Government

Village representatives from five villages were invited for discussion as the first project under the agreement tackles the Aumaga (village men).

The aim of the agreement is to eliminate domestic violence against women and girls.

Each of the five villages will be working of several projects worth of $5,000 each.

These projects should financially benefit the village men to be able to support their families and prevent them from violence.

The villages welcomed the initiative.

Photo supplied 

The Samoan Government had sought help from Fiji with the autopsies.

The pathologist arrived last week and has now completed the task.

The eight bodies have since been released to their families for burial after the autopsies were completed.

Samoa police have confirmed a 14-year-old male whose body was found at Moamoa in November last year was included in the autopsies performed.

Police have been investigating the death of the teen who found by a man from Moamoa while on his way to his plantation.

A statement released by the Pacific Conference of Churches said the Samoa Council of Churches will meet representatives of Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata'aha and her predecessor, Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, in an attempt to end the stand-off.

Police barricaded the parliament complex yesterday as 18 elected but unsworn Opposition parliamentarians including Tuila'epa were protesting their inability to enter Parliament.

In a statement on Friday the government said the lockdown was necessary given the surge of the deadly COVID-19 delta variant globally.

It said this was especially important as the country prepares for a limited re-opening of incoming flights which have been suspended for weeks because of worsening delta outbreaks in neighbouring countries.

It said Cabinet has approved the trial of the revised Lock-down plan for the Honiara Emergency Zone through a 36-hour lockdown from 6pm on Sunday 29th August to 6am Tuesday 31 August 2021.

The Court of Appeal today granted applications from the Attorney General to hear an appeal and stay of execution against the Supreme Court's 28 June ruling that parliament must sit by 4pm Monday, 5 July.

The Supreme Court judged that a breach of its ruling would compel the court to revisit FAST's ad hoc swearing-in on 24 May, and find in the newcomer party's favour.

The prospective government - an unprecedented coalition of parties - has a razor-thin majority of one seat.

It would also end more than two years of political paralysis in which three elections resulted in stalemate.

Right-wing nationalist Naftali Bennett is poised to become PM in a power-sharing deal with a centrist leader.

Under the coalition agreement, Mr Bennett, who heads the Yamina party, will hold office until September 2023, when he will hand over to Yair Lapid, leader of Yesh Atid, for a further two years.

The FAST Party deputy Tuala Tevaga Iosefo Ponifasio told RNZ that there's no doubt his party is now the government.

He said they were forced into holding Monday's swearing-in ceremony outside parliament.

"According to the constitution, the head of state is supposed to swear in, and if not the head of state then it will be a council of deputies. But none of those were available. They didn't want to be part of this," he said.

"So as far as we're concerned, we formed the government within the 45 legal days and we've done the swearing in and we do have a government."

The cheque was handed over Tuesday on behalf of the GCA by Director, Rev.Uta Muaulu.

In accepting the cheque, the Minister acknowledged the commitment by the Board and Management of the GCA and complimented their hard work, which is also reflected in the Authority’s financial position as well as its support and compliance with Governments’ dividend policy.

A statement said it is the first installment towards a total dividend of $984,859.65 which the Gambling Authority plans deliver in full by July 2021.

But with the same token, Government is not oblivious to the fact that any rise in the hourly wage is primarily up to the private sector, said Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi.

“There is a lot more to this than meets the eye,” elaborated the Prime Minister.

“Any raise in the minimum wage is dependent on private sector’s ability to absorb it among other related issues. In making such a recommendation, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labor (MCIL) take into account what government can afford, and especially the private sector.”

SODELPA and the National Federation Party had 24 hours to serve all FijiFirst MPs with the legal papers as part of their action disputing last month's election results.

SODELPA MP Lynda Tabuya said bailiffs had been trying to serve the papers on the MPs at the office of the Attorney General but had not been allowed in.

She said some of the MPs had spent the night in the offices and food had been supplied throughout the day.