Samoa government

The man died almost a month after being released from quarantine.

The Director General of Health, Leausa Take Naseri, told TV1 Samoa there were forensic pathologists in Australia and New Zealand but most did not want to come to Samoa due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

However Leausa claimed there was no connection between the coronavirus and the death of the man who had tested negative on the last day of a 14 day quarantine period.

  Renee Kahukura-Iosefa said briefings have not happened during the Covid State of Emergency despite media requests.

"Samoa went into a state of emergency on March the 21st. From then until today pretty much we had no opportunity to be able to ask questions or get factual information directly from the Ministry of Health or directly from the director general," Renee Kahukura-Iosefa said.

Today's briefing was called by the ministry of health after the death of a recently returned seasonal worker from New Zealand.

The man collapsed at his home and was pronounced dead on arrival at Leulumoega District Hospital.

The Ministry of Health said the man completed 14 days of mandatory quarantine on 31 July after being repatriated from overseas.

It said he tested negative for Covid-19 before being allowed to go home.

The ministry said the man was not suffering from a severe medical condition, and that his family described him as being fit and healthy since his release from quarantine.

A report by TV1Samoa details Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi saying that many people had complained about the popular social media platform and how it was being used to hurt people.

"I am thinking about this a lot especially how it is being used to make defamatory statements about others," he said.

Tuilaepa himself has been a victim of personal attacks on Facebook, and had even taken some bloggers to court for defamation.

The Government received assistance, totaling USD$6,360.00, from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Office in Samoa, to provide a Year’s Subscription for 53 ZOOM Accounts.

The assistance by the UNDP is in response to the Government’s Nationwide State of Emergency (SOE), efforts to better support the Health Sector in ensuring that the people of Samoa are safe and prepared for the health risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic through the adoption and use of technological means.

The Prime Minister Tuila'epa Sa'ilele said late last week that the state of emergency limits would be eased to allow bingo on Saturday only, and only until 5pm.

He said casinos can also now operate every day except Sunday, but with their hours of operation to be announced later.

The prime minister said there are still people from other countries in Samoa who want to play at the casinos.

Only foreigners and Samoans traveling from overseas are allowed to play in Samoa's casinos.

The president of the Hotel Association, Tupa'i Sale'imoa Va'ai, said the occupancy rate was currently low - between one and five percent - which was a huge concern to his members.

He said a few lucky hotels had 15 percent occupancy rate but most, including beach fale operators, were considering closing or laying off staff.

"There's a lot of other industries in the country but our concern is this particular impact, impacts directly to the tourism industry.

Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi made the following announcement after the government secured USD$23.55 million in grants over a period of 5 years to support the development to the sector.

“Our Government’s initiative to seek funding through partnership with the World Bank and IFAD has seen the realization of Samoa Agriculture and Fisheries Productivity and Marketing Project (SAFPROM).”

The closure was reported after a confidential Cabinet Paper was leaked to the Samoa Observer.

A statement from Fiji Airways confirms the issues of "partnership" and "codeshare agreements" are being negotiated between the two airlines.

"Discussions have taken place between Samoa Airways and Fiji Airways Executives on partnership and codeshare arrangements," the statement said.

The airline said it has now referred the matter to the Fijian government for its attention.

The review is a good platform for the two Ministries to run a reality check of the current system in view of existing government policies, and future pathways for strengthening labour mobility in Samoa.

The improvements made to the system now require all foreign employees’ applications for temporary and work permits to go through the Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet – Immigration Division.