The “greatest” potential for job growth in the Pacific Islands depends on greater access to labour markets in Australia and New Zealand.

That’s the opinion of the World Bank, in calling for more access to labour markets for the Pacific.

It is one of five key areas the World Bank is recommending for improvements to employment across Pacific Islands, including Samoa.

In its report released Friday called “Well-being from Work in the Pacific Islands Countries,” the World Bank states that Pacific countries and development partners need to “look beyond business-environment reforms.”

Business - environment reforms alone are “unlikely” to address employment challenges in smaller Pacific countries given constraints to private sector development arising from “smallness, dispersal, and isolation.”

Island economies will “never be able to achieve the scale and integration seen in larger regional economies.”

Instead, “the greatest potential for work is therefore through the movement of Pacific Islanders to areas where employment opportunities are concentrated.

“The priority for policy is to provide people from PICs with access to work wherever it exists,” states the report, referring to Pacific Island countries.

“Echoing the conclusions of earlier World Bank reports, this will require both changes in the immigration policies of the nearest large economies and careful investment in internationally transferable human capital by small P.I.C. governments.”

The ‘nearest large economies’ for most Pacific Islands are Australia and New Zealand.

Estimates by the World Bank call for a massive expansion of job approvals in Australia to bring it to the same percentage level as New Zealand, from current levels around 2,600 each year, to 40,000 a year by 2025.

“Living and working in nearby Australia and New Zealand provides a range and depth of economic opportunity far beyond what is likely to be available in small Pacific economies for the foreseeable future, given low rates of growth and limited opportunities for economic diversification.”

The World Bank report appears to abandon decades of policy advice that economic development lies with cutting tariffs and opening Pacific Islands to world markets.

It makes the point that isolation remains the main problem for developing Pacific Islands economies, with transport costs by sea remaining constant, and increasing by air.

The World Bank states that “despite innovations including containerization and introduction of the jet engine, there has been no significant reduction in shipping costs (as a proportion of the value of products shipped) since the 1950s, while air transport costs have actually increased substantially over the past decade.”

Production costs for small economies are much higher, as high as 30 percent for what the bank categorises as a “very small economy” with less than 200,000, such as that of Samoa.

Which is why labour “mobility” is so important to Pacific Islands, states the bank.

Having “diaspora” workers overseas provides very real benefits to the homeland economy.

“Diaspora tourism resulting from large emigrant populations is also an important benefit to sending countries, accounting for a large share of tourism industries in Pacific countries, with 40 percent of arrivals in Samoa from New Zealand visiting friends and relatives,” states the bank, quoting a 2009 study by Scheyvens and Russell 2009.

“Remittance flows clearly can reduce income inequality and create new opportunities for the disadvantaged.”

Direct remittances make up more than 25 per cent of Samoa’s economy, states the report.

Those remittances help homeland families achieve higher income, better opportunities, improved asset ownership, including radios, televisions, ovens and cars, better savings and more educational achievement.

It forecasts a much greater potential role for remittances, rising from less than 10 percent equivalent of aid, to as much as 60 percent by 2025, if immigration policies are changed.

The report identifies but does not explain a policy gap between aid and immigration in Australia and New Zealand when it comes to using Pacific Island workers.

“Greater policy effort on the part of receiving countries is required to expand access,” reads the report.

“Opportunities for labor mobility are heavily constrained by the immigration policies of large neighboring countries, such as Australia and New Zealand.

“These same neighboring countries allocate a large proportion of their overseas development budgets to the Pacific region with the stated aim of improving economic opportunities and living standards in the region.

“Increased policy coherence between aid and immigration policies would see a large expansion in temporary and permanent labor mobility opportunities available to Pacific people.”

This would not only represent “very cost-effective” development, but also bring economic benefits to those receiving countries, especially as their populations age, states the World Bank.

While the report does not spell out reasons for resistance to greater access to Pacific job seekers, it does outline the policy measures needed.

“International assistance is needed to support the policy and institutional improvements required for increased international mobility of Pacific Islanders.

“Institutions with responsibility for negotiating international labor arrangements need to be strengthened,” states the report.

Financial and technical support continues to be needed for agencies helping workers take part in regional or global schemes, states the report, such as divisions within foreign ministries responsible for selecting workers for participation in Australia’s and New Zealand’s seasonal worker schemes.

“Finally, ongoing aid assistance for all levels of education— including provision of tertiary scholarships—can provide a major boost to prospects for increased labor mobility through seasonal and permanent schemes.”

While focused on job access, the report also calls on Pacific governments to free up access to land to increase employment opportunities.

This builds on decades of promotion towards land liberalization, including through its Doing Business Index.

This has concerted criticism worldwide with critics describing the index as a tool for the promotion of “land grabs” worldwide, including the Pacific.

Last week, The Pacific Network on Globalisation (P.A.N.G.) attacked the index as a means of encouraging island governments to put the interests of foreign investors ahead of local land holders, including land held under custom.

"Right across the Pacific, customary land is still a key part of our land tenure system and so the World Bank's Doing Business rankings is a key means to our governments' formal policies of freeing up land and so what we are seeing now is that it is opened up for resource grab,” said PANG Coordinator Maureen Penjueli.

In America, Anuradha Mittal, the Executive Director of the Oakland Institute, quoted World Bank President Dr Jim Yong Kim as saying in 2013 that, "The World Bank Group shares these concerns about the risks associated with large-scale land acquisitions."

However, she said, “since then, the organisation he leads has worked even harder to deprive the developing world of its agricultural assets and heritage for the benefit of foreign agribusiness.”

The International Land Coalition, a global monitoring organisation of 152 organisations from 54 countries, estimates that 500 million acres in large land deals were signed between 2000 and 2010.

“This number is expected to be much higher by now,” states Ms. Mittal, in an opinion piece. “That's a problem, given that family farmers account for 80 percent of all land holdings in Africa and Asia and provide about 80 percent of the developing world's food,” she said, quoting figures from IFAD, the International Fund for Agricultural Development.

“If they become dispossessed because their governments are trying to curry favour with the World Bank, they may lose their livelihoods and their ability to provide food for the globe.”

In the report on Pacific employment, the World Bank confines its references to land usage to urban areas, which it identifies as a potential strength, if well managed.

“Measures that provide formal recognition of landownership and transactions in squatter areas can provide vital security to new migrants and facilitate improved access to finance when property rights over land can be used as collateral,” states the bank.

“Reforms to land administration in urban areas, where land has typically been alienated from traditional ownership, can often be implemented without undermining collective land ownership systems in rural areas,” it states, quoting a 2008 AusAID report, Making Land Work: Reconciling Customary Land Tenure and Development in the Pacific.

SAMOA NUMBERS*
More than 80 percent rural-based, the highest in the Pacific, shrinking to 60 percent + by 2050 46 percent men aged 20 to 24 unemployed 42 percent women in labour force, versus 78 percent for men 85 percent growth in 15 to 24 year olds by 2020 50 percent of seasonal worker scheme places taken up by Samoa and Tonga * Some figures estimates based on World Bank graphs

Thousands of Samoan mothers celebrated their special day across the country on Sunday. The celebration continued yesterday with a national holiday declared in their honour.

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On Sunday, the Vaitele-uta Congregational Christian Church of Samoa was one of the many churches that held a celebration for families, villages and the whole country.

They spent the day reflecting on the importance of mothers in people’s lives and honouring mothers at different ages.

To celebrate, mothers of Vaitele- Uta C.C.C.S. were divided into three different groups. They recited memory verses, danced to worship music and put together skits and short drama centered around biblical stories.

Faipeaia Aufai, nearly in her 80’s, took the verse from the Proverbs that said; “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”

Three older women led the service in prayers; Peleiupu Soifuaga, Ne’etia Gasio and Faipeaia Aufai.

The Pastor’s wife, Tauvela Su’a added comments on the importance of mothers while Rev. Muao Su’a strengthened their message, stressing the importance of mothers.

Preparing to cater for more than 3,000 people would seem quite daunting for most people.

But not for Tuitogamatoe Tavita.

In fact, she cannot wait.

She is so excited at the prospect that she has signed up for a six-week course in Food Safety and Preparation so that come September, she can put her best dishes forward.

The course is funded by the New Zealand government in partnership with Samoa Tourism Authority. It is being run by the Australian Pacific Technical College (A.P.T.C.).

The six-week course was officially launched last Friday by Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi at the S.T.A. Fale in Apia last Friday.

Working for the family B.B.Q. business in Leone Apia, Tui says that she is used to feeding many people at once.

“We always have a stall at the Teuila Festival and at Apia Park when there are games on,” she said.

“We cook B.B.Q., hotdogs and kebabs and you know Samoan people they are always looking for the best food “They often say to me you have the best BBQ.”

Tui said she wants to learn more.

“I just want to learn more like when I go to training like the course by the APTC to learn how to cook food and some other stuff,” she said.

“I am 23 now and I want to know more so I can help my family when I grow older.

“So I come to this training because I want to learn more. I just want to say thanks to the New Zealand Government and also the Samoa Tourism Authority for letting us come and learn.”

Tui said Samoa must be well represented during the S.I.D.S.

meeting.

“We have to represent ourselves well so we are here to learn how to present the food so the people who come from all around the world come and taste the food and go home and say Samoan people really know how to cook.

“I am looking forward to working with the trainers, I can’t even wait.”

Yazaki EDS Samoa held a ‘Quality Circles Competition’ last Friday afternoon as part of its “bottom up” management approach.

The competition was divided into five teams; Engineering department, Quality Assurance, Material Control, Production One and Production two.

President of Yazaki EDS, Graig O’Donohue from Australia expressed his sincere gratitude when he was invited.

“If I may reflect back to this morning’s award ceremony for the Best Line and Best Operators, it is humbling indeed to visually see and personally feel the immense passion and dedicated spirit that the Yazaki members have in their hearts and minds.

“This is teamwork and unity, in the true sense, that is extremely powerful and why I said and reconfirm, YES’s greatest asset is its people and make for a great company.”

He said that “the QCC presentations we are about to be part of is absolutely another example that YES members are ‘Best in Class’ with our relentless continuous improvement objectives.

“This exemplifies the Yazaki fundamentals and Yazaki spirit that will go to continually evolve our organization to a very valuable participant in the global arena of Yazaki’s global business.”

“Your exceptional efforts in putting together your QCC presentation for us to witness today is absolutely wonderful and I am proud to be part of today’s event.”

General Manager Funefeai Oliva Vaai stated that the event was part of an eternal competition to encourage teams from different departments to identify major concerns and problems related to quality and determine root causes and apply countermeasures while gauging the impact of their actions.

“It is a bottom up activity and is very much encouraged by Japanese manufacturers as a way to promote morale throughout the workplace,” he said.

“And it is through the actual participation of people at ground level in investigations and offering solutions – a function which is normally carried out by management personnel.

