Three well-qualified carpenters from Samoa have been selected to work in the rebuilding programme in Christchurch, New Zealand.
The programme gives the same type of opportunity as the seasonal workers scheme, but follows more strict qualifications.
Samoa’s Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi met with the three men today, a week before they depart for Aoteroa.
He offered them a word of advice, as he has done with other seasonal workers in the past.
“These men have been selected through a strict process by a group from New Zealand that was here last week. The process includes an interview, to see if they are fluent in English,” he said.
“They must be well educated, and last but not least, must use common sense,” he said.
Originally, there were five people, who passed the interviews and were preparing for the selection.
However, one of the interviewees did not qualify because of a police record for an offence committed in the past.
“We cannot afford to send someone who has a record at Tafaigata (Prison) to these programmes. It risks the chance we are getting at further solidifying our relationship with these job opportunities,” said Tuilaepa.
A fourth person stood down from the process claiming his wife had just given birth.
The youngest carpenter is 25 year old, Pinati Tita’e from Satupaitea, Savai’i.
He says he is thankful for the opportunity to travel to New Zealand and work for a decent income.
Tita’e graduated from Vaiola College in Savai’i, then studied carpentry at the Institution of Technology at National University of Samoa.
He received a scholarship to travel to Fiji to continue his studies at Australian Pacific Technical College (APTC).
“I’m extremely thankful for this opportunity provided. It means we get to earn a lot more than we do now and get to learn from the experts overseas the tricks and tips of carpentry,” he said.
Tita’e is looking forward to the work ahead and considers himself one of the lucky ones to have been selected. The three carpenters will leave for New Zealand on August 4.