High Commissioner, Sue Langford, is here to take the Australian-Samoan relationship to the next level. If she can better the standard of living for people here in the process, even better.

Arriving in Samoa earlier this year, Ms. Langford said this was her third posting to the Pacific with Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

“It is a really close and robust relationship that we have with Samoa,” she said.

“The (Australian) Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has made some statements on what she is calling the new aid paradigm.

“(That is) working in partnership with governments on the aid programme to basically take steps to eliminate poverty.

“So I think as part of what I would like to do for the next three years is inline with our aid programme, which is very much a partnership with Samoa.

“We are the largest aid donor to Samoa, (so) continuing in our aid to contribute to sustainable economic growth, and to raise the standard living for Samoans especially those in increasing poverty.”

So how is Australia going to assist Samoa in working towards eliminating poverty?

According to Ms. Langford through a range of programmes in the areas of health, education and gender equality - the latter of which Australia is still in discussions with Samoa to see where they can be of assistance.

“We have got a number of programmes in place, working in partnership with the Samoan government,” she said.

“For example Samoa faces some health challenges and we are working hand-in-hand, particularly with the hospital services here, to…improve the quality (of them).

“(Another) thing we have got underway at the moment, is an initiative linking up the Queensland Department of Health with the Samoan health service to share experiences and lessons learned.”

Looking at the education sector, Ms. Langford said Australia is working on several new initiatives with the Samoan government.

“We are working with education officials to develop a new curriculum for primary schools,” she said.

“As well as improving teacher training to improve classroom results.

“(We are also) providing new scholarships for students to study teaching and then join the teaching profession here, with a focus on maths and science to improve those results in the classrooms.”

While only six months into her posting to Samoa, the High Commissioner said her time here had been a “dream run”.

“One thing that just reminded me we have got a great team at the High Commission,” she said.

“A really committed, very collegiate team who are just really good at what they do and are really enthusiastic. It has all been very, very good.”
This has allowed her to appreciate living and working here in Samoa.

“I was in Canberra for three years before I came here,” she said.

“There are many advantages to living here, Samoa is a beautiful place with fantastic people.

“I have been delighted to meet and to get to know so many Samoans in a short period of time.

“In a job like the High Commissioner you do meet a lot of people government ministers, senior officials, people in the rural areas, students of all ages ranging from university students, high schools, students primary school students communities, Australian business people and also some of the Australian volunteers.”

Beyond the people, Ms Langford said highlights of her time here included her credential ceremony, participating in the recent Literacy Week with the staff and students at Salamumu Primary School and visiting the Australian Pacific Technical College (A.P.T.C.) campus.

“(A) highlight has been visiting the A.P.T.C. and learning about the fantastic work they have been doing,” she said.

“And just seeing how the A.P.T.C. has actually changed the lives and lively hoods of so many Samoans and also people from around the Pacific with those trainings and opening new job opportunities.”

She said while she may be an “experienced Pacific hand” one thing that has struck her in her time here is the strength of the people-to-people relationship.

“I think the people to people links that is a real strength,” she said.

“Many families and many people who you meet in Samoa whether it be in Apia town or in the villages, so many people have either close relatives or have spent considerable periods of time in Australia.

“There are around 60,000 Australians that identify themselves as of Samoan ancestry, and it is just one thing that has actually surprised me is the closeness of those strong people-to-people links…and those people to people links are growing.

“Where people have immediate family members, cousins sisters brothers parents children living in Australia.

“(Also) the number of Australians visiting Samoa is also growing every year, I think number was around 25,000 Australian tourists…last year in 2013.

“I think that is a good thing, it can be a really good thing.”

So how will she achieve strengthening this friendship? By drawing on her previous posting experiences.

“This is my third Pacific posting, my third posting with D.F.A.T. to the Pacific,” she said.

“So I think I would like to bring my experience and knowledge, interest and also energy to the relationship and to furthering the close ties between Samoa and Australia.

“I am really looking forward to doing that, I am really excited about doing that for the next three years.”

Vaela’a Iloa, better known as the ‘Ula boy’ is Samoa’s top siva afi dancer, claiming the top prize at the 13th International Siva Afi Competition on the weekend.

Performing for the crowds at the event’s final, held in Matautu last Saturday night, Mr. Iloa from Tufulele is Samoa’s champion fire knife dancer.

To be awarded the title of champion, Mr. Iloa had work hard to better stiff competition he faced from the other finalists including Alema Alema, Lene Alema, Tuai Atonio and Perry Lesoa.

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi was there on the evening to officially open the finals on the night.

“I want to thank Leota for inviting me to witness this international siva afi competition and may the best of the best performers win tonight,” the Prime Minister said.

“Siva afi is a Samoan own-grown performing art which was known only in Samoa.

“The weekly free workshop organised by Leota in fire dancing has certainly spread the knowledge of the arts in the Pacific.”

Tuilaepa said that he had noticed other Pacific Island countries are now all performing the siva afi.

“They perform siva afi but not with a burning knife but a broom stick,” he said.

“And for your information, siva afi was made only for men of muscles and courage.”

