Samoa

The report, named Raising Pasifika: Strengthening Government Finances to Enhance Human Capital in the Pacific is a public expenditure review for Kiribati, Nauru, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

According to RNZ Pacific, the report's executive summary says the Covid-19 shock, combined with overlapping shocks from natural disasters and global inflation, risks reversing a decade of progress in building human capital across the Pacific.

This follows confirmation from Pouu'amea Tuaolo Supapo that marijuana was confiscated from Samoana High School students.

Drugs were also found at Tafuna High School.

Pouu'amea called on school administrators to find better ways to stop drugs from entering school campuses, even if they have to search each student.

Deputy Police Commissioner Papalii Monalisa Tiai – Keti confirmed to Tala Fou that the 64-year-old drove a vehicle that allegedly veered off the road causing the death of an 18-year-old woman.

According to a police preliminary report, the vehicle was allegedly travelling at a high speed.

The report says, the deceased was one of three passengers in the vehicle involved in the accident at Tapatapao on Wednesday last week.

The driver and the passengers were rushed to the hospital,

The deceased had severe head and body injuries.

The Government Savali newspaper reports the initial Cabinet submission was tabled early this year.

However, it was referred back for a thorough review to include inputs from the Office of the Attorney General, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Public Service Commission with Police and Prisons taking the lead.

The submission is scheduled to be tabled before Cabinet soon.

Deputy Police Commissioner Papali’i Monalisa Tiai Keti confirmed to Tala Fou that the deceased is 31-years-old.

A preliminary investigation by police indicates the deceased and his two younger cousins who are now the suspects were allegedly drinking homemade brew on Sunday.

The drinking session ended in a fight.

Papali’i said the two suspects facing murder charges and will appear in court on 5 June 2023.

Papali’i has reminded the public that the production of home brew is illegal.

The penalty is 200 tala.

Previously the $65 tax was paid on departure at the airport.

This was one of the issues the American Samoa territory’s administration raised at the talks between the two Samoas.

The American Samoa delegation wanted the departure tax paid at the airport scrapped however Samoa Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa responded that paying departure tax was a norm and that the $65 departure tax was usually included in the airline tickets.

Previously the $65 tax was paid on departure at the airport.

This was one of the issues the American Samoa territory’s administration raised at the talks between the two Samoas.

The American Samoa delegation wanted the departure tax paid at the airport scrapped however Samoa Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa responded that paying departure tax was a norm and that the $65 departure tax was usually included in the airline tickets.

The draw was finalised in Port Vila, Vanuatu yesterday.

The tournament will see ten nations from across the Pacific competing, with New Zealand defending the title they won in 2019, defeating New Caledonia in the final in Cook Islands.

Tahiti, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and Cook Islands are also participating in the tournament which will be held from June 21 to July 8.

The draw was conducted by OFC Head of Competitions, Chris Kemp, OFC President, Lambert Matlock and host President of Fiji Football Federation, Rajesh Patel.

The company won the bid for the work and signed a contract with Samoa Land Corporation as the Procuring Entity.

The Savalalo New Flea Market Project is funded by the New Zealand Government with $12.0 million NZ dollars contribution and $10 million tala input from the Government of Samoa through Samoa Land Corporation.

The book, called Germans in Samoa: 1860-1914, by Kasia Renae Cook, gives an insight into the journey made by hundreds of men and women from Germany who travelled to Samoa from the late 19th to early 20th centuries.

PMN News reports the book was commissioned by Keil who had dreamed of writing a book about his beloved Samoa and his German ancestry, as well as to share the stories of other Samoans who are of German descent.

Hundreds of people attended the launch at Auckland University’s Fale Pasifika, hot on the heels of the successful launch in Samoa just days before.