A 31-year-old male from Malololelei has been caught by police in possession of marijuana and a pistol.

“The police raid was at Malololelei on Monday that caught this 31-year-old with branches of marijuana and a pistol”, said Police Commissioner Fauono Talalelei Tapu.

Fauono could not yet release the name of the 31-year-old.

“He is not yet charged as we are still investigating.

The man was caught with four rolled marijuana joints, a dozen plants, the pistol, and three bullets.

“More details of this and the name of the 31-year-old will be confirmed later this week”, said Fauono

. Officers did not want to be photographed with the seizures.

Mothers – a bridge to finding good connections between people.

That is the theme that brought hundreds of Congregational Christian Church of Samoa (C.C.C.S.) Reverend’s wives together to celebrate and discuss better ways forward for their parishioners.

Secretary of the Reform Fellowship group Mrs. Naomi Patu said the main purpose for the get-together is so that wives of Reverends can share ideas and views on how to better provide support and services to their husbands, denominations and villages.

These support services should be a reflection of Godly characteristics said Mrs Patu.

The two-day event ends today and is being held at the Congregational Christian Church Youth Hall at Sogi.

“The women gathered here are wives of pastors, reverend elders, theologians that have yet to be designated a village, and retired pensioner’s wives.” Mrs. Patu said mothers play a very important role in all walks of life. Whether that is in the family, village, church, government and associations they “are all involved with the set-up for everything”.

“Mothers are bridge builders to good communication for people,” said Mrs Patu.

Yesterday was filled with a day of activities and discussions.

The group is led by Chairwoman Mrs. Vaipuese Isaia, Secretary Naomi Patu and Treasurer Susana Mauala.

The Samoa Tautua party have expressed “shock” over the machete deaths at Ulutogia on Tuesday morning.

The deceased were killed in their sleep following an argument between a suspect now in Police custody and the two dead men. Samoa Tautua Party leader Palusalue Faapo II is alarmed by the seriousness of the crime.

He said he was “saddened and shocked” at such an act taking place in Samoa and expressed sympathy for the family of the dead men and those impacted as a result.

His concern is that this sort of crime is being driven by poverty to the point that “people no longer care about killing other people.”

“There was not only one death but two and that is the worry - that it might be extending from the cost of living and other things.”

Tautua prays that this sort of crime does not happen again.

“It’s like a shock to the mind, especially considering when outside countries gain knowledge of this with large countries expected to attend meetings here - this will only deter and give them reason to fear coming here.”

Paluesalue urged families and the whole country to stop the violence.

Police investigations into the double murder are continuing.

A 43 year old male from Ulutogia, Aleipata has been charged with murder.

This was confirmed by Police Commissioner Fauono Talalelei Tapu yesterday.

The 43 year old is alleged to have killed two males with a machete while they were sleeping, said Fauono.

“He was charged with murder on Wednesday.”

The two dead men and the accused are related, said Fauono.

“They were arguing over land while they were inland gathering coconuts the day before the incident.”

It is not yet confirmed when the accused will appear in court.

The name of the accused cannot be revealed ahead of his court appearance, for legal reasons.

The two men killed were 41 years old, married with three children, and 27 years old, married with one child.

Samoa has 37 different fruits and vegetables approved for export to New Zealand – but is currently only exporting 13 of those items.

That huge gap between potential and export reality has been under discussion recently with a two man team from the Ministry of Primary Industry in New Zealand. “We didn’t approve these by ourselves,” explains Senior Adviser for Pacific Market Access, Nacanieli Waqa, from New Zealand’s Ministry of Primary Industries.

“You requested for these 37 items,” he said, referring to Samoa. Mr. Waqa was in Samoa last month as part of an ongoing review of the 12 Pacific countries that have approvals to export to New Zealand. That review, beginning in 2012, saw the ministry trace back to when approvals were given for various exports and to measure volumes since then, he said.

For some exports, those volumes have been zero. Improving volumes of approved export items will take a “paradigm shift” in the way island states monitor markets in New Zealand, getting that information to farmers much more quickly, and consistently, he said.

That huge gap between potential and export reality has been under discussion recently with a two man team from the Ministry of Primary Industry in New Zealand. “We didn’t approve these by ourselves,” explains Senior Adviser for Pacific Market Access, Nacanieli Waqa, from New Zealand’s Ministry of Primary Industries.

“You requested for these 37 items,” he said, referring to Samoa. Mr. Waqa was in Samoa last month as part of an ongoing review of the 12 Pacific countries that have approvals to export to New Zealand.

That review, beginning in 2012, saw the ministry trace back to when approvals were given for various exports and to measure volumes since then, he said. For some exports, those volumes have been zero. Improving volumes of approved export items will take a “paradigm shift” in the way island states monitor markets in New Zealand, getting that information to farmers much more quickly, and consistently, he said.

Visiting last month, Mr. Waqa and an assistant were here to conduct a “scoping” exercise looking at issues keeping Samoa and other Pacific Islands from meeting market demand for fresh produce in the region’s second largest economy.

“There are problems everywhere in the region,” said Mr. Waqa. “It’s almost the same problems everywhere.”

These issues include paperwork failures, a lack of information about market changes, and an inability to meet market demands. In wide ranging interview, Mr. Waqa explained the background to these problems, and how New Zealand is working with Pacific Island countries to try and find solutions.

One example given to Samoa Observer by an agriculture industry source was a consignment of limes that was destroyed because of a simple paperwork error. Mr. Waqa explains that, in cases like that, New Zealand Quarantine officials must follow protocol and “bin” the consignment.

“If you don’t have the documentation right then it won’t enter New Zealand,” he said. “When the paper work is in order then that facilitates the entry of the consignment. If it’s not, we can’t take it.

“It either has to go back or we have to destroy it.” Some people find it hard to understand why a simple paper work error means a consignment has to be destroyed?

“We need verification. If a consignment has been inspected by Samoa Quarantine then we need to know that inspection has been done.

“Otherwise,” he asks, “do we need a Samoa Quarantine officer to come down with every consignment?”

That’s why there is paperwork, he said. “When a Quarantine officer signs, then that’s our proof that the inspection has been properly done. “We can’t take word of mouth, we can’t just take a phone call or an email. Otherwise then it could be done by anyone? Mr. Waqa nods in agreement.

“Only properly gazetted Quarantine Officers can sign the paperwork, not any Tom, Dick or John. Otherwise the Prime Minister, or the minister could sign it - but they can’t.” New Zealand agriculture is worth billions – is that what it comes down to? “Every country has the right to protect their own sovereignty. That is why you have Quarantine regulations. Samoa too has a right to protect its own borders.”

Mr. Waqa said that failed consignments can be a common experience across Pacific Islands. This is due to “a lack of formal operational instructions that ensure Quarantine staff follow the same protocols, each and every time.” “I guess it’s the working systems. Ensuring that Quarantine services have the operational From front page instructions to guide them,” he said.

“Some countries don’t have those operational instructions. So as a result when people join Quarantine Services there’s nothing to train them with. “Everything is done by word of mouth.

“There’s nothing to train them and enhance them and to refresh people in the details of operational instructions.”

Quarantine services in each island should also have a check system, said Mr. Waqa. Joining the Ministry of Primary Industry in 2011, Mr. Waqa is the second Pacific Islander to hold the position of Senior Adviser for Pacific Market Access.

The first now works in Samoa for F.A.O., the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation. Leaving Fiji and working in New Zealand opened his eyes to the other side of the export industry, including reality on the ground for New Zealand importers. Outside of paperwork, he said there was a lack of recognition at the policy level that market information changes quickly and needs to be updated constantly, not just annually or only at each strategic plan.

Demand for different fruit and vegetables is always changing, he said. One seasonal cycle that is permanent, he said, and that island exporters sometimes still fail to understand is New Zealand not being an all-year market for fresh produce.

New Zealand, he said, buys its own fruit and vegetables during summer, with the main opportunity for island exporters being during winter months. “We don’t understand the market. “When I came to New Zealand I thought that we exported to New Zealand from January to December. “That’s wrong.

“The year for the Pacific is only during the winter. During summer they’ve got their own stuff.

“That’s why we have a lot of complaints from farmers,” said Mr. Waqa. Surely this has been known to ministries of Agriculture for decades? “The information is there but who is responsible for transferring that information from point a to point b, and from point b to point c?

“Some of the information is outdated and some of the information is being used from 2002 when the market has changed 700 times already since then,” he said. Another recent example of export failure in Samoa saw public criticism over farmers not being able to get their taro accepted for export.

Asked about that example, Mr. Waqa said that, right across the Pacific, farmers are told to “plant, plant, plant.” Those days are over, he said. “As a farmer you can’t invest in planting three hectares if you are not sure that there’s a market.”

Asked for clarification whether some taro varieties have clearance and others don’t, he said, “Approval that was issued for taro is for all varieties of that species.

“But,” he added, “it has to have a market. “If the market wants ‘X’ variety then we have to give what the market wants.”

Keeping updated about what the market wants is a constant process, he said. “To me that is where some of the confusion lies.

“Some people think that this is the government role.

“But government only opens the door, and provides the material and perhaps gives people land but when it comes to the actual market, that’s not the government.

“That’s where the private sector comes in.”

Finding the right people to monitor markets addresses two issues facing island exporters, he said. 1. Quarantine approval given for an item, but no trade yet.

2. Quarantine approval given, but exporters are not satisfying the market demand. “Again the question is whether that information is making it back?”

In many cases, “that intel is not making it back. The feedback system is not there.

“This is what you are not being told. “While you are being told plant, plant, plant … the market has changed.

“That’s why the market is flooded in August to September,” he said, giving one example.

“It’s not just Samoa, it’s Fiji as well,” and other countries. Mr. Waqa said there was a need to streamline information flows, so that ordinary market information does not have to filter its way up through the chain of command in each ministry, but can be passed on quickly to farmers.

Otherwise, “we’re basing our decisions on outdated information – in terms of the way forward, the question is how we can continue to have access to fresh information.

“It’s not only receiving that information, it’s what system do they have for using that information,” he said.

At the moment, “if there is a slot for one to two months, then it can take some people one to two months just to get read and then by that time that slot has closed.”

Some farmers look at the latest budget for the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, of over $30 million tala, and grow understandably frustrated that they are not getting better services for their tax dollar.

Part of the problem for government and island exporters alike is the growing complexity of New Zealand markets.

Where before there used to be one or two importers, there are now hundreds. Mr. Waqa confirmed that picture, saying that the “information is out there but it’s in pockets – it’s disconnected.” Getting consistent access to that information is central to achieving export success.

“With trade, we cannot only just focus on one end.

“There should also be work on the import end. “There has to be a change from the way things used to be done in the past.

“There has got to be a paradigm shift from the way we have done things in the last 50 to 60 years,” said Mr. Waqa. “We are not blaming anyone but it’s just because the information is still not in place.”

“We can’t just blame anyone. We can’t blame the farmers. The ministries cannot be blamed. They have their core role.” Mr. Waqa said solutions would not be found by blaming government but taking a “holistic” approach to the entire industry, across borders.

Instead, “Solutions come from knowing the different players involved,” he said. “Gone are the days where we have focused all our resources at the export end. “We just told them, plant, plant, plant but that has to go.

“There has to be a holistic approach.

“Our systems need to be improved to facilitate change in the market.”

And that means recognizing the role government has to play in those changes, he said.

“We have got to respect government and their role,” he said.

That means identifying areas that needing changing at policy level so that there is a “freer” flow of information. “And to transfer it right down to the farmer level.”

This could also include continued training to help farmers understand the complexities of the export market. From previous page There are, he said, “so many pages of regulations that farmers don’t understand.” Other problems in Samoa? “Unfortunately some of this information I can’t divulge at this end,” he said. “We have picked up a lot during this scoping exercise and this has got to be gone through. “We’re not coming over to spill the beans and then to go back, no.

“But we are coming back to hold workshops and training and work with the government so we can refocus the system in terms of a quick flow to the market.”

He said they were hoping to return in April or May to work with government, farmers and exporters.

As well as better market information, and industry education, Mr. Waqa said there was also a need in some countries for a stronger private sector role.

“All the countries have got strong farmers but some of the countries don’t have a strong private sector to facilitate the exports from farmers to market.

“There are some countries where they have been doing a lot of hand-holding and baby sitting,” he said, referring to government.

“We need the commitment of the private sector to identify the opportunities and join in and take over. “We need continual review.” He acknowledges this is no easy task.

“It’s scary to try and lock down the commodities because that can change every six months.” He agrees there are also complications from those who jump into a booming market for short term profit and then disappear.

“Those are the ones we call the fly by night.” He did not respond directly to a question about the need for export licenses, instead saying that, “We need to monitor when there are issues at the market – we should be able to track back and find out where the problems are.”

There are also issues when “a market is overpopulated because there are people who are committed for life and then there are the opportunists.

“There should be a way of controlling the market space,” he said, “but it’s going to be a difficult one.” How are other countries doing in comparison to Samoa? For example, Fiji?

Mr. Waqa said that Fiji is currently exporting about 35 of the 50 or so items approved for New Zealand markets.

Countries that are approved for exporting various items to New Zealand are Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Cook Islands, New Caledonia and French Polynesia (for cut flowers).

The Samoa Tautua Party is questioning who the contractor is for the work currently done on building the Fugalei Market.

Opposition leader Palusalue Faapo II claims that as far as they understand this contract bid after it was tendered out was won by a Chinese company.

But said word is there is a new contractor now working on completing the market.

He did not name the company that won the tender.

But Qing Dao Construction won that bid following the assessment of applications by the Sub-Committee.

Earlier reports confirmed that Qing Dao was chosen from six companies that submitted bids.

The decision to award the contract to Qing Dao was announced on 12 July 2013.

But Palusalue is questioning who is now holding the contract for construction of the market since hearing allegations “that the Chinese company is no longer building it”.

“Was it retendered or is the new contractor directly appointed to continue the work,” he said.

In February this year this newspaper reported the Project Manager of the Fugalei Market Leiataua Tom Tinai denied the contract to build the Fugalei market was pulled from Qing Dao Construction.

He was unaware of such an allegation and said rumours were “not true”.

“Qing Dao is still our main Construction Company and we are still working together with them.”

A source told Samoa Observer the construction company was pulled out following several delays to the project.

The source also said four local contractors had been appointed to help with the project because it was too slow.

But Leiataua rejected the claims saying “I was surprised when I saw it in the paper”.

Leader Palusalue Faapo II claims the Prime Minister is showing signs of too much “stress” resulting from taking responsibility for all his ministries rather than sharing duties with his Cabinet.

In fact the opposition leader says that Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi suffers from “many illnesses” brought on by stress. Palusalue claims that the matter is easily solved.

“It is a very simple matter if they abide by the [audit] reports instead of protecting others and letting others walk.

“We are worried that is why we said Tautua is prepared to lead the country,” he said.

He said his party was concerned with the manner Tuilaepa is making comments, including personally insulting people.

That kind of talk should not be coming from a leader of the country. His comments were made Wednesday afternoon during the Samoa Tautua party’s weekly Press Conference held at Palusalue’s office at the Tofilau Eti Alesana Building at Tiafau.

Tautua is focusing on the reasons why the Prime Minister is not making a move to remove Minister of Finance Faumuina Liuga Tiatia from his portfolio following confirmation of allegations of corruption by the Officers of the Parliament Committee (O.O.P.C.) following a review of the Controller and Chief Auditors report.

One M.P. told media he would leave the ruling party if the Finance minister was not sacked. He later made a public retraction of that and called it a “joke”.

Palusalue insists there is trouble within the Human Rights Protection Party (H.R.P.P.).

Tautua was prepared to lead the country if the PM was unable to fix his problem, he said.

Questioned about this issues on its Wednesday radio talk show, Tuilaepa referred to the Tautua party as a “Tifitifi” and “Tuuu”. Both the Tifitifi and Tuuu are very small fish.

And he referred to the H.R.P.P. members as “big fish”. Palusalue retorted that “tifitifi and tuuu are smart enough to hide under coral during troublesome times but big fish swim where they get swallowed by sharks or by whales.”

He said the controversy is not finished yet, with debate on the audit report due in Parliament on the 18th of March.

Veteran MP Aeau Peniamina referred to the Prime Minister’s comments as insulting especially when the whole country was listening.

“It’s an insult.” In fact he said every time the Prime Minister speaks about this particular issue with his party regarding his Minister of Finance “excuse me, but it’s like talking to old men from Lepa”.

Referring to last week’s H.R.P.P. meeting after Prime Minister Tuilaepa’s arrival back in Samoa after controversy about a new party, Aeau said the six and a half hour deliberations was an indication of how long it took to try and bring his party back together.

The country however has a right to know what went on in that room, said Aeau.

Especially when the matter at hand has a huge impact on the whole country regardless of whether H.R.P.P. is their party and not the country’s.

“My advice to the Prime Minister?

Not everyone is stupid and not everyone is ignorant.”

Aeau said the Prime Minister had made the mistake of considering his cabinet ministers before the country. In anything, “the country should be a priority”.

Aeau then referred to the Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister Peter O’Neill’s decision to sack four of his Ministers for what he called causing instability in the government.

But reports state that sacking of these ministers came as a result of several other issues such as the misappropriation of funds.

Aeau called this “solid, bold courage”.

Mr. O’Neill did not consider his ministers but put his country first, said Aeau, calling on Tuilaepa to do the same thing.

A man who denies raping a young relative knelt and asked for forgiveness from her family, the Supreme Court heard yesterday.

The man’s wife at first denied having seen any apology take place, before she admitted to the court that they had in fact gone.

But, she claimed, her husband had denied raping and indecently assaulting her niece from the age of nine and only apologised because her parents had asked him to.

“My husband was against going because he had no sin but I told him that we had to go and apologise because it’s what my parents had requested.”

Instead of going to the parents and apologising, the wife claimed that the parents had come to their house and attacked her husband. Her name, that of the alleged victim, the defendant and other identifying details are suppressed to avoid identifying the girl, now 19 years old.

Her aunt’s evidence was challenged repeatedly by Justice Vui Clarence Nelson yesterday. She was the first and only witness called by the defence. She denied living at the village where the alleged incidents occurred in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. She told the court as a result of eloping with her husband in 1999 she had not been back to her parents’ village until Christmas 2005. That was when she had patched things up with her parents.

The witness, 31, stays home to care for their eight children. During her evidence she was questioned whether she loved her husband - if loving her husband meant she didn’t want anything to happen to him since he was the bread winner of their family. She replied yes. Prosecutor Leone Su’a Mailo questioned whether she lived at the village where the alleged incidents had taken place. She denied this.

Prosecution put to her that her sister had earlier given evidence that the victim and her younger sister had helped her with her children.

“No”, she replied. Was there no time in the six years since being with your husband that she returned to the village the alleged incidents took place?

“No, we [only] moved there at the end of 2005 after I felt the need to apologise to my parents.”

She also denied that she and her husband had gone to her older sister’s place to apologise, or hearing her husband say that he had sexual intercourse with the victim, who consented to it. Following this cross examination by Mrs. Mailo, Justice Nelson told the witness that her sister had given evidence that the accused and her had come to their house at Vaoala to apologise for his actions.

That she had told her husband to say what he had to. Justice Nelson questioned whether she was telling the truth when she denied evidence from her sister. The judge went on to repeat the sister’s evidence that her husband had gone to Vaoala to apologise to the victims parents, admitting to them that “they had sexual intercourse but she consented to it.”

The wife replied that they didn’t go to Vaoala. In fact, she said, it was her sister and her husband who had come to their place. And when her sister came into the house she assaulted her husband while he was sitting on the bed.

“No apology was made,” she told the court. Justice Nelson asked the witness whether her evidence was there was no apology, and that her sister had assaulted the accused instead.

She confirmed this and said that the whole time her sister was attacking her husband, by pulling his hair and punching his back, she sat there and listened to what she was saying. In fact earlier that day she received a phone call from her sister.

The accused’ wife told the court she was not aware of any allegations against her husband at that stage.

During that call her sister told her “to watch out for my husband, he has done some indecent things to my daughter”.

