last year by the Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi.