Samoa

Tialavea Tionisio Hunt told the Samoa Observer he would not entertain the notion of convicted Samoans being deported.

The idea of repatriation was flagged by American Samoa's police commissioner as a way to reduce numbers at the territory's overcrowded prison.

The commissioner Le'i Sonny Thompson said the majority of prisoners in American Samoa are Samoan nationals.

The official confirmation was issued as a signed letter by both the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Revenue.

According to the Government’s Press Secretariat, the signed letter is addressed to the Chair of the Code of Conduct group to assure Samoa’s commitment within the prescribed time frame of 2018.

The letter is also in addition to the Ministry for Revenue’s response sent to the Chair of the Code of Conduct Group on the 2nd November 2017 in relation to results as identified from its screening process.

Samoa lead 14‑0 at half‑time, but the one thing opponents know, is that Fiji is never to be underestimated and the second half was a physical and feisty affair.

When Fiji scored, seasoned pundits were nodding in expectation that the flood gates would now open, but to Samoa’s credit they have faced this foe before.

Samoa defended well and gave Fiji no space to do their trademark break and run and as the clock ran down it became more obvious that Samoa had what it was going to take to hold on to this Pacific Games title.

On Wednesday opposition MP Olo Fiti Va'ai made the call after visiting a hospital he said was crowded with children infected with the disease.

The Ministry of Health's chief executive, Leausa Dr Take Naseri, said parents have been advised to keep their children at home if they show symptoms, saying Olo's call was pointless.

"I don't think closing schools is appropriate for a mosquito-borne disease. This is not contagious in the sense that it spreads from person to person by contact," he said.

Tietjens' side will take on defending series champions Fiji and Wales and Canada in pool play.

Fiji lost to South Africa in the Dubai sevens semi-finals last week while Wales and Canada had disappointing tournaments.

Samoa finished in sixth place and look to have made improvements from last season.

But Tietjens said he expects their group to provide stiff opposition.

"Canada is going to to be really tough, they are disappointed with their last tournament. Obviously they will want to get a few points on the board."

AUT academic Lealiifano Albert Refiti said the way matai living outside of Samoa operated was changing.

He said, for example, there was a desire to lessen the burden imposed on families to give gifts for funerals or weddings.

Lealiifano said the symposium was "revelationary" and provided a good opportunity to learn how the chiefly system in Samoa was changing.

Stowers, who is 17 years old, set a new Commonwealth record in the women’s +90kg, lifting 108kg in the snatch, 131kg in the clean and jerk, and 239kg overall.

An emotional Stowers wiped away tears of joy as she climbed atop the podium to receive her three gold medals.

Luisa Peter of the Cook Islands claimed silver in the snatch and overall, while Nauru’s Charisma Amoe picked up silver in the clean and jerk.

In the men’s 94kg, Kari secured all three gold medals on offer, lifting 155kg in the snatch and 195kg in the clean and jerk.

AUT Professor of Pacific Studies, Tagaloatele Peggy Dunlop said only a decade ago females made up five percent of matai, or chiefs, based in Samoa. But she said that figure had grown to 11 percent, and of those, just over half were village-based.

She said some villages still prohibited women entering the fa'amatai chiefly system, but it was crucial for a wider representation, especially on issues like domestic violence.

Lupematasila Misatauveve Dr Melani Anae from the University of Auckland's Centre of Pacific Studies said the data gathered from the symposium is part of research examining how Samoans with chiefly titles apply their responsibilities overseas.

She said it was good to see, not only, more women taking up titles, but also an attitudinal change among youth.

"For our young people, fa'amatai is something to be feared and is always approached with foreboding and intrepidation.

WHO official Dr Jonathon King said that there had been a resurgence in the disease and it had been found in children.

Known in Samoan as mumu, filariasis is characterised by massive swelling of the legs.

Dr King said that because the disease is spread by mosquitoes, they aim to piggy back on vector control programme that are now being done in the territory to stop the spread of dengue, zika and other mosquito borne illnesses.

He said they were planning to have a mass treatment campaign similar to one carried out in American Samoa a number of years ago.