She told her sister to come to their place and discuss the matter in a civilised manner. Instead upon her sister’s arrival to their house that very evening she went straight to attacking her husband before leaving.

Justice Nelson questioned whether she had asked her husband about the allegations made by her sister. She confirmed asking her husband about it but he said the allegations against him were wrong.

“I told him to leave it till later as my mind was not settled and I didn’t believe it because I didn’t see it,” she said. You didn’t believe the allegations, she was asked. No, she said. If so – you didn’t believe your husband had sinned - why did you go over and apologise?

“What happened was my parents called and requested that we go over and apologise,” she said.

The witness about to go into details of what her parents had said to her when she was informed by Justice Nelson to stop as second hand evidence is against the law. Her parents were not giving evidence in the trial, he explained, she was. She was told to stick to the question. At one point, Justice Nelson told defence lawyer Leota Ray Schuster to “keep your witness in order”.

Justice Nelson then questioned why, if her sister had come over to their house and attacked her husband, said what she did and she had spoken to the accused and he claimed nothing happened, yet two to three weeks later they go to Vaoala and kneel before them to apologise. In reply, the witness said they only went there because her parents asked her husband to apologise.

Mrs. Mailo and Defence Counsel Leota Ray Schuster returned to court at 2pm yesterday to make their final submissions in the matter.

This followed one of the charges being withdrawn. The accused was initially before the court for 12 counts of indecent assault, 1 of attempted rape and 2 of rape. He pleaded not guilty to all charges. But yesterday after a discussion in chambers Mrs. Mailo made an application to withdraw one of the indecent assault charges against the defendant, alleged to have happened in 2010 at Vaitele-uta.

The driver of the truck alleged to have killed 11-year old Emanuel Samoana in November last year appeared in the District Court yesterday morning but had his case adjourned.

Suitupe Lisiti of Palisi earlier entered a not guilty plea in relation to the matter.

He is charged with negligent driving causing death and three counts of negligent driving causing injury.

But the matter was adjourned yesterday after Police prosecutor Inspector Leuluaiali’i Malama made an application to postpone the matter to allow Police more time to complete investigations.

“Police are not ready to proceed with the matter,” he told the court.

Judge Fepulea’i Ameperosa Roma told prosecution there was already enough time given to complete investigations.

But he said the court accepts the application on the condition “that this is the final adjournment”.

Judge Roma adjourned the matter to 2 May for hearing.

The incident according to earlier reports happened between the villages of Luatuanuu and Solosolo.

The boy was sitting on his mother’s lap in a bus travelling to Apia, leaning his head against a window frame, when the mirror of the truck driven by Lisiti hit his head causing him to die immediately.

The driver’s lawyer is Tuala Karanita Enari.

A young man from Samatau drowned last Wednesday while free diving for fish with friends.

Siaki Togia was 21 years old.

Vaivai Lei’ataua from Manono said there were six of them who went out fishing on one boat with Mr. Togia at about ten o’clock that evening.

“We left Manono and when we stopped at Samatau, we jumped out of the boat and started diving to look for fish,” he said.

“We used four torches but when it came time to head back to the boat, we realised that only three torches are showing up in the darkness of night.

“We were not sure at the time which of us was missing until we finally realised that it was Siaki.” He said they started looking for him at about 2.30am.

“The part of the sea where we went out fishing that night was really deep and we could hardly reach the bottom because we couldn't hold our breath for that long.”

“Even though we couldn’t find him and knew something had happened to Siaki, we still kept on searching for his body.”

He said they could not contact their families or anyone else for help when the incident happened.

“We have a phone but we were out of credit and we don’t have any wireless as well on the boat.”

The men stayed out at sea all night, and continued their search for Mr. Togia well after dawn.

“We found his body, deep, at the bottom when the sun came up on Thursday morning. We found him, lying dead in the sea, at about half past seven.”

Like many, Mr. Lei’ataua and others had paid $20 to hire the boat for one night. There was no safety gear. “Not at all....no wireless, no life safe jackets...only torches.”

Mr. Lei’ataua said Mr. Togia was an accomplished diver but must have dived beyond his depth.

“I think Siaki was heading very low to the bottom but when he was heading back up, he found he couldn’t reach the top for air,” he said.

Recovering the body of Mr. Togia proved almost impossible, he said. “When we saw his body, we dropped the rope down first to where he was laying.

And we tried to lift him up as much as we can but it was very difficult because no one can go down that far.”

But, somehow, in the end, he said, “we did it.”

Mr. Lei’ataua said they brought his body to his family home and they held a short family service before taking him to the National Hospital at Moto’otua last Thursday morning.

Mr. Lei’ataua said he felt saddened by the death of Mr. Togia, who he said was a very good friend. A former school mate, who did not want to be named, said that Mr. Togia was a very good boy to his family.

“That is his life, fishing! And he was very smart as well when we were in school,” said the friend.

“When I asked him why he did not want to find a good job in town; he said ‘What is the point of being smart but not getting a good salary - I prefer fishing so that I can have a lots of money to buy and put food on my family’s table, and feed my parents.”

The boat owner denied that there was no safety gear on the boat.

“Yes, all the safety equipment and first aid are all inside the boats for when problems arise,” he said.

“But, for any further details you can come to Manono to where the boat is at.”

Mr. Togia is the second person to has died from drowning during the past two weeks. Questions were sent yesterday to the Senior Officer of Fisheries, Maria Sapatu, relating to the sea safety and fishing vessel registration in Samoa.

“Judging from your information requested “Registration of Vessels” and “Vessel Safety” these activities are mainly the role of the Ministry of Works, Transport and Infrastructure (M.W.T.I.),” she responded.

“The Fisheries Division just issues fishing licenses. Once the fishing vessel is registered and sea safety and sea worthiness is passed by M.W.T.I.” The Ministry of Works, Transport and Infrastructure said they would comment on Monday about the same questions sent to the Fisheries Division.

Police Commissioner Fauono Talalelei Tapu confirmed the details of the diving accident “It was last Thursday afternoon that the hospital contacted the Ministry of Police about this incident. “Police investigated what had happened and confirmed that it was a drowning.”

He confirmed the name and age of the man as Siaki Togia of Samatau, 21 years of age.

“They went out fishing at about half past ten on Wednesday night and there were four of them, with other males from Manono.”

“When he did not turn up they started to look for Siaki but it was too dark so they waited for daylight.”

“They found him a few minutes past the hour of seven last Thursday morning in the part of the sea where they were fishing.

“It was very deep according to those who were with Siaki.” - With reporting by Vaisuamumu Mulipola

It’s official.

Local engineering firm, O.S.M. Consultants Ltd has become the local partner for engineering consultancy giant, B.E.C.A. International Consultants Ltd from New Zealand.

This fol l ows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two companies at a special ceremony on Thursday evening at the Tanoa Tusitala Hotel.

