A self confessed missionary to Samoa has been found guilty of six charges of theft.

Grant Newman Holland, 72, appeared in the Supreme Court yesterday to hear the decision of his trial, held earlier this month.

Holland was found guilty on one joint charge with principal offender, Vaioleti Stowers, and five other charges on the basis that he aided Vaoileti Stowers in the commission of the offences.

The decision was handed down by Justice Elizabeth Aitken.

The matter has been adjourned to 16 December, 2015, for sentencing, together with the principal offender Ms. Stowers.

Between 21 January and 3 February, 2015, Holland, together with Vaioleti Stowers, stole six rental vehicles and sold them to different buyers.

Vaioleti Stowers admitted to the crime, however, Holland did not.

In the decision by the Supreme Court, it states that the accused denied receiving any money from any of the buyers.

In his evidence given to the Court, Holland said he was concerned about renting six vehicles in his name and at the same time.

He told the court that he had no knowledge whatsoever of what was going on behind the scenes. The decision reads that Justice Aitken is satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Mr. Holland was a joint principal offender in the theft of the Nevarra truck. In that decision, she states that he was clearly involved in the obtaining and delivery of the truck, and in the receiving of money for it.

However, in respect of the other five offences, it was clear that the accused aided Vaioleti Stowers in committing the crimes.

In light of the fact proved, there is also a clear inference to be drawn that he knew why she directed him to rent the vehicles, and in so doing he intended to help her in committing theft of each of those vehicles, the court’s decision stated.

The former Deputy Principal of Aana Alofi No. 1 Secondary School, Ieti Paleaae, has been jailed for 10 months for assaulting two students, in years 9 and 10.

The first victim was a 14-year-old male, Tutoatasi Gasologa, and the second victim was a 15-year-old female, Lina Fereti.

“Let this be a lesson to all other teachers who continue to assault the students,” Justice Mata Keli Tuatagaloa said, in delivering her decision to the 50-yearold accused, from Saoluafata.

“Teachers play an important role and they become role models to the students because they educate them to become future leaders.” According to the police summary of facts, the accused used a stick to assault the first victim, which left him with bruises and a broken arm.

It states that on 25 August, 2015, the victim was brought in by a teacher and reported for not submitting his assessment papers.

On 26 August, the second victim was found fighting in her classroom.

The accused then slapped her three times and her head hit the black board, which caused bruises on her head and swollen eyes.

He also hit her with a broken steel chair.

He only stopped when another teacher intervened, having been told about the attack by another student.

The victim was taken into the library by the Principal and told not to tell anyone what happened, and to claim they had accidentally hit the black board if asked.

The victim returned home and explained to her family what had happened, and the matter was reported to the police.

Justice Tuatagaloa told the accused what he did to both victims was humiliating and degrading.

There was a breach of trust between him, as the Deputy Principal and a teacher, and the students, as well as their parents, Justice Tuatagaloa said.

Justice Tuatagaloa pointed out that the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture has a policy against teachers assaulting students.

In sentencing, Mr. Paleaae’s previous good character was taken into account, as he is 50 and was only now appearing in court.

His efforts to apologise to the families of his victims was also taken into account, as was his guilty plea to the charges against him.

However, the court found it unacceptable that a broken steel chair was used to hit one of the victims.

The continuous assault in front of a class was deemed humiliating and degrading too.

For the first victim, Tutoatasi Gasologa, the accused was sentenced to three months in prison.

For the second victim, Lina Fereti, the accused was sentenced to seven months in prison.

The penalties were required to be served consecutively, for a total of 10 months in prison.

A body overlooking the work of teachers will soon be established after the Teachers Bill 2015 was passed in Parliament last week.

According to the Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, the establishment of the Council will bring the teachers in line with other professions such as dentists, accountants and engineers.

The body will be known as the Samoa Teachers’ Council.

It will be comprised of the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture’s Chief Executive Officer, the Samoa Qualification Authority C.E.O, the Dean of Education at the National University of Samoa and four teachers nominated by the Sosaiete Faiaoga Samoa Incorporated (or the successor body).

Others on the council are two teachers from the mission schools, two representatives from private schools and one teacher from an early childhood centre.

Chairman of the Education, Science, Communication and Information Technology Committee, Lenatai Victor Tamapua, tabled their findings into the Teachers Bill 2015 on Tuesday.

Inside Parliament, Tautua Whip Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi questioned the work load carried by the members of the council.

“I look at their functions and work [and] I think they need to be fulltime, by looking at the workload,” suggested Leala.

“Can the Chairman explain whether the staff will be permanent or temporary, because from what I see it seems they [will] be doing a lot of management work?”

Tautua Leader Palusalue Fa’apo II followed after. Palusalue asked how the Council’s work is different from that of the Public Service Commission.

“P.S.C. is responsible for teachers’ pay but looking at the Council’s function, they are also dealing with teachers’ pay,” said the Chairman. “Can you explain who is really responsible and P.S.C.’s role in this case?”

In response, committee Chairman Lenatai Victor Tamapua explained it was clear in the legislation that the employment area is not affected in the bill.

It was the same with salaries, with the Ministry dealing with that, he said.

“About the council and their work, they do assessments and meet about three to four times a year.

“ The y al so deal wi th registration and whether to approve or reject the applications.”

Prime Minister cut in to elaborate on the importance of having the Council.

He said this is the first time teachers will have their own Council.

“Each profession has their own body and that is one of the main goals (from teachers), to have their own.”

Minister of Public Enterprise Lautafi Selafi Purcell, who is also responsible for the Public Service Commission, cut in.

Lautafi explained the council handles matters concerning teachers and everything else that was mentioned in the legislation.

“But P.S.C. over looks employment in the government and the connection is the council makes recommendations, for example, on salaries, and P.S.C. looks at it and see if it’s appropriate or not.”

M.P. for Faleata East, Aveau Niko Palamo, told Parliament an association is different from a council which deals specifically with registration of teachers.

In deliberating over the report, M.P. for Aana Alofi no. 3, Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster, raised concerns on the council’s assessment contradicting with that from P.S.C. and mission schools.

His concerns related to teachers who are not accepted from government schools but are taken in by mission schools.

“If the council doesn’t accept the registration of a certain teacher, that would contradict private and mission schools, who have their own choice to accept the teacher and I say this because it’s happening today.”

Lenatai responded that the matter has been consulted on with mission and private schools, who have agreed to what’s being outlined.

“Also the council assessment is on applications on those registered, but anything else like employment; it’s not part of their functions.”

Another area of concern highlighted was whether graduates from other areas still needed to have two years of teaching experience before they could teach.

Leala reminded Parliament of the many graduates who finish school and take up teaching, while waiting for another job.

“But it’s clear in the legislation that they must go back and study teaching for another two years to get [a] teaching qualification.”

The Whip also asked why a teacher had to renew their teaching license every three years and not five or 10 years.

In his view, if that happens, the teachers would have to pay more fees and go through the process over and over again.

Lenatai cut in.

He clarified that, if the graduate has the qualifications, then the council has the discretion on the application.

Tuilaepa took the floor, to speak of licence renewals for teachers.

“I still think it should be renewed [every] two years so that their ability is assessed,” said Tuilaepa.

“We put too much emphasis on the teacher, leaving the students out. The most important subject here is the children and that is why we monitor teachers. The only way to do that is to look at the results and, if the students are failing their exams, it’s more reason to keep an eye on teachers.”