He also added that the modern fire knife dance has its roots in the ancient Samoan performance called "ailao" - the flashy demonstration of a Samoan warrior's battle prowess through artful twirling, throwing and catching, and dancing with a war club.

“Its shows beauty and excitement,” said Tuilaepa.

The judges for this year’s competition were Patrick Rassmussen, Lesoa Leilua from Savai’i and Dominic Fa’agalu Fonoti.

Final Result;
1st – Vaela’a Iloa
2nd – Alema Alema
3rd – Perry Lesoa
4th – Tuai Atonio
5th – Lene Alema

Every biodigester project, big or small, is a climate change mitigation programme, according to an expert installing biodigesters in Samoa.

“This is in line with United Nations Year of Sustainable Energy For All and Samoa’s statement to use a high degree of renewable energy.”

Biodigesters converts soft waste such as manure, food scraps and soft plant material into biogas that is turned into electricity. As a by-product, the biodigesters also produce a fertilizer liquid.

Murray, with fellow team members Rob Willis and Vui Sebastian Mariner, have been working on installing biodigester at a number of locations including at the Tuanaimato centre for the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Samoa

Tourism Authority village, Women in Business Development processing site at Nu’u and a large 40-Watt power station at Piu village.

The overall purpose of the SIDS biodigester is to provide a showcase how biodigesters can be applied in Samoa and therefore in other small island developing states.

The biodigesters use cow manure in the start to build up a bacteria colony that will process the waste and turn it into biogas. They then will generate electricity to power electric golf carts that will be used at the conference.

Set up at the conference are two temporary buildings. One houses the biodigesters and the other is a demonstration site with information panels, a video and household appliances such as a TV, rice cooker, phone charger and radio that will be powered by the biodigester electricity.

The biodigester at Piu village will provide enough electricity for the small village with the surplus being sold to Samoa’s Electric Power Corporation. That biodigester has the added environmental bonus of using an invasive vine called merremia as its fuel source.

Ward is also installing a small biodigester this week at Women in Business Development. That biodigester will power lights and small appliances with a larger biogester planned later that will generate enough electricity for the organisation’s dehydrated banana project.

The funding for the energy projects has come from a number of funders including the United Nations Development Project, S.I.D.S. DOCK, the Pacific Islands Greenhouse Gas Abatement through Renewable Energy Project, and the British

High Commission.

Samoa loses 52,696,000 litres water per day. That’s according to the Pacific Water and Waste Association (P.W.W.A.) latest Pacific Water and Wastewater Utilities Benchmarking Report. This equates to more than 19 billion litres (19,234,040,000) of water that are wasted per year.

 Samoa loses 52,696,000 litres water per day. That’s according to the Pacific Water and Waste Association (P.W.W.A.) latest Pacific Water and Wastewater Utilities Benchmarking Report. This equates to more than 19 billion litres (19,234,040,000) of water that are wasted per year.

In the report, the Association says that while the Samoa Water Authority (S.W.A.) had improved on the previous year, it still has the lowest Overall Efficiency Rating (O.E.I.) in the region in the large utility category (see graph 3.25), coming in at 29 per cent – well below both the regional average and the benchmark of 70 per cent (see figure 3.25).
“The O.E.I. is a combined indicator of the non-revenue water and collection ratio using the equation O.E.I. = (1-NRW) x Collection Ratio,” the report reads.
“The O.E.I. therefore represents the percentage of water produced that actually generates utility income.”
S.W.A’s latest Annual Report for the financial year 2012-2013 does state that its non-revenue water sits at the 70 per cent mark.

What this means, is that the Authority is only charging its customers for 30 per of the water it produces, leaving the rest of the water unaccounted for.

To reach the figure of 52 million litres of water wasted per day, the P.W.W.A. shows that there are 18,820 water connections in Samoa (see figure 3.1).

Per connection, the Association reports that on average the S.W.A. produces 2,800 litres of non-revenue water per connection (see figure 3.10).

Further data that shows that for every kilometre of pipe 17,600 litres of water is unaccounted for per kilometre of S.W.A. water pipe (see figure 3.11).

According to the P.W.W.A., their report presents benchmarking results from 24 water utilities, 20 of which completed the 2013 benchmarking questionnaire.

Collectively these utilities supply water and wastewater services in 14 countries and 2 US protectorates in the Pacific region.

“The report has been prepared under the direction of the Pacific Water and Wastes Association (P.W.W.A.) with support from the Pacific Region Infrastructure Facility (P.R.I.F.),” it reads.

“Government departments and statutory organisations were in the lower performance range, yet, by 
financial performance, the worst performers were the state-owned enterprises (S.O.E.s).”

And so it is with the Authority, an S.O.E., underperforming in most categories, only outshining its regional counterparts in the area of sewerage and human resources. “Compared to 2012’s benchmarking exercise, utilities improved on coverage, wastewater management, staff training, and revenues collected,” the report reads.

“No improvements have been made in reducing non-revenue water (still very high), water quality, continuity of supply, operating cost recovery, collection of bills, and accounts receivable.”

In fact, at 70 per cent the Authority is well above the Pacific Benchmark for non revenue water which is set at 25 per cent (see figure 3.9).