The M.O.U., which will be implemented under the banner, “Partnering for Excellence”, signals the beginning of a formalised working relationship between the two companies, whose links date back 10 years.

Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, in his keynote address, applauded the move by both companies. He said this could be something that other local companies can emulate as an innovative and forward thinking way of doing business.

“We don’t have all the specialized skills and expertise that we need here in Samoa. We will always need to fill those gaps by bringing in specialised people from overseas,” said Tuilaepa.

“These kinds of partnerships also give our local businesses an extra edge to doing business, as each partner brings something of value to the table. One can bring money, the other, expertise.

They draw on each other’s strengths”. He said the key to any partnership working well is for honesty on the part of both partners.

“This partnership is like a marriage, where the success of the marriage depends very much on both parties being honest with each other,” said Tuilaepa. “So happy marriage and be faithful to each other.”

Speaking highly of B.E.C.A., he told guests that the company employs 3000 staff in 18 offices in seven countries in the Asia and Pacific regions. These are indicators “of a strong company” he said.

“This is also great for Samoa as it means that we will have access to the wide range of expertise that a company like B.E.C.A. offers,” said Tuilaepa. B.E.C.A. was set up in 1918 in Auckland, where it still has its headquarters. Its first project in Samoa was done in 1986.

“This company is older than any of us in this room,” the Prime Minister told guests, who were family, friends and colleagues of the two companies, as well as the diplomatic corps and government ministries that O.S.M. and B.E.C.A have worked with.

“That speaks of experience and quality in terms of the standard of the work they do”. General Manager of B.E.C.A. International New Zealand, Andrew Wilson, said the timing is right to formalise B.E.C.A.’s relationship with O.S.M. “The relationship with O.S.M. goes back several years with Sebastian and his team providing support on a number of projects. It is timely that we now formalize our relationship with this M.O.U.,” he said.

“Whilst we may appear to be a big giant from a Samoa perspective, we are joining hands with a respected colleague and partner in O.S.M. Consultants”.

Mr. Wilson said the M.O.U. is an opportunity for O.S.M. to have access to about 3000 engineers within the B.E.C.A. group.

“We have more than 40 discipline groups covering the main engineering disciplines, plus architecture, land use planning, environmental sciences and project management,” he said.

“We have a large number of world recognized specialists in a number of areas such as seismic engineering, and those with expertise in Climate Changes sciences – it’s important for Samoa to have access to this expertise when you need it – it might only be a small bit of a larger project but could be the most critical bit”.

Managing Director of O.S.M. Consultants, Vui Sebastian Mariner, said he welcomed this new step in the B.E.C.A.-O.S.M. relationship, despite the difference in sizes of the two companies.

“The M.O.U. we have formalized today with B.E.C.A. seems very much like running into a large conglomerate brick wall called B.E.C.A.

However, O.S.M. is truly humbled that after many years of working closely together, a window of opportunity now presents itself to formalize our relationship with B.E.C.A., with O.S.M. Consultants becoming their Samoan partner to provide professional consulting services to the Government and people of Samoa,” said Vui.

“With B.E.C.A. onboard, we fulfill today the advice of wise King Solomon when he said that “without counsel, plans go wrong, but in the multitude of counselors, they are established”. We have brought onboard a multitude of counselors to help O.S.M. partner with clients and the Government of Samoa to successfully map out and fulfill a common vision for a better, more sustainable future for Samoa and its people”.

Vui also paid tribute to all the people and organizations that O.S.M. has worked in partnership with over the years which enabled the company to arrive at where it is now. O.S.M. was established in 2002. It has been involved in various areas of infrastructure development in Samoa.

Samoa and the Pacific are paying lower rates than other island regions facing similar threats from natural disasters – and residents should expect to pay more in the future.

That’s the warning from the Chief Executive Officer of THB Singapore Reinsurance Brokers, Nick Cochrane. He was speaking to the Samoa Observer before he was officially welcomed him on Wednesday night.

He said the real problem is that these disasters are becoming more frequent and the values at risk are getting larger and larger.

“We have insurance companies that take the risk off of you,” he said. However, Mr. Cochrane said Samoa still has a long way to go to catch up especially in terms of rates.

“I think that the cost of insurance should rise in the Pacific,” said Mr. Cochrane.

“At the moment, they are way below other islands around the world that have the same problem as Samoa does, so people should expect rate increases”.

He repeated his comments warning of rises in a speech responding to a welcome hosted at the Samoa Tourism Fale.

During the welcome, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi first raised the issue of more natural disasters.

Tuilaepa spoke about the actions Samoa has had to take to reduce the impact of natural disasters when they strike Samoa.

“These forces of nature could strike at any time with little or no warning,” said Tuilaepa.

“Heavy rains that cut up our roads cause landslides, damage properties and includes work delays with cost escalations – and is virtually an annual event.”

“The service of insurance at such time would provide much needed hope and comfort with its clients that suffer the impacts of natural disasters.”

In partnership with the Federal Pacific Insurance Company, Mr. Cochrane said that they are working together to reduce the risks of insurance during natural disasters.

“I’ve been working in this business for a few years now and around the islands many have had similar problems as Samoa in terms of catastrophes”, said Mr. Cochrane.

“What we do is encourage good risk management so that people can take precautions on the many disasters that are happening”, he said.

“They can build flood barriers, they can protect their windows, they can take precautions against some of the disasters”. Aside from business, Mr, Cochrane also shared on one of the main purposes of his visit.

“I do a lot of insurance business around the world but I have never been to Samoa,” he said. “I think it’s because of my mum’s history I just want to open up and go back and tell her about it - she’ll be interested to hear about it”.

Outside of the serious business of insurance, Mr. Cochrane also warmed to the humour at his welcoming party.

“I’m actually applying for a Samoan passport,” he joked. “My mother was born in Fiji, she got married in Fiji then she came on her honeymoon to Samoa. With insurance being an exercise in ‘probabilities’, it must be considered possible he was conceived in Samoa, said Mr. Cochrane to laughter.

Central Apia was struck with flash floods late yesterday evening when a massive lightning storm descended on Apia at around 6pm, leaving people and cars alike scrambling to find dry land.

These photos tell the story.

The Samoa Meteorology Division amended its forecast for Samoa at 3.30pm yesterday afternoon.

It reads:

"An active convergence zone remains North of Samoa."

"Meanwhile a trough of low pressure lies within the vicinity of the group with associated clouds and showers at times.

Heavy rain warning is now in effect for all of Samoa (with) possible flooding for vulnerable areas."

The Chamber of Commerce has urged the Government to use the opportunity presented by this year’s budget to undertake key tax reforms to boost investment.

Members of the Chamber also want the government to reduce the number of ministries involved in the promotion of the country’s exports because the current number is too “fragmented.”