“The logic behind this is that people at ground level would know more from hands-on experiences.”

The results are;

1st . Production One
2nd . Production Two
3rd . Material Control
4th . Quality Assurance
5th . Engineering Department

Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease Samoa has one of the most successful programs in the world.

The success has been attributed to the leadership in the Health and Education sector, and the workforce driving the program in all levels of society. Samoa has done the most RHD Echo screening in Primary School children (over 20,000 kids), and has also done over 1,500 students in secondary schools, in Government, Non-Government and Private Schools.

RF and RHD are still very common in Samoa, but the rates are far lower than the Aboriginal population in Australia but similar to Tonga and Fiji.

The compliance to monthly Penicillin injections around 79-80per cent is one of the highest in the world and this is attributed to a dedicated Nursing workforce responsible for administering the injections.

This compliance is much better than New Zealand, Australia, Fiji (30-40per cent compliance) and other countries. RF develops from a throat infection with a germ called Group A Streptoccocus. The symptoms of RF include sore or swollen joints, rash on the body, “funny movement of the hands or legs” (chorea), fever, sore throat, and heart involvement.

Blood tests will assist the diagnosis. After the development of RF, some kids will develop RHD. Not every one who had RF develops RHD. From the RHD Screening program, the current prevalence of RHD in Samoa showed that for every 1000 students that were screened, between 12 and 14 kids were picked up with RHD. Unfortunately, majority of kids picked up with RHD cannot remember developing symptoms of RF at all.

A few students had been sent for major heart operation under the Government Treatment Scheme, while 95% were treated with monthly Penicillin injections in Samoa. The majority of students with mild or moderate RHD on Penicillin injections would get better and their heart disease would disappear.

So, it was a curable form of heart disease but compliance to Penicillin injection had to be encouraged and maintained. The parents are urged to bring their children for Penicillin injections, as this is free in Government facilities. The RF/RHD program will continue to strive to follow-up all the known people with RF/RHD and will continue to screen the population for undiagnosed RHD.

Smoking
This was one of the most discussed topics in the conference, since it was one of the leading causes of Death from Heart Attacks, Strokes, High Blood Pressure, Kidney Failure and Cancer. “No amount of smoking is good for health”. Smoking is bad for health. We have lost a lot of our own loved ones to smoking-related complications.

The youngest age of heart attack in Samoa was 21 years old, and the vessels around the heart (coronary arteries) were blocked from smoking. We have lost a lot of our prominent leaders to cancers due to smoking.

The science is very clear and there is no shadow of doubt – smoking kills. The expense to a country from smoking related diseases and complications far outweighs the benefits they get from tobacco related incomes.

The cost to health far outweighs the benefit from the finances contributed by tobacco. The conference discussed many ways of fixing a blocked coronary vessel of the heart from smoking related complications, and all these old and recent advances are very expensive, which usually cost about NZD$20,000 that our Government pay for one of these procedures in New Zealand under our treatment scheme. We usually send about 20-30 people per year for these heart procedures, and the cost is very expensive.

The cheapest thing to do is to stop smoking, and this will save the heart from a heart attack, save the brain from a stroke, save the lungs from developing cancer, and will be a lot cheaper to the individual and to our country. I see many patients with heart diseases related to smoking, and it is a constant struggle to give up smoking.

The struggles to give up smoking is never easy, but achievable. The best prevention for heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, kidney failure and cancers – is to stop smoking. The possibility of asking the countries to BAN smoking was also discussed.

Though this will be a “dream come true” from the medical perspective, it is difficult for each individual countries to balance the forces that govern finances, health, the greater population benefits and individual choice. Through legislation and policy, it is hoped that the prevalence of smokers will reduce sufficiently, so that there are less people smoking reducing the need for the tobacco industry. Australia is leading the world in its campaign against smoking.

Samoa has done well in its reduction of smoking. The prevalence of smoking in 1978 was 42.4%, in 1991 it was 35.3%, in 2002 it was 34.6%, and in 2013 the preliminary result suggest 21%. Stop smoking is the best strategy of prevention for many diseases.

Some alcohol is good for health, but no amount of smoking is good for health.

Salt
Too much salt has been associated with High Blood Pressure. High blood pressure is associated with heart diseases, stroke and kidney failure. The higher the amount of salt consumed, the higher the blood pressure.

The amount of salt that we should reduce our individual consumption to, is less than 5 grams per day or less than 1 teaspoon of salt per day. The preliminary results from the recent salt health research suggest that we are consuming about 7 grams per day in Samoa. United Kingdom was able to lower their salt consumption from over 9 grams per day to about 8grams per day. It is not easy to change the taste buds to the salty taste, but it will take time to reduce the over use of salt in our daily consumption. Salt is still necessary for our health, but TOO MUCH salt is not good for health as it will increase the blood pressure.

Sugar and Diabetes

Prevention of the development of diabetes is very feasible. Diabetes causes many medical problems like heart disease, kidney disease, stroke, eye problems, and nerve problems. If the diabetes is well-controlled with dietary intake and medications, none of the other medical problems will develop.

Heart Diseases due to diabetes can be prevented with medications, exercise, and dietary intake.

High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure can cause heart disease, kidney failure and stroke. Salt reduction is one of the best strategies to reduce high blood pressure. Regular exercise helps to bring down the blood pressure.

Reducing stress levels also helps a lot with reducing blood pressure. A good night’s sleep will also help reduce the blood pressure.

There are very good medications developed for treatment. The conference also discussed newer treatments.

Heart diseases
The best prevention is stop smoking.

Exercise is very good for the heart, and exercise for ½ - 1 hour per day prolongs life.

Even walking for ½-1 hour per day is very beneficial, or swimming, or doing chores around the house are all very beneficial.

Zumba exercise is also very beneficial for health. As long as we are moving for a longer period of time (1/2 – 1 hour per day) and sweating during the process and elevating our heart rate, that is much better than sitting doing nothing.

People who exercise regularly have much better hearts. If someone has heart disease already, exercise is also very beneficial. The amount of exercise needed is dependent on the symptoms and severity of the heart disease. A good night’s sleep will assist in reducing heart disease. Reducing stress levels will reduce heart disease. There are already very good medications developed for heart disease but people need to take these medicines to benefit. There are many new medications that were discussed in the Conference from recent researches, but these will take some years to be available in Samoa.

Treating elevated cholesterol (fat in the blood) and treating high blood pressure will assist in reducing heart diseases.

Dear Mata’afa and the people of Samoa, Ou te fa’atalofa atu.

I’m writing to inform you that on Thursday of this week, the 15th of May, the New Zealand television current affairs programme, Campbell Live, will be filming a story in Apia about the fact the All Blacks have never once visited Samoa, and have only ever played Manu Samoa a total of five times.

As part of this programme, we would very much like to ask the people of Samoa whether they want the All Blacks to play there.

To do this, we will be set up in the Mall between Convent Street and Mulinu’u Road, near the Milani Cafe, from 0830 on Thursday morning. We will be there throughout the morning.

We would sincerely like to extend an invitation for all your Samoa Observer readers, and all the people of Samoa who are able to get there, to join us and tell us (and the people of New Zealand) what they think.

We do hope to see you there on Thursday.

Faafetai tele ma ia manuia.

John Campbell TV3

New Zealand

“Amending the Act that would allow large Fishing Vessels to fish in our E.E.Z. would only serve in diverging fi shes (sic) and others that have lived in our oceans” – Committee tells Parliament

The government has been urged to reconsider a way to assist “numerous fishermen” whose livelihoods are likely to be affected if Apia Export Fish Packers closes its doors.

That’s the advice from Parliament’s Primary Production, Commerce, Industry and Labour (P.P.C.I.L.) Committee in a report to Parliament, obtained by the Samoa Observer.

Chaired by Le’aupepe Tole’afoa Fa’afisi, the Committee says it’s imperative for the government help.

“Although the closing of this company is not official, the Committee believes that the Government should consider a way to assist in maintaining the living of numerous fishermen in the country,” the Committee’s report says.

“Especially since this Company has served the fishing development of Samoa, and has contributed to the country’s economy.

“Furthermore, companies who have played a part in Samoa‘s economy should receive assistance from the Government in times when it is in trouble and is in need of assistance.”

The Primary Production, Commerce, Industry and Labour (P.P.C.I.L.) Committee in its report on the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Annual Report for the Financial Year Ending June 30, 2011 was among 39 reports tabled and approved by Parliament without debate, last month.

The reports have been obtained and published by the Samoa Observer for the information of members of the public.

In its report the Committee warns the government about the fish being taken by bigger fishing companies from countries like Taiwan and how this would impact negativly on an already struggling industry.

“The Fisheries Division is no longer benefitting from revenue, due to changing prices of fishes found in the sea,” the Committee reports. “It was perceived that the majority of the public have steered this development in support with Samoa’s economy as well as serving the family, and the congregation.

“It was observed, that this development is not easy and cheap but it is important, in that everyone benefits in any development, so that Samoa’s economy continues to grow.

“The fisheries development was under full support by the Apia Export Fish Packers (A.E.F.P.) Limited who exported fishes under request in preparation for ocean fishing when it was delayed and other setbacks.”

However, the Committee went on to “carefully” note that A.E.F.P. will close due to business development.

“It was confirmed by the Ministry of Agriculture, that an opportunity will be given to Fishing Companies from Taiwan who will initiate this service together with provisions as set out, ‘The Act will be amended to allow Fishing Companies to enter Samoa’s Exclusive Economic Zone within a radius of 25 miles’.

“The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries sees no reason as to why it is restricted, when fishes travel from one ocean to another.”

However, the Committee found reasons as to why this Act shouldn’t be ammended and why the A.E.F.P. Ltd Company should not close.

“Amending the Act that would allow large Fishing Vessels to fish in our E.E.Z. would only serve in diverging fishes (sic) and others that have lived in our oceans,” the Committee says.

“It would affect the living of local Fishermen, if the A.E.F.P. Ltd Company were to close.”

Other members of the Committee include Maualaivao Pat Ah Him as Deputy Chairman and Tuiloa Anetelea, Afualo Wood Uti Salele, Tialavea Fea T Seigafolava, Aeau Peniamina Leavaiseeta, Aveau Nikotemo Palamo served as memebers.

The report is published in full below:

1. RECOMMENDATION:- The Primary Production and Labour Committee recommends that the Assembly takes note of its Report.

2. PREAMBLE:- The Primary Production and Labour Committee is constituted pursuant to the provisions of Standing Orders 174.

3. STANDING ORDERS 174:-

It shall be the duty of the Committee: (a) To consider any bill, petition or other matter referred by the Assembly pursuant to these Standing Orders; and such Estimates or review of ministerial performance as maybe referred by the Finance & Expenditure Committee; (b) To examine the policy, administration and expenditure of ministries and associated government organizations related to primary production, commerce, industry, labour and tourism.

