Samoa

Unasa Iuni Sapolu told the Samoa Observer that legalisation could help the country economically through exports for medicinal purposes.

Unasa said legalising the drug would also save the government money by reducing prison numbers.

She said the government would no longer have to pay to house and feed some drug offenders in prisons.

Unasa told the newspaper that the government could also boost revenue from tourism by allowing the recreational use of marijuana.

"It's just a plant, legalize it and reduce government indebtedness," she said.

Tuilaepa quoted a figure of $US4 billion and told local media several projects would be funded from grants and loans provided by the Chinese.

He said two new bridges would be built including a replacement for the Vaisigano bridge on Beach Road, next to Sheraton Aggie Greys hotel.

The other bridge would span the Mali'oli'o river at Samalaeulu in Savai'i.

Meanwhile, the Japanese government-funded reconstruction of the Apia wharf is due to be completed in June.

TV1 Samoa News reported there was a drive in the village to get across the anti-violence message within the community through competitions of traditional entertainment and skits involving men, women and children.

The local MP and Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Lopao'o Natanielu Mu'a is spearheading the village campaign.

It is not immediately clear how the ban will be applied.

Asau is in the northwest of the island of Savai'i.

The most interesting thing about the New Year in Samoa is the fact that one can take an hour's flight to American Samoa, which is on the other side of the dateline, and celebrate the New Year twice, twelve hours later as it is one of the last places to hit midnight.

Often, Samoans and visitors to the country celebrate with fireworks and traditional juggling and dancing.

People visit from all over the globe in order to be the first to see the New Year.

The Samoa Submarine Cable Company said Samoa, Fiji, and Wallis and Futuna are now inter-connected via the undersea optical fibre system which spans more than 1,470 kilometres.

Samoa's Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Afamasaga Rico Tupa'i, said it's a significant milestone for the project to bring high speed broadband to everyone in Samoa.

The new internet connection is expected to be operational next month.

The men escaped a week ago and two remain on the run.

Security at the prison has been a problem.

RNZI reports there has been a history of escape prisoners from the main Tafaigata prison.

From the time when the prison was under the authority of the Ministry of Police, there was always cases of prisoners escape.

There is no fence surrounding the whole compound for the main prison.

The assistant commissioner of prisons Ulugia Sauafea Niui'a said they would be working together with the police on the case.

The man was found unconscious in a pool of blood early Wednesday morning with severe head injuries that police believe were caused by a machete.

Police spokesperson, Superintendent Auapa'au Logoitino Filipo, told the Samoa Observer that the young man had emergency surgery Wednesday

morning and is still in intensive care.

The Samoa Solidarity International group led the meeting to give clarity on the Lands Title Registration Act 2008 which some claim breaks communal land into individual titles, thus infringing on customary rights.

The same concerns were raised in Samoa on December 18 when over 200 people marched in the capital at Apia.

A committee member of the New Zealand group, Taloto Obed Unasa said the main concern for those at the Auckland meeting was the lack of understanding on the long term consequences for people's land under the current law.

The call by the Member of Parliament for Urban West Faumuina Wayne Fong was made during discussion on the immigration law.

Faumuina said while travellers from all other countries were free to stay in Samoa for 90 days, American Samoans were not given the same privilege and he said that isn't fair.

The Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi told parliament the minute American Samoa removed its entry permits for Samoan citizens, Samoa would do the same for American Samoans.

Police superintendent Auapa'au Logoitino Filipino told the Samoa Observer that two had drowned and two were suspected to have taken their own lives.

He declined to give any information about the deaths saying police are conducting investigations into each one.

Auapaau said more than 20 people were arrested for driving under the influence.

They were caught at roadblocks that police had staged throughout the country over the Christmas Day long weekend.