Those recommendations were made as part of a suite of private sector suggestions to build exports during the annual Private Sector and Government Budget Forum.

This year’s theme was Sustainable export-led growth – building and supporting momentum, according to a press release.

Chamber President, Namulauulu Sami Leota emphasised the need for Government to engage in structural tax reform, address supply side constraints and consider Public- Private Partnerships wherever possible.

“I know I don’t need to convince anyone in this room of the importance of building growth in our export sector,” he said.

“We’re all aware of the myriad of challenges facing Samoan businesses trying to reach overseas markets.

“This year, Chamber is providing clear recommendations to Government on how some of these challenges can be addressed, through the commercialization of agriculture, strengthened extension services and targeted tax reform to boost investment.”

The Chamber’s Chief Executive Officer, Ane Moananu, explained that the 13 ministries and organisations currently involved in export promotion is too many.

“This fragmented approach,” she explained, “is a key driver of our export sector’s poor performance and slow development.”

Chamber urged Government to consider enabling tax reform including a reduction to the corporate tax rate and incentives for remittances to be invested in support of local projects.

The National Private Sector Organisation also asked Government to capitalise more effectively on Samoa’s services sector.

“When we think of exports, we often think of goods,” said Ms. Moananu.

“But let’s not ignore Samoa’s growing services sector. We should be building on our strengths as well as addressing constraints facing agricultural and manufacturing producers.”

The results of the Chamber’s annual Business Confidence Survey were also released today to coincide with the forum.

This year’s results indicate that most businesses are cautious about the overall economic outlook for Samoa in 2014 but more optimistic about the chance of their own business’ growth.

Almost 40per cent of respondents said they were planning to make more new investment this year than last year.

The survey results also indicated that the most significant constraints to business growth remain the high cost of essential services such as electricity, fuel and ICT, the shortage of skilled employees and Government taxes and charges.

In order to offset high electricity costs, Chamber urged Government to reduce the duty on solar panels and other energy efficient capital items.

The Chamber-hosted forum is held in March each year, giving the private sector an opportunity to influence the Government’s budget deliberations.

The death of two men from what the Police have described as a machete attack has left their village in a state of shock, mourning – and preparation for a traditional ifoga.

The family of the two men said they had been told by the Police not to speak to the media. When the Weekend Observer visited yesterday, a family member showed where the attack is alleged to have taken place.

The two men are from the same family; the 41 year old with three children is from the village of Matautu Falelatai, but was residing at Ulutogia at his wife’s family.

A member of the village mayor’s family, who did not want to be named, stated that the attack happened while the men and their families were sleeping. Yesterday morning, the relative said the whole village was still stunned by the double deaths.

“What happened shocked us because the accused is related to us, and we are just lost for words, so at the moment it’s very hard to say anything about what had happened.”

The mayor was not available because he was in a meeting.

“At this very moment all the matai are here at the mayor’s residence to talk about the incident,” he said.

This may include extending ifoga, a ceremony of traditional apology, to the families of one of the victims, at Matautu Falelatai.

“I’m not sure because the matai are there at the moment and it is something that must be done but I’m not sure whether they will go today or tomorrow.”

Former Minister of Finance, Papali’i Niko Lee Hang, is a sad man.

He is unhappy that Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, has brought into question his reputation to the point where he says his family has been affected.

It’s come about because Prime Minister Tuilaepa continues to point to “flaws” in Papali’i’s performance as Finance Minister every time he is questioned about the performance of incumbent and embattled Finance Minister, Faumuina Tiatia Liuga.

“My reputation has been affected,” Papali’i told the Sunday Samoan yesterday. “I’ve been a public servant for more than thirty years where I managed the Public Trust Office upon a recommendation by the H.R.P.P. During that time, Papali’i said his reputation has never been questioned.

“I went to see the Prime Minister one-on-one so that I could ask him about (what he keeps referring to,” he said. “It’s not easy because even my family have asked me about what I did wrong.

“Judging from the statements that he keeps making, there are things I did not do right. That’s a general comment but when people interpret it, it comes across that all the things I did were wrong.

“So I wish he would pinpoint what they are.” Papali’i said that he believes the reputation of a public servant should openly be questioned when “he doesn't perform his duties honestly, misuse public funds and break government policies.”

The Member of Parliament said he is not guilty of any of the above.

“So my question (to the Prime Minister) is that; is there an incident where I have misused public funds? Are there government policies that I breached while I was a Minister?

“If I did none of the above, then my hands are clean about those accusations in relation to budget issues.

“The problem is that the Prime Minister is not talking about the real issues. The major issue here is expenditure.

They spent more money than what had been approved in the budget to be spent.”

Papali’i is referring to instances of overspending raised by Controller and Chief Auditor, Fuimaono Camillo Afele, in his report to Parliament for 2009 and 2010.

These include overspending by Minister Faumuina during his tenure at the Samoa Land Corporation (S.L.C). In one incident, a vehicle purchase which should have cost $200,000 or less ended up costing $340,000.

Another incident involved millions of tala paid to a “middleman” for a water drilling truck that ended up costing the government nearly twice the amount than what had been initially budgeted. But that’s not all.

Faumuina’s fascination with expensive offices baffles the mind. Referring to Faumuina’s newest $600,000 office at the S.N.P.F Plaza, Papali’i said: “It’s not an office, it’s a headquarter.”

Papali’i said the government owes it to the people to explain how their money is spent. That’s what good governance is about, he said. “In terms of budgets, it’s understandable when it’s not achieved,” Papali’i said.

“There were instances during my time that the budget forecasts were not achieved but it wasn't my fault. It was the performance of the ministries who did not achieve their budgets and that happens for a number of reasons.”

Chief Auditor Fuimaono’s report in question highlights this issue for a number of government Ministries. But Papali’i is worried.

“The important issue, which I believe the Prime Minister is avoiding, is what I see as the root cause of the problem,” he said.

“This is an area that should be explained to the public. I believe that if this is done, things will be a lot clearer because the Auditor has clearly reported instances of violation of government policies, procurement and tender processes.

“These processes were not followed and that is clearly highlighted in the Auditor’s report.”

Referring to S.L.C, Papali’i said there were two reports from the Chief Auditor in two consecutive years. “In both cases, a management letter was given to S.L.C about what needs to be fixed. The S.L.C did not respond.

“Why? They could not respond, they could not explain so they hid it like that. So that’s what I want to tell people.

“These are the reports that I’ve raised in Parliament often that has made the Prime Minister accuse me of bringing up the past. In saying that, he has suggested that I have things (I did wrong).

“What I find disappointing is that I’m not told (what these things are). So the country is in the dark about what things I did not do, what I did not implement as a Minister.”

But Papali’i said his conscience is clear.

“For five years when I was a Minister, there was not one time where the Prime Minister called me in that this is what should be done or this is what needs to be corrected. There was nothing like that during my time,” he said. So where does he come from with these things?