4. PAPER CONSIDERED:- (Presented 26/03/2013) (Referred 27/03/2013) P.P.2012/2013 No. 75, Annual Report of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries for Financial Year ended 30th June 2011.

5. WITNESSES:- During the course of its investigations, the Committee was able to hear oral evidence submitted by: Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries: Fonoiava Sealiitu Sesega - Chief Executive Officer Misa Konelio -

Assistant Chief Executive Officer Crops Division Leota Laumata - Assistant Chief Executive Officer Livestock Division Lupeomanu Pelenato Fonoti - Assistant Chief Executive Officer Quarantine Division Fetu Setu - Assistant Chief Executive Officer Corporate Services Division Joyce Samuelu - Assistant Chief Executive Officer Fisheries Division Taimalietane Matatumua -

Deputy Assistant Chief Executive Officer Policy, Planning and Communication Division 6. FINDINGS:- Looking through the Ministry’s Annual Report in its executive, it was noted that Monetary Reserves for Work Outputs has seen a number of changes with the exception of 99% of Expenditure that was in line with the outlined resources. There are Divisions within the Ministry where monetary spending has increased due to the following reasons: Quarantine Division:

Additional Personnel to: - Fulfill work at Fagalii Airport; - The precise period in the opening of an operational wharf in Satitoa, Aleipata; - Increase salaries of Employees in accordance with additional responsibilities; Crops Division: There is work that the Ministry considers should take first priority as the Chief Executive Officer revised it before its implementation, at the exact time it was under review. This revision also included the Livestock Division in Vailima.

6.1 ONGOING SERVICES: -The Ministry is pleased with its findings that garnered positive results in searching good quality taro for public consumption, as attested by the widespread growth of taro in Samoa. This standard was not aborted but it has instead given its assistance in exporting taro to overseas markets. This preparation includes selecting and cleansing suitable taro before packaging. The Ministry emphasizes this service in that it looks ahead in continuing this standard in order to access more markets overseas. The Ministry previously wished to research relevant markets but the Cabinet recommended that this initiative should be carried out by the Private Sector where the Ministry would support in any area regarding the upheld standard of taro used overseas. - Preparation and work on enhancing aquaculture, includes: - Tilapia; - Mullet; - Highfin grouper; - Giant Clam; - Trochus; - Sea-grape.

It was noted that in step of improving this standard a newly constructed premises in Toloa officially opened. The Ministry continues to monitor marine developments to ensure that the public continues to access fishing in our oceans especially its favorite variety. This work should continue, as it would in future discourage overseas companies from green fish (including curry fish & sea cucumber) in our ocean. Based on research carried out by the Ministry they are convinced companies should not be allowed for this purpose. It was confirmed by the Ministry, that if this were to become available it would lead to depletion in the supply of curry fish or sea cucumber in our marine. Samoa would also no longer eat its usual seafood delicacies.

Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) has also advised that Samoa should not allow any Company from fishing near its marine. The development in cross-breeding Samoan chicken with imported pure-breed chicken is continuing with the expectation that: - Imported pure-breed chicken can be consumed in foods used for Samoan chicken; - Enhances the blood in Samoan chicken;

- Imported chicken can produce and lay eggs.

The Ministry is giving its assistance to Farmers in their production of eggs. Close to 70% of eggs sold in Samoa are locally produced. The Ministry is currently maintaining this standard through its program for Famers so that it could produce the remaining 30%. The Codex Committee is grateful to the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour on its Policy where it limits (30 days expiry period) imported eggs, in giving the opportunity for locally produced eggs to be sold. This Government policy serves to benefit our Farmers who have undertaken this development. The Ministry upholds its sheep program through its farms in Tanumalala, Avele, Togitogiga and Le Mafa. The number of Farmers incorporating sheep in their livestock has increased and there is a growing list of Farmers who require this development. The World Bank intends to support this initiative by providing a cargo of sheep.

6.2 ISSUES - The Ministry emphasized during the period it was under review, in improving its Filing System with the expectation of enhancing its records and requests as required for auditing. - The small number of Personnel was noticed, for agricultural services in educating individual Farmers in methods and technologies to handle any aspect of farming, as well as continuing the development of farming processes. Due to this issue the Ministry implemented a training program for Farmers;

it has also broadcast its programs on television. - Increased expenses in financing the Awareness Program as the Ministry is certain of the important underlined message for the information of the Farmers.

6.3 PROJECTED PLANS: - It was confirmed by the Ministry, that the Public Service Commission has halted new Employees.

However, the Ministry of Agriculture considers the need to increase its Work Output, improve services and the necessary knowledge and experience for work performance. - The Ministry is considering suitable changes by overtaking work that was carried out by the Constituency Offices in the past. At the conclusion of its review, the Ministry found that it is suitable in constructing/improving Ministry posts in Constituencies and prepare growth of plants. It was proposed, that it would hold information documents that can be accessed by Farmers in those Constituencies.

Employees will no longer use vehicles as it was done before, high expenses were noted but did not complete established objectives.

Farmers can also communicate through the use of cell phones, in areas where they need assistance and to also lodge complaints on the services of the Ministry.

6.4 COMMITTEE CONCERNS: The Fisheries Division is no longer benefitting from revenue, due to changing prices of fishes found in the sea. It was perceived that the majority of the public have steered this development in support with Samoa’s economy as well as serving the family, and the congregation. It was observed, that this development is not easy and cheap but it is important, in that everyone benefits in any development, so that Samoa’s economy continues to grow. The fisheries development was under full support by the Apia Export Fish Packers Limited who exported fishes under request in preparation for ocean fishing when it was delayed and other setbacks. However, the Committee carefully noted, that this Company shall be closing due to.

It was confirmed by the Ministry of Agriculture, that an opportunity will be given to Fishing Companies from Taiwan who will initiate this service together with provisions as set out, “The Act will be amended to allow Fishing Companies to enter Samoa’s Exclusive Economic Zone within a radius of 25 miles".

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries sees no reason as to why it is restricted, when fishes travel from one ocean to another.

Concerns: - It would affect the living of local Fishermen, if the AEFP Ltd Company were to close; - Amending the Act that would allow large Fishing Vessels to fish in our EEZ would only serve in diverging fishes and others that have lived in our oceans. Although the closing of this company is not official, the Committee believes that the Government should consider a way to assist in maintaining the living of numerous fishermen in the country. Especially since this Company has served the fishing development of Samoa, and has contributed to the country’s economy.

Furthermore, companies who have played a part in Samoa‘s economy should receive assistance from the Government in times when it is in trouble and is in need of assistance.

6.5 COMMITTEE VISITS: The Committee was able to visit development projects of the Ministry on 6 March 2014, to witness the progress of the work implemented. The Chief Executive Officer and two Assistance Chief Executive Officers were present during the Site Visits to explain and assist the Committee with any queries.

6.5.1 Improving aquaculture in the Toloa Premises: The aim of this project is to ensure the sustainability of aquaculture in the country’s oceans. Furthermore, it is an attempt to develop Samoa’s marine for future generations. It is an initiative of the Ministry, to hinder the natural breeding of aquaculture, if it is expected to breed in the sea. However, this development is a progressive marine scheme and will be given to those who will implement this kind of development. The Committee witnessed the sea grape development project and is a capable plan prepared by the Ministry. The Committee noted that this development started four (4) days ago and it was confirmed that it would be harvested after four (4) weeks. The most important aspect of this initiative is maintaining and building this food item especially in raising its quality to export. lt was also noted, that sea grapes have been affected by climate change, due to the heat of the sunlight, throughout the time it is collected by the reefs. However, it is helpful that it has been developed. The progression of improved developments was witnessed on mullet and long face emperor fishes. It is a beneficial plan in increasing this natural economic good for future generations.

The Committee noted that this development can be undertaken by individuals or families and the Ministry is planning to give their support wherever needed.

6.5.2 Chicken Project (Vailima): The Committee notes the importance of this initiative. Positive results were noted in the first progressive where hatcheries of eggs gained chicks within three weeks. There is an aspiration to acquire roosters to cross breed with Samoan chickens in an effort to breed fat and well-formed chickens, like breeds found in the past.

6.5.3 Imported Livestock Project at Mount Vaea: There is close to 100 acres being utilized for this program. There are more than 60 imported livestock and there is a plan to give cattle to farms in Togitogiga and Le Mafa. The reason for this standard is to shift the Livestock Division Office in Avele and will merge with the livestock Development in Mount Vaea. The Ministry continued that the land utilized by the Livestock Division in Avele will be used to construct the new Office of the Chinese Ambassador. The Government of China has given financial assistance in building a new Office for the Livestock Division in Mount Vaea.

The Ministry confirmed its agreement as the building that housed this Division of the Ministry was old with a staff of 62 employees. If an Application were submitted to the Government asking, to construct a new Office it would take a long time due to financial constraints. According to the long term outlook of the Ministry in upholding the development of breeding animals, it planned to import cattle to enhance the blood of breeding animals currently in Samoa. The Ministry is certain that it would be an easy and cheap initiative compared to the current difficulty in importing breeding animals.

6.5.4 Crops Division in Villages: The construction of houses is continuing in order to plant crops including other Greenhouses that have enabled cabbage, tomatoes and eggplants to be planted. lt is a project funded by the Government of China, and the Committee witnessed the consistent effort shown by the Ministry. The task is progressing into using old tin houses in growing a number of plants including vegetables. The banana propagation program is continuing for the access and purchase by Farmers.

ASPECTS OF THE VISIT: The Committee observed the importance of having Visits, it is a way in which work and programs that are undertaken by Ministries and State Owned Enterprises can be measured. It also allows presented evidence on problems and issues that should be prevented and improved upon.

This Visit was an important opportunity in that it is not accessible to the public especially to Members of Parliament in considering and witnessing the work undertaken by the Ministry.

This is another method that enables the Committee to voice the services of the Ministry pursuant to their establishment. The economy of Samoa has observed the supply of taro, bananas, yams, green vegetables and other farming developments, and it is living evidence that the program created by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has yielded positive results. The work put in for the future does not need guessing, as the Ministry continues to prioritize the standard of food availability in Samoa. The important aim that the program is created upon is to ensure: - Recommendations and implementing training programs for Farmers are issued; and - That these programs are pursued and examined to ascertain that main objectives are reached.

7. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:- The Committee wishes to convey its appreciation to the Ministry for its good work that was able to be completed especially in achieving good results that were laid out for the agricultural development. Not only that, but it’s important programs in capturing progressive methods in future as the agricultural sector of Samoa is the heart of its economy. We also wish to convey our appreciation to the Chief Executive Officer and his Administration for their complete preparation of the Annual Report as well as making their time available as Witnesses during the period they were under review. If it was not for this support, this Report would not have been complete.