The P.W.W.A. reports that S.W.A. also performed below the regional average in a number of other areas. It was nine per cent below the regional average for water supply with its water supply reaching on 81 per cent of the Samoan population (see figure 3.3).

This is well below what it scored in in 2011, where it came in well above average and hitting the Pacific Benchmark of 95 per cent coverage.

Looking now at the quality of our drinking water, according to the Association only 67 per cent of the water S.W.A. offers its customers is treated, well below the 89 per cent regional water (see figure 3.12).

However, it did note that: “S.W.A. has recovered well from the drop in 2012 and improved considerably after rehabilitating its water treatment plants.”

Furthermore, the Authority has the highest number of unhappy customers, at 365 complaints per 1000 connections per year (see figure 3.20).

The Association also reports that S.W.A. has one of the lowest average revenues charging US$0.58 or $1.34 tala per 1000 litres (see figure 3.21).

“Though P.W.W.A. has not defined a Pacific benchmark, a water tariff ranging US$1.00-US$1.50/kL would normally be required to recover basic operating and maintenance costs,” the report reads (see figure 3.22).

According to the report S.W.A. still relies on Government subsidies to cover their operating costs and at 85 per cent that it has the lowest bill collection ratio, that is actual income versus billed revenue (see figure 3.23 above).

It is not all bad news, with the Authority outperforming its regional counterparts with its sewerage systems coverage at 89 per cent of the population (see figure 3.4).

“The sewerage systems coverage of large utilities averages 64 per cent, which is below the Pacific 75 per cent benchmark,” the P.W.W.A. reports.

“S.W.A. operates a small but dedicated well-performing wastewater treatment system in Apia, serving the business/tourist centres and hospital.

“S.W.A. servers no residential areas.” Another area in which S.W.A. outperformed other large utilities in the region was in human resources development.

According to the Association, the Authority 12.5 staff per 1000 connections, which is well above the Pacific benchmark of 8 (see figure 3.16). In addition to this, S.W.A. was the only utility to reach the Pacific benchmark in staff training (see figure 3.17).

“Generally, staff receive insufficient training for the Pacific benchmark,” the report reads.

“Only S.W.A., Samoa has almost reached the Pacific benchmark of five days annually.

“A common concern in the Pacific Islands is staff qualifications. “Most staff capabilities are learned ‘on the job,’ with little time and budget allocated to train employees.

“The results illustrate that, with the exception of the S.W.A., all utilities remain far below the Pacific benchmark.”

The P.W.W.A.’s 7th Pacific Water Conference and Expo will be held in American Samoa next month, where regional benchmarking is set to be discussed.

If you would like to read the P.W.W.A. report in full it is available online at http://pwwa.ib-net.org.

Eight people accused of treating a dead man’s body with indignity, when they burnt him and damaged his grave at Tuana’i, yesterday asked the Judge to be merciful.

The defendants made the plea before Supreme Court Justice, His Honour Vui Clarence Nelson.

Of the eight accused, three are women who asked the Judge to consider their children and their families before he delivers his judgment.

The accused are; Solomona Auloa, Uofu Tanielu Samuelu, Fetuli Saimoni, Talalemoe Saimoni, Vesi Pule, Asema Siale, Vito Alofaitama and Simoa Saimoni.

Seven of the accused except Solomona Auloa are jointly charged for one count of intentional damage and one count of misconduct in respect of human remains in relation to an incident on 3rd June 2014.

Solomona Auloa, Talalemoe Saimoni and Uofu Tanielu are also charged with intentional damage and misconduct in respect of human remains in relation to a separate incident on 5th June 2014.

They have all pleaded guilty to the charges against them.

The complainant is a 64-year-old woman of Tuana’i, who is the sister of the dead man.

Before the Court yesterday, Tala Saimoni, of Tuana’i and Sogi, said she regretted her actions.

“I made the wrong decision and I won’t do it again,” she said.

Another mother, Simoa Saimoni, who is charged also with her husband, asked the Judge for his forgiveness.

“Please your Honour, me and my husband care for our children and we ask for mercy,” she said.

Vito Alofaitama, who is married with two children, told the Judge she has a baby. She said she was sorry.

Solomona Auloa also begged for mercy.

“Please your Honour, give me one more chance as I have a family depending on me”.

The complainant also took the floor yesterday.

The woman told the Court that the families have reconciled and the matter has been resolved between the families.

She said she feels that she wants to withdraw the matter.

However, Justice Vui disagreed with her. He told the Court that the matter was serious and the Court needs to deal with it.

His Honour then adjourned the hearing until 15 September.

According to a summary of facts read out in the Court yesterday, on 3rd June 2014 at about 1:00p.m., the accused went to the deceased man's family in Tuana’i where he is buried.

Upon arrival, Tala informed the deceased man’s sister that they were there to burn the deceased man’s grave because he was the reason for their mother being sick.

The complainant did not object.

So immediately, Uofu started demolishing the grave using a sledgehammer.

Fetuli, Vesi, and Simoa all took turns in using the hammer and crowbar to smash the cement at the top of the grave while the complainant and her family were watching.

