“Through those twelve days, we’ll be doing things that basically encounter how to escort a V.I.P safely and we’re also looking at diplomacy and protocol.”

The participants of an Emergency Shelter Cluster and Evacuation Centre Management training course being conducted over five days at Hotel Insel Fehrmarn, Moto’otua, visited the Vailima National Park yesterday.

The visit was so that they could put into action what they had been learning.

Kirstie Meheux, Senior Advisor Training and Capacity Building at S.P.C said yesterday’s exercise was to promote the value of working together during times of emergencies.

“In their practical training today, we have four teams,” she explained.

“They will each be building a shelter and each team has got two tarpaulins with hammers, nails, shovels and other basic supplies plus a little bit of timber.”

“It is very necessary to have the knowledge and skills to perform the required duties.”

Ms Meheux said yesterday was the halfway point of the five-day training and yesterday’s drill looked at the shelter needs of people during an emergency.

The whole idea, she said, is that after the training,the participants should have a good understanding of erecting emergency shelters and dealing with mass evacuations.

The training ends tomorrow with the presentations of certificates.

“This is the first time that the programme has been delivered in the region and having participants from other Pacific island countries is really good,” she said.

“Sharing experiences is one of the reasons for bringing them together.”

Attending the training are representatives from the Disaster Management Office, Samoa Red Cross, Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development, SUNGO, Ministry of Police, Fire Emergency Services Authority, Ministry of Works, Transport and Infrastructure, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture, Ministry of

Finance, ADRA Samoa, LDS Church, Samoa Nurses Association and National Health Services.

A 33-year-old man has been jailed for 3 years after he was found guilty of carnal knowledge in an incident involving his 9-year-old first cousin.

The sentence was delivered by Chief Justice, His Honour Patu Tiava’asu’e Falefatu Sapolu on Monday.

The name of defendant cannot be revealed to prevent the victim from being identified.

The incident occurred on 4 June this year. The young girl was sleeping with her grandmother and siblings when she was suddenly woken by someone touching her.

When the defendant realised that the girl was awake, he ran and in the process alarmed the girl’s brother and her grandmother.

The Court was told that the victim knew the defendant since they were first cousins. Besides, the defendant was easily identified by his cousin because of his “bushy hair.”

Chief Justice Patu slammed the the incident, calling it “culturally insensitive.”

He also pointed out to the defendant that in the Samoan culture, he should have treated the victim as his sister.

The defendant had denied the charge. As a result of his not guilty plea, a trial had to be called which meant his young victim had to relive what happened.

Chief Justice Patu said this meant the defendant was not remorseful.

It was also revealed during the hearing by the defendant’s grandmother that she was tired of being penalised by their village because of the defendant’s behaviour.

“This is an indication that he wasn’t of good character prior to the incident,” said Chief Justice Patu.

“This work occurs in a wide diversity of cultural and demographic contexts, and contributes to various development goals such health, education, youth empowerment, gender equity, equality and inclusion, social cohesion, economic growth, and community and peace building.”

The Minister of Education, Sports and Culture, Magele Mauiliu Magele, has joined Commonwealth Sports Ministers and senior officials in calling for the “the power of sport” to be recognised as an important driver for social and economic development.

They made the call at the Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting in Glasgow.

Commonwealth governments also reiterated their collective commitment to combatting match-fixing and other issues affecting integrity in sport, and ensuring good governance and safeguards for children and other vulnerable participants.

Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma, who opened the meeting, said: “We are well aware of the important and transformational part sport plays in the lives of many young people.”

“With over 60 per cent of the population of the Commonwealth being under 30 years of age, sport has a unique potential to reach, engage and empower these young people.”

Shona Robison Member of the Scottish Parliament and Minister for the Commonwealth Games and Sport in the Scottish Government, chaired the meeting on behalf of the United Kingdom.

The meeting brought together delegations from 45 countries.

“We recognise the valuable role of sport in development and peace, as an approach to addressing a range of challenges and delivering significant benefits,” said the national representatives in their Meeting communiqué.

“This work occurs in a wide diversity of cultural and demographic contexts, and contributes to various development goals such health, education, youth empowerment, gender equity, equality and inclusion, social cohesion, economic growth, and community and peace building.”

The call comes as governments globally look to agree a successor framework to the Millennium Development Goals, which expire at the end of 2015.

The ministers noted in their statement how sport can support a range of development outcomes and is therefore important to the “successful delivery of the post-2015 development agenda”.

Other attendees at the sports ministers meeting were representatives of overseas territories of member states, as well as observers from organisations including the International Olympic Committee, World Anti-Doping Agency, UNICEF,

UNESCO and members of the Commonwealth Advisory Body on Sport.

During their discussions, ministers commended the governments of Barbados, Rwanda and Sri Lanka for piloting a set of guidelines developed by the Commonwealth Secretariat, which focus on advancing development through sport. The national representatives also applauded the formation of a Commonwealth Youth Sport for Development and Peace working group and endorsed its call to give young people a voice in decision making in government sport processes and sporting organisations.

The Commonwealth Advisory Body on Sport, a 14-member group of sports policy experts, meeting which met the previous week, had earlier urged member countries to recognise and invest in sport as a key vehicle for improving the lives of citizens.

In their communiqué, ministers reaffirmed their request for the sports advisory body to work towards a framework Commonwealth consensus on integrity issues in sport, such as good governance, safeguarding of participants and combatting match-fixing.

The meeting took place as Glasgow city began welcoming visitors for the 20th Commonwealth Games. In this major sporting event, approximately 6,500 athletes from 71 countries and territories will be competing in 17 sports over 11 days from 23 July to 3 August

Cabinet has approved the report on the Ie Samoa (genuine fine mat) programme for the financial year 2013/2014, conducted by the Ie Samoa Committee and the Ministry of Women Community and Social Development.

The programme is in its eleventh year.

The report shows:

· The committee conducted visits to village weaving centres (falelalaga) in Upolu and Savaii every three months to follow up on their weaving activities of the Ie Samoa;

· There are 63 weaving centres in Upolu and 97 in Savaii;
· The finemats that were displayed at the National Ie Samoa Display for 2013/2014 are:

100 Ie Samoa in the Number One Strip category - 60 from Savaii and 40 from Upolu.

19 Ie Samoa in the Number Two Strip category - 13 from Savaii, 6 from Upolu.

22 Ie Samoa in the Number Three Strip category - 9 from Savaii, 13 from Upolu.

The year 2013/2014 saw a vast increase in the number of Ie Samoa displayed in the Number One Strip category where in the previous year only nine Ie were produced in the Number One Strip category; nine for the Number Two Strip category; and 22 for the Number Three Strip category.

Hurricanes back-row star will honour his agreement and is due to arrive in Gloucestershire later this week to begin pre-season training.

Manu Samoa flanker Jack Lam is set to join up with his Bristol team-mates this week as they plot a route to the Aviva Premiership.

The 26-year-old agreed to join the south-west club earlier in the year but doubts were cast on his arrival after Bristol failed to achieve promotion to the English top-flight.

London Welsh pipped them in a two-legged play-off and the Memorial Ground outfit will now have to start again and put together a title-winning season in the second tier.

Reports claim that the Hurricanes back-row star will honour his agreement and is due to arrive in Gloucestershire later this week to begin pre-season training.

Lam is one of a number of new faces at Bristol, with former Wales scrum-half Dwayne Peel moving to the club from Sale and handed the captain’s armband, while British & Irish Lions lock Ian Evans, fly-half Matthew Morgan, David Lemi and Anthony Perenise have all come on board during the summer months.

The Chief Censor, Lei’ataua Niuapu Lei’ataua, has defended the Film Control Board’s decision to ban a comedy movie called “Sex Tape” from being screened in Samoa.

The film featuring Hollywood stars, Cameron Diaz and Jason Segel, who made a sex video and then spend the rest of the movie trying to keep anyone from seeing it, was supposed to have premiered at Apollo Cinema last week.

Asked to explain the decision, Lei’ataua told the Samoa Observer they are merely doing their job.

“The reason why we’ve banned the public screening of the movie is because of the explicit scenes of sex and sexual activities,” he said.

“This will affect our culture and traditions if we allow this movie to screen publicly. So we’ve decided to ban it.”

The decision, he said, was in line with the mandate of the Censorship Office and they are merely following guidelines provided by the Film Control Act 1978.

Further, he said the Act provides businesses with the right to appeal the decision made by the Chief Censor and the Film Control Board.

Last week, the Manager of Apollo Cinemas, Arnold Dulguime, criticised the decision, saying not only that it is unfair, it is also bad for business.

“It’s a comedy,” he said. Mr Dulguime was especially unhappy because this is the second movie the Film Control Board has banned.

Earlier this year, they stopped the Cinema from showing “The Wolf of Wall Street.”

“They told us that it’s too violent and the sex scenes will influence the young people,” he said.

“However at the end of the day, half of Samoa still went ahead and watched the movie elsewhere. So I don't understand."

“We find it very unfair. As a business, it hurts us because it costs us a lot of money to bring these movies and when they are rejected, it costs us money to send them back again.”

Lei’ataua, however, is standing by their decision.

“We believe that we are doing our work, he said. “We have seen the movie and we believe that this movie will influence the young people in using technologies to pass around these kinds of videos.

“If this is a way where the Censorship Office can help reduce the violation of laws and prevent these kinds of things from happening here, then we will do it.”

Asked why then they allow other R21 movies to be sold by local video stores, Lei’ataua said:

“Within a month, between 80-100 DVDS’s are banned from video shops and sometimes more than that.”

He said they work closely with local movie businesses to help them understand the Film Control Act 1978 on what movies are allowed and what are not.

“In most R21 movies, they are classified as R21 because of the language, sex scenes, violence and drugs.”

“However, with the comedy “Sex Tape” it’s above R21 because of the explicit sex scenes and that’s why we banned it.”

Told that their decision is hurting businesses like Apollo Cinemas who spend a lot of money bringing films to Samoa only to have them stop it, Lei’ataua was unrepentant.

“With every business, they should consider giving and taking,” he said.

“There will be time’s when they will make losses and there will also be a time they will get a profit.”

“I think business people should always look at the positive and the negative sides of shipping products over. And if banning the movie has caused the Cinema a great loss, then I apologize.”

“However, they, like everyone else, must follow the procedures that have already been spelled out in the Film Control Act 1978.”

What about people who obtain the banned film through other means?

“We don’t have any control over that,” said Lei’ataua. “The only thing that we can control is people making money out of this movie and that we cannot allow.”

Mr Dulguime strongly disagrees.

“From what I’ve seen, it doesn’t matter how hard they try to ban these kinds of movies, the public will always find a way to get it.”

“The question is, is it a good idea for others to sell the same movie to people and yet we can’t even make any money out of it, especially when we are paying premium prices to bring these movies to Samoa?”

Mr Dulguime said the Censorship Board should be consistent with their decisions.

That’s to say that if they ban the Cinema from showing such movies, they should ensure the video stores are not selling it.

“They should make sure all the R21 movies openly available for public viewing at the video stores should be banned,” he said.

He added: “Watching a movie is just like buying a smoke and alcohol. If people want to drink or smoke, they can. If they want to watch the movie, they can but if they don’t, then it’s up to them.”

“I’m very happy to be here and privileged to have been chosen to carry the fl ag for my country. I want to win a gold medal. I want to make my country, my family and my Team Samoa very proud”

Samoa’s golden girl, Ele Opeloge, led out Team Samoa during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, yesterday.

More than 40,000 spectators clapped for Opeloge and her teammates at the Glasgow Celtic Park while millions from around the world watched the Opening Ceremony.

Thousands of Samoans were glued to their TV sets yesterday, thanks to SQB TVOne’s live coverage of the ceremony.

Speaking to the Reporters’ Academy, Opeloge said it was a privilege to lead out Team Samoa.

“I’m very happy to be here and privileged to have been chosen to carry the flag for my country,” she said.

“I want to win a gold medal. I want to make my country, my family and my Team Samoa very proud.”