8. RECOMMENDATIONS Based on its Findings the Committee recommends to the Government:

1. To establish a Marketing Division in the Ministry and employ persons with upmost knowledge on markets and trade, in order to administer all topics that are in its relation so that assistance is given to Farmers in their Development. 2. In future to prepare an Annual Report that will include revenue from every agricultural development, so that exact sources of revenue from agriculture can be attained, as these sums were from the efforts of the Ministry.

3. To attain a cargo of cattle and sheep in order to satisfy the demands of Farmers, while the program is under revision, as there will be a new method in importing breeding animals. 4.

To support the Development Programs of the Ministry that is underway.

9. RESOLUTION At the conclusion of its consideration, the Committee resolved to recommend the Assembly: That the P.P.2012/2013 No. 75, Annual Report of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries for Financial Year ended 30th June 2011 be approved.

Hon LEAUPEPE Toleafoa Apulu Faafisi CHAIRMAN

"It's one of the few places the All Blacks could go where literally the whole country would stop for 80 minutes. It might be good for some of the boys to go home"– Seilala Mapusua about the All Blacks in Apia

The New Zealand Rugby Union has done it again.

While it refuses for the All Blacks to play a test match in the Pacific – let alone Samoa – they added insult to injury yesterday when they confirmed the “not so big secret.”

That was, the mighty All Blacks – which has benefitted from a number of players with Samoan connections over the years - will instead play a test match in the United States, at the end of this year.

A statement from NZRU revealed that Soldier Field, the home of the NFL's Chicago Bears, which can host about 60,000 people, would be the venue for the November 1 clash.

The match will be the fourth game between the two nations.

The announcement yesterday comes at a time when an effort is being made to bring the All Blacks to Samoa.

Today, prominent TV personality, John Campbell, of TV3 New Zealand’s Campbell Live, is in the country. He is filming a story in Apia about the fact the All Blacks have never once visited Samoa, and have only ever played the Manu Samoa five times.

Mr. Campbell yesterday spoke to a number of key rugby figures in Apia, including Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, who is also the Chairman of the Samoa Rugby Union.

As for the programme being filmed in Samoa today, Mr. Campbell is interested to hear from anyone with strong views about the issue.

“As part of this programme, we would very much like to ask the people of Samoa whether they want the All Blacks to play there,” Mr. Campbell said.

“We would sincerely like to extend an invitation for all your Samoa Observer readers, and all the people of Samoa who are able to get there, to join us and tell us (and the people of New Zealand) what they think.”

Mr. Campbell is not the only one who feels that the All Blacks have disrespected the Pacific teams by not playing a test match in the Pacific.

Former All Black, Zac Guildford, feels equally strong about the issue.

“Rugby is a business now so it’s becoming all about the money,” he told the Samoa Observer during a recent interview in Apia.

“Unfortunately, the Pacific Islands don’t have that money so they’re being overlooked by the New Zealand Rugby Union which is a bit sad.

Rugby is a business now and everyone is just trying to make money.”

Guilford said the All Blacks could do so much more for the development of Samoan rugby and the Pacific in general.

“I think it is quite sad that we don’t have (regular) test matches against the likes of Samoa, Fiji, Tonga,” said Guilford. “It’s quite sad that we have to bring France … to make money. I don’t think it’s benefiting a lot of players in many ways but like I said, it’s a business these days.”

Guilford argued that Samoa and other Pacific countries could give the All Blacks far better competition than other teams – including Japan and the USA.

Last year, the All Blacks played a test match against Japan in Japan.

Former Manu Samoa captain, Seilala Mapusua said it’s about time the All Blacks visits Samoa.

"I'd love to see the All Blacks play Tonga in Nuku'alofa; Fiji in Suva and Samoa at Apia Park. It would be a massive boost for rugby globally," he told Fairfax.

"You'd have the No 1-ranked side in the world going to the Islands. It would open up everyone's eyes to the idea of playing the Island teams at home.

"There won't be any financial gains but in terms of growing the game, it would be huge.

"It's one of the few places the All Blacks could go where literally the whole country would stop for 80 minutes. It might be good for some of the boys to go home."

But since 1984, the All Blacks have not once set foot in the Pacific.

They have played nine matches in Fiji, between 1968 and 1984.

Asked for a comment last year, New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive, Steve Tew bluntly said: "No, the All Blacks have not played a test in Fiji, Samoa or Tonga and right now we can't see how that's going to work in the short term.

"It's very hard to fit in and very hard to make it affordable."

Mr. Tew said the decision “is in the best interests of New Zealand rugby.”

But he is not ruling out the possibility of a test match in Apia in the future.

"It's not dismissed as never going to happen," Mr. Tew said. "It's just very hard to see how we will get to the Islands in the near future in the current programme. If it doesn't work commercially, then I've got problems back home to resolve.”

"While I was away I had at least six inquiries about the All Blacks playing in other countries, some of them pretty diverse. Right now everybody wants to have a crack at hosting the All Blacks in their part of the world because it is the brand to drive the profile of the game."

As for the test in the US in November, All Blacks captain, Richie McCaw is excited about the prospect.

"You look at the calibre of athletes you see playing basketball and NFL, and if they put some real energy into rugby, there would be a fairly big pool to choose from," said All Black captain Richie McCaw. "A lot of people don't know about the All Blacks in the US, so it will be great to play a game there and show what rugby is all about."

For today, Mr. Campbell and his crew are setting up at the Mall between Convent Street and Mulinu’u Road, near the Milani Cafe, from 08.30 onwards.

- With reporting from The NZ Herald, Gregor Paul and Liam Napier of the Sunday News

The Samoa Qualifications Authority (S.Q.A.) is “vital” to the development of Samoa.

That’s what a Parliamentary select committee says in its report on the S.Q.A.’s Statement of Corporate Objectives 2013- 2015.

The Education, Science, Communication and Information Technology (E.S.C.I.T.) Committee, Chaired by Lenatai Victor Tamapua. praised the efforts of the Authority’s staff. The Committee noted that the Corporation plays a vital role in identifying and input to the Strategy for the Development of Samoa (SDS) 2012 — 2016 and the Education Sector Plan (ESP) 2012 - 2Ol6.

Assistance to these two plans allowed the Corporation to identify the key priorities for the Post School Education and Training sub-sector inputs. The Committee noted that the support and endurance of the Management and Employees of the Corporation is the backbone for the achievement of each priority.

The Committee reports that although the Corporation has not indicated as to which division or section shall deal directly with the implementation of each priority, the notion that the interdependence and cooperation of the Corporation as a whole, only then is the Corporation able to ensure deliverance and completion of its activities as documented.

“The Committee acknowledges the tremendous effort and determination of the Corporation in utilising and improving its systems,” the report reads. “Not just for the benefit of the Corporation but in order to carry out its services to its customers and stakeholders in accordance with its mandates.” In addition to Lenatai the E.S.C.I.T. Committee comprises of Ifopo Matia Filisi as the Deputy Chairperson and Members Tusa Misi Tupuola, Levaopolo Tatatonu, Aveau Nikotemo Palamo, Tuileutu Alavaa Voi and Tufuga Gafoaleata Faitua. The Report reads in full below:

1. RECOMMENDATION The Education, Science, Communication & Information Technology Committee recommend that the Assembly takes note of its Report. 2. PREAMBLE: The Education, Science, provisions of Standing Order 172.

3. STANDING ORDER 172. In accordance with the provisions of Standing Orders 172, it shall be the duty of the Committee to:- (a) Consider any bill, petition or any other matter referred by the Assembly or pursuant to these Standing Orders; and such Estimates or review of ministerial performance as maybe referred by the Finance & Expenditure Committee; (b) Examine the policy, administration and expenditure of ministries and associate government organisations related to education, sports, youth & culture, science, communications and information technology.

4. PAPER CONSIDERED (Tabled 26/03/2013) (Referred 27/03/2013) Communication & Information Technology Committee is constituted pursuant to the P.P. 2012/2013 No. 80, Samoa Qualifications Authority Statement of Corporate Objectives 2013— 2015.

5. WITNESSES: The Committee during the course of its investigation heard evidence submitted by: Samoa Qualifications Authority: Fepuleai Sinapi Moli - Chief Executive Officer Kovi Fonoti Aiolupotea - ACEO, Quality Assurance Division Tea Tepora Afamasaga Wright - ACEO, Qualification Division Easter Manila Silipa - ACEO, Research, Plan and Policy Division Mapusua Mose Asani - ACEO, Corporate Services

6. FINDINGS: The Committee noted that the establishment of a national body for Post School Education and Training (PSET) in Samoa was established under the Education Policies and Strategies. The need for such an approach was reinforced in a review in 2003 by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). This led to the legal establishment of the Samoa Qualifications Authority to provide policy advice, coordinate and quality assure the PSET sub-sector in Samoa.

The repeal of the Samoa Qualifications Authority Act 2006 now leaves the Corporation with its services and operation to continue under the Samoa Qualifications Act 2010 which strengthens the regulatory functions of the Corporation for PSET.

The Committee noted that in order for the Corporation to improve its operation they have identified a Vision “to be the lead agency that promotes post school education and training that is nationally and internationally recognised for its quality, its relevance to the needs of learners, the community and to the directions established for the nation "and its Mission statement, “to work in partnership with stakeholders to promote the achievement of high quality post school education and training that is nationally and internationally acclaimed and meets national economic, social and cultural goals".

These statements will set the standard or guidelines for the Corporation in order to attain and carrying out of its functions given under its mandates. The Committee in consideration of the Statement of Corporate Objectives 2013 — 2015 of the Samoa Qualifications Authority found that there are five (5) priorities that will improve and outlined as a target for the Corporation. Furthermore these priorities are identified in order for the Corporation to fulfill its functions as stated in the Samoa Qualifications Authority Act 2010, section

These priorities are:

6. To promote PSET and provide strategic leadership to the sub-sector

7. To conduct research and formulate policy to provide sound PSET policy advice

8. To enhance the quality of PSET

9. To enhance relevance of PSET and access to PSET Opportunities

l0. To ensure the efficient and effective use of resources In order to ensure that these priorities are delivered within the duration of the Corporate Plan the Corporation outlined key performance indicators and performance measures according to a set target delivery date. The Committee noted that the duration of each indicator vary depending on the extensive work that needs to be carried in order to implement the activity.

6.1 Projects: The Committee noted that the Corporation had also set out specific projects that are to be carried out and completed during and when its Corporate Plan is reviewed.

6.1.1 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) The Corporation are currently implementing this Support Programme under the Samoa-Australia Partnership for Development. This project deals directly with practices and qualifications through technical and vocational education as well as training.

6.1.2 Twin Authority The purpose of this Project is to strengthen ties and share quality assurance practices between the Corporation and New Zealand Qualifications Authority. This project is set to be implemented by the end of the Corporate Plan period. The Committee noted that the overall purpose of both these projects is to improve the services and practices of the Corporation.