When the top part of the grave was removed, Fetuli poured kerosene into the grave and lit it.

Uofu, Fetuli and Vesi then threw tires and other rubbish into the grave to burn the deceased’s body inside the grave while Asema helped them turn the deceased remains around using a Poumuli branch.

In the meantime, Vito and Tala were gathering firewood to boil water to be poured into the grave.

On 5th June 2014 at about 11-12p.m., Tala, Uofu and Solomona went back to the deceased man's grave and burnt the rest of his remains.

Uofu and Solomona threw firewood into the grave and poured kerosene inside before they lit it.

The matter was reported to police on 5th June 2014 and the defendants were later apprehended and taken to the Afega Police Station.

The maximum penalty for the charge of intentional damage is seven years imprisonment and two years maximum for the charge of misconduct in respect of human remains.

Students from Utuali’i Primary School were the happy recipients of five brand new HP computers and a printer last week.

The donation was courtesy of Taulaimalolo Marcus Blackmore, from Sydney, Australia.

Taualaimalolo, Managing Director of Blackmore’s Foods, is a matai from Utuali’i living in Australia.

He has always wanted to assist the community of Utuali’i from afar.

Last week, on behalf of Taualaimalolo, his relative, Matiu Moeligia Tupua, presented the gift to the school.

Matiu reminded the students about how fortunate they are to be able to access such equipment.

“You are lucky to have such opportunity like this,” said Matiu.

“Use it wisely to assist you with your school work and take care of it as if it’s your own. You are the future of your families and our village if you are smart, so do your best in school.”

In accepting the donation, Member of Parliament, Tuisa Tasi Patea acknowledged the gifts.

Tuisa said the new computers will definitely help the students of Utuali’i Primary School especially in an age where technology is such a vital factor in learning.

“I hope the machines will encourage our students to stay in school and create more scientists for us.”

Rev. Faraimo Ti’iti’i, of Utuali’i, conducted a brief prayer service to bless the donation before the machines were presented.

A JOB WELL DONE: Head Carpenter, Seumanutafa Aeau (right) and Rosalina Aeau after the Official Opening of the Vini Fou Congregational Christian Church of Samoa’s (C.C.C.S) new church building last Friday. A story published during the weekend said the project was a renovated building. This was not correct. It is a new building funded by the nine households who are members of the church. The project cost $384,36. Photo: Kerstin Ofisa.

“There was uncertainty about the ability of the Corporation to continue as a going concern because there was no documentary evidence that the Government of Samoa will continue to support the Corporation after 30 June 2010.” – Fuimaono C.G. Afele.

The Samoa Trust Estate Corporation’s (S.T.E.C.) were “very unstable” with its accountants, Lesa ma Penn, delivering a qualified opinion, the Chief Auditor reports.

According to Investopedia, a qualified audit opinion suggests that the information provided was limited in scope, and/or the company has not maintained Generally Accepted Accounting Principals (G.A.A.P).

“Contrary to its connotation, a qualified opinion is not a good thing,” the site reports.

“Auditors that deem audits as qualified opinions are advising whomever is reading the document that the information within the audit is not complete or that the accounting methods used by the company do not follow G.A.A.P.”

Returning to the Controller and Chief Auditor’s 2011 report to the Legislative Assembly Fuimaono C G Afele reports this fiscal situation the Corporation found themselves in was due to an increase in the working capital deficit at the end of the 2010 financial year.

“There was uncertainty about the ability of the Corporation to continue as a going concern,” the Auditor reports.

“Because there was no documentary evidence that the Government of Samoa will continue to support the Corporation after 30 June 2010.”

Despite this, the Corporation’s financial performance improved slightly, the Auditor says.

“With a three per cent reduction in net loss from $928,591 in the prior year to $899,650 in the current financial year,” according to the report.

S.T.E.C. responded to Fuimaono’s concerns saying that in the past, the Corporation faced cash flow problems due to the lack of funds to start new economic activities. “The Corporation was operating on bank overdraft towards the end of every financial year,” the Corporation responded.

“At present, the Corporation implements cash cropping and long term crops to improve its cash flow as well as collecting rents of land leases and seeking projects to finance agricultural and renewable projects to improve its cash flow positions.”

S.T.E.C. also said that there were documents including the Samoa Development Strategy (S.D.S.) plan, Agriculture Sector plans and other plans that Samoa committed to implement in order to improve the level of social economic development of the country.

“S.T.E.C., in its corporate planning and development strategy 2011 to 2016, highlights key priorities for S.T.E.C. to work and implement to improve its financial position and perform sustainably,” its response reads.

The report is published in full below:

Samoa Trust Estate Corporation
Financial year:
 30 June 2010
Audit opinion:
 Qualified
Auditor: Lesa ma Penn


Summary of audit findings:
1. The Corporation’s financial performance improved slightly with a 3% reduction in net loss from $928,591 in the prior year to $899,650 in the current financial year.

2. The Corporation’s financial position was very unstable with an increase in the working capital deficit.

3. There was uncertainty about the ability of the Corporation to continue as a going concern because there was no documentary evidence that the Government of Samoa will continue to support the Corporation after 30 June 2010.

