Samoa

The Manu 7s are in ninth place after the opening two rounds in Dubai and Cape Town.

Sir Gordon Tietjens said the squad spent two and a half weeks over the holiday period working on fitness and combinations at a series of training camps in New Zealand.

"Not only reflecting back on those first two tournaments but really getting to the levels of conditioning that we need to get to over quite a challenging period, which is always that festive season that we have," he said.

The government said the current outbreak appeared to be waning.

Five people died in Samoa and nearly 2500 people became ill with serotype 2 dengue between the first week of August and mid-December.

Most of those affected are under the age of 19.

The government continued to warn people to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes and trying to reduce places where they can breed.

A Health Ministry spokesperson said although the number of cases rose to 2577 by 7 January, the rate of increase appears to be slowing down.

The corrections minister, Tialavea Tionisio Hunt, said the new Tanumalala Prison was expected to be ready by October or November this year.

It will include six cell blocks; four for men, one for women, and one for custodial remand. There will also be a facility for high risk detainees.

There had been numerous breakouts from the current prison, Tafaigata, in the recent past.

Last week Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi accused Tafaigata management of being careless and poor.

This comes amid signs that Samoa's government may be downplaying the extent of the spread of dengue in the country.

The Pacific Community, or SPC, is currently monitoring outbreaks of the mosquito-borne disease in French Polynesia, Samoa, American Samoa, Fiji, and Wallis and Futuna.

SPC's acting deputy director for public health unit, Sala Saketa, said there were often just one or two strains at any one time, with serotype 2 the most common.

But according to Dr Saketa, there had been ongoing shifts in the dengue strain as well as other major challenges.

This follows reports of an Executive Order issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security about seasonal workers visas for Samoan citizens to enter the U.S.

US Embassy Charge’ d’Affaires, Antone Greubel told the Samoa Observer that the decision does not affect any other visa classes and Samoans may still travel freely to the US with valid travel documents.

The Ministry of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Chief Executive Officer, Agafili Tomaimano Shem Leo says the government is being kept abreast from the start by Foreign Affairs and Diplomatic officials in the New York.

Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi was responding to a question about a school of thought that American Samoa police should be armed following a recent shooting in the territory.

Tuilaepa said the current practice of arming police only when on raids that were considered dangerous and could pose a threat to their lives will remain the norm.

And he said he still believed that a major role of village matai councils is to police the actions of villagers to ensure no criminal activity happens.

Lagalaga Misiluki escaped from prison around lunch time yesterday.

Samoa Police Service say Misiluki’s family and village are responsible for bringing him back to lawful custody.

Misiluki faces charges of escaping and possession of marijuana.

It’s alleged he had some marijuana joints with him.

Another prisoner, Uili Manuleleua, who escaped from prison last month is still on the run and his whereabouts are unknown.

The bridges were handed over by the Australian High Commissioner to Samoa, Sue Langford to the Minister of Works, Transport and Infrastructure- Papali'itele Unasa Nickel Lee Hang this week.

The contract to manufacture and supply Bailey bridges with spare parts as well as providing training for the Land Transport Authority and local contractors on the installation of Bailey bridges was awarded to Mabey Bridges Ltd, UK.

The Samoa Observer paper reported the legislation was inspired by Supreme Court Justice Vui Clarence Nelson five years ago when he appealed to the government to establish a register.

He said the law was essential for the protection of women and children in Samoa.

Justice Vui credited the former Attorney General Aumua Ming Leung Wai for progressing things and also commended the Law Reform Commission for leading extensive public consultations.

He said he hopes the police assign the law the importance it deserved.

Tagaloasa Filipaina, the alleged leader of what's considered one of the biggest drug operations in Samoa, was released by the authorities despite being refused parole five times.

In a report by the Samoa Observer, the Minister for Prison Services Tialavea Tionisio Hunt said the prisoner was not considered a risk to the public.

However, Tagaloasa is held in a special section of the prison reserved for those considered high risk of flight and posing danger to others.

The Minister later admitted he knew nothing about the release.