6.2 Support to Government Policies: The Committee noted that the Corporation plays a vital role in identifying and input to the Strategy for the Development of Samoa (SDS) 2012 — 2016 and the Education Sector Plan (ESP) 2012 - 2Ol6.Assistance to these two plans allowed the Corporation to identify the key priorities for the Post School Education and Training sub-sector inputs. The Committee noted that the support and endurance of the Management and Employees of the Corporation is the backbone for the achievement of each priority.

Although the Corporation has not indicated as to which division or section shall deal directly with the implementation of each priority, the notion that the interdependence and cooperation of the Corporation as a whole, only then is the Corporation able to ensure deliverance and completion of its activities as documented.

7. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: The Committee acknowledges the tremendous effort and determination of the Corporation in utilizing and improving its systems. Not just for the benefit of the Corporation but in order to carry out its services to its customers and stakeholders in accordance with its mandates.

8. RECOMMENDATIONS: Based on its Findings, the Committee recommends the Government to:- 1. That the Corporation prioritize its projects so that it is implemented before the end of the set Corporate Plan period. 9. RESOLUTION: At the conclusion of its consideration the Committee resolved to recommend the Assembly: To approve P.P. 2012/2013 No.80, Samoa Qualifications Authority Statement of Corporate Objectives 2013 — 2015.

LENATAI Victor Faafoi Tamapua CHAIRPERSON

For the past three weeks, the Samoa Observer has been publishing the 39 reports tabled and approved by Parliament without debate, last month. Today, we are looking at the Education, Science, Communication and Information Technology (E.S.C.I.T.) Committee’s report on the Samoa Qualifi cation Authority’s Statement of Corporate Objectives 2013-2015.

The bullet that killed, Rapi Lelevaga Sialei, of Faleatiu, came from a Samoan police rifle, an expert witness has told an inquest into his death.

But that bullet disappeared after it was examined by a Forensic Scientist from New Zealand.

“I went to the police office at Apia and got the bullet and returned it,” said Senior Forensic Scientist from Environment and Science Research, Kevan Walsh, of his 2012 visit and a preliminary examination.

“Afterwards, I was told the bullet couldn’t be located.”

One of Mr. Walsh’s tasks was to identify which particular firearm fired the fatal shot.

Asked if he was able to do so by lawyer, Precious Chang, from the Office of the Attorney General, the ESR scientist said “no.”

The bullet had been lost despite police later sending more than three dozen cartridges to New Zealand for testing.

What Mr. Walsh was able to ascertain was that the bullet came from a self-loading rifle of a type used by police that day.

Mr. Walsh gave evidence in the inquest into the death of the father of seven from Faleatiu.

He said in his opinion, the bullet that shot the deceased man is not from one of the 39 cartridge cases sent by Police for examination in New Zealand.

“If I look at the features, the weight - this bullet (that killed Rapi) weighs 120 grams,” he explained. “Given one of the police issued ammunition, and a bullet from it, the weight is 144 grams, heavier than the 120 grams."

“Given the damage, I would expect some loss,” said Mr. Walsh, referring to the bullet he saw and its weight.

“I’m not surprised that the weight is lighter than what is expected, with losing materials.”

He further pointed out, “a number of features that they were comparable between the bullet that was found with the deceased and the Samoan police issued ammunition, in my opinion very strongly supports the proposition that the bullet that struck the deceased has been fired by a Samoan police officer from a S.L.R. rifle.”

Mr. Walsh gave evidence for more than five hours yesterday, with Judge Vaepule Vaemoa Va’ai, as coroner, asking about a dozen questions. Mr. Walsh used a computer projector to show a 3D computer reconstruction of the scene of the gun battle at the village, featuring about five buildings, water tanks, a mechanic’s shop, an open fale Samoa, and a shop. Brigitta Lo Tam–Faafiti also appeared for the Attorney General’s Office.

He said the bullet that killed Mr. Sialei had a lead core and a copper jacket and was manufactured in Australia.

In his evidence Mr. Walsh said the ammunition was consistent with the police SLR rifle.

Ms. Chang told the Court there were fifteen rifles issued to police and 39 cartridges found at the village that were sent to New Zealand for examination. The 39 cartridges sent by police to New Zealand were not found to have been fired from any of the police weapons.

Earlier in his evidence, Mr. Walsh said there were five gunshots fired at the house where Mr. Sialei died.

Two of those shots struck the roof.

When told by the Judge that in other evidence the deceased was found with a bullet in a back room of the house, Mr. Walsh said that it was difficult to determine where the shot came from, among so many others.

The expert informed the Court he had discussed the matter with the Pathologist who described the angle of entry wounds to him.

“The large wound on the right side of the head, had gone through the head and down to his left shoulder,” he said.

“There was no evidence of a close range shot.

What was significant is the large number of small puncture marks.”

These “indicated that before the deceased was struck, it struck an object before it struck the deceased.

“He was close to an object that was struck by a bullet that then struck the deceased.”

Mr. Walsh said the marks showed the deceased was in a position with his head low and his shoulder raised.

He said one of the bullets that came through the rear roof couldn’t be accounted for.

The same goes for another bullet that was shot through the wall, they “couldn’t account where it had gone through".

“It is possible that shot came from the roadway and shot through the door."

“He could’ve been leaning down to look outside at the police.”

Mr. Walsh said it was interesting that there wasn’t any blood found on the floor.

However he made it clear that he went to the crime scene about five weeks after the incident.

But, he said there were “blood spots on the door jam”.

There are 26 witnesses in the inquest, with Mr. Walsh and police officers giving evidence yesterday.

The hearing continues today.

The $600,000 office of the former Minister of Finance, Faumuina Tiatia Liuga, located at the third floor of the Samoa National Provident Fund (S.N.P.F.) Plaza on Beach Road, is closed and unused.

But, when the Samoa Observer visited, the air-conditioning and lights were still on even though nobody was there.

A security guard said the office has been closed for “quite some time.”

“It been closed for two weeks now,” he said. “It was not long after his resignation when the office was closed.”

Furniture has been removed from the office. Where they have been taken to, it could not be ascertained.

All that was left was scrap paper, files, folders, binders, a couple of hole punchers, a wine basket still festooned with party ribbons, and an elaborate wood wall carving, about two metres tall.

On the door to the former Minister’s personal office was a sign that read, “Great People Talk About Ideas, Average People Talk About Things, Small People Talk About other People.”

The door was also closed. Who will use the $600,000 office is not known at this stage.

The Minister made headlines when the office was “redesigned” and toilets and a bathroom were pushed back to make room for more office space, with a price tag of $600,000 for the renovations.

During a previous interview, Faumuina claimed the office was financed by the Ministry of Finance and “corporations and authorities under my portfolio also contributed”. The portfolios include the National Provident Fund, Samoa Housing Corporation, Samoa Life Assurance Corporation, Development Bank of Samoa, Accident Compensation Corporation, Unit Trust of Samoa and Samoa International Finance Authority.

When Faumuina resigned in Parliament, he argued that the amount of $600,000 included tax, “which is confusing many people, as it was an asset improvement by some 29,000 active members of the Fund.” “Now if there are 6 members of a family of one contributor, it means that some 174,000 people will benefit from this investment,” he said.

“The cost of the Office of the Minister was $28 per sqft, inclusive of the Office of the Associate Minister and other offices of the staff.

“The Office of Special Assistant to the Minister, 2 Secretaries, Driver and Office Cleaner/Tea Lady.

“The Associate Ministers, who are shadow Ministers for the future should be exposed to their ministerial duties so by the time they are appointed as ministers, their work performance as leaders has become natural and practical.”

Deputy Prime Minister, Fonotoe Pierre Lauofo, was “throwing his weight around” when he encouraged an Associate Minister to disregard police and leave a traffic stop.

That was the verdict from District Court judge, His Honour Vaepule Vaemoa Va’ai yesterday, when he convicted Fonotoe and ordered him to pay $200 for police costs.

“His attitude was seemingly one of throwing his weight around in a display of the status of the political office he held,” Judge Vaepule said during sentencing.

Fonotoe took the verdict calmly, with Associate Minister, Muagututagata Peter Ah Him, standing close by.

Both men had pleaded not guilty to obstructing police from carrying out their duties, following a “heated” argument on the night of 4th October last year.

Muagututagata faced a charge of making an illegal u-turn in Apia, which caused police to stop and conduct a breath test.

Yesterday, His Honour Judge Vaepule discharged Muagututagata wi thout conviction, ordering him to pay $250 for court costs, despite describing his actions as “inexcusable.” He focused most of his criticism on Fonotoe, quoting police statements that he appeared “arrogant” on the night, leaving police “stunned and professionally deflated.”

Family, friends and village supporters packed out the Courtroom yesterday. Some were asked by police to stay outside because all the seats were fully occupied.

After the verdict, at a separate event, Fonotoe said he was glad the case was finally finished.

“It’s over,” he said.

“It’s time to move forward. There is a lot of work to be done with the S.I.D.S. (Small Islands Developing States) conference ahead of us.”

He then thanked the Police for not dodging the law and pushing forward with the charges.

Muagututagata left the Court directly after the sentence was read.

Later in the day yesterday, while taking a break from a United Nations presentation on corruption laws, Muagututagata told Samoa Observer he was “happy”about theJudge’s decision.

But he expressed his disappointment in the way the matter ended up in court.

“A u-turn’s penalty is $50 under the law,” he explained.

“I would’ve thought the senior officers who have conscience would’ve written me a ticket because I didn’t intentionally do the u-turn.

“There are no signs there to tell people you can’t do that there. I even saw other people and a police officer doing a U-turn there last week.”

Muagutu said it was unfortunate the matter ended up in the Court.

As for obstructing police, he said “the police claim their work was interfered with.

But everyone has their own view on it…it was a very trivial thing to me.”

The full sentence is published below:

IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF SAMOA HELD AT MULINU’U BETWEEN POLICE Informant A N D FONOTOE PIERRE MEREDITH of Vaoala, and MUAGUTUTAGATA PETER AH HIM of Leififi Defendants Counsel: Ms R. Titi-Reti for informant Mr P Fepulea’i for Ah Him Mr D Kerslake for Meredith __________________________________ SENTENCE OF THE COURT (DELIVERED

ON 15/5/2014)

________________________________ Background

Muagututagata Peter Ah Him appears for sentence for making an illegal U-Turn in front of the SNPF Plaza and of wilfully obstructing Constable Ioapo Isistolo. Fonotoe Pierre Meredith has also been found guilty of encouraging Ah Him to obstruct Constable Ioapo Isistolo. The charges arose from an incident which occurred on Friday night the 4th of October 2013, the facts of which are provided in the court’s decision of the 14th of April 2014. The maximum penalty for obstructing a police officer in the execution of his duty is imprisonment for up to a year or a fine of $200.00.

Muagututagata Peter Ah Him (a) Making a U-turn.