Opeloge is no stranger to winning. She won a gold at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India in over 75 kg class with a Games record of 285.

The gold was Samoa's second gold medal in the history of the Games.

In 2008, Ele also carried Samoa’s flag during the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics in Beijing where she competed in the over 75kg category.

Opeloge finished fourth in her event, narrowly missing out on a bronze medal.

She lifted 269 kg, matching her personal best, while Mariya Grabovetskaya of Kazakhstan lifted 270 kg to finish third.

In Glasgow this week, Opeloge said she feels good and she promised to give her all to win a medal for Samoa.

"I’ve been training hard and I hope to make my country proud by bringing home the gold medal," she said.

Before yesterday’s opening ceremony, the Glasgow Caledonian University played host to the flag bearing ceremony for the Pacific Oceania nations Games. Samoa, competing at their 11th Commonwealth Games were represented alongside their Pacific Oceania neighbours.

During the ceremony, Opeloge was announced as the flag bearer for Samoa.

The weather was surprisingly hot for Glasgow, which was a positive thing for the Pacific nations.

This may play to their advantage once the games commence with the hot weather set to continue for the rest of the week at least.

Many of the Chef de Missions made inspiring speeches which will hopefully further motivate the athletes to do themselves and their countries proud.

Samoa's Chef de Mission, Faafouina Milford said: "It's a pleasure for Samoa to be here at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.”

*Craig Lucas of The Reporters’ Academy, the official media of the Pacific Nations at Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games contributed to this story.

“She was drunk as well – she didn’t look normal. “How drunk? She was laughing a lot at me and was not taking me seriously and I could smell alcohol on her”

Prosecution witnesses giving evidence during the trial of a 19-year-old girl accused over the deaths of two young men last year have poured cold water on the claim that Leslie Kohlhase was not the driver of the pick-up truck.

In the Supreme Court yesterday, they testified that the accused drove the vehicle involved in the tragic accident at Vailoa. What's more, they claimed that she was drunk.

Kohlhase faces four charges in relation to the deaths of Jessie Risale, 22, of Vaimoso and Thesaurus Heather, 20, of Tufuiopa. She has pleaded not guilty to two counts of manslaughter and two alternative charges of negligent driving causing death.

Lawyer Lei’ataualesa Daryl Clarke is representing the defendant and is assisted by lawyer, Leilani Tamati. The prosecution team on the other hand consists of Precious Chang and Leone Su’a Mailo, of the Attorney General’s Office.

The Chief Justice, His Honour Patu Tiava’asu’e Falefatu Sapolu is presiding over the assessor trial.

Yesterday, Simon To’omalatai, 21, of Falelauniu, told the Court that Kohlhase was driving the Toyota Land Cruiser pick up prior to the accident.

The witness said he was part of an after party where the defendant, the deceased men and himself drank beer and a bottle of Jim Beam at Le Well.

He said the party was disbursed when the Police stopped by.

But Lei’ataualesa disputed this saying that the party only stopped when Zack Meredith told them they had to leave.

Zack apparently told them they were making too much noise and that a petrol station attendant next door had complained.

But Mr To’omalatai said this might not necessarily be true since they stayed on for some time after the petrol station attendant had left.

The witness said he travelled in the vehicle driven by the accused and in the car were Fa’atoia Tupu, Thesaurus Heather and Jessie Risale.

He couldn’t recall where he was dropped off, saying it might have been between St Mary’s and the Treasure Garden.

Another witness, Christina Paul, 23, gave evidence that the defendant was her little sister’s best friend.

She told the Court that prior to the accident on Wednesday 20 November, the company she worked for had an office function at Y-not Bar. She invited her friends on Facebook to be a part of the event.

These friends included; Fa’atoia Tupu, the accused, the two deceased men, Nafanua Heather and Michelle Urhle among other people.

At the end of the night, she left with Ms Urhle, Thesaurus, Faatoia and Jessie, to drop of Tamisha Lei Sam at Vaigaga before heading to her sister’s place at Alafua.

When they arrived, her sister Moira was there with Kohlhase.

She told the Court she then received a phone call from her mother that she needed to come home to take her child to the hospital.

As a result, she told the boys to go with Kohlhase.

Ms Paul went on to tell the Court that later, she went to look for her sister Moira because she was not answering her phone.

She contacted Thesaurus, the only person from the crowd she had a number for. Thesaurus was at home when she called.

According to her, he refused to give her Jessie Risale’s number unless she picked him up because he wanted to know where everyone else was.

Ms Paul did and they called Risale who informed them that they were at Le Well. When they arrived, Ms Paul said she found her sister in Kohlhase’s car. She had been vomiting.

When she asked about what happened to her sister, “they [Kohlhase and others in the party] laughed at me and said everyone is drinking and she is drunk.”

At this point, Chief Justice Patu interrupted to ask the witness how Kohlhase appeared at the time.

“She was drunk as well – she didn’t look normal,” she said.

“How drunk?”

“She was laughing a lot at me and was not taking me seriously and I could smell alcohol on her,” Ms Paul said.

Ms Paul went on to tell the Court that she had an argument with Kohlhase. She also testified that she told Kohlhase then that she was taking her sister home. She claimed that Thesaurus helped her to carry her sister to her vehicle.

As they were about to leave, a Police car turned into the Le Well property. She noticed those in the party taking off into their cars.

She also saw Kohlhase jump into her white truck. With her were Jessie, Fa’atoia, and Thesaurus.

“Jessie and Thesaurus jumped onto the back of the truck,” she added.

She then drove to Lotopa where she dropped a cousin off but when she got to Vaimoso, she wanted to check up on Thesaurus if he was okay.

He did not answer his phone and so she called Jessie. According to Ms Paul, “an unfamiliar voice” answered. That was when she made her way to Vailoa Faleata.

When she got there, she said she saw Jessie was laying on the road and he was “not moving.”

Thesaurus had already been taken to the hospital. Fa’atoia was standing next to Jessie’s body.

“I asked him where Leslie is and he said he didn’t know.”

She then asked some men from Vailoa who were there if they saw a young woman and “they said no”.

Ms Paul then spoke with an elderly man who sent some people out to where the car was to search for Kohlhase.

When they found her, they took her to the hospital.

The witness said she stayed behind with “Jessie because I didn’t want him to be left alone.”

The hearing continues.

Suspended Police Commissioner, Lilomaiava Fou Taioalo, yesterday downplayed his role in the perceived failure of the Police’s Professional Standards Unit (P.S.U) to address a number of complaints against Police officers.

The Commissioner was giving evidence before a special Commission of Inquiry ordered by Cabinet to investigate his performance.

The Commission is chaired by the Ombudsman, Maiava Iulai Toma. The other members of the Commission are Gatoloai Tili Afamasaga and Su’a Tanielu Su’a. They are being assisted by lawyers, Sine Lafaiali’i-Koria and Sefo Ainu’u from the Office of the Attorney General.

On the second day of his evidence, Lilomaiava was asked to address questions surrounding the poor management of the P.S.U, the Okoro case and strange promotions within the Force.

Lilomaiava told the Inquiry that the role of the P.S.U was to investigate complaints from members of the public against police officers.

“The problem was that not many officers could be called into the unit because of issues of conflicts of interest,” he said.

In 2012, Lilomaiava said the Police signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Office to the Ombudsman.

“They reviewed the unit and from the review, they identified that many cases were delayed. I didn’t comment on it. How could I when there is a huge problem there with police officers delaying cases?”

Lilomaiava cited one of the cases, which ended up in Court. It involved seven police officers being charged for actual bodily harm over the assault of a male from Tanugamanono.

At that point, Chairman Maiava intervened to explain the agreement between his Office and P.S.U. He said the Unit is new and from their review, they found that it was poorly run.

“As the (Police) Commissioner mentioned, the police culture is very hard to break down but it shouldn’t be tolerated and the Commissioner should give orders,” said Maiava.

“I want to say that from my observation, the P.S.U has improved from its original stage and the Commissioner did move to make the progress.”

Nnamdi Okoro’s case Okoro Williams Nnamdi, a Nigerian man sued the government in 2011 for over $12 million as compensation for an experience he described as “mentally distressing and frustrating”.

His passport was misplaced by the police and a sum of 26,000 Yuan.

During the Commission yesterday, the Commissioner was given the opportunity to explain his actions, if any, in handling this particular case.

Lilomaiava admitted that Okoro was awarded money because of negligence on the part of Police that handled the matter.

He reiterated that he was not the Commissioner. He was instead the Assistant Commissioner for Prisons and National Security.

“It was later when the case was dismissed that I was the Commissioner,” said Lilomaiava.

“It took a while before I was told about the matter that his passport was lost."

“That was when I asked for a report from the investigating officer who was Tise.”

At that time, the Commissioner said Tise had left for the Solomon Islands for a mission.

And there was another problem. Lilomaiava said he couldn’t refer the case to the P.S.U because Tise’s father was the head of the Unit at the time.

“I then decided to take the matter to C.I.D (Criminal and Investigation Division),” he recalled.

“I also received a letter from the Attorney General that charges should be filed against Tise and others, considering the findings from the Commission.”

However, Lilomaiava said the order from A.G was not done as the Act clearly states that charges can’t be filed any later than 12months after the alleged incident.

“That was the reason why no further actions were taken.”

Lilomaiava reiterated that since the Okoro case, he initiated a policy about how the police handle properties and evidence.

But Maiava was not convinced.

He said it wasn’t until after the case was presented in Court when it was discovered that Okoro’s passport and belongings were missing.

“My point is it took a Commission of Inquiry to discover the problem,” he said. “It shouldn’t require a Commission to hold someone responsible."

“When things go wrong and people responsible are not held accountable, the public expects the Head of Police to be responsible…”

As for properties taken by police, Maiava referred to a similar case where a man had his vehicle held in custody and when he came to retrieve it, the stereo was removed. The stereo was later returned.

“When properties are taken by police, people would expect them to take care of it,” said the Ombudsman.

“The public should never have to question it (belongings) going missing – it’s in the middle of Police for God’s sake.”

The Commission also raised issues about human rights in the handling of the Okoro case.

The decision to ducktape his mouth before putting him on the plane was “atrocious.”

“These are terrible human rights issues.

There is so much in this case that is atrocious,” he pointed out.

“It was a very sad case for the Commission to assess where no one was held accountable but the country had paid an awful lot of money and yet the Police didn’t care.”

In response, Lilomaiava said police treated the Nigerian man as a prohibited immigrant.

He recalled that he was only aware of the missing passport when the Prime Minister “wrote to me saying, we are all Christians and he feels for the man”.

“When I received the letter, I was made aware of the situation so we moved to have his passport done.”

“I ordered the Finance Division to have Tise’s wage deducted to pay for the man’s passport. And when police came to take him (Okoro), he refused to put on clothes and that was why he was tied up and taken like that.”

Commission member, Gatoloai asked why the Police involved were not sacked.

False promotion and unusual recruits A female officer who gave evidence during the first Commission of Inquiry spoke about an “unusual promotion” where she came from being a Constable to a Senior Sergeant, without sitting the necessary exam.

The Officer told the Commission she had applied but was rejected and told she was too old.

Later, she was told she could still apply for a job at the Prison. She apparently worked at Tafa’igata for half a day where she trained some recruits and was later promoted.

Asked to explain, Lilomaiava said the woman had worked for the government for 14 years.

He said there is a practice that gives police officers the chance to be promoted based on merits.

But Maiava was not satisfied. He wanted to know how a woman was promoted from the rank of Constable to Senior Sergeant.

“What happened is that during the promotion time, none of the officers that sat the exam studied,” he said. “No one studied and that was reflected on the results where some got 5 out of 100 for the exam.”

“So that was why the opportunity was opened for those in uniform to be promoted.”

Lilomaiava added that “it is not a must to sit the exam.”

The Commission of Inquiry has been adjourned until next week.

Child labour is one of the topics being discussed during a conference on Child Labour and Trafficking held in Apia this week.

Coordinated by the International Labour Organisation (I.L.O), the conference is looking at measures to deal with child labour.

Yesterday on the streets of Apia, it was clear that there is still plenty of work to be done.

Not far from where the conference was held at Hotel Millennia, the Samoa Observer spotted a number of young children hawking goods on the streets, looking to make a sale.

The time was 11:34a.m. when schools were still in progress.

The I.L.O’s Coordinator of the Sub-regional Child Labour and Trafficking Programme, Marie Jane Fatiaki, told the Samoa Observer that they are aware about the problem of young street vendors in Samoa.

“What we are doing is to try and come up with some practical actions in order to address the problem,” she said.

“The situation is already covered by the Education Act and Childcare Bill.”

“The only issue however in terms of trying to address the problem is poor management and the enforcement of the law in order to coordinate the partnership,” Ms Fatiaki said a lot of the discussion centred on who is responsible for the actual enforcement and monitoring of the laws already in place.

“It’s a matter that we are taking into account on who is responsible in terms of actually going out and ensuring that the street vendors are in school when it’s time for school and not working at night,” she said.

Non-Government Organisations, Police and some of the Ministries have agreed to work to ensure and enforce the law.

“One of the targets that we have come with is the families,” said Maria Levi, Director Pasefika Mana.

“Working with the communities and ensuring that the parents of these children selling goods are aware of the consequences.”

About a 192 children/street vendors were recorded between the years 2011 to 2012 however, Pasefika Mana could only manage to work with the families of 25 vendors that were recorded.

“It’s been a challenge to see the many reasons why street vending is so common in Samoa,” said Ms Levi.

In fact, she said that the numbers have gone down from what they had recorded before.

“The only solution now is enforcing the law and ensuring that all these children would have a better future by pushing them to school.”

Samoeleoi La’auoleola was among several Samoans capped in Beijing China recently.

She graduated with a Bachelor of Computer Science.

Speaking to the Samoa Observer, her proud father, Reverend La’auoleola Vai, says he is happy to have his daughter back home after years of being away.

Samoeleoi, who was raised in Satupaitea Savai’i, left her family five years ago to pursue her degree at the Beijing University.

The road to her success was not easy. Not long after she left, she heard the news of her father’s illness.

Rev Vai said they were serving the Methodist parish at Falelima in 2005 to 2008 when he fell ill.

“I had a stroke. Samoe received the news and immediately wanted to return home,” said Rev Vai. “I told her no. I said to her the best thing she could do was finish her studies and get that piece of paper.”

“To me, if God was willing to keep me alive when she returns, he will and he did.”

“Now that she has come back home, I’m very proud of her.”

Rev Vai and his wife Vineta are now serving the parish at Faleula.

Samoe is the fourth of their nine children.

After graduating and being away from home for so long, Samoe says she wants to work for a little while before she could pursue her Masters.

She is still undecided on which job she will apply for.

“Whatever it is, I’m willing to give it my best,” she says.

Aganoa Beach Lodge in Savai’i was the place to be at last week as it hosted the first of many more to come Grom Games Events in perfect 6 to 8ft surf.

The unique event brought the best U14 surfers to compete over 10 days on the big island.

They came from Australia, United States of America, Brazil and Hawai’i.

“The event is unique in that it’s not just surfing,” says Keith Martin, of Aganoa Beach Lodge.

“It includes numerous challenges like climbing coconut trees, throwing coconuts in the blowhole to see who gets the highest, swim races, kayak races, beach sprints, push ups, table tennis and more challenges to find the fittest overall winner.”

In the end, Finn McGill from U.S.A won. Eithan Osborne came second followed by Stevie Pittman.

“The boys were treated to fantastic waves every day. They also sampled real Samoan culture with making umu and weaving baskets plus the traditional welcome Ava ceremony."

“It was a fantastic experience for these young boys to treasure for the rest of their lives. We all look forward to the 2015 Games.”

The fight against Rheumatic Heart Disease in Samoa took a giant step forward yesterday with the arrival of a Rheumatic Heart Disease Mobile Clinic Vehicle.

Equipped with sophisticated technology to ensure fast, effective and cost efficient screening for children in schools across the country, the man leading Samoa’s fight against heart problems is extremely grateful.

“To those who have worked tirelessly in ensuring that the people of Samoa have access to better and improved services for Rheumatic Heart Disease, we say thank you very much,” said Cardiologist and Professor Dr Satupa’itea Viali.

Funded by Australia, New Zealand and the World Bank at the cost of US$150,000 (T$350,000), the key of the vehicle was handed by the Minister of Health, Tuitama Dr Leao Tuitama to the National Health Services during a ceremony yesterday.

“This vehicle has been built specifically to conduct Rheumatic Heart Disease screening,” said Tuitama.

“Already, efforts such as media campaigns on television have been implemented and screening programmes are undertaken with schools using the old immunization mobile clinic vehicle and NHS vehicles from time to time.

“Like many of our journeys in the health sector, we have started from humble beginnings from using the old mobile clinic vehicle that we had before to the new one before you all today.”

Tuitama acknowledged the assistance from Australia, New Zealand and the World Bank.

“ This is a significant investment in Samoa’s health efforts and one which he most pleased with,” he said. “This underscores the true value of partnership, I can already envision the great benefits and improvement to the Rheumatic Heart Disease Screening Programme through the proper utilisation of this asset and the easier access of our people to this service.”

Tuitama, however, pointed out that “the challenge would be in its proper maintenance and continuous sustaining of the programme which the SWAP Program has supported over the years.”

High Commissioner of Australia, Sue Langford, praised Samoa’s efforts to fight rheumatic heart disease.

“I commend the efforts of the hard working team at the National Health Service,” she said.

“Samoa’s own Cardiologist Professor Dr Satupa’itea Viali, and the Ministry of Health led by the Honourable Minister of Health, who had the plan and the determination to ensure this important project is delivered.”

Ms Langford said screening for Rheumatic Heart Disease needs a partnership that extends beyond the health sector.

“This represents collaboration between the National Health Service, the Ministries of Health and Education, Sports and Culture and the development partners."