4. There was no Human Resource manual and Financial and Accounting manual. These manuals would specify the working conditions and entitlements for all employees as well as guidelines for financial and accounting procedures.

5. The Corporation responded as follows:

• One of the Corporation objectives is to control operating expenses and improve efficiency and productivity per unit of land, labour and capital and hence increases revenues from agricultural activities, property investments including land leases and renewable energies;

• In the past, the Corporation faced cash flow problems due to the lack of funds to start new economic activities. The Corporation was operating on bank overdraft towards the end of every financial year. At present, the Corporation implements cash cropping and long term crops to improve its cash flow as well as collecting rents of land leases and seeking projects to finance agricultural and renewable projects to improve its cash flow positions;

• There were documents including the Samoa Development Strategy (SDS) plan, Agriculture Sector plans and other plans that Samoa committed to implement in order to improve the level of social economic development of the country. STEC in its corporate planning and development strategy 2011 to 2016 highlights key priorities for STEC to work and implement to improve its financial position and perform sustainably;

• STEC management is now working to finalise the Human Resource manual and Financial and Accounting manual for the endorsement of the Board of Directors and the Minister of STEC.

“The campaign centres on daily news articles and a Facebook campaign to encourage planting trees, composting and mulching as carbon offsetting actions. We have received emails and messages of support but we still want to see action. That’s why I planted my tree”

I planted my first tree this week.

This doesn’t sound like earth-shattering news. But then again, maybe it is.

This tree I planted – a Tahitian Lime bought from a farmer in Faleula – is the first of many trees I intend to plant to help offset carbon emissions from the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States (S.I.D.S).

To be honest I have never really planted anything before, save a couple of ginger plants that my husband moved days after to save them from perishing.

But this week, it felt good to break the soil and dig down – something reminiscent of a childhood memory of playing in the vegetable garden.

Of course for most people in Samoa, planting trees is nothing new.

It has been a practice passed down the generations.

And, the birds seem to do a pretty good job helping spreading seeds around to account for pawpaw trees sprouting up randomly.

But the practice has, of late, needed a boost to replenish the plantings of our grandfathers.

The Government of Samoa has been running its agro-forestry stimulus package to kickstart the massive replanting of coconut, cocoa and coffee for several years.

Here, at Women in Business Development Inc we have had an internal replanting programme operating for about the last ten years.

The focus has mainly been on coconut trees to replace the senile, 60-years plus trees that are no longer good for coconut production. Our farmer’s have also been planting cocoa, fetau, coffee and misiluki.

Now with the SIDS conference on the horizon, there is another to reason to plant trees. Around 3,000 people are predicted to arrive in Samoa.

If we took the example of 3,000 flights from Los Angeles (balancing out that some will come from closer and also further airports), then about 11,000 tonnes of carbon emissions will be generated.

Trees remove and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as they grow. One tree can in its lifetime store one tonne of carbon. They also provide a habitat for living creatures and are capable of producing food for many years.

Trees also prevent soil erosion. Samoa’s fetau tree has a deep-root system that helps our beaches stay intact. This particular tree also produces a nut that yields a healing oil for skin ailments.

Last Sunday, we started the Offset ISLAND 2014 awareness and social media campaign. The campaign centres on daily news articles and a Facebook campaign to encourage planting trees, composting and mulching as carbon offsetting actions. We have received emails and messages of support but we still want to see action. That’s why I planted my tree.

I figure I cannot just raise awareness, I have to do something.

I have to intervene, take action and as Mahatma Ghandi said: “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.”

I know that right now our campaign is small but I have faith in my friends, colleagues and humankind. I also have faith in the Lord to keep going because as we all know: Through Him all things are possible.

As a citizen of a small island developing state, I know only too well that this whole carbon emissions and climate change mess has come from developed nations.

But knowing this will not change that it is happening and the effects are most felt in island nations such as Samoa, making our islands and way of life vulnerable. We are already seeing neighbouring islands such as Tuvalu and Kiribati receiving the brunt of the rising sea levels and salt-water intrusion ruining crops and domestic dwellings. For them the impacts of climate change is literally at their doorstep.

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi signalled in April that he was after and agreement from developed nations, as a result of the SIDS meeting, to extend the Kyoto protocol. He would like to see an agreement to limit greenhouse gas emissions and a framework that would set how this will be done.

I trust that our island leaders will do the best they can to secure a safe and prosperous future for our planet and people.

Theirs is a tough battle with our regional ally Australia taking a blinkered approach to climate change.

Luckily the United States, through President Barack Obama and State Secretary John Kerry, have been very vocal about the need to tackle the issue of climate change with policy and practical programmes.

One of their initiatives has been the setting up on agricultural regional climate hubs, where farmers and forest landowners can get information to help them adapt to climate change and weather variability.

S.I.D.S is just one global meeting happening around the world. But it is here in Samoa, in my homeland and heartland, and I know that I have, we all have, a role to play to make sure that this meeting does not add to the damage that humankind has already inflicted on our precious earth.

In Samoa, our way of life is blessed by our fertile soils and warm climate. We need to give back that blessing.

Plant, compost, mulch – Be the change that you wish to see in the world.