There is no country in the world where someone can renew their car or bus license without paying fees, he said.

The Teachers Bill 2015 was on its third reading on Tuesday.

Parliament has adjourned until 15 December, 2015.

LEADING WOMEN: Ane Moananu, C.E.O of Samoa Chamber of Commerce, inspirational speaker, Dr. Avis Jones-DeWeever, Vaimasenu’u Zita Martel, Consul of France to Samoa and Angelina Wilkinson , U.S Charge d’ Affaires, after yesterday’s inspirational speech and sessions from Dr. Jones-DeWeever on the importance of “Women Entrepreneurship” not only in empowering women but also helping in the economic stability of a country. “Investing in women is investing in a nation,” she said. Details in tomorrow’s Samoa Observer. Photo: Sarafina Sanerivi. 

A key witness in a hearing involving the President of Samoa Victims Support Group (S.V.S.G), Siliniu Lina Chang, and three others, accused of defeating the cause of justice, has admitted to an affair (fa’anunumi) with a church Minister.

The confession by Susan Caroline Stowers was made in the District Court yesterday where she was summoned to give evidence.

The witness told the Court she had an affair with the Minister to get back at his wife for mistreating her.

“Yes (I had an affair),” Ms. Stowers said.

Where did you have sex with the Church Minister?

“At the parish’s house (fale o le galuega).”

How many times did you have sex with the Minister in the parish house?

Twice, she said. Presiding over the matter is District Court Judge, Vaepule Vaemoa Va’ai.

The prosecutor is, Fepulea’i Patrick Fepulea’i. Other defendants are S.V.S.G. employee, Tumua Luafalealo, Elaine Ulia- Faiga and Police officer, Salaa Sale Salaa.

Siliniu and Tumua are represented by Taulapapa Brenda Heather-Latu.

Alalatoa Rosella Papali’i is the lawyer for Ulia-Faiga while Papali’i Taeu Masipau is representing Salaa.

The defendants face four charges.

The first charge is where they are all accused of being parties in an attempt to defeat the cause of justice.

Siliniu and Sala’a then face a charge over the arrangement for Ms. Stowers’ parents to withdraw a complaint she filed against Ulia-Faiga in July 2013.

The third charge is against Siliniu and Tumua for defeating the cause of justice.

They are accused of an attempt to ensure Ms. Stowers left the country before a hearing, which had been scheduled for 24 July 2013.

Lastly, the defendants are accused of informing Ms. Stowers on 30th September – 1st November 2015 not to cooperate with the Police investigation. A summary of facts read out in Court stated the matter dates back in 2011 – 2012 when Ulia-Faiga and her husband, Reverend Terry Faiga, who is a C.C.C.S Minister, were serving at Lano, Savai’i.

The Court heard that Ms. Stowers and her family attended the parish pastored by the Minister and his wife. Rev. Terry and his wife asked Ms. Stowers’ parents if she could live with them and have them take her in as their adopted daughter.

During the time Ms. Stowers stayed with the couple, a charge of indecent assault arose and she decided to return to her home to live with her parents, who are also from Lano.

The Court was told that Ms. Stowers and her family filed a complaint with the S.V.S.G. Office in Salelologa. Her case was then referred to the main office in Apia.

In 2013, Ulia-Faiga was charged and summoned before the District Court at Tuasivi Savai’i.

The hearing was set for 25 July 2013.

Prior to the Court proceedings, in December 2012, when Ms. Stowers was under the care of S.V.S.G, a meeting was called.

The meeting was attended by Rev. Faiga, his parents, Ms. Stowers’ parents and Siliniu.

Siliniu then contacted Sala’a of the Police where she allegedly asked to have the case withdrawn since the parties had reconciled.

Luafalealo apparently assisted Sala’a to type the letter for the Police Commissioner, requesting for the case to be withdrawn. Ms. Stowers was present and later signed the letter.

According to the summary of facts, the request was not accepted by the Commissioner, who responded that the matter was before Court.

According to the prosecution, a plan was then hatched for Ms. Stowers to leave the country. She was asked to depart for Pago Pago before the hearing on 25 July 2013. She left on 24 July.

On the day of the hearing in Tuasivi Savai’i, Sala’a informed Ms. Stowers’ father to tell the Court that his daughter had gone to American Samoa for good and that the matter had been resolved.

The Court then made an order to dismiss the charges against Ulia-Faiga.

When a copy of the report reached one of the Assistant Police Commissioners, Lei’ataua Salale Aviga, he initiated an investigation into why the case was withdrawn. This investigation has resulted in the charges against the defendants.

In Court yesterday, Ms. Stowers said she did not agree for the Minister and his wife to adopt her. She explained that the village of Lano has a taboo on any girl or boy being allowed to sleep in the church Minister’s house.

“I went back to my family because of the bad things that were done to me,” Ms. Stowers told the Court. “I never approved of their request to adopt me but my parents had agreed that I live with them so I can do their chores and sleep there.”

Ms. Stowers recalled that the day she left the Minister’s house to go back to her family was a Sunday. She said when she came to church, Ulia-Faiga screamed at her to leave.

“In my mind she shouldn’t be speaking to me like that and the way she’s treating me is not right but I obeyed and left to go home.”

She also spoke about when the case was handled by S.V.S.G.

The 22-year-old who is now a cashier with one of the wholesales in Savai’i said she had seen how Siliniu “changed”.

She recalled weeks before her Court case in Tuasivi, the S.V.S.G President had called her “cheeky.” She said that if “I wasn’t cheeky these things wouldn’t have happened.”

“I’ve seen how Lina changed from the first time I met her. The first time I spoke with her she welcomed me and smiled but after those meetings (with Elaine) she had changed and told me off, saying I was cheeky.

“It seemed like I was the bad one and she (Elaine) was the victim.”

Ms. Stowers said she was later asked by Siliniu to apologise to Ulia-Faiga and others that had met on that day to resolve the matter and she obeyed. She supported the summary of facts when she said she was asked to leave before the Court case on the 25th July 2013.

Lawyer Taulapapa was the first to cross examine Ms. Stowers. The lawyer asked how old she was when the incident happened in 2012. She responded she was 18.

Taulapapa also sought clarification over whether Ms. Stowers had known the church Minister before 2012 when he was a teacher at Tuasivi College and how long she had lived in the Minister’s house.

Ms. Stowers replied she had only known Terry when they came into Lano in 2012 and she had not known him when he was a teacher at Tuasivi.

“But you had said in your statement that you lived with Terry and his wife in 2011?” the lawyer asked.

The witness insisted that she did not. She said she lived with couple from 2012 – 2013.

Moving on, Taulapapa asked who had lifted the taboo, which allowed her to live with the Minister and his wife when Lano forbids it. She also asked why she had left and returned to her family home.

Ms. Stowers replied she does not know who lifted the taboo and she repeated she left because bad things were done to her.

Taulapapa then questioned Ms. Stowers about part of her statement in which she talked about having an affair (fa’anunumi) with Ulia-Faiga’s husband.

“That is not the case that we are discussing,” Ms. Stowers responded.

But Judge Vaepule ordered the witness to answer the question.

“Yes (I had an affair),” she said.

Taulapapa pressed for her to explain what fa’anunumi means.

Ms. Stowers said it was a relationship, a sexual relationship.

Where did you have sex with the Church Minister?

“At the parish’s house (fale o le galuega),” said Ms. Stowers.

How many times did you have sex with the Minister in the parish house and how many at the Salelavalu hotel? Twice at the parish house and three times at Salelavalu, she responded.

“You said in your evidence you don’t know why she’s (Elaine) talking to me like that and it’s not right how she’s treating me,” said Taulapapa.

“Are you saying that it’s not right for her (Elaine) to get angry at you for what you have done?”

Ms. Stowers insisted that Elaine did things to her before the affair with the Minister happened when she left their house.

At that point, Taulapapa reminded the witness that she had told the Police “those problems” happened in November 2012.

Why did she report it 13 months after?

Ms. Stowers said Ulia-Faiga hurt her when she chased her out of the church.

“Susan it seems that if people don’t do what you want you basically do something about it, right?” asked Taulapapa.

“In honest truth, Terry distracted you and your messing around started when he was a teacher at Tuasivi and you were a student.

“For a man who was in Malua for 14 years and graduated making his way to his first village, he looked at you and decided to take you in as an adopted child and did other things when he should’ve known better?”

Ms. Stowers said she does not know what the lawyer was talking about.

Taulapapa put it to the witness if she knew that it was the Minister who made a request to the village to lift the taboo to allow her to live with him and his wife.

Again, Ms. Stowers said she does not know.

Taulapapa then asked Ms. Stowers if it was true that she fell pregnant with the Minister’s child where she had a miscarriage.

Ms. Stowers said she does not remember.

Other questions put to the witness was about pictures of her and the Minister being posted on Facebook in 2012 and 2013.

“Is it true that the reason why you lodged the complaint with S.V.S.G (against Elaine) is so he can divorce his wife?”

“Isn’t this also the reason why S.V.S.G changed their view on you and saw that the faletua (Elaine) is the victim and you probably are a victim of adultery with the Minister from Malua?

“Did you know that works at the parish in Lano were put on hold while this is all happening?

“Do you know if he is giving evidence or is he letting you carry the load alone?

“Did you know that your parents and others involved met to resolve this in an attempt to hide this shameful and disgraceful thing that happened? This was all planned by you and the Minister, is that correct?” asked Taulapapa.

Ms. Stowers replied she does not know.

Next to cross examine was Papali’i Masipau.

He asked Ms. Stowers if she was aware that his client Sala’a was only guiding her and Tumua on the process of things in writing the letter to Police Commissioner whether he accepts the request to withdraw.

The witness said she does not know.

Papali’i insisted the only reason Sala’a came to S.VS.G. was to explain the process they had to go through to write to the Police Commissioner.

She said yes.

When it was Alalatoa’s turn to query the witness, she asked Ms. Stowers if she was related to the church Minister and how she was related to him.

She said she does not know. All she knows is that they are related.

Alalatoa put it to the witness that she is related to the Minister on her father’s side. She said yes.

She also suggested to her that their relationship started in 2006 when she was a student at Tuasivi.

Ms. Stowers said no.

“You were 18 at the time when you were adopted. At that time you started to have feelings and you wanted to get into a relationship, isn’t that true?

“You used to call him dad and while you did that, you got turned on and had intercourse with him?”

Ms. Stowers said if it wasn’t for the “things” Ulia-Faiga did to her, she wouldn’t have done such a thing. She did not explain what these “things” were.

But Alalatoa told the Court that the only person who did dirty things was the witness and the church Minister. She said that there were times when Ms. Stowers slept in the middle of the Minister and his wife.

Ms. Stowers said yes.

“All your claims made to S.V.S.G were lies. You used the S.V.S.G to get what you wanted and have given them a bad name when they intend to do good things to help people.

“This was all you and the church Minister’s plan.”

Again Ms. Stowers denied the allegation.

The hearing continues.

The parents of Susan Caroline Stowers have repeatedly denied their daughter’s involvement in a sexual relationship with a church Minister.

In the District Court yesterday, Su'a and Peati Fa’aaliga Stowers maintained their daughter's innocence.

Su'a told the Court he had no knowledge of Rev. Terry Faiga, who was serving the village of Lano from 2011–2013, having an affair with his daughter.

He was questioned by the counsel for two of the defendants, Taulapapa Brenda Heather– Latu.

She asked him if he was aware of the relationship between his daughter and the church Minister.

“No I’m not,” said Sua.

“But in your statement with the police you were quoted saying that you wanted to resolve and withdraw the matter because it was a disgrace and it has given the church a bad name,” Taulapapa asked.

"Yes I remember saying that," the father told the Court.

“Isn’t that the reason why you were punished from the village twice, firstly because your daughter lodged a complaint against the faletua (minister’s wife) and secondly because of her affair with Terry?” Taulapapa queried.

“I don’t understand what you are saying,” Sua replied.

The trial is the second day of the hearing into allegations of defeating the cause of justice made against the President of Samoa Victim Support Group, Siliniu Lina Chang and three others.

District Court Judge Vaepule Vaemoa Va’ai is presiding over the matter.

Fepulea’i Patrick Fepulea’i and Diana Roma are the prosecutors.

Siliniu and another S.V.S.G employee, Tumua Luafalealo, are represented by Taulapapa Brenda Heather–Latu.

Lawyer Papali’i Taeu Masipau is standing on behalf of police officer Sala’a Sale Sala’a who is the other defendant.

The fourth defendant, Elaine Ulia–Faiga is represented by Alalatoa Rosella Papali’i.

First to take the stand yesterday was Sua Fa’aaliga Stowers.

He was asked about how he was related to Terry Faiga.

“Yes my wife and I are both related to Terry,” he replied.

In his evidence, the father maintained the Minister and especially his wife had insisted they could adopt his daughter despite a village taboo.

He explained the reason there was a taboo was related to previous matters in the past, where some youths from the village were allegedly involved in sexual conduct at the minister’s house. “I told my wife what they are asking for is very difficult but Elaine said to leave it to them, they will deal with the village.

“I had asked them (Elaine and Terry) why they wanted my daughter since our house is far away from the center of the village and if it was a boy it would’ve been easy…but she was our youngest and a girl.”

The father also spoke about being punished by Lano twice because of his daughter.

“A village meeting was called where I was punished and ordered to bring 2000 aumatua (sows),” Sua told the Court.

“I requested that the matter is before [Court] and without wanting to look like I was objecting to them, I presented to them two cows, three sows and some boxes of herrings as part of my payment and told them it was all that I had and they accepted it.”

During cross examination, Taulapapa asked Sua if he was aware about a lot of talks in the village about his daughter and the minister.

He replied: “I’m not aware of anything like that, she (Susan) took the matter to S.V.S.G and we had no knowledge of it.”

“You weren’t aware of the relationship that your daughter and the minister had,” Taulapapa asked. No, he said.

Taulapapa told Sua that his evidence is not the same as his statement to Police.

She made reference to a part of his statement where he said it had been resolved and he looked at his daughter with love, deciding she should leave for Tutuila.

Sua agreed to his statement and explained they did intend to send Susan away, but that would be after the court case (with Elaine), but they had rushed her to leave when S.V.S.G contacted them.

Taulapapa asked where Susan was staying.

The father said with him and his wife in Savai’i.

“How about the minister,” Taulapapa asked.

“I don’t know about him,” Sua said.

The witness was asked what he was thinking when the Police came back to him to investigate why the complaint lodged by his daughter was withdrawn. In response, Sua said: “I did not want to remember any of it.

“I’ve mostly forgot about it and when I spoke with the police officer it slowly came back to me.”

Then came Alalatoa’s turn to cross examine.

She questioned the father over whether his daughter was living with the minister at the moment.

Sua denied this.

“What if I tell you that is the truth?” the lawyer said. Again Sua said no.

Alalatoa told the father he was covering up because what his daughter did was shameful and disgraceful.

“No,” Sua repeated.

“You don’t want to tell the truth because it will reveal all these disgraceful things [that] your daughter’s doing, is that right,” Alalatoa asked.

“No,” Sua replied.

When the lawyer confronted the father with his daughter’s evidence in Court on Monday, where she admitted to having an affair with the minister, again he denied this.

“From today, you still cannot accept that your daughter is with the minister?”

No, said Sua.

“Do you have a phone that you can access the internet [on]...on a Facebook page your daughter is posting photos of her and the minister kissing?”

The father said he doesn’t know how to work such things.

Alalatoa questioned the father why he had asked his daughter for forgiveness if she had not done anything wrong.

In response, Sua said he asked her to get on her knees and apologise because it had affected a lot of people, even though he knew his daughter was not at fault.

The second witness after Sua was his wife.

Mrs. Stowers was asked by Taulapapa why they had asked to withdraw the case, where her daughter complained about Elaine.

The mother repeatedly told the Court that the police officer, Salaa, had instructed her to make a request in the Court to withdraw the case.

Taulapapa reminded her that her husband had given evidence saying it was with his free will that he made the request to withdraw the case.

Mrs. Stowers replied, saying she was instructed by Salaa on what to say to the Judge, where she had told her husband to make the request to withdraw in Court.

At this point, Taulapapa asked the mother about her daughter and the affair with the minister.

“I did not know a time when Susan said anything about it,” said the mother.

The lawyer pointed to a statement made by Mrs. Stowers on 30 November 2013 to S.V.S.G where she spoke about “your daughter’s affair with her adopted father, her uncle”.

The mother repeated, no.

“In your statement made at S.V.S.G you spoke about the church trip to American Samoa and someone saw something (with Susan and Terry),” said Taulapapa.

“You mentioned Foai, Rosalina said that someone had said that Elaine went to a house and found Susan lying on the bed with her bra and underwear on while the minister was watching her.

“These were your words while you were crying at S.V.S.G not in Lina’s words. You cried because you went there and you didn’t expect them to tell you about the affair, is that correct?”

Mrs. Stowers continued to say the things she mentioned in the statement was what she was told by Siliniu Lina Chang. Taulapapa began to raise her voice. “You heard the talks and what people were saying about your daughter and you did nothing about [it],” she asked. The mother said she had forgotten about the events as it was a while ago.

“You forgot about the affair by your daughter and the minister?”

Taulapapa reminded the mother that “you went to S.V.S.G and you spoke with Kisa (from S.V.S.G) [and] she told you about the affair between a church minister, who is the biggest hypocrite and liar from Savai’i.”

The mother replied, no.

The lawyer told Mrs. Stowers that it appeared as if she was going against the four defendants when in honest truth they thought they were assisting a girl that needed help. “I have a belief that the charges are not correct, the only foundation of the charges is based on [a] Police interview with you, your husband Sua and daughter Susan.”

She responded, saying she didn’t know what happened.

Cross examination on Mrs. Stowers continues today. The defendants are facing four charges. The first charge is where they are all accused of being parties in an attempt to defeat the cause of justice.

Siliniu and Sala’a then face a charge over the arrangement for Ms. Stowers’ parents to withdraw a complaint she filed against Ulia-Faiga in July 2013.

The third charge is against Siliniu and Tumua for defeating the cause of justice. They are accused of an attempt to ensure Ms. Stowers left the country before a hearing, which had been scheduled for 25 July, 2013.

Lastly, the defendants are accused of asking Ms. Stowers between 30 September – 1 November, 2015, to not cooperate with the Police investigation.

The Asian Development Bank (A.D.B) has approved a US$25 million grant (T$58m) for a submarine cable project in Samoa.

The funding will support the development of a fiber-optic cable system linking Samoa to Fiji’s international submarine cable network, giving Samoa fast and affordable Internet access.

Co-finance is being provided by the World Bank and the government of Australia.

“The development of the new submarine cable system is a critical step in Samoa’s international connectivity and will effectively open up efficient and affordable telecommunications access to the country’s population,” said Maria Melei, project team leader in A.D.B’s Pacific Department.

A.D.B’s grant sourced from A.D.B’s concessional Asian Development Fund will be complemented by cofinance of US$16 million (T$36.8m) from the World Bank and US$1.5 million (T$3.45m) from Australia. The Samoa Submarine Cable Company will provide US$8.18 million (T$18.8m) in equity and the government Samoa will cover taxes and duties of US$6.73 million (T$15.41).

The total project cost is estimated at US$57.4 million (T$132million). Currently Samoa is connected to the American Samoa-Hawaii cable system via the Samoa-American Samoa cable, which is operating at near capacity. The project will enable broader Internet access to meet Samoa’s growing demand. The new system will link both Upolu and Savaii to Suva in Fiji.

The project aims to enhance low-cost broadband services to Samoa, strengthen the regulatory and legal environment for information and communication technology (ICT), and facilitate e-health investment in Samoa. Part of the project will involve implementing an e-health patient information system to improve patient care.

The outer island of Savaii will be connected to the existing cable for the first time enabling it to receive high-speed internet. It is expected the project will open up new economic opportunities, both domestically and regionally, and boost the delivery of public and social services. Supporting inclusive growth and investment in ICT are key focus areas of ADB’s Pacific Approach which guides ADB’s operational focus in the region.

The parents of Susan Caroline Stowers have repeatedly denied their daughter’s involvement in a sexual relationship with a church Minister.

In the District Court yesterday, Su'a and Peati Fa’aaliga Stowers maintained their daughter's innocence.

Su'a told the Court he had no knowledge of Rev. Terry Faiga, who was serving the village of Lano from 2011–2013, having an affair with his daughter.

He was questioned by the counsel for two of the defendants, Taulapapa Brenda Heather– Latu.

She asked him if he was aware of the relationship between his daughter and the church Minister.

“No I’m not,” said Sua.

“But in your statement with the police you were quoted saying that you wanted to resolve and withdraw the matter because it was a disgrace and it has given the church a bad name,” Taulapapa asked.

"Yes I remember saying that," the father told the Court.

“Isn’t that the reason why you were punished from the village twice, firstly because your daughter lodged a complaint against the faletua (minister’s wife) and secondly because of her affair with Terry?” Taulapapa queried.

“I don’t understand what you are saying,” Sua replied.

The trial is the second day of the hearing into allegations of defeating the cause of justice made against the President of Samoa Victim Support Group, Siliniu Lina Chang and three others.

District Court Judge Vaepule Vaemoa Va’ai is presiding over the matter.

Fepulea’i Patrick Fepulea’i and Diana Roma are the prosecutors.

Siliniu and another S.V.S.G employee, Tumua Luafalealo, are represented by Taulapapa Brenda Heather–Latu.

Lawyer Papali’i Taeu Masipau is standing on behalf of police officer Sala’a Sale Sala’a who is the other defendant.

The fourth defendant, Elaine Ulia–Faiga is represented by Alalatoa Rosella Papali’i.

First to take the stand yesterday was Sua Fa’aaliga Stowers.

He was asked about how he was related to Terry Faiga.

“Yes my wife and I are both related to Terry,” he replied.

In his evidence, the father maintained the Minister and especially his wife had insisted they could adopt his daughter despite a village taboo.

He explained the reason there was a taboo was related to previous matters in the past, where some youths from the village were allegedly involved in sexual conduct at the minister’s house. “I told my wife what they are asking for is very difficult but Elaine said to leave it to them, they will deal with the village.

“I had asked them (Elaine and Terry) why they wanted my daughter since our house is far away from the center of the village and if it was a boy it would’ve been easy…but she was our youngest and a girl.”

The father also spoke about being punished by Lano twice because of his daughter.

“A village meeting was called where I was punished and ordered to bring 2000 aumatua (sows),” Sua told the Court.

“I requested that the matter is before [Court] and without wanting to look like I was objecting to them, I presented to them two cows, three sows and some boxes of herrings as part of my payment and told them it was all that I had and they accepted it.”

During cross examination, Taulapapa asked Sua if he was aware about a lot of talks in the village about his daughter and the minister.

He replied: “I’m not aware of anything like that, she (Susan) took the matter to S.V.S.G and we had no knowledge of it.”

“You weren’t aware of the relationship that your daughter and the minister had,” Taulapapa asked. No, he said.

Taulapapa told Sua that his evidence is not the same as his statement to Police.

She made reference to a part of his statement where he said it had been resolved and he looked at his daughter with love, deciding she should leave for Tutuila.

Sua agreed to his statement and explained they did intend to send Susan away, but that would be after the court case (with Elaine), but they had rushed her to leave when S.V.S.G contacted them.

Taulapapa asked where Susan was staying.

The father said with him and his wife in Savai’i.

“How about the minister,” Taulapapa asked.

“I don’t know about him,” Sua said.

The witness was asked what he was thinking when the Police came back to him to investigate why the complaint lodged by his daughter was withdrawn. In response, Sua said: “I did not want to remember any of it.

“I’ve mostly forgot about it and when I spoke with the police officer it slowly came back to me.”

Then came Alalatoa’s turn to cross examine.

She questioned the father over whether his daughter was living with the minister at the moment.

Sua denied this.

“What if I tell you that is the truth?” the lawyer said. Again Sua said no.

Alalatoa told the father he was covering up because what his daughter did was shameful and disgraceful.

“No,” Sua repeated.

“You don’t want to tell the truth because it will reveal all these disgraceful things [that] your daughter’s doing, is that right,” Alalatoa asked.

“No,” Sua replied.

When the lawyer confronted the father with his daughter’s evidence in Court on Monday, where she admitted to having an affair with the minister, again he denied this.

“From today, you still cannot accept that your daughter is with the minister?”

No, said Sua.

“Do you have a phone that you can access the internet [on]...on a Facebook page your daughter is posting photos of her and the minister kissing?”

The father said he doesn’t know how to work such things.

Alalatoa questioned the father why he had asked his daughter for forgiveness if she had not done anything wrong.

In response, Sua said he asked her to get on her knees and apologise because it had affected a lot of people, even though he knew his daughter was not at fault.

The second witness after Sua was his wife.

Mrs. Stowers was asked by Taulapapa why they had asked to withdraw the case, where her daughter complained about Elaine.

The mother repeatedly told the Court that the police officer, Salaa, had instructed her to make a request in the Court to withdraw the case.

Taulapapa reminded her that her husband had given evidence saying it was with his free will that he made the request to withdraw the case.

Mrs. Stowers replied, saying she was instructed by Salaa on what to say to the Judge, where she had told her husband to make the request to withdraw in Court.

At this point, Taulapapa asked the mother about her daughter and the affair with the minister.

“I did not know a time when Susan said anything about it,” said the mother.

The lawyer pointed to a statement made by Mrs. Stowers on 30 November 2013 to S.V.S.G where she spoke about “your daughter’s affair with her adopted father, her uncle”.

The mother repeated, no.

“In your statement made at S.V.S.G you spoke about the church trip to American Samoa and someone saw something (with Susan and Terry),” said Taulapapa.

“You mentioned Foai, Rosalina said that someone had said that Elaine went to a house and found Susan lying on the bed with her bra and underwear on while the minister was watching her.

“These were your words while you were crying at S.V.S.G not in Lina’s words. You cried because you went there and you didn’t expect them to tell you about the affair, is that correct?”

Mrs. Stowers continued to say the things she mentioned in the statement was what she was told by Siliniu Lina Chang. Taulapapa began to raise her voice. “You heard the talks and what people were saying about your daughter and you did nothing about [it],” she asked. The mother said she had forgotten about the events as it was a while ago.

“You forgot about the affair by your daughter and the minister?”

Taulapapa reminded the mother that “you went to S.V.S.G and you spoke with Kisa (from S.V.S.G) [and] she told you about the affair between a church minister, who is the biggest hypocrite and liar from Savai’i.”

The mother replied, no.

The lawyer told Mrs. Stowers that it appeared as if she was going against the four defendants when in honest truth they thought they were assisting a girl that needed help. “I have a belief that the charges are not correct, the only foundation of the charges is based on [a] Police interview with you, your husband Sua and daughter Susan.”

She responded, saying she didn’t know what happened.

Cross examination on Mrs. Stowers continues today. The defendants are facing four charges. The first charge is where they are all accused of being parties in an attempt to defeat the cause of justice.

Siliniu and Sala’a then face a charge over the arrangement for Ms. Stowers’ parents to withdraw a complaint she filed against Ulia-Faiga in July 2013.

The third charge is against Siliniu and Tumua for defeating the cause of justice. They are accused of an attempt to ensure Ms. Stowers left the country before a hearing, which had been scheduled for 25 July, 2013.

Lastly, the defendants are accused of asking Ms. Stowers between 30 September – 1 November, 2015, to not cooperate with the Police investigation.

Mr. Torres is on a routine visit to Samoa where he held talks with the Head of State, His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi , and government representatives

The Wellington - based Ambassador of Chile, His Excellency, Mr. Isauro Torres Negri, visited the Samoa Observer office yesterday.

Accompanied by Chile’s representative in Samoa, Maria Ines Kappenberger, he held discussions about his country with the paper’s Publisher, Muliaga Jean Ash Malifa, Editor, Mata’afa Keni Lesa, and Editor in Chief, Savea Sano Malifa.

Mr. Torres is on a routine visit to Samoa where he held talks with the Head of State, His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi, and government representatives.

Born in Santiago de Chile on August 23rd 1955, he is married to Maria Isabel Molina, and they have four children, two daughters and two sons. He has a Law Degree from the Universidad de Chile, he joined the Foreign Service Diplomatic Academy in March 1979, and was appointed Ambassador in December 2009.

From January 2009 up to January 2012, Ambassador Torres served as Director of the Division for North America, Central America and the Caribbean Affairs, MFA. In that capacity he was actively involved in the development of Special Partnerships with “like minded” countries and regions (Chile & California; Chile & Massachusetts).

Ambassador Torres has served three diplomatic terms at the Embassy of Chile in Washington DC (Minister Counsellor and Head of the Political Section from January 1 2007 to December, 2008; First Secretary and Congressional Liaison Officer between 1989 and 1993; and from 1982 to 1984, Second Secretary in charge of economic affairs).

From August 2003 to December 2006 he served as Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Chile to the U.K.

In 2001-2003, he served as Coordinator for Asia Pacific Economic Forum (APEC) in charge of Cooperation (ECOTECH), Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Ambassador Torres has experience in neighbouring countries: 1996-2000 Counsellor to the Embassy of Chile in Peru.

Previously, between 1994- 1995, Head of the Department for International Security Affairs, MFA. Multilateral experience: 1985-1986 First Secretary to the Delegation of Chile before the UN International Organisations in Vienna, Austria (AEIA, UNIDO)

The economy of Chile is ranked as a high-income economy by the World Bank, and is considered one of South America's most stable and prosperous nations, leading Latin American nations in competitiveness, income per capita, globalization, economic freedom, and low perception of corruption. Although Chile has high economic inequality, as measured by the Gini index, it is close to the regional mean.

In 2006, Chile became the country with the highest nominal GDP per capita in Latin America. In May 2010 Chile became the first South American country to join the OECD. Tax revenues, all together 20.2 percent of GDP in 2013, were the second lowest among the 34 OECD countries, and the lowest in 2010. Chile has an inequalityadjusted human development index of 0.661, compared to 0.662, 0.680 and 0.542 for neighboring Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil, respectively. In 2008, only 2.7% of the population lived on less than US $2 a day.

The Global Competitiveness Report for 2009–2010 ranked Chile as being the 30th most competitive country in the world and the first in Latin America, well above Brazil (56th), Mexico (60th), and Argentina which ranks 85th; it has since fallen out of the top 30. The ease of doing business index, created by the World Bank, lists Chile as 34th in the world as of 2014. The privatized national pension system (AFP) has encouraged domestic investment and contributed to an estimated total domestic savings rate of approximately 21% of GDP.

Chile is today one of South America's most stable and prosperous nations.

It leads Latin American nations in rankings of human development, competitiveness, income per capita, globalization, state of peace, economic freedom, and low perception of corruption. It also ranks high regionally in sustainability of the state, and democratic development. Chile is a founding member of the United Nations, the Union of South American Nations and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States.

Source: Wikipedia.

Foumalo Pedijay Leiataua, from Vaitele, has taken home the dux trophy for Manumalo Baptist School this year.

The top student was congratulated by her peers, parents, teachers and especially her grandparents, Cabinet Minister, Tolofuaivalelei Falemoe and his wife, Foumalo Lei’ataua.

The top student’s mother, Peti Lei’ataua, said she was proud of her daughter, who wants to be a doctor.

“All I can say is that I am very thankful to God for being with my daughter throughout her journey,” she said.

“We are very proud of her and I’m sure it wasn’t easy, but she made it thanks to our Heavenly Father.”

Ms. Lei’ataua added that her daughter will be leaving Samoa next week to spend the holidays with some family members in New Zealand.

“Her uncle and aunty Mua and Malua Setu paid for her fare to go to New Zealand as a Christmas gift,” she said.

“So she will be flying to New Zealand next week.” Her daughter actually graduated on Wednesday night, with the K5 students, she said.

“She’s not here because her and her other classmates are sitting entry examinations up at Samoa College,” she said.

Manumalo Baptist School held a graduation on Wednesday night for Year 8 and K5 students.

The prize giving was held yesterday at the school hall at Mulinu’u.

The Faleata Racecourse Solar array has saved Samoa $1.6million.

Built in 2014 as a collaborative effort between the Governments of Samoa and New Zealand, it has generated around 2,586,107 kWh. This equates to an off set of about 615,739.59 litres of diesel fuel.

Money that the Samoan Government would otherwise have spent on the diesel has been able to be put towards other worthwhile causes.

When opened by Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi during the S.I.D.S conference, it was said that the array was the biggest and the best.

Now this has been independently recognised in the S.E.A.N.Z awards.

Reid Technology NZ Ltd. who built the array have won two awards at the Sustainable Electricity Association of New Zealand annual awards night.

The first award was for the largest Solar PV installation outside of New Zealand, and the second was for the best installation in terms of quality design and quality of completion.

The project is one of three grid-connected solar arrays built with a combined generation capability of 2.58 MW at a cost of NZ $7.5m.

The lawyer representing Associate Minister and Member of Parliament for Fa’asaleleaga No. 4, Peseta Vaifou Tevaga, has indicated she will “file lawsuits” against the Office of the Attorney General and the Police.

In an email to the Sunday Samoan, lawyer Leuluaiali’i Olinda Woodroffe said a “deadline” given to the A.G’s office “is now past, and there has been no response”. As a result, “we are now going to file lawsuits against the A.G’s office and the Police.”

The “deadline” in question was given by Leuluaiali’i, upon instructions from her client, to the A.G’s Office and the Police to “remedy” their decision to charge the Associate Minister over alleged forgery and falsifying documents.

The Member of Parliament was charged and taken into custody two Fridays ago after the H.R.P.P’s 36th birthday party held at Mulinu’u.

Peseta was later released on bail by the Deputy Registrar, with 14 December, 2015, set as the date for mention of his charges in Court.

During the Police press conference on Thursday, the Ministry’s Spokesperson, Su’a Muliaga Tiumalu, confirmed the charges but declined to discuss the issue.

Questions sent to the Office of the Attorney General have not been responded to.

Contacted for a comment, Peseta referred questions to his lawyer.

On Friday, Leuluaiali’i criticised the Police and the Attorney General’s office for their handling of the matter.

“In our opinion, on the records we have seen, there has been no proper investigation and no proper consideration of the facts and the law, despite the seriousness of the allegations and the effect on Peseta, his District, and his family,” a statement from Leuluaiali’i said.

“It is of great concern that the charges have been laid and publicised in the media, which has caused damage to Peseta, the District he represents, and his family.

“We as lawyers have given the matter full and thorough consideration, and on the information available to us we have identified areas of extreme concern about the lack of evidence on which the charges were based, lack of proper investigation by the police and the Attorney General's office, and the manner in which Peseta was arrested and charged.”

Below is the full statement issued by Leuluaiali’i on behalf of her client:

RE: CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST PESETA TEVAGA’ENA

“Mrs Olinda Woodroffe of Woodroffe Lawyers has been instructed to issue this media release on behalf of Peseta Tevaga’ena (‘Peseta’), in respect of recent publicity surrounding charges against him laid by the police.

Peseta is a director and shareholder of a company called Local Partners & Associates Limited, which deals in nonu juice. The commercial activities of this company were made possible by Peseta providing security over a property owned by one of Peseta’s other companies.

All allegations and charges against Peseta are denied.

It is of great concern that the charges have been laid and publicised in the media, which has caused damage to Peseta, the District he represents, and his family.

We as lawyers have given the matter full and thorough consideration, and on the information available to us we have identified areas of extreme concern about the lack of evidence on which the charges were based, lack of proper investigation by the police and the Attorney General's office, and the manner in which Peseta was arrested and charged.

In our opinion, on the records we have seen, there has been no proper investigation and no proper consideration of the facts and the law, despite the seriousness of the allegations and the effect on Peseta, his District, and his family.

Our concerns about the failures of the police and the Attorney General's office have been set out today in a 38 page letter including attachments to the Commissioner of Police and the Attorney General, and we have given them an opportunity to take appropriate steps to remedy the significant and serious errors that have occurred.

We have given the Commissioner of Police and the Attorney General until midday on Friday 27 November to remedy this extremely serious and unsatisfactory situation, failing which we will take the appropriate steps in accordance with our client’s rights and remedies under the law and the Constitution.”

The Faleata Racecourse Solar array has saved Samoa $1.6million.

Built in 2014 as a collaborative effort between the Governments of Samoa and New Zealand, it has generated around 2,586,107 kWh. This equates to an off set of about 615,739.59 litres of diesel fuel.

Money that the Samoan Government would otherwise have spent on the diesel has been able to be put towards other worthwhile causes.

When opened by Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi during the S.I.D.S conference, it was said that the array was the biggest and the best.

Now this has been independently recognised in the S.E.A.N.Z awards.

Reid Technology NZ Ltd. who built the array have won two awards at the Sustainable Electricity Association of New Zealand annual awards night.

The first award was for the largest Solar PV installation outside of New Zealand, and the second was for the best installation in terms of quality design and quality of completion.

The project is one of three grid-connected solar arrays built with a combined generation capability of 2.58 MW at a cost of NZ $7.5m.

Take a look up above the Chan Mow Lotemau Centre Building diagonally opposite to McDonalds and you’ll see the first Digital Advertising Billboard in Samoa.

Measuring 10.42m² with a pixel density of 17776 pixels/m², the billboard is similar to that featuring the All Black captain, Richie McCaw’s image in Times Square, New York earlier this year, The billboard is a part of the Samoa Observer’s digital expansion and will offer a new way of advertising featuring still and animated images.

The management team of the Samoa Observer would like to thank Chan Mow and Company Limited; Junior Keil; Leulua’i Fata Levi;

Lucky Westerlund; Fata George Young; Tom Hogarth and Colin Chan and Scott Levi for their services, assistance and support.

Chanel College has celebrated a year’s worth of hard work, with a prize giving held at the weekend celebrating both students and staff.

A mass was held to commence the celebration, followed by the addressing of the audience by the Director of Catholic Schools, Aeau Chris Hazelman.

“The end of another journey is the beginning of another one,” he said.

He thanked the parents, families and the pastors of all the students for their ongoing support throughout this year.

Lastly, he thanked the Principal and teachers of the school for their hard work. “Malo lava for a job well done.” It was an emotional event for all the students and teachers of Chanel College, for it was their last prize giving with their current Principal, Father Mikaele Tuimavave.

Father Tuimavave has been the Principal of Chanel College for four years, and is moving on to undergo further studies in the Philippines.

“My four years in this college were perhaps the best years of my life,” he said.

It was a journey filled with a lot of challenges and obstacles, Father Tuimavave said. However, he said their achievements outnumbered the challenges they faced.

He was both happy and sad to be leaving.

“I am happy for the time and memories that I made here with these kids,” he said.

“At the same time, I am going to miss being around them.” The prize giving was a joyful occasion for students and their families.

The highlight of the day was the loud shouts from the families and friends of Steve Ponifasio, who was named Dux for 2015.

He also won the Tamasese family gold medal for being the “Top year 13 student” for this year. It was a historic moment for the school, according to Father Tuimavave, as a boy had not been named Dux for a long time.

As for Steve Ponifasio, it was a moment he said he’d remember for the rest of his life.

“It was priceless seeing my mum so happy and excited today,” he said.

“All glory and thanks to our Heavenly Father, because if it weren’t for Him…I wouldn’t be able to make it this far [and] I wouldn’t be this happy right now. These are all His works, because He is the provider of wisdom and understanding, and I am forever grateful to Him.” The top student said he is now ready for the next step of his academic life and will give it his all to continue making his parents proud.

“I’ve always wanted to be a lawyer [since] I was little,” he said. Mr. Ponifasio said he will pursue his dreams by working hard and putting God first in everything he does. “I am ready for whatever the future holds for me,” he said.

The happy Dux said he had a lot of fun at Chanel College and will always look back at his time there with a smile.

“I will treasure all the memories I made in this school and all the friends that I made along the way. Chanel College will always be my second home.”

St Joseph’s College has announced its new Principal for 2016, who will take over from Brother Siaosi.

The announcement was made by the Chairperson of the Governance Committee, Brother Christopher Maney, last week during the school’s prize giving.

“On behalf of the Governance Committee, I announce that Brother David Lavin has been appointed as the incoming Principal to St. Joseph’s College in 2016,” he said.

“The trust board and the committee have confidence that Brother David will be the right person at this time to build on the excellent leadership that Brother Siaosi has given."

“He is very highly qualified, with a bachelor’s degree in anthropology, english and history from the University of Auckland, a master’s degree in religious education from the Australian Catholic University and a bachelor’s degree in theology from the Sydney College in Divinity.

“Furthermore, he has trained in...adult education [with] the Manukau Institute of Technology in Auckland, New Zealand.”

He is a Marist Brother.

“Of his 39 years of teaching, 21 have been in Samoa, so he has good working knowledge of both written and spoken Samoan language,” said Br. Maney. “He has had a wide experience in education, in a variety of schools and [has] served on trust boards and other agencies."

“He has always maintained [his] closest association with Marist Old Pupils, both here and in New Zealand. “Throughout his time, he has always been involved in church and parish organisations, such as the St. Vincent De Paul Society."

“As a Marist Brother, Brother David has always [been] dedicated to his students with particular care for those most in need."

“So it is with great confidence that the Marist Brothers Trust Board and the Governance Committee recommend Brother David Lavin to you as the incoming Principal for 2016.

“Such confidence is further enhanced by the acknowledgement that Brother Bryan Stanaway will continue to be here to assist Brother David as his Deputy Principal. The Governance Committee is grateful for the support Brother Bryan [will] be able to give to this role.”

The 82nd birthday of Japanese Emperor Akihito has been marked locally, with a celebration held last Friday at the Tanoa Tusitala Hotel.

The Head of State, His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi and Her Highness Masiofo Filifilia Tamasese were present at the celebration.

Also present were members of Parliament, Chief Justice Patu Tiavasu’e Sapolu and C.E.Os of government ministries and non-government organisations.

In an interview with the Japanese Ambassador, Tuimaugaoalii Shibuta Kazumasa, he stated that the Emperor’s birthday falls on 23 December.

“People will be very busy on this day, especially Christians, therefore we are flexible [and] shift it to another day,” he said.

“Emperor Akihito will be 82 this year.

“He is the 125th Emperor of the Government of Japan.” Tuimaugaoalii said Samoa is not the only country celebrating the Emperor’s birthday, with others taking part around the world.

Acting Prime Minister Tolofuaivalelei Falemoe Leiataua highlighted some of the key areas where Japan assists Samoa, during his keynote speech.

“Through this year, Japan has supported Samoa’s economic development across key areas that include education, transport, health, energy, environment and many other areas of development in Samoa,” he said. “The projects included the main campus of the National University of Samoa and village schools, the inter-island ferry vessels, ports and wharfs, the referral hospitals in Savai’i, the power sector expansion project, the Apia sea wall and the observatory weather forecast system, to name a few."

“This year, 2015, makes it 46 years since the establishment of the official diplomatic division between Samoa and Japan."“Over this long period, the relationship between our two countries have grown into a close friendship and strong economic development partnership that Samoa enjoys.”

Tolofuaiavalelei acknowledged Japan’s assistance in providing buses for transport, for hosting the third S.I.D.S conference last year.

“In May this year our Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, joined Japan’s Prime Minister and other Pacific leaders for [a] meeting in Japan,” he said.

“Besides the conversations on the common issues affecting the region and the Samoa and Japan bilateral issue, it was also an occasion for our Prime Minister to personally thank Japan’s Prime Minister for Japan’s general support of Samoa’s economic development aspirations."

