Samoa

Up for discussion are the various challenges in delivering credible, inclusive and transparent elections.

The Commonwealth Secretariat said participants will also discuss issues relating to institutional independence, women's participation, voter education and election observation.

Secretary-General Patricia Scotland said democracy is a fundamental value of the Commonwealth.

She said electoral commissions are the custodians of elections that play an essential role in protecting the rights of voters.

The request was made in a joint letter from American Samoa's Congresswoman, Aumua Amata; Guam's Madeleine Bordallo; and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Gregorio Kilili Sablan.

The letter to the US House Committee on Veterans Affairs, requests a hearing to look at the challenges facing those American veterans that reside in American Samoa, CNMI, Guam, Samoa, and the Freely Associated States.

The congressional delegates said these areas get little help from the US Department of Veterans' Affairs.

Samoa and Solomons Men met for the first time for many years and it provided a close tussle. 

At the conclusion of the match it was a 2 all draw.

To find the winner involved the first shootout competition of the tournament.

Exciting goalkeeping kept the score 1-1 as different strikers had their turns however, it was in sudden death that Samoa, in their first Hockey5s shootout broke the deadlock to take the game.

The highlight game in the women's section was the match between Samoa and Fiji. Samoa really challenged Fiji and the match ended 6-4 to Fiji. 

“The message from this office is clear, domestic violence of any kind is unacceptable and those who commit it where the evidence supports a charge will be prosecuted," says the Attorney General.

Lemalu’s comments follow his presentation to the Ombudsman's Commission of Inquiry into Domestic Violence late last week, according to a government release.

In his presentation given on behalf of the prosecution legal service, the Attorney General stated that statistics show an increase in reported cases between 2012 and 2016.

The ulu (breadfruit) has been touted as one of the most important crops of the 21st century.

A government backed research shows that this highly abundant and under-utilised fruit has mass potential in economic benefits for Samoa as well providing another food medium that could aid in reducing the epidemic of diabetes cases in this country.

The CEO, Shelley Burich said Samoa had a mammogram machine but not enough technical staff to use it and read the images.

She said the National Health Service was now looking towards a national screening programme and is working with the Cancer Society to train more people in the radiology department to use the mammogram machine.

Roberta Tiatia works for Immigration New Zealand but her certification requires constant upskilling to keep up to date with policy.

She said uncertified people were giving out false information and in some cases charging thousands of dollars.

Ms Tiatia said a number of people come to see her only after they'd paid money to someone else who never delivered.

A government press statement says the investigation is in relation to reports received by the Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet that passports have been illegally procured.

It says the Ministry takes any allegation seriously and wishes to assure the public that security of Samoa passports remains intact, and that relevant action in accordance with the law will be taken upon completion of the investigation.

The Samoa Qualifications Authority (SQA) is scheduled to launch the new SQs in Tourism and Hospitality at the Millenia Hotel fale, today.

A total of 112 National Competency Standards (NCSs) which have been packaged into twelve SQs were developed based on feedback provided by various employers in the tourism sector with technical advice from the Sector Advisory Group (SAG). The qualifications are now registered on the Samoa Qualifications Framework (SQF) after satisfying the requirements for registration.

ADEC’s Chief Executive Officer James M. Donovan made the commitment while in Apia attending the recent Pacific Island Forum leaders meeting.

He has reassured government that he will return in November to continue negotiations with the relevant government officials, according to a release from the Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

“He’s committed to start a call center with 50 to 100 seats in the initial stages,” says ICT Minister Afamasaga Rico Tupai.