“This vehicle will replace Samoa’s original mobile van, which was funded by the Government of New Zealand some 14 years ago and it will be the first special purpose vehicle of its kind in Samoa.”

Rheumatic fever is caused by a bacterial infection, which often starts with a sore throat. If it’s not treated correctly this often leads to chronic heart damage or death.

“Sadly, Pacific peoples have one of the highest rates of rheumatic fever in the world and both Rheumatic fever and RHD commonly occur in Samoa and in the Apia area particularly.

“While the rate of RHD and rheumatic fever has fallen over the years since 2003,the Government of Samoa has sent between 25 and 30 young people every year for RHD surgery in New Zealand.

“Without a doubt, RHD is a complex problem but the really important message is that it is a preventable disease and a disease which is not hard to prevent and this vehicle and the service it provides is one part of that prevention.”

Four police officers accused over the beating of a male from Tanugamanono have returned to work while two have decided to resign.

That’s what Assistant Police Commissioner, Fauono Talelei Tapu, told the Weekend Observer yesterday.

He confirmed that the four who have decided to return to work are back on the beat.

In October 2013, six police officers appeared in the District Court accused of attacking a male from Tanugamanono at Moto’otua on October 2012.

The charges have since been dismissed by District Court Judge, his Honour Vaepule Vaemoa Va’ai, after an application from the Attorney General’s Office to withdraw charges.

Yesterday, the Assistant Commissioner was reluctant to give details as to why the other officers have resigned except to confirm that one of the reasons for their resignation is because they were “involved in other matters”.

Asked what those matters were, he did not say.

“I can’t confirm those details,” he said. “I don’t have the file with me but I will get back to you on it.”

Pressed if the “matters were similar” to the alleged attack on the Tanugamanono male, the Assistant Commissioner declined to comment further.

“I don’t have full knowledge of it but I will get back to you once I get back to the office and look at the file.”

Six police officers were suspended with pay for seven months pending an outcome from the investigation and the Court case.

The Assistant Commissioner was unable to confirm which of them were reinstated and who decided to resign.

However, the charges arose from an allegation by the victim, Kapeneta Faailo, of Tanugamanono that he was assaulted by the officers when they tried to arrest him from his village.

The District Court heard that when the police tried to arrest him, he resisted, took off and police chased after him.

Kapeneta first gave evidence that he was assaulted by police officers because they were angry at him for resisting arrest and taking off.

He said he incurred injuries to his nose, forehead, teeth and lips from the alleged assault.

However, under cross examination from defence lawyer, Rosella Papali’i, he agreed that he had fell on the bumper of the police vehicle causing the injuries to his nose and forehead.

He also agreed that his memory was not as accurate as he was drunk.

Many local athletes made the trip to the South east coast to compete in a Half Marathon, 10km, 5km and 3kms. It was also pleasing to see a lot of tourists turning up to run a race and earn a medal while on holiday in Samoa.

Fifty-four pairs of happy feet ran along the Aleipata Coastline in the first Lalomanu Half Marathon and Events yesterday.

It was a mixture of happy tourists and locals in the race for top placings in the four distances of the race.

But it was Tini Lapaali’i Alama who won the race and a trip to the Adidas Auckland Marathon in November.

The youngest competitor yesterday a wee toddler, Aolagi Anderson, who completed her first race being pushed by her mother in the safety of her pram, Cherelle Anderson.

Some of the senior competitors included Mr. Marathon himself, Mark Moors and Samoa running veteran, Tuatagaloa Joe Annandale. Many local athletes made the trip to the South east coast to compete in a Half Marathon, 10km, 5km and 3kms. It was also pleasing to see a lot of tourists turning up to run a race and earn a medal while on holiday in Samoa.

The Half Marathon, which ran from Taufua Beach Fales in Lalomanu to the turnaround at Aufaga, was contested by Samoa’s best long distance runners.

Finishing in the top three in the Half were Tini Lapaali’i Alama who was first, followed by Tueffy Tuigamala in second place and Half Marathon current record holder Darren Young finished third.

This was the first time these runners went head to head.
Perhaps it was the order of things that the youngest of the three, Tini, finished first. He won the trip to the Adidas Auckland Marathon in November to race in the Half Marathon distance.

The top three women in the Half were Ally Drake, who was first. Ariane Stevenson was second and Malama Tafuna’i finished in third place.

In the 10km Race Sam Nimarota,

Reginald Therdin and Paul Anderson were the top three men.  Here are the full results from yesterday’s racing.

Finishing in the top three in the Half were Tini Lapaali’i Alama who was first, followed by Tueffy Tuigamala in second place and Half Marathon current record holder Darren Young finished third.

One of the first people to arrive at the scene where a pick-up truck crashed at Vailoa, in an incident that killed two young men last year, has spoken about the horror he saw.

Twenty-one-year-old, Fidel T.J. Urima, of Vailoa Faleata, said he saw “blood gushing uncontrollably” from the nose and mouth of one of the young men, who had already died.

“This really shocked me because that was the first time for me to see something like that,” he said. “So I turned him over again.”

He then moved to the next body lying on the side of the road.“He was desperately gasping for air,” he said.

Mr. Urima was giving evidence in the hearing of 19-year-old, Leslie Kohlhase, who is accused over the deaths of Jessie Risale, 22, of Vaimoso and Thesaurus Heather, 20, of Tufuiopa.

Kohlhase has pleaded not guilty to two counts of manslaughter and two alternative charges of negligent driving causing death.

Lawyer Lei’ataualesa Daryl Clarke is representing the defendant. He is assisted by lawyer, Leilani Tamati.

The prosecution team on the other hand consists of Precious Chang and Leone Su’a Mailo, of the Attorney General’s Office.

The Chief Justice, His Honour Patu Tiava’asu’e Falefatu Sapolu is presiding over the assessor trial.

On Friday, Mr. Urima told the Court that he lives next to the Vailoa petrol station. At 3am that day, he was preparing an umu for a church event when he heard a car speeding through from Apia to Vaitele.

“When it passed my house, it crashed,” he said. “I hurried to the site and when I got there, I saw a body lying on the ground next to the lamp post in that area.”