“It was an opportunity also to convey our appreciation for the Pacific Climate Change Centre being implemented at S.P.R.E.P Vailima Headquarters, funded by Japan, as well as to flag future climate resilience projects for Samoa such as the new Vaisigano Bridge."

“As we always endeavour to do on Japan’s national commemoration day, I wish to again express to Ambassador Tuimaugaoalii and the J.I.C.A’s resident representative our appreciation for Japan’s volunteers and experts personally working for Samoa."“Thank you again for...the many years of educated service delivered by the Japanese volunteers and experts to assist Samoa.”

Samoa’s Red Cross President, Va’asilifiti Moelagi Jackson, has decided to run as an Independent candidate from Fa’asaleleaga No. 2.

Speaking with the media recently, Tuilaepa was especially critical of candidates who plan to join an Independent group setup by M.P. Levaopolo Talatonu Va'ai.

She will be going up against the Associate Minister of Women, Community and Social Development, Gatoloaifaana Amataga Gidlow.

In an interview with the Samoa Observer, Va’asilifiti was asked why she decided to run for Parliament.

“I feel that there are not enough women running, so I felt that I should put my foot in to prop the women up,” she said.

“There are so many unspoken and quiet voices from the women which we need in the construction of a lot of government plans, and I think that a lot of women don’t realise the importance of their role, not only in their families but also in organisations and in churches."

“It is one thing to talk about having more women in Parliament and promote it, and quite another to actually follow through, so by running for elections I am making a statement that women can do it regardless of our age or background."

“ I have run for elections before and am doing it again, because I truly believe women should be in Parliament, as we have a legitimate voice and reason to be part of the decision-making process."

“Women need to be heard in Parliament, but more importantly, our families and communities should be considered through the voices of women."

“I have served my villages and know the struggle faced by those in the rural areas; those are the voices I represent.”

She said that her beliefs are based on her upbringing, as well as what she has seen and noticed as the role of women in the village.

“When I look at the Ministry of Women and the law I find that it is not in line with the fa’asamoa,” she said.

“First of all, we don’t have the word ‘woman’ in the fa’asamoa, when we talk about a female in Samoan we talk about a female baby (pepe teine), little girl (teineititi), girl (teine), faletua (wife) and each one of us has a role and has a function, like, as a child we are brought up special because the family knows that this will be a tamaitai of the family,” she said.

“[And] when you become a tamaitai everyone will treat you [well] and bring you up because you will be the centre of the peace in any family."

“[A tamaitai] has to know of the history of her family, the connection of her family around Samoa as well as the family; they will rely on her for keeping the peace within her family.”

Va’asilifiti said another role of a Samoan woman (tamaitai) was looking after her brother’s children while her brother’s wives served the family.

“She will be responsible for the upbringing of the children within her family, but nowadays the woman (tamaitai) is roaming around (eva) and they are not doing their job so therefore the children of the family are brought up by the married woman according to the value of her family."

“For me, personally, I never knew my mother for a long time but the women in my family took care of me."

Asked about her main objectives, Va’asilifiti said she wants to save the youth and promote volunteerism.

“I am what I am because of volunteerism,” she said.

“When I was in the Faculty of Education learning to become a teacher...I volunteered to do everything for [my lecturer], even carrying her bag for her or picking up her fan when she dropped it, and it got to the point where I actually became a driver of hers."

“I have this passion for volunteering because I always saw how my grandfather was being served by the taule’ale’a (servants) of the village and I always admired them."

“So while I was a volunteer…I was acting as a taule’ale’a."

“So bring it in nowadays, I want to send the message out there that if anyone wants to be a leader they must know that it is through serving that they will become leaders.”

She said that was knowledge she tried to share with youth. Asked about her plans for the upcoming election, Va’asilifiti said she would not need a campaign because she was confident the people will vote for her.

“There is not much I can do because I am already reaching out to the community through my Red Cross work and also S.U.N.G.O,” she said.

“I am with them (community) all the time and at the moment people kept asking and I told them that I’m running, and then they go and tell others."

“I am also in the Samoa Ala Mai campaign and I have been [on] radio programmes for so many community issues, so I am the voice of the many unheard people of Samoa.”

Va’asilifiti has eight children and 28 grandchildren.

Two fugitives on the run from prison officials are considered dangerous, with the public urged to look out for them and call Police if they’re spotted.

The two fugitives are known as Lauititi Tualima and Faigame Vaitoelau.

This was confirmed by the Media Officer of the Ministry of Police, Maotaoalii Kaioneta Kitiona.

Both prisoners escaped from Tafaigata last week, although Maotaoalii was unaware of how they managed to escape.

He said details could be confirmed by the Commissioner of Prisons, because the prisoners escaped on their watch.

Lauititi Tualima, who has escaped from prison before, is 23-years-old, from Satapuala, Luatuanuu and Vini.

He is serving time in prison for burglary and theft, and has matters pending before the court in relation to indecent assault, robbery and escape from prison. He is also accused of breaking into a supermarket in Vaitele.

The other escapee, Faigame Vaitoelau, who is also known as Vaitoelau Usugafono Vaitoelau, is 32 years of age.

He is serving time in prison for rape, burglary and theft, as well as breaking and entering, escaping from prison and other crimes. The media officer of Tafaigata Prison, Ulugia Niuia Aumua, was unavailable for a comment yesterday.

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi has warned general election candidates, especially those running as Independents, not to play old tricks on the sitting Members of Parliament.

Speaking with the media recently, Tuilaepa was especially critical of candidates who plan to join an Independent group setup by M.P. Levaopolo Talatonu Va'ai.

He reminded the newcomers that any tricks are nothing new to him.

“I have heard that one of them (Levao) who thinks he’s so smart has gathered those that will be sitting on the fence (Independent candidates),” said Tuilaepa.

“They sit on the fence and look on each side (at what’s happening) and I’m telling you, those tricks are nothing new to the elderly M.Ps."

“Those tricks are trash…and some think it’s new but you can see from Asia and Sydney, it’s all winds (talk).”

Tuilaepa pointed out this is the very reason why he reminds any candidate that wants to join the Human Rights Protection Party not to be late.

He is referring to the Party’s official meeting on the next day of the general election, to acknowledge the winning candidates.

“I want to remind these guys (Independents) that if they come late to the candies giveaway because they’ve been sitting on the fence for too long, they will get scratched when they try to get off it. That is the reason why we have the early ava ceremony, so we can tell which one is the lamb and the goat.”

Early last month, the stood-down M.P for Gagaemauga no. 2, Levaopolo Talatonu Va'ai, said he is among 16 independent candidates working as a group.

He declined to confirm whether they would become a political party.

Instead, Levao said all he wants to do at this stage is to declare that there is a group of independent candidates that has been preparing for the election.

“Our group includes former A.C.E.Os of government, two lawyers and two former Members of Parliament, including myself,” he said.

“I just want to declare this group of independent candidates, so that whoever is running as an independent can come to join our group.”

According to Levao, members of the group represent different constituencies in Upolu and Savai’i.

“These are very good candidates and they are all running in next year’s election.”

Asked if the group would eventually form into a party, Levao was uncertain.

“We are not yet a party because we need eight members to win their seats in the election, in order for us to register as a new party,” he said.

“So far there are 16 of us independent candidates and we are expecting more to join us.”