The first special circumstance submitted on Mr Ah Him’s behalf is he is an Associate Minister in the government. In such capacity he has suffered enough and ought not to be penalised further by entering a conviction because he has been personally shamed from the ordeal of sitting out a two day trial and the publicity the trial attracted. This in the court’s view is a circumstance which is not special to Mr Ah Him because the media attention the case attracted is normal as experienced often in circumstances where a defendant such as Ah Him holds public office.

This is premised on the notion that holders of public office are not only expected to conduct themselves in a manner reflecting the status of the offices they hold but also in accordance with the law. Counsel also submitted that a conviction would in addition also create difficulties in Ah Him’s ability to freely travel outside of the country.

Mr Fepulea’i submitted that in the circumstances of Ah Him’s offending, he ought to be discharged without conviction on this charge under Section 104 (1)(b) of the Criminal Procedure Act 1972. The real question is whether a conviction would of itself be a hardship out of proportion to the circumstances of the offending.

First, Mr Fepulea’i submitted that Ah Him could not know it was an offence to make a U-Turn where he did because there are no traffic signs to inform drivers it was an offence to do so. While Mr Fepulea’i correctly conceded that ignorance of the law is not an excuse, he further submitted it is still reasonable to infer from the circumstances that Ah Him, had he known he was committing an offence would not have made the U- Turn in clear view of the police patrol car at the scene. Second, the evidence does not show he was culpable or that any vehicles or pedestrians were endangered by the U-Turn.

Finally, the maximum fine of $50.00 is an indication the offence, compared to the penalty for other traffic offences is not serious.

It was therefore submitted that under the specific circumstances of the offending, the consequences of a conviction would be disproportionate to its gravity.

For my part, the fact that Ah Him duly complied with the police instructions when he was ordered to pull over and breath-tested also form an integral part of the whole circumstances the Court must consider in assessing the proportionality of the consequences of a conviction to the gravity of his offending.

I accept the application on the basis the consequences are out of proportion to the gravity of this offending. Accordingly Ah Him is discharged without a conviction against him under this charge but ordered to pay $50.00 court costs.

(b) Obstruction of Constable Isitolo. Mr Fepulea’i also submitted discharging Ah Him on this charge without a conviction. The question again is whether a conviction would of itself be a hardship out of proportion to the circumstances of the offending. In this regard, it is necessary to consider the gravity of Ah Him’s offending, the consequences of a conviction against him and whether the consequences of a conviction are indeed out of proportion to the gravity of his offending.

The relevant circumstances of Ah Him’s offending are as follows. Ah Him was pulled over by the police for making an illegal U-Turn. After he was stopped, he was breath-tested several times by Constable Isitolo.

The results of the first three tests were not successful and Ah Him was about to be tested a fourth time when the Deputy Prime Minister arrived and argued with Senior Constable Maanaima Patu.

The argument unsettled Constable Isitolo in such a way that he could no longer concentrate on the tests he had been conducting on Ah Him. Despite the fact Ah Him was warned after the third test that he could be arrested, he was neither arrested nor charged for failing to comply with the testing requirements at the time he left and similarly when the police officers again saw him with Meredith heading into the Marina Bars the same night.

According to the Victim Impact Report submitted by the prosecution, Constable Isitolo still finds the experience he went through on the night in question hard to fathom or forget. He felt demeaned and trodden upon. He still remembers standing stunned as he stared helplessly at the two government vehicles driving away.

He feels someway responsible for criticisms leveled at the police for inconsistent treatment of people charged with obstructing police officers.

Some are charged on the spot and often placed in custody while others equally culpable of such offending are let go as happened here.

Obstructing Constable Isitolo in the execution of his duty was inexcusable, be it by a holder of a public office or not. In the specific circumstances of this charge however what developed when the deputy Prime Minister intervened is why Ah Him felt he could leave at the time he did.

In my view, it is reasonable to infer from what happened that the likelihood of Ah Him leaving the scene when he did was almost nil but for the intervening factors which arose. The gravity of his offending as I see it is towards the low end of the scale.

In the specific circumstances of Ah Him’s offending under this charge, the consequences of a conviction against him would in my opinion be out of proportion to the gravity of his offending.

In the circumstances under which he was found guilty on this charge, he is also discharged without conviction for obstructing Constable Isitolo in the execution of his duty but ordered to pay prosecution costs in the sum of $200.00. The total sum ordered of $250.00 is to be paid forthwith, in default, 10 days imprisonment.

Fonotoe Pierre Meredith The circumstances of Meredith’s offending are these. He was driving towards Mulinuu on Beach road after 10.00pm on Friday the 4th of October 2013. Having passed the road hump in front of the RSA Club, he saw government vehicle MCIL 07 standing near the footpath facing east, with police officers standing next to it.

He drove slightly further west, turned around to drive back east and pulled up his vehicle alongside MCIL 07. He asked the officers present what they were doing, to which Constable Isitolo responded he was testing the driver (Ah Him) for alcohol. Senior Constable Maanaima Patu who joined the other officers when Meredith arrived ended up arguing with him.

The argument became heated with voices raised. Towards the end of this verbal exchange the officers heard Meredith call Ah Him to drive away.

Meredith said he asked the officers to let Ah Him go if there was nothing further. Either way he has been found guilty of encouraging Ah Him to drive away which in the process obstructed Constable Isitolo whose breathtesting of Ah Him had not been completed.

Mr Kerslake submitted that in the circumstances of Mr Meredith’s offending, he ought to be discharged without conviction under Section 104 (1)(b) of the Criminal Procedure Act 1972.

The question again is whether a conviction would of itself be a hardship out of proportion to the circumstances of the offending, having regard to the special circumstances pertaining to the offender.

It is essential to consider the gravity of the offending first; the consequences of a conviction second; and finally whether the consequences are out of all proportion to the gravity of the offending.

With regard to the gravity of Mr Meredith’s offending, counsel submitted that the charge in view of the statutory penalty is not a serious one.

That may be right but in my view misses the point because the role the public has entrusted on the police is to enforce the law irrespective of the penalty.

Gravity of the offending for the purposes of counsel’s application refers to the circumstances of the obstruction Mr Meredith has been found guilty of rather than the statutory penalty of the charge he is guilty of.

It was further submitted that the “gravity of the offending was very minimal” because there was no violence and therefore less serious had there been physical contact. The maximum penalty being the same for direct and indirect obstruction of a police officer is a clear enough indication for the Court when it imposes sentence on this charge to do so based only on the particular circumstances of each case instead of whether the obstruction was direct or indirect.

It was also argued that because Meredith is the deputy Prime Minister and a lawmaker, there may be a public perception that a higher standard of compliance must be applied for a breach of the public’s trust in him, having been found guilty by the Court.

A public perception as described whether real or imagined is irrelevant because the argument confuses the degree of responsibility the public expect from holders of public office and the standard of conduct befitting the status of the office one holds, with the standard by which guilt of an accused and/or an appropriate sentence is determined.

Determining guilt for an offence and likewise an appropriate sentence for such an offence bears little relevance to whether a person holds public office or not.

Reference has been made already to the report from Constable Isitolo of the personal and professional impact on him as a police officer of the offending by both defendants. The tone of Mr Meredith’s voice when he intervened according to Constable Isitolo was arrogant.

His attitude was seemingly one of throwing his weight around in a display of the status of the political office he held.

The impression Senior Constable Patu gave of the Deputy Prime Minister’s conduct on the night was similar to the sentiments of his junior colleague. In his victim impact report he says that Mr Meredith showed a lack of respect for the police in their law enforcement role. Senior Constable Patu also says that he has also been accused internally and publicly of not doing his job correctly on the night in question. He may have been disciplined for leaking the incident to the media but that has no bearing on Mr Meredith’s conduct on the night of 4th October 2013, the way S/C Patu performed his duties as a police officer and the charge against Meredith which followed albeit some three months later. It is clear from the police officers on duty that night that Meredith’s conduct when he intervened was neither called for nor tolerated by any officer especially S/C Patu.

Neither Senior Constable Patu nor Constable Isitolo mentions an apology having been made by Meredith to either of them, as victims of Mr Meredith’s offending. There is no mention either from any senior police officer of an apology having been made to the department after the incident.

By way of mitigation, it was submitted that Mr Meredith, like his colleague Mr Ah Him has similarly been embarrassed from the wide publicity in the media of his involvement in the incident. Counsel also sought recognition of the defendant’s untarnished character as a senior member of the local Bar, the fact he is a first offender, his remorse and has also made a public apology on television.

It was further submitted that the consequences of a conviction on the defendant would jeopardise not only his international political reputation but also his ability to travel overseas and his local reputation and ability to serve as one of the leaders of the country.

A conviction will also impact his ability to practice as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Samoan Bar and may also jeopardise possible judicial appointment in future. He and his family have as a result of his actions suffered embarrassment.

After careful consideration I have come to the view that the consequences of a conviction under the circumstances is not at all out of proportion to the gravity of Mr Meredith’s offending.

Firstly, Mr Meredith was not invited by any party to join when he stopped where the police were breath testing Ah Him. Nor was his help as a Solicitor sought by Ah Him in the form of legal advice. The already described and discussed manner in which he interfered with the police work under the circumstances was also uncalled for. He did this knowing (or he ought to have known) the consequences he now claims of a conviction against him are out of proportion to the gravity of his offending.

Secondly, the real victims of the Mr Meredith’s offending were the police constables who were on duty. They were left stunned and professionally deflated after the two parliamentarians left. Neither of the officers affected has since received an apology (formal or otherwise) from Mr Meredith to convey his remorse. Furthermore, I fail to see the relevance or significance of the public apology he apparently made, because the conduct he was found guilty of was not directly against the public he apologised to but against the police officers whom he has not.

Finally, Ah Him who complied with everything the police asked of him except perhaps breathing correctly into the breathalyser machine would probably not have left the scene when he did, without Mr Meredith’s intervention. The different degrees of culpability ascribed to the two parliamentarians as shown by the evidence directly reflect on the gravity of their respective offending. In my opinion, the consequences of a conviction are not out of all proportion to the gravity of Mr Meredith’s offending in the circumstances of the charge he has been found guilty of.

He is convicted and ordered to pay $200.00 police costs. That is to be paid forthwith, in default 10 days imprisonment. Vaepule Vaemoa Va’ai - DCJ

Lalovi Fouena, of Apia, felt like weeping on Wedneday night.

He was having to pay a total of $30 for taxi fares to and from Vaitele just to get $5 tala Cashpower because the system that supplies the country’s shops had failed, again.

“We all know that the cost for taxi fares is increasing and one of my daughters, just six months old, needs boiling water because she is sick.

“I have children to feed at school and my daily family meal.”

“See what happened now, I paid the taxi nearly $30, paid cash power for $5 and my children will not go to school because the money I put aside for the week is paying the taxi fare to get Cashpower for my little daughter... she is really sick.”

“Hopefully I am the only parent that the E.P.C. is putting in the bad situation.”

