Samoa

It is easily detected if tested early and can be cured, but many Samoan children are still dying from the disease.

Rheumatic Relief is an organization which goes to Samoa and tests children for this disease.

One of the ways the organization gets the children to come and be tested is to offer backpacks with school supplies and children’s books.

This summer, the group will be going to Samoa with 4,000 backpacks to test that many children, they hope to be able to give each child three picture books, along with the backpacks.

This was made known by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka during a bilateral meeting with his Samoan counterpart, Fiame Naomi Mataʻafa.

The meeting took place at the margins of the Pacific Island Forum Leaders Special Retreat currently held in Nadi.

The two day meeting is focused on the theme, “Reflection, Renewal and Celebration.”

A new milestone achievement in the development of Fiji and Samoa relations was witnessed yesterday through the official signing of the Development Cooperation Agreement (DCA).

MetService said it's only a "low risk" of becoming a cyclone into Monday next week. That puts it at a 5 to 20% chance.

However, into Tuesday and Wednesday the risk of the low turning into a cyclone increases to moderate, which is a 20 to 50% chance.

"The low is expected to be located between Fiji and Vanuatu around the middle of next week," a MetService spokesperson told 1News.

From there, the weather system could track south eastwards and affect New Zealand later next week moving into the weekend.

The project was implemented under the EFKS Vini Fou’s Conserving our Natural Spring and Waterways Project.

A sttement said the project has not only increased people's awareness of the importance of conserving fresh water resources, but has also improved the quality of the surrounding ecosystem for future generations.

Living up to its name, which means spring of life, the Punaoleola pool has been the source of fresh water for the Vini Fou community for many years for bathing, drinking and providing a place to sustainably grow watercress.

They have warned they may have to look elsewhere for seasonal workers if Samoa continues to put 'disruptions' in their seasonal work policy.

The Chief Executive Officer of Approved Employers Australia, Steve Burdette told Radio Australia is it worth the risk or do we go elsewhere, and that's what we are concerned about.

Samoa's Cabinet last year suspended the deployment of seasonal workers for the rest of January pending a Cabinet review.

They recently received brand new bio gas systems from the programme.

One of the recipients Rev. Faaofonuu Efaraima of the Tanumapua Baptist Church said it’s cost effective since the bio-gas will be manufactured and processed at home using organic wastes.

Savali newspaper reports this will eliminate buying regular LPG gas from the shops.

Samoa will host the meeting in 2024.

At a press conference late last week, Mata’afa said a senior delegation from the Commonwealth Secretariat visited Samoa in November last year, to look at potential venues for the meeting and the airport.

She added the delegation commenced discussions with the relevant government Ministries on the preparations, and on the formulation of a theme for the meeting.”

“The outcomes of the visit were positive, signaling a good start to our preliminary preparations.”

Acknowledging the agreement brainchild between the Samoa Breweries Ltd (SBL) and Charlie Va'ai and Beatrice Ott to take over ownership of the Vailima brand in Samoa, Fiame welcomed the latest development saying its “very good news that the brand acquisition of Vailima to Mr. Vaai and Ms. Ott has eventuated.”

“We recognize that Vailima is an iconic brand for Samoa and knowing it is now ours and here to stay is a great achievement,” she complimented extending Government’s gratitude to CCEP for their efforts in facilitating the release of the brand back to Samoa.

In her weekly press conference Fiame Naomi Mata’afa said there are no casualties.

A number of farms and orchards where the Samoan workers are employed reportedly suffered severe flooding over the last weekend.

Savali newspaper reports Government agencies which include the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade complemented by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour have seen been put on alert monitoring the aftermath of the cyclone.

A significant number of Samoan workers are in the Hawkes Bay region which was heavily impacted.

The chairman of the FAST party and Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Laauli Leuatea Schmidt, told the Samoa Observer the consignment belonged to his son Leuatea James Schmidt who holds a valid dealer's licence.

Laauli says the licence was under his name long before he became an MP.

He says he handed the business and licence to his son.

He also says the importation of such a consignment under his son's name was done "legally".