“I turned him over if he was alive.”

He was not. The body was identified as that of Jessie Risale who died at the scene.

Mr. Urima said Thesaurus Heather was still alive and “grasping for air but couldn't speak.”

When he looked up, he saw the second survivor of the crash, climbing up from where the crash happened.

“When we met, I asked him how many of them came in the car and he said four of us.”

During the evidence of previous witnesses, lawyer Lei’ataualesa has asked about this survivor, who has yet to be named in the trial, whether he was shirtless.

Mr. Urima he told the Court that the survivor had a shirt on.

“But I asked him to take his shirt off so that I can wipe the dust off the face of the guy [Heather] who was still alive.”

The witness said he soaked the shirt in the village’s pool so he could wipe Heather’s face.

Two other witnesses gave evidence prior to Urima.

They were 64-year-old Vui Fagasa Lafoga and Ape Vavae Tuilagi, 36.

Both men are residents of Vailoa Faleata and were at the scene of the accident following the crash.

Kohlhase’s trial started last Tuesday. The argument being pushed by the defense is that the 19-year-old girl was not the driver of the pick-up truck.

That’s not true, the prosecution says.

At the beginning of the trial, lawyer Ms. Chang argued that the defendant had caused the death of Mr. Risale and Mr. Heather. She said the defendant neglected her responsibility as a driver and a result, the two young men were killed.

Ms. Chang then outlined the prosecution’s case saying that the defendant was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident.

She claimed that she had knowingly, without considering the impact of her actions, got behind the wheel of her Toyota pick-up and drove recklessly causing the car to flip, killing two of her passengers.

She told the Court that on the night of Wednesday 20 November 2013, Kohlhase and a group of friends were drinking at Y-not club. Later that night, she met up with the deceased men at an after party held at Le Well.

Some time around 3am, the party disbursed and she took with her as passengers the three men. Their first stop was at Treasure Garden, where they dropped off one passenger.

Heading towards Vailoa, Ms. Chang said witnesses noticed that the vehicle was speeding excessively. It swerved to the side where it crashed.

The prosecution lawyer said the incident was very unfortunate but it could have been avoided if the defendant took responsibility for her actions that night.

Chief Justice Patu has adjourned the matter until tomorrow for Mr. Urima to continue his evidence.

Bloomberg - Herbalife shares fell the most in three months after billionaire Bill Ackman vowed to show Enron-like fraud at the seller of supplements and weight-loss shakes.

Ackman, head of Pershing Square Capital Management, said his firm has devoted $50 million of investors' money to prove that Herbalife is a pyramid scheme. The results of the two-year undercover investigation, which focuses on

Herbalife's nutrition clubs, will be released at a presentation in New York.

"Trust me, when you see the stuff we have tomorrow, you will conclude the money was well spent," Ackman said in an interview on Bloomberg Television.

He suggested that the nutrition clubs - part of Herbalife's direct-selling approach - resemble the fake trading rooms set up by Enron before accounting fraud led to that company's bankruptcy in 2001.

Ackman has waged a battle to shut down Los Angeles-based Herbalife since December 2012. He has bet $1 billion against the company, saying it misleads distributors, misrepresents sales figures and sells a commodity product at inflated prices. US regulators and law enforcement also are investigating allegations that the business is a pyramid scheme.

Herbalife's stock fell 11 per cent to $54.02, marking the biggest one-day decline since April 11. The shares had tumbled 31 per cent this year.

Tuesday's presentation, which will be webcast starting at 10 a.m., will give new information to back up Pershing Square's claims, the hedge fund said in a separate statement.

"An in-depth analysis and examination of these clubs - which Herbalife claims are simply social gatherings that bring people together to focus on good nutrition and exercise - reveal that they are a core driver of Herbalife's pyramid scheme," Pershing Square said.

Herbalife responded to the statements on Monday on Twitter, saying it was confident in the integrity of the company and that "the truth will prevail."

"Ackman's theatrics are increasingly desperate," the company said through its HerbalifeTruth account. Herbalife "is proud of role that nutrition clubs play in helping people lose weight and stay healthy."

Ackman said on Bloomberg Television that his firm will turn over its findings to regulators.

"Our goal was to catalyse regulatory interest in the company," Ackman said. "We spent the last year with undercover investigators in multiple countries and in the United States participating and trying to figure out - and ultimately figuring out - how nutrition clubs work and we have hundreds of hours of recorded conversations."

Weightlifter, Vaipava Nevo Ioane, has done it.
During the early hours of yesterday morning, he lifted Samoa to medal glory at the Commonwealth Games by securing Team Samoa’s first medal at the competition in Scotland.

Ioane won a bronze medal in the men’s 62kg division. His total lift was 271kgs.
Coach Tuaopepe Jerry Wallwork said he was proud of his lifter and congratulated him for his efforts.
In the lead-up to the event, however, the contest was billed as the 'Battle of the South Seas' with Tuvalu's Lapua Lapua expected to be Ioane’s main challenger.
However, the gold medal was won by Dimitris Minasidis, of Cyprus with a total lift of 276kgs ahead of Sudesh Peiris, of Sri Lanka.
Ioane managed to to hold off a challenge from Papua New Guinea’s Morea Baru by one kilo.
Ioane’s strength was in the Clean and Jerk, lifting a total of 156kgs, the heaviest in the field of 20 weightlifters.

Other results:
Swimming heats -
Brandon Schuster in the 200m Freestyle heats Placed 6th in time of 2:03:13 mins
Evelina Afoa in 50m Freestyle heats Placed 2nd in time of 29:25 secs
Evelina Afoa in 100m Backstroke heat Placed 1st in time of 1:09:13 secs

Boxing -
Henry Tyrell (Men’s Welterweight 69kg)
Lost to South Africa’s Tulani Mbenge 0-3
Paddy Leuii (Men’s Super Heavy 91+kg)
Lost to South Africa’s Paul Schafer 0-3
______________________________
Lawn Bowls –
Alofa Adams in Women’s Singles Results Alofa Adams 14 | NORTHERN IRELAND’s C.MCMILLEN 20
Edward Bell and Petelo Gabriel in Men’s Pairs SAMOA 11 | MALAYSIA 1

A file containing information about one of three Police Officers implicated over the death of Hans Dalton at Tafa’igata Prison two years ago has been referred to the Commission of Inquiry.

This is what Assistant Police Commissioner, Fauono Talalelei Tapu, said when he was asked for an update about the matter.

“The files are with the Commission,” he told the Sunday Samoan.

The Commission he was referring to is the Commission of Inquiry into conduct of suspended Police Commissioner, Lilomaiava Fou Taioalo.

Fauono said he was unsure about what has become of the officer.

“I don’t know what happened to him,” said Fauono. “What I can say is that the files are with the Commission that is in progress at the moment so I can’t comment.”

He added: “The matter was during the time Lilo was the Commissioner.”

Two other Police officers were fired in February last year for neglecting their duty “in relation to Dalton’s murder.”

Dalton, a psychiatric patient was referred to Tafaigata prison for protective custody after he became aggressive with health officials not being able to control him at Moto’otua.

But he was found dead with his head in a 44-gallon drum of water at Tafa’igata.

Police had initially ruled that Dalton had taken his own life on Boxing Day.

Later, the Police charged a prisoner, Jonathan Patrick Crichton, with Dalton’s murder.

The Supreme Court found that Mr. Crichton was not guilty of the murder.

Last week, the Commission of Inquiry revisited Dalton’s death.

Asked in how he handled the case, Lilomaiava said that the officers “didn’t expect that a sick person from the hospital would be brought in”.

He also blamed an officer that was on duty for not asking for assistance.

“As you know we don’t have special cells to lock up patients with mental needs.”

His response did not satisfy the Ombudsman, Maiava Iulai Toma.

Maiava questioned why none of the officers that were on camp at the prison were not alerted when the deceased called out for help.

“But look at the irony of the case, here’s a desperate man screaming out loud for help and no one was alerted,” Maiava said.

“The irony of it is that (from evidence) people mocked him and said things to him. What does this say about the leadership at the Police?”

Lilomaiava disputed this saying that Tafa’igata is not a peaceful place.

“It is full of angry people, unhappy people and different kinds of people. There is just no peace there.”

The Commission is scheduled to continue this week.

The Small Business Enterprise Centre (S.B.E.C) celebrated its 20th birthday at Letava on Friday night.

The gathering was attended by members of the organisation, the business community, friends and its partners.
Acting Prime Minister, Fonotoe Pierre Lauofo, congratulated the organisation.
“The government of Samoa’s mission in setting up S.B.E.C. back in 1994 was to undertake, promote and advance the development of small businesses in Samoa and to provide training for customers to enhance skills and knowledge of business management,” Fonotoe said.
“This mission was taken up by the government of New Zealand who had established and staffed S.B.E.C. from 1994 to now.”
As such, Fonotoe acknowledged New Zealand in supporting S.B.E.C.
“Your commitment is a sign of true leadership between our governments and believing that this organisation can make a contribution to Samoa’s economic prosperity.”
“The government is committed to building and strengthening the private sector as the engine of growth and it is vital that we start right from grassroots to small and micro enterprises to our commercial sectors, thus making the role of S.B.E.C. an important one in implementing this government’s strategy.”
Fonotoe said that in 2002, the government saw the increased demand for the ‘guarantee scheme’ to facilitate access to finance for small businesses and borrowed monies from the Asian Development Bank (A.D.B) to cater for this high demand.
“I am pleased to note the scheme continues to provide financing for many small enterprises and have also benefited many families and communities,” he said.
“The success of S.B.E.C. over the past 20 years is clear evidence that we can all work together – malo lava!”
Fonotoe also reminded the audience that many challenges faced by businesses due to economic and natural calamities that are beyond our control.
“My challenge to S.B.E.C. is to continue to lift the standards of small businesses in Samoa – to combat challenges brought about globalization, climate change and competitive markets.”
New Zealand’s High Commissioner, Jackie Frizelle, said New Zealand is delighted to work with S.B.E.C.
“I know we are not meant to pick favourites but S.B.E.C. has deservedly earned a special place in our heart and history,” she said.
S.B.E.C.’s ability to workwith people with great ideas to turn them into sustainable businesses was highlighted as one of the organisation’s achievements.

“S.B.E.C. is all about lasting Partnerships – with New Zealand, the Samoan government, with the banks and with the clients.”
“For New Zealand, we are pleased to have been there from the start. The achievement and good health of the organisation today is a tribute to not one but many.”
Ms.Frizelle also praised the S.B.E.C. team, ably led by Peseta Margaret Malua, describing them as “the driving force” behind the organisation.
In response, S.B.E.C.s Chairperson, Fiona Ey, acknowledged everyone who has played a role in the organisation’s success.
“We first started in 1994 with the signing of a Deed of Trust forming the S.B.E.C. Board of Trustees – Peter Heenana New Zealand High Commission, Tuala Farani Chan Tung – Director for the then Department of Trade, Commerce and Industry (now M.C.I.L.), Mr Simon Millet – Pacific Commercial Bank (now Westpac), Eleitino Michelle Meredith (Women in Business), Tuala Falenaoti Tiresa Malietoa (Small Business Association), Fuimaono Lima (DBS), Arthur Penn (Samoa Society of Accountants), Paul Rolton (BWS now ANZ), Luagalau Foisaga Eteuati Shon (Secretary for Women’s Affairs),” she said.
“S.B.E.C. continues to grow and it is our mission to commercialise and formalise small micro businesses so that the Samoan economy can thrive over the next 20 years.”

ACHIEVEMENT AFTER 20 YEARS
• Trained more than 10,000 people/trainees from businesses, organisations and communities in Samoa through its training programs, plus training of Pacific neighbours such as Tokelau.
• Provide 1,200 business advisory services on an annual basis
• Facilitated access to finance to more that 1,500 small businesses. Helped S.B.E.C clients secured more than $20m tala in bank loans.
• Worked with partners from private sector, government, international organisations, NGOs and communities in Samoa, the region and internationally.