“What we are told is that the Cashpower system went down, I don’t know why”

The crash in the Cashpower system saw the Electric Power Corporation open its main office afterhours on Wednesday night – and the response was overwhelming.

Dozens of cars caused traffic jams at Vaitele, with hundreds of people turning up to buy Cash power late into the evening.

Frustration turned to anger after customers were told that the office would not accept payments below $5 tala.

Cashiers on duty would not comment why.

“Please, take as many photos as you can and put it in the paper, this is really sick,” called out one motorist, driving past.

Taliaina Fa’alo’ia of Moata’a stopped just short of swearing when Samoa Observer asked him what had happened.

“The nearby shops where we used to buy Cashpower from said that the system went down late this evening,” he said.

Imagine how far I had to pay a taxi to come here for Cashpower .... what the E.P.C. is doing is all s........ excuse me sister ” he added.

“To myself, this is not the first time that this kind of mess happened with the Cashpower outlets, I am pretty sure that the E.P.C. will say that it’s National Bank fault or whoever but Cashpower means the Electric Power Corporation, not a bank.

“I think E.P.C. needs to grow up and please don’t treat us like slaves or fools.

“Everyone needs power for different reasons...we should put a stop to this.”

Taita Nailona from Lotopa was one disappointed customer late yesterday evening.

“It seems like everything that the E.P.C. is trying to do to cover their debts is all failing.

“God knows the truth, there is no need for the people to pay for their debts and I know that is the reason why this system failed again.”

“Let not the knowledgeable man eat the sweat of the foolish,” she said.

“Honestly ... it is very disgusting.”

E.P.C. General Manager Tologata Tile Leia was overseas and was not available for a comment.

A receptionist said the Acting General Manager, Taulealea Aumalaga Tiotio, was attending the Cabinet Development Committee Meeting and that he was gathering information on what caused the system’s failure.

A group from Sanitarium Australia and New Zealand through the Adventist Disaster Relief Agency (A.D.R.A.) visited the Lotofaga Primary School yesterday, giving out presents and healthy food to the children.

Corporate Communications Manager for Sanitarium, Julie Praestiin said this was a great opportunity for them to engage with communities in Samoa.

“It is such an honour to be here and see the results of some of the projects that A.D.R.A. Samoa has implemented,” said Ms. Praestiin “The children of Samoa are the future of Samoa so a healthy start to grow strong is very important.”

According to Ms. Praestiin, this is their first visit here and they are hoping to come back to communities and see how the programs they have supported are developing.

“Part of Sanitarium is living healthy and sharing it with the community so it’s a very important part of our overall employee program,” she said.

The gifts totalled up to $15,000 in donations to A.D.R.A. Samoa, providing equipment for gardens, teaching people about nutrition and hygiene as well as sports gear and food for the children.

Director of A.D.R.A., Su’a Julia Wallwork, said the assistance went together with one of A.D.R.A.’s project to communities to improve the standard of living and the health of the people.

“We have been working in communities for a long time now and we will continue to look for support so that we can achieve our goal that there would be change in people’s lives,” said Su'a.

The Minister of Works, Transport and Infrastructure, Manu’alesagala Enokati Posala, thanked A.D.R.A. and the team on behalf of his district.

“This is a great opportunity for our people to look back at some of the healthy ways to eat and to use the fruits and vegetables that we grow in our land,” said Manu'alesagalala.

“We are forevermore grateful for the continuous assistance of A.D.R.A. in our communities."

Principal of Lotofaga Primary School, Ve’e Mu Aleki said they were “very thankful that the children are enjoying everything that A.D.R.A. have given them”, said Ms. Aleki.

“This is a once in a life time opportunity and the gifts are very important so that the children will know how to live and eat healthy,” she said.

Aside from Lotofaga Primary School, the team have also visited other villages around the coast.

Deputy Speaker, Agafili Patisela Eteuati , is not convinced that corruption is a problem in Samoa.

Nor is he convinced that the country needs to sign a United Nations anticorruption convention.

“The palagi corruption is different from Samoa corruption,” he said.

Compared with bigger countries, any corruption in Samoa is tiny.

The deputy Speaker made the point on Thursday during an introductory workshop on the United Nations Convention Against Corruption(U.N.C.A.C.).

An example Agaf i l i used was a man from his constituency who visited his office that morning and gave him food from a umu.

“He came to visit me and I had to give him some money because he came all the way from Savai’i to visit me,” said Agafili.

“It’s a cultural aspect for us…you can’t just tell him thank you and go back to where you came from without giving him some money.”

Agafili was among Members of Parliament participating in the workshop on the convention, adopted by the United Nations in December 2005 to build a comprehensive international legal framework to fight corruption.

Samoa has yet to commit to the convention, and Agafili told the Weekend Observer it would take some time before it does – if it does.

“It would be difficult for me to say if Samoa would join other Pacific island countries,” he said.

“There will be a lot of workshops required because we would need to know what it is before we jump into it.”

Agafili also pointed out that corruption is not a big deal in Samoa compared to the bigger countries. “The corruption that happened in the United States with its financial crisis spread out to other countries affecting us and other countries in the world,” he said.

“But if there’s a corruption in Samoa, it doesn’t affect American Samoa, it’s domestic for us.”

Agafili said it’s the first workshop and the workshop is intended to develop further understanding of the convention.

He stressed that the workshop is important so we can learn about the convention and know its true definition. According to a press release, the workshop is intended to develop further understanding of the U.N. convention and to help inform Samoan parliamentarians on the requirements and good practices of anti-corruption implementations.

It is also anticipated that this workshop will encourage further deliberation of anti-corruption reform in Samoa, consistent with the requirements of U.N.C.A.C. in addition to raising awareness of the assistance available to Samoa in executing U.N.C.A.C. under the joint U.N.D.P.-U.N.O.D.C ‘U.N. regional Anti-Corruption’ (U.N.P.R.A.C.) Project.

The work shop for Parliamentarians took place Thursday at the Tofilau Eti Alesana Building, Mulinuu.

So far, 170 States have endorsed the convention including 10 from the Pacific. Samoa has yet to ratify the convention.

This is despite Samoa being a member of the Pacific Islands Forum, which speci f i c ally recognised corruption as a problem in 2004, a decade ago.

At the time, The 2004 Forum Leaders Communiqué stated: “Leaders invited members to consider signing and ratifying the UN Convention against Corruption to strengthen good governance.”

Debate on the convention was first raised at the United Nations in December 2000, with negotiations taking nearly two years to complete, from 21 January 2002 and 1 October 2003.

The Convention approved by drafting committee was adopted by the General Assembly by resolution 58/4 of 31 October 2003, and entered into force on 14 December 2005.

When the U.N.P.R.A.C. project was launched in 2012, it was noted that the Pacific region had “the world’s lowest ratification rate” for the convention.

According to the U.N.D.P. website, the 10 countries that had signed to the convention by December last year were the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Palau, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. U.N.P.R.A.C. was launched in 2012 and runs through to 2016, with funding support from Australia of $5.5 million tala over four payments.

The latest tranche, of $1.3 million tala, was due in February this year, with the final tranche in February 2015.

In its situational analysis of the region, the U.N.P.R.A.C. project document states that “In the Pacific, it is clearly evident that corruption hurts the poor disproportionately, hinders economic development, undermines State accountability and capacity to provide equitable and responsive public services, and diverts investments from infrastructure, institutions and social services.

“Furthermore, corruption fosters an anti-democratic environment characterized by uncertainty, unpredictability and declining moral values and disrespect for constitutional institutions and the rule of law.

“Corruption, therefore, reflects a democracy, human rights and governance deficit that negatively impacts on poverty and human security and undermines the ability of countries in the region to achieve the MDGs”, the Millennium Development Goals.

Last year, U.N.D.P. supported member countries to mark the International Anti-Corruption Day on 9th December, after earlier attending the fifth session of the Conference of the States Parties to U.N.C.A.C. in Panama.

The theme of last year’s event was “Zero corruption, 100% development.”

At the time, Manager of the United Nations Development Programme (U.N.D.P.) Pacific Centre, Dr Peter Batchelor, said “Corruption remains one of the most significant barriers to reducing poverty, both in the Pacific and globally.

“International Anti-Corruption Day provides an important opportunity for raising awareness and building commitment to fight corruption, and the growing commitment to anti-corruption in the region is to be commended,” he said, referring to Pacific Island Countries (P.I.C.).

In the U.N.P.R.A.C. project document, the U.N.D.P. notes that “One of the most serious obstacles to tackling corruption is the variable political will at political and senior government official level in many P.I.C.’s.”

The challenge of “political will” is a common challenge for political governance, reads the document.

“The Project seeks to specifically address this issue by undertaking specific work with the Members of Parliament who comprise the Executive in most P.I.C.’s.

“Notably, U.N.D.P. already has extensive experience and strong networks in the Pacific region in working with parliamentarians to promote awareness and in building capacity to address substantive development issues.”

The project document states that U.N.D.P. supports parliamentary development activities in countries throughout the region, with standalone projects in Solomon Islands, Palau and Kiribati and on-going assistance via the Pacific Centre to Tuvalu, Tonga, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Samoa and Vanuatu.

“U.N.D.P. will continue to utilise its national parliamentary support projects as a vehicle to strengthen parliamentarian commitment to U.N.C.A.C. ratification and implementation.

“U.N.D.P. will continue to provide training to M.P.s on U.N.C.A.C. and anti-corruption issues generally, both by integrating these issues into post-election induction seminars, as well as by holding stand-alone workshops on topics such as accountability institutions, ethics and disclosure regimes, freedom of information and anticorruption criminal law.”

Prominent New Zealand TV personality, John Campbell, of TV3’s Campbell Live, and his cameraman, Grant Findlay, enjoyed wonderful Samoan hospitality at Vailima on Wednesday night.

They were hosted at the residence of the Samoa Observer’s Editor-in-Chief, Savea Sano and Publisher, Muliaga Jean Malifa for a night of fun.

Mr. Campbell was in the country to film a story in Apia about the fact the All Blacks have never once visited Samoa, and have only ever played the Manu Samoa five times.

During his time in Samoa, Mr. Campbell spoke to a number of key rugby figures, including Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi.

On Thursday night, Mr. Campbell thanked the Samoa Observer for welcoming him and his cameraman. Praising the work of the Samoa Observer in Samoa and the region, he acknowledged the wonderful hospitality of the Samoan people whom he said are always welcoming.

Yesterday, Mr. Campbell visited the Samoa Observer headquarters at Vaitele where he met with the staff.

He and Mr. Findlay returned to New Zealand last night.

The Shadow Minister for Works, Transport and Infrastructure, Levaopolo Talatonu, has accused the Electric Power Corporation (E.P.C.) of breaking the law.

He has also criticised the National Bank of Samoa (N.B.S.) over what he described as an “illegal process.”