“The key to sustainability is the ability to engage community support so that even when you have no physical funds in the bank you can still run events through contributions and value in kind products given by both businesses and individuals” – Tusitina Nu’uvali

There must be secret formula behind Samoa’s success in leading the Pacific in the development of sports for people with disabilities.
In a country that does not possess the leading sporting facilities or the deepest government pockets, Samoa has been able to consistently grasp international recognition for the professional manner in which its Special Olympics are hosted.

Samoa was selected by FIFA’s head office to carry out workshops across five pacific nations including Toga, Fiji, PNG, Vanuatu and American Samoa.

Last week, Special Olympic Samoa’s (SO Samoa) staff returned from Tonga where they held a weeklong workshop on aligning the countries Special Olympics office with the major sporting bodies to increase the quality and structure of sports for athletes with intellectual disabilities.

Throughout the workshops, SO Samoa C.E.O, Tusitina Nu’uvali (pictured), gave examples of Samoa’s successful Special Olympic model and how it can be adapted to suit Tonga.

“The key to sustainability is the ability to engage community support so that even when you have no physical funds in the bank you can still run events through contributions and value in kind products given by both businesses and individuals,” Ms Nu’uvali said.

Samoa has been recognised for implementing a structured year round sporting program that allows athletes to compete in local mini games, island regional games and national games. The result of this is sustained athlete engagement and development and a fair national selection policy for international events like the 2015 World Games to be held in L.A., U.S.A. Samoa has been granted the largest number of athletes for the Pacific Islands.

Ms Nu’uvali said that “the shift in Samoa’s mind-set to provide sports for all abilities is guided by the forward thinking initiative of organisations like the Australian Aid program, Civil Society Support Program, European Union, Digicel and the

Totalisator Agency Board who have given SO Samoa a voice and the opportunity to run our programs creating positive change.”

“Every day in Special Olympics we are grateful for all who have contributed to the development of our organisation but our voice would not be heard without the partnership of our news teams. It is through the continued support of the

Samoa Observer, Radio Polynesia, 2AP and TV 3 who take our message to the people and provide our sponsors with an understanding of the impacts that their support makes”.

Special Olympics Samoa has opened the communication channel with its Pacific partners and will continue to share knowledge and experiences with the neighbor organisations with the aim of creating a stronger presence of Special

Olympics in the Pacific. SO Samoa will visit Vanuatu later this year to roll out the last of the Pacific workshops.

“You are the future leaders of our country. Who knows if I am looking at future Mayors, Prime Ministers, and heads of government departments in this gathering?”
– Speaker La’auli Leuatea Polata’ivao

The second Annual Parliamentary College Programme being organised by the Office of the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly (O.C.L.A) opened yesterday.

Guided by the ‘Know your Parliament! Your Voice: Your Parliament ’, the programme seeks to familiarise students with the role of Parliament as well as its functions in a democracy.

Addressing the participants yesterday, Speaker of Parliament, La’auli Leuatea Polataivao, said conference is the opportunity of a lifetime.

“This is an opportunity that we did not have back in our days,” he said.

According to the Speaker, “everyone is important in the decision making of our country.”

The programme, he said, is designed so that the young participants would have a better understanding of Parliament.

“You are the future leaders of our country. Who knows if I am looking at future mayors, prime ministers, and heads of government departments in this gathering?”

La’auli said one of reasons for the programme is to prepare the participants for their future roles. He then urged the students to make good use of the opportunity.

It is envisaged that by the end of the program, students will have a basic understanding of:

• The inherent and varied functions of Parliament and its composition

• Parliamentary practice, procedures and processes;

• The Offices and Officers of the Legislative Assembly; and

• The support and services required to meet the deliverables and expectations of Parliament.

Participants will observe Parliament during the Sitting, meet prominent Leaders of Parliament, tour the Offices of Parliament, and learn about Parliamentary practices, procedures and processes through various presentations, culminating in a Speech Contest.

A National English Speech Competition for Year 13 was held at the Church College, Pesega, last week, which included colleges from the big island of Savai’i.

The students were given a range of topics to randomly pick and then spoke about on the spot.

At the end of the competition, Le Grande Lolo from Pesega College took 1st place, Jadose Chan Boon from St. Mary’s College came second while Pata Mate from Faleata College came third.

Host of the English Speech Competition, Senerita Fuiava, told the Samoa Observer that this year, they wanted to test the student’s knowledge and how fast they could think.

“Last year’s topics were given out to the students so that they would have a lot of time to write their speeches. However this year, we wanted to make it different,” she said.

“We give out the topics here and we leave them for 15 minutes to get something in their heads about the topic and then they (students) speak on the spot.

Ms Fuiava said that the whole idea of that is to prepare the senior students for universities and real life experiences.

“Students should develop their thinking ability and then be able to deliver their thoughts quickly on the topics that they are given”, she said.

As for the standards achieved, Ms Fuiava said that all the students did really well.

“It shows that the students are really good and they also came up with some logical information about their topic.”

“In the end every student enjoyed the competition and most of them said that this idea really helped them and it encouraged them to think fast and prepare them for university level.”