“My belief is that he is trying to hide the real meaty part of the Auditor’s report.

“His statements avoid the issue. He talks about budgets and revenue but these are minor issues because there are times when budgets are not achieved when the ministry does not perform for several reasons.

“But it’s how the money was spent, in my view, that is not being touched upon in the statements (by the Prime Minister).

“If these things had been explained properly, there would be no more questions.” In one meeting with Tuilaepa, the Member of Parliament said he advised him to refer back to their accounting backgrounds. “I reminded the Prime Minister that he is an accountant and I am an accountant. What I found from the Auditor’s report, in my view as an accountant, are very serious matters.”

One of them is Faumuina’s spending. “The budget approved $200,000 for the (ministerial) car but when it arrived in cost nearly $400,000,” said Papali’i.

“That’s overspending and that’s breaching the Director’s approval. The other issue is that a Corporation does not purchase a vehicle for the Minister. All Ministerial expenditures, Ministerial support including vehicles, are budgeted and approved by Parliament.”

But this happened because at the time, Ministers were allowed to chair Boards.

“Through that, they misused their powers. This is the spending that’s out of control. Not only have they violated procurement policies in attaining assets, they’ve done it themselves (without Parliament approval).

“So what happened? After his term as Minister of S.L.C, his wife was driving around in the Lexus.

“That’s one of the reasons why we wrote that letter to the Prime Minister. We were not happy with how the car was being used.”

The letter in question was submitted to Prime Minister Tuilaepa in May last year. Signed by 19 members of the H.R.P.P caucus, the letter called for Faumuina to be removed as the Minister of Finance.

“As far as I know, he is the only Minister, I have confirmed as an Auditor from my investigation that orders things to be paid…. “Even though he knows these things, he is acting as if nothing is wrong and I feel very sorry for the Prime Minister, he is taking all the pressure.”

During a recent H.R.P.P caucus meeting, Papali’i said he asked Faumuina why S.L.C did not respond to the Management letters from the Chief Auditor, as well as requests from the Officers of Parliament Committee, of which Papali’i is a member. Faumuina did not respond.

Instead, Prime Minister Tuilaepa responded on his behalf. Getting back to issue of Tuilaepa questioning his reputation, Papali’i said he guesses that it has something to do with “reforms.”

“There was a time he touched upon reforms,” he said. “One reform in particular involves the removal of Ministers from the chairmanship of public boards.”

According to Papali’i, under his leadership, the Ministry of Finance submitted a recommendation for reform to be implemented. “It was signed by me as the Minister,” he said.

“The problem is that even what the Prime Minister has said about this is not clear.

“But if he spoke directly that this is what he is referring to, I would have told him that I don't make a decision.

“We submit a recommendation and the Cabinet decides. He is the one who makes the final decision.”

Parliamentis scheduled to reconvene on Tuesday where the Officers of Parliament Committee’s report, in response to the Chief Auditor’s report, is scheduled to be debated.

American Samoa's Deputy Attorney General, Mitzie Jessop, says the majority of human trafficking victims in the territory are citizens from Samoa.

She claims they are being mistreated by their Pago-based relatives. Ms. Jessop says that culture, which should have stopped this from happening, has been hijacked.

"Unfortunately we do have people here that are taking advantage of that situation,” she said.

“They're adulterating our culture so that they are using their own family members as slaves to do their domestic work without compensating them and without taking care of them."

A bill outlawing human trafficking was officially endorsed by the American Samoa Fono and has now been sent to the Governor, who proposed the law. Last year, an American Samoan man was charged with sexually assaulting three women, including a minor, who had been brought from Samoa to do domestic work. Some residents have complained that bringing relatives from Samoa to do domestic work is a long standing practice, and shouldn't be seen as trafficking. Earlier this week, Ms. Jessop said she was “excited” at the passage of the bill, after years of attempts over more than a decade.

“I know that there might be a perception that human trafficking does not exist here in the Pacific,” she said.

“Unfortunately since I’ve been in the Attorney-General’s office, I have seen a lot of cases that have come through our office and I cannot prosecute those cases because I have no laws.” Ms. Jessop said a person convicted of human trafficking will face serious jail time, and offences against minors will carry more severe sentences. The case was given fresh impetus last year when police arrested an American Samoan man for sexually abusing three females from Savai’i, including a minor.

Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga, who initially proposed the bill, is expected to review it when he returns to the territory from Honolulu. Ms. Jessop said she also feels relieved about the bill passing because it gives prosecutors another tool in addressing human trafficking cases.

Ms. Jessop drafted the bill and testified during legislative hearings. "Since I've been in the attorney general's office, I have seen a lot of cases that have come through our office that I cannot prosecute those cases because I have no laws," she said.

The bill makes human trafficking illegal under penalty of five to 10 years in prison, with a mandatory 10 years if the trafficking involves a minor, Ms. Jessop said. She said prosecutors previously had to depend on other statutes to prosecute cases where there is clear evidence of human trafficking.

The territorial Senate approved the measure last week. It passed the House late last year. Ipu Avegalio-Lefiti, an advocate against domestic and sexual violence, said the law will raise awareness about behaviors that can finally be identified as human trafficking. "It is empowering to know that these behaviors are now criminal activities.

“The lack of this bill just encourages many of our people and business owners to feel, that it is their right or their duties, to hold persons or families in domestic bondage or slavery," said Mrs. Avegalio-Lefiti, vice-chairwoman of the Multi-Disciplinary Team, an advocate group against family violence. "The bill was slow in coming, thank God it has finally arrived."

The bill also mandates a human trafficking task force to collect data on human trafficking and recommend policies and procedures. The bill would become law in 60 days if the governor signs it. Earlier this month, the Senate held its last hearing into the measure. Senators raised questions about the impact of ifoga, or traditional apologies, on sentencing. The Fono’s legal counsel Henry Kappel testified for the bill, stating it is very important as the territory has a history of human slavery.

“This particular bill will give the prosecutors and judiciary a tool to control and hopefully remove human trafficking,” Kappel noted. Chair of the Judiciary Committee, Soliai Tuipine, asked Jessop what part the traditional ifoga for a defendant would play in this particular law. Ms. Jessop stated there is part of the statute where a traditional apology would have weight with the courts when they hand down sentencing.

The bill proposes that any person who deprives or violates the personal liberty of another with intent to obtain forced labour or service, or to engage in a commercial sex act, or both is guilty of human trafficking as a Class B felony. However, trafficking of a minor would be a Class A felony, which carries a minimum sentence of ten years in prison — meaning that despite the traditional apology — if it’s a minor, it is mandatory to serve 10 years in jail. One of the bill's supporters, territorial Rep. Taotasi Archie Soliai, said the bill is a good first step to ensure disgraces of the past aren't repeated.