The allegations come in the wake the 50 sene fee that has been added too cash power transactions under $20 tala via the N.B.S. M.P.O.S. machines.

“This sort of process is illegal according to the process of legislation and the law,” he said. “There is a reason why E.P.C. has a legal advisor.

“Where was he or she when the contract was signed did he or she advise the management of the E.P.C. (of) that?”

As of yesterday, the 50 sene charge had been removed from the transaction.

Repeated attempts to obtain comments from E.P.C. and N.B.S. including emails and phone calls were not responded to at press time.

Last night however, a press statement from the Office of the Regulator came through.

It reads: “The Regulator recently approved new electricity tariffs for the Electric Power Corporation, which did not encompass an additional .50 sene service charge.

“The .50 sene service charge that was levied on electricity consumers buying cash power at $20 or less has now been removed and is no longer in effect. The Office of the Regulator will continue to monitor the situation to ensure compliance with the approved tariffs.”

But Levaopolo is not happy. He also questioned the legal advice of both the Attorney General, Aumua Ming Leung Wai, and the Regulator, Donnie Defreitas.

Not only that the Member of Parliament (M.P.) says if there was a proposal or contract signed between the E.P.C. and the N.B.S. bank, those people who undertake the consultations for tariff changes should understand that a law exists for that to happen.

“They can never add something else on top of this tariff,” he said.

“That was my concern so the legislation says never add one cent on the tariff approved by the management of E.P.C. because they are the ones who make the consultations on the tariff every month because it changes according to the diesel prices.

“And it is approved by them, it is approved by the Board, approved by Cabinet, approved by Parliament but who has the authority to supersede all this approval from all these high profile (offices) as well as the Regulator?” he asked.

According to the Electricity Act 2010, the Regulator shall set all tariffs charged by a licensee.

“The Regulator shall set the base tariffs of the electricity network services licensee, including a fuel cost adjustment mechanism, within every 3 year period,” the Act reads.

“A licensee who fails to comply with the tariffs set by the Regulator under this section commits a breach of the licence conditions and is, upon conviction, liable to a fine not exceeding 1,000 penalty units, and 100 penalty units for each day that the breach continues.”

Levaopolo said not only is this process illegal, the N.B.S. is already taking a commission from every Cash Power transaction made with their machines.

“The Bank is charging twice - once through their commission and the other is the 50 sene,” he said. “Because they receive a commission every month, which I thought would be enough to cover services.

“That figure is their commission (on the receipt) –is more than enough to service the public.

“So in other words they are charging people twice.” Levaopolo says he only found out about this issue when people in his constituency of Gaga’emauga rang him wanting more information about the charge.

“I never got any information from them so I have looked at the tariff legislation and I know that it is illegal for them to do so (charge the extra 50 sense).

“I understand that the banks idea is quite helpful for the public to facilitate cash power on mobile phones and all that.

“I don’t like the process of letting the public pay for their fees. That is the responsibility of the E.P.C. to negotiate how the bank can get their commission.

“But not from the public, not from the public, never.”

He said before N.B.S. took over the payment system, consumers got what they paid for.

“Remember the days before the N.B.S. took over this payment?” he asked.

“If you and buy $20 cash power you only paid $20, $20 straight, just $20 nothing else. I also heard that this 50 sene is a fee for people buying $20 and below but $21 upwards no 50 sene.

“I want to understand why? From my own perspective, the only reason why they do that is to encourage people to buy units over $20.

“But most of our people, especially the poor people of this country, they can only afford $5 or $10 tala. They only have one light, one power point plug, that is all they need.

“But it is an idea for the E.P.C. to get more money out of the public’s pocket because if they buy $21 then no 50 sene (is added).

“It is a responsibility of the E.P.C. to make sure that the burden of this cannot be given back to the public.”

The Shadow Minister said beyond the alleged illegality of the charge, E.P.C. has a social responsibility to Samoa.

“To make sure you have to look at all possible ways to bring the cost of electricity down,” he said. “But not for this kind of process they are letting the people pay more to them.”

He references the Community Service Obligation (C.S.O.) of the Corporation as a public body, which is defined in the Public Bodies Act 2001.

“The provision of a good or service by a Public Trading Body to a consumer or user on any terms other than normal commercial terms applying from time to time,” the Act reads.

“The entering into an agreement by a Public Trading Body on any terms other than normal commercial terms applying from time to time.

“The forbearance by a Public Trading Body to exercise a right or entitlement other than on normal commercial terms applying from time to time.

“Nothing in this part shall prevent a Public Trading Body from exercising a commercial judgement to make donations to worthy causes or to price goods and services at or below the cost of their production.”

The Act, says the Minister may also direct the C.S.O. if the performance of the obligation is necessary to ensure “That there is access to a necessary good or service.”

Levaopolo says E.P.C. has a budget to fulfill their C.S.O.

“Every year the annual budget the public has given the E.P.C. a community services obligation (budget),” he said.

“So this is kind of service for the E.P.C. to use this money this is the money given back to E.P.C. by the public to pay for this kind of services.

“But instead of doing that they leave the community services obligation fund here and then charge the public again.

“It is not fair it is not good and as I said, that breaks the law.”

He said all he wants is for the public to no longer be charged this fee.

“And my conclusion is I want the government to stop this process.

“And I want the A.G. to have a close look at this whoever breached the law; he does his job.

“Because this process affects everyone the whole of Samoa; it badly affects everyone.

“So what are they going to do? Are they going repay or refund all these 50 cents from every consumer?

“Because it is very simple, the consumer will ask for legal action.

“There is no doubt the National Bank was doing a very helpful idea but it is only because the 50 sene is on their receipt that is a problem.

“They should find another way for them to get a commission from the E.P.C.

“And that service by the bank should be done using this C.S.O. money funded from the public every year.

“So whoever has the authority to do this sort of process has definitely breached the law.

“So this has to be stopped now.”

Both the N.B.S. and the E.P.C. were contacted in regards to these allegations.

Neither was forthcoming at the time of press with a comment.

Aumua responded saying if there is any overcharging, then a complaint may be filed – depending on the nature of the complaint – either to the Ministry of Commerce or the Regulator, to assess the complaint and deal with it under their respective legislation.

“As you know the only thing that matters to us is the numbers going up and winning. Now the tournament has fi nished and we didn’t even get close to the cup (leai se pau ipu)” – P.M. Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi about the Manu Samoa Sevens

Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, has thrown his weight to back a campaign by New Zealand media personality, John Campbell, for the All Blacks to play in Samoa.

“He’s someone that likes to stir things and doesn’t really care what anyone thinks of him,” Tuilaepa told the Weekend Observer.

“People can hate on him but he’ll go on with his reports…but this, this is a good thing he’s stirring.”

The “good thing he’s stirring” that Tuilaepa is talking about is a special programme by Campbell Live filmed in Samoa on Wednesday and Thursday.

The programme, to be aired sometime next week, included an interview with the Prime Minister.

It’s the first time Mr. Campbell had met the Prime Minister since their infamous encounter a year after the tsunami in 2009.

The encounter outside the then Kitano Tusitala Hotel was a scene that became famous in New Zealand.

Mr. Campbell was hounding Prime Minister Tuilaepa for answers to questions about aid spending in the wake of the 2009 tragedy that killed 143 people.

Tuilaepa refused to meet with him, and closed the car door in his face.

Played over and over in TV3 promotions, that scene marked a low point for relations between media and government.

Now, Mr. Campbell is back and the tough questions are, this time, being turned against the world’s toughest rugby team – the All Blacks.

And Tuilaepa could not be more impressed.

“He’s going to stir up the All Blacks management to come and play a home game in Samoa,” he said.

Tuilaepa said he is happy with the work that Campbell has done.

“The thing I was happy about was during the World Cup in New Zealand, he did a barbeque that raised $10,000 to help our Manu Samoa.

“But even though he has his ways, he paid his debt when he did that barbeque for rugby,” Tuilaepa said with a laugh.

The two met this week when Campbell arrived to do interviews as part of his campaign to get the All Blacks to play in Samoa.

Tuilaepa said he was glad that Campbell is “stirring” this matter up with the management of the All Blacks.

Speaking to the Samoa Observer, Mr. Campbell said the All Blacks owes it to the people of Samoa to play in Apia.

And still on rugby, Tuilaepa also had something to say about the coach of the Manu Samoa Sevens, Viliamu Punivalu.

Asked about the team’s slip on the ranking from 4th to 8th this year, Tuilaepa said work speaks louder.

“That is also the message for the coach, your work speaks (for you),” he said.

“As you know the only thing that matters to us is the numbers going up and winning.

“Now the tournament has finished and we didn’t even get close to the cup (leai se pau ipu).”

Samoa and the European Union celebrated “one world, shared values” at a Europe Day celebration last Thursday.

The cocktail reception was hosted by E.U. Head of Office in Samoa, John Stanley, in Sogi, and was attended by Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, Ambassadors, and other members of the diplomatic community.

The E.U. says the theme was chosen because both the Union and Samoa share basic values such as peace, human rights, personal freedom, democratic rights, governance, the rule of law and a decent standard of living for all.

The E.U. has been providing assistance to Samoa since the 1970s, with most of its support directed at the water and sanitation sector and civil society.

Here are some photos from the event on Thursday night.

The Samoa Chamber of Commerce and Industry completed a two-day introductory training on Quality Assurance and Marketing this week.

Facilitated by the Chamber Member Services Manager, Hobart Vaai, and Policy Analyst Osana Liki, the programme is part of a regional drive to address some of the trade barriers encountered by Pacific businesses when exporting.

The programme targets improvements in quality management and marketing.

The initiative is supported by the Pacific Cooperation Foundation and the Pacific Islands Private Sector Organization, and is being implemented through the Chamber.

The overall workshop objective is to embed both a sustainable quality and marketing culture in the Samoan business community and particularly those focused on exporting to markets in New Zealand, Australia, Japan, China and USA.

The Chamber’s vision is that local businesses’ awareness of different marketing strategies and quality management and assurance systems could be improved, and in the long run be utilized to increase trade opportunities regionally and internationally.

The program is run parallel to the Cluster Muster Project facilitated and coordinated by the Chamber in collaboration with PIPSO and the EU.

These initiatives aim to empower our local businesses and build their confidence through simple but effective strategies that they can use as leverage within their industries.

The Chamber CEO Ane Moananu acknowledged the continuous and productive support of the Pacific Cooperation Foundation and PIPSO in making this workshop possible.

“The modules that we delivered over the past two days will hopefully create or strengthen a culture of marketable high quality products within Samoa and the Pacific as a whole,” said Ms. Moananu.

“It is the Chamber’s sincere hope that local businesses would utilize these opportunities to work together to achieve a consistent supply of high quality Samoan made products, for existing and potential customers in New Zealand and other niche markets such as Japan.”

The programme will be offered again in June and interested companies are encouraged to contact the Chamber Office if they would like to participate.