The competition is an annual programme which is hosted at different schools.

This year, Pesega College hosted the competition.

On Saturday just gone, Samoa hosted our second International Half Ironman event. There were road closures around Apia in abundance. Traffic was at slow-motion throughout the day as triathletes and vehicles vied for limited space on Beach Road space.

In attendance were some of the world’s best elite tri-athletes who swam, biked and ran in the middle of Apia – yet there were no media there to report on the biggest story of the day.

The race was tough. There was the 2km swim, followed by a 90km bike ride to Le Mafa return. After all that there was the Half Marathon to be run.

Returning to defend his title was Kiwi Half Ironman champion Graham O’Grady. He was the favourite to win it. He did not. He was overcome by the heat in the first lap of the run course, and pulled out of the race. That was one dramatic twist to the Warrior race.

Next, Kerry Weeks, was also overcome by the heat. Two male pros down, five to go - another great story for the papers and radio news bulletins.

Another drama was developing. The first local athlete to finish was Darren Young. After he crossed the line, he staggered and almost fell several times from sheer exhaustion, before he was seated and cooled with ice and water by the amazing Red Cross staff. Despite being sick all week leading up to the race Darren completed the course in a personal best for him – he bettered his 2013 time by 18mins. That is a phenomenal result. Not only that, he was the fifth person to finish and the first of the non-pro athletes across the line. That was another noted event that should have and would have made headlines around the country, in any country around the world. It was not recorded here.

Still another drama had been unfolding throughout the day. Team Small was competing in the long event. The team, made up of the Small family – Mum and Dad Mark and Luisa Small with their 11-year old son Joshua, who was doing the 2km swim, were competing as a team.

Young Joshua got in the water and swam the 2km swim behind not only the professional athletes and also the Age Group field. Joshua finished the swim in the deep Apia Harbour, in good time and just in front of Elia Lasa. Another story that would make huge community headlines anywhere else in the developed world. Still more drama and success, our top swimmers, Brandon Schuster, Tehani Tamasese and Sitivi So’oa’emalelagi, swam with the Professional athletes and the

Age Group field, and came out third (Brandon), fifth (Tehani) and seventh (Sitivi).

Still more drama, Dr Malama Tafuna’i who has never completed a Half Ironman ever, did so on the weekend. It was pure hard work for Malama, but in the end she overcame the tough course that two pro-triathletes failed to conquer on Saturday. Malama was on the course for 7hrs 34mins 39secs. That was an amazing undertaking.

Malama’s swim time was 1hr 02mins, 30mins behind the first pro. Her bike time was 3hrs and 40mins, and she took close to 3hrs to complete the 21km Half Marathon run. That was pure heroine stuff – a drive of the will not to give up. This is what makes super-heroes, a story that should have been told through lenses, print, radio and television. It was not.

There was more newsworthy stuff – Saoluafata was the first Village team to compete in the International event albeit in the shorter distance. Saoluafata village won the teams’ event in Beat the Heat. All three members of the team were from the village and they were ecstatic to finish, and more, to win it for their village. That was another worthwhile story to be told. It was not.

If that was not enough, there were the social stories. The impact of the race on the town of Apia, and the closure of the central lanes of the town. That was another great story to be told. It was not. There were more stories, the ecstatic finish of the race, one after another of the athletes crossing in sheer exhaustion. Some like Darren Young, staggered and like a wounded animal after he was triumphant across the line. Such pure will to finish, a Warrior spirit, deserves those stories to be told. When young Sam Betten crossed the finish line in what was a course record raising and raising the finishing tape high above his head, triumphant in glory in front of our government building at Eleele fou, the story of the day for local news was not recorded.

Were was the Samoa media? In the biggest international sport to happen in Samoa this year, outside the two rugby internationals, the Samoa media was absent. There was not a single TV camera around, or a journalist that I recognised from mainstream media.

In countries overseas where such events are courted and bought for their tourism-generating potential the media would crawl all over each other for space at the Event sites to capture images, interviews and photo opportunities.

There were none present too, apart from the Samoa Observer, at the Grand Opening of the Event on Friday at the STA Fale with a keynote speech from the associate minister for Tourism,the Hon. Tafua Maluelue Tafua. That was despite various Media information and releases informing of event times and Race information.

To be fair to the Media, they did show in numbers for the Kids Triathlon during the week, on Wednesday last week. However, in the biggest international Sporting event to be held in Samoa outside the two rugby test matches this year, the

Samoa media contingent was totally missing in action from the event and failed to report to their audiences on the biggest Sporting news of the weekend.

The Associate Minister of the Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Peseta Vaifou Tevaga, yesterday pleaded not guilty to three separate traffic-related charges.

He entered the plea when he appeared before her Honour, Judge Tafaoimalo Leilani Tuala, in the District Court.

Inspector Rosalia Matamu, who appeared for the prosecution, informed her Honour of the charges against the Member of Parliament.

The specific charges were not revealed in Court.

Peseta’s lawyer and defense counsel, Te’o Richard Fa’aiuaso, entered the not guilty plea on behalf of his client.

Judge Tafaoimalo then adjourned the matter for 29 October 2014 for a Court hearing.