"In our not-too-distant past, our local community was tainted and ridiculed in the most horrific cases of human trafficking in the history of the United States, by the profiteering acts of a mindless few," Soliai said.

In one case, the South Korean owner of the now defunct Daewoosa Samoa garment factory and three Samoan employees were convicted in federal court of enslaving more than 200 workers from Vietnam, most of them women.

This was reported at the time in 2001 as the largest human trafficking case in the history of the United States. Soliai said that while the territory's Constitution prohibits slavery and involuntary servitude, the new bill criminalizes trafficking and offers relief and support services for victims.

With reports from Samoa News, Radio New Zealand International, Radio Australia and the Associated Press.

Digicel Samoa has denied a claim that it took an idea from a local church leader and used it to make money.

The claim is made by Reverend Falefatu Enari, who says he met with representatives from Digicel in the middle of last year to discuss his concept of an online advertising website, called Poly Marketplace.

It was a website, which he says was designed as an online vehicle for people in Samoa and the region to place adds to buy, sell and rent items - one that could be accessed from their mobile phones.

This, he said, is why he approached the telecommunications company, so they could cater for transactions between people using the site through its Digicel Mobile Money application. In July last year, a Confidentiality Agreement was signed between Reverend Enari and Digicel, which stated that the “receiving party” to the idea, Digicel, shall “not divulge the disclosing party's Confidential Information, in whole or in part to any third party.

And, the agreement reads, “make no commercial use of the same or any part thereof either directly or indirectly nor use the Confidential Information to obtain any commercial advantage or otherwise to exploit the same without the prior written consent of the disclosing party,” the agreement reads. Rev. Enari said in essence the Confidentiality Agreement was drawn up to protect his interests from Digicel setting up a similar online business like polymarketplace.com.

This is why he was surprised to discover an almost identical website www.samoalists.com appear online by a Digicel affiliate Mobimedia, using the Digicel network.

He said he has since taken down his website, polymarketplace. com, until this matter is resolved.

Asked for a comment, Digicel’s Head of Corporate Affairs, Le’aupepe Tala’i Jr Lene, said the company would like to clarify that under no circumstances was there a breach of contract regarding Reverend Enari’s claims.

“Confidentially is of the utmost importance to Digicel and our clients and we take our responsibility to protect the privacy and confidentiality of client information very seriously,” an email from the company said.

“Reverend Enari first approached Digicel Samoa in June 2013 seeking a partnership to operate a mobile classified service that offers Digicel Samoa a platform where they can buy, sell and trade items via mobile.

“The concept however is not a recent development in mobile marketing.

Mobimedia a content provider had previously developed the platform and application in 2007 and secured the licence to provide the same in January 2013.

“Consequently, the platform has been a longstanding development for Mobimedia prior to Reverend Enari’s proposal in June.

“Therefore, Digicel currently permits Mobimedia to manage the platform and Digicel merely houses it from the Digicel Live Hub.

“Digicel does however encourage technology developments within Samoa both inside and outside of their business.”

Despite securing a licence in January 2013, the www.samoalists. com website was not registered by Mobimedia, a full-service mobile and Internet media specialist with print, web, digital and audio-visual capabilities, until August 12, 2013. “SamoaLists is a Mobimedia LTD. product, distributed regionally through the Digicel Mobile network,” the website reads.

“Created in 2013, SamoaLists services the user-to-user transactions of mobile customers serviced through the Digicel Mobile Network.”

Rev. Enari said when he took the concept to Digicel, they were excited about the endless possibilities it had.

They offered him a touch phone, a home zone phone and a special code number to help setup his business.

“But something was amiss when my website was all setup, and Digicel refused to sign a contract to list their business and their products with me,” he said.

“This new product is built on a concept Digicel took from me. It’s a shame when a big corporation like Digicel resorts to taking from small upstart businesses to try and keep up with the competition.

“There is an infringement, and I am waiting to see how Digicel is going to remedy the infringement.”

Asked why Digicel signed the Confidentiality Agreement in the first place if Mobimedia was already working with Digicel on a similar concept, Le'aupepe said that Rev. Enari insisted for an agreement to be signed before he could share his idea.

“It is not an original idea if you have a look at how long online trading has been around,” he said.

“But we wanted to work with him and anyone else to promote innovative entrepreneurship in our country.”

Despite this, Digicel has not responded to any of the three letters that Rev. Enari has written to them in an attempt to mediate the situation.

Digicel was asked why they had not contacted Rev. Enari or what steps they were taking to address the issue. Both questions were not answered in their email response.

In today’s Community page, we bring you photos from a gathering at the Samoa Tourism Authority Fale last week where Samoa welcomed the Chief Executive Officer of THB Singapore Reinsurance Brokers, Nick Cochrane. The gathering was attended by Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and leaders of the business community. Here are some of them who were present.

Students attending the University of the South Pacific (U.S.P) in Suva, Fiji – including Samoans - have been placed on alert after dengue fever claimed the life of a Vanuatu student.

Markson Tetaun, of Wowo village in North Malekula, is among 11 people killed by dengue fever in Fiji. He died at the Colonial Memorial Hospital. Tetaun was admitted at the Colonial Memorial Hospital diagnosed with dengue fever.

He died from internal bleeding when the disease developed into its life threatening stage known as dengue haemorrhagic fever.

It is unclear where the mosquito borne disease was transmitted to him but he was in Vanuatu for a short trip in January before returning to Fiji around the time both countries were announcing their outbreaks of dengue.

The Ministry of Health in Fiji has been organising awareness campaigns at the University of the South Pacific on the know-how’s of what to do in order to save lives at the earliest stages possible.

Fiji’s Ministry of Health said Thursday it has confirmed that 11 people have died and over 10,000 others have been infected during the current dengue fever outbreak. The ministry has launched a major campaign to get rid of possible breeding areas for mosquitoes, which may carry the virus.

Health Minister Neil Sharma said the outbreak involves the type-3 strain of dengue fever, whichhasneverbeenseenbefore in the South Pacific island country, according to the government- owned Fiji Broadcasting Corporation (FBC). Sharma said he is aware that there is an endemic for dengue infections periodically and Fiji tends to have a surge every five years.

Noting that there are also fears the number of people infected may be actually close to 15,000 with under reporting a major concern,theministersaidcurrent testing procedures need to be strengthened.

China has donated 50,000 U.S. dollars to Fiji to assist its efforts to combat the outbreak.

Dengue fever is caused by the dengue virus and the virus is spread from dengue infected individuals to well, dengue-free persons by the black-and-white striped female Aedes aegypti mosquito when it takes a blood meal.

Once an individual contracts dengue, the person manifests symptoms of the disease four to 10 days later.

The typical symptoms of dengue fever include fever (sudden onset), intense headache (especially behind the eyes), muscle and joint pains, flushed skin or rashes on the armsandlegs,andperhapsminor bleeding of the gums and/or nose.