Samoa

Speaking at the launch in Apia yesterday, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said the Samoa Law Reform Commission’s Final Report highlighted that between 2009 and 2013, there were 535 crimes of a sexual nature reported to the Ministry of Police.

“An overall trend shows a 20 per cent increase in reported sexual crimes from 2009 to 2013. The most common types of reported sexual crimes include rape, indecent assault and attempted rape.”

“It’s nothing new," said the Prime Minister. 

“I had expected the claim, in fact there may be more claims not only from Virgin Australia (government’s partner in the Virgin Samoa joint airline venture) but we also have claims of our own that need to be sorted out.

“Simply put, it’s like divorce proceedings between a couple.“Before the divorce papers are signed the couple meets to negotiate how their assets and finances are equally and fairly divided between the spouses. “That is the same process that our officials and Virgin Australia are engaging in.”

Samoa's Rugby Union Chairman and Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi, is fully supportive of the endeavor.

“The Manu Samoa Old Boys Association is way overdue. For them to step up now speaks volumes about their commitment to Samoa and their willingness to give back to the sport and to the people of Samoa,” Tuilaepa said. 

“The Manu Old Boys will play a leading role on the ground as scouts for new talent and also assist the Samoa Rugby Union when it comes to organizing international test games overseas.

A family member says Faamausili was officially declared the next Malietoa in an 'ava ceremony held at Sapapalii village on Savaii Island on Tuesday, but the day for the traditional royal ceremony for the bestowal is yet to be finalised.

RNZI reports there has been ten years of debate over who should assume the Malietoa title following the death of Malietoa Tanumafili II.

The three family branches Malietoa Talavou, Malietoa Natuitasina and Malietoa Moli, became involved in a legal battle after Faamausili Moli was initially given the title in 2007 as he lacked full backing.

This is the 33rd year since the government-funded School Grant assistance started in 1984.

And since then the annual subsidy for mission, private, early childhood and special schools has increased from fifty thousand tala to 6 million tala.

The number of schools receiving the assistance has also increased from the first year when only mission schools received assistance to about 30 schools this year.

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi assured the schools that the annual grant will gradually increase depending on the government’s finances.

The ceremony took place in New York on 7 June on the side-lines of the UN Ocean Conference, where among other activities the Prime Minister addressed participants on the value of tourism to sustainably advance the blue economy. 

The fights will operate on Mondays and Friday from Fagali'i Airport to Tongatapu.

The flights from Pago Pago International Airport in American Samoa will operate on Sundays and Thursdays local time.

RNZi reports the flights come less than a year since Talofa started operations.

In a statement the airline's CEO Toleafoa Jeffrey Hunter said Talofa Airways was now ready to provide the much needed direct air services between Tonga and the two Samoas.

He said it was his hope to expand the service to Niue, Wallis & Futuna and other neighbouring islands.

This is consistent with arrangements made under the Pacific Island Chief of Police in terms of training opportunities,

Fiji Village reports the two are Woman Constable Fuka Mouga of the Tonga Police and Woman Constable Nepa Papalii of the Samoa Police Services.

While welcoming the two to the Fiji Police Force, Commissioner of Police Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho said that Fiji is always eager to help its Pacific island neighbours.

The defendant, Nelson Meleisea, of Aleisa village has admitted performing the circumcision of 28 boys after a complaint by the ministry of Health.

RNZI reports Meleisea has also pleaded guilty to one count of stealing surgical items from the main hospital for his operations held in two separate villages in December 2015 and January last year.

According to police, some of the boys had been hospitalised as a result of infection from the operations.

The defendant had charged $US40 dollars for each circumcision in the village of Lepa.

Justice Mata Keli Tuatagaloa upheld an appeal on the charge of negligent driving causing injury and convicted Mauga of the charge on Friday.

His ruling overturns a decision by the District Court in December last year to acquit Mauga of the charge.

Justice Tuatagaloa also dismissed an appeal on a charge of failure to stop and ascertain.

The appeal was filed by Satiu Simativa Perese, an independent prosecutor, hired by the Attorney General’s Office.

The charges against Mauga stemmed from a three-vehicle accident on Beach Road in Apia, last year.