The charges against Peseta stem from an accident at Maluafou two weeks ago.

Peseta was one of two drivers involved. The Associate Minister was driving a government vehicle with the number plate, MPMC006.

Peseta is the M.P. for Fa’asaleleaga No. 4.

“Providing an additional medium outside of the Chamber for MPs to discuss bills will enhance the effectiveness of parliamentary sittings as MPs become more equipped to positively contribute to parliamentary debates on bills. Furthermore, it will enhance effective leadership and member accountability”

Parliament reconvened yesterday for its August session.
With the bulk of the morning taken up by traditional presentations from the constituency of the newest Cabinet Minister, Lautafi Fio Purcell, the first task for the House when it resumed was the announcement of bills to be debated during this session.

According to the Clerk of the House, Fepulea’i Letufuga Ropati, the bills to be tabled and discussed during the next few days include:
• Public Finance Management Amendment Bill 2014 (Ministry of Finance)
• NPF Amendment Bill 2014 (National Provident Fund)
• Community Law Centre Bill 2014 (Ministry of Justice and Courts Administration)
Media Council Bill 2014 (Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet)
• Customs Bill 2014 (Ministry for Revenue)
On Monday, Members of Parliament were given a briefing about the bills during the Legislative Assembly’s pre-sitting briefing.
According to a statement from Parliament, pre-sitting briefings were instituted in October 2012 with the aim of providing M.P.’s with the opportunity to familiarise themselves with bills prior to their introduction. “MPs are given detailed information by each Ministry responsible for the proposed bills as to its contents and objectives; it provides a forum for queries and clarification which was not previously available."
“This is one of the initiatives of the Samoa Parliamentary Support Project.”
The Project further believes that providing an additional medium outside of the Chamber for M.P’s to discuss bills will enhance the effectiveness of parliamentary sittings “as M.P’s become more equipped to positively contribute to parliamentary debates on bills.
“Furthermore, it will enhance effective leadership and member accountability.”

The lawyer representing the family of Hans Dalton, Leulua’iali’i Olinda Woodroffe, is not giving up on her attempts to find justice for the mental health patient who was found dead at the Tafa’igata Prison.

The latest move in her attempts saw her in the Supreme Court this week asking to have the case referred to a Judicial Settlement Conference.

According to legal minds, a judicial settlement conference is an informal process in which a retired circuit court judge, trained in mediation and settlement conference skills, actively facilitates a process whereby parties in conflict may reach a mutually satisfactory resolution.

Speaking to the Samoa Observer outside Court, Leulua’iali’i said the Chief Justice; His Honour Patu Tiava’asu’e Falefatu Sapolu accepted her request.

Asked why she has chosen the option, the lawyer said because of the costs for the parties involved.

“Judicial settlement conference involves a judge with a background and experience in legal issues whereas mediation involves people who are trained in mediation when two parties want to come together and solve something,” she said.

Leuluaiali’i also said she chose the option “because of the ability of the judges to control and pick up the legal issues.”

Speaking about Dalton’s death, she said he had a mental health issue and should have never been taken to jail.

“Why was he killed in jail,” she asked. “Those are the things that disturb me as a mother and a human being.”

Dalton was found dead inside a gallon of water at Tafa’igata prison on Boxing Day, 2012.

The police had initially ruled that the New Zealand-based Samoan had committed suicide.

Contrary to those reports, the Police later charged a 21-year-old prisoner for the murder of Dalton. He has since been discharged.

Dalton’s death was one of the issues a Commission of Inquiry into Police and Prisons delved into.

Under the sub-headline “A tragic Christmas,” the Commission headed by the Ombudsman, Maiava Iulai Toma found the following:

“On Christmas day 2012, shortly after 6.00 pm a thirty-eight year old man was brought to Tafaigata prison to be detained there. The man had been under a Mental Health Act 2007 ‘in-patient treatment order’ since 23 December 2012 and had been handed over to the Police because the hospital could not cope with excessively physical manifestations of agitation he had shown.

He was placed in one of four cells in pa sima cell block No. 2 shortly after arrival at Tafaigata prison. At that point he was seen to act strangely. He mumbled to himself continuously but otherwise he was not an active threat to anyone.

At about 8.45 p.m. he started to scream loudly and to shake the iron bars of his cell or punch the concrete walls from time to time.

Two other detainees, a convicted prisoner and a man held in custody charged with murder shared the small cell block with the detained mental patient. The cells that the two other detainees occupied were not locked and the two men were free to walk about in the common area into which all four cells in the block opened.

At about 9.00 p.m. two medical personnel arrived to administer medication. They were however unsuccessful in this task and the ill man was forcibly put back into his assigned cell. He received no further medical visits.

The cell block was checked throughout the night and early morning at irregular intervals ranging from 35 minutes to 2hrs 25 minutes. Each visit was made by at least two of the three prison officers who made up the night watch at the male residential part of the prison. This watch had been on duty since 8.00 a.m. Christmas morning and due to come off its 24 hour roster duty at 8.00 a.m. Boxing Day.

It is clear that the mentally ill man had kept up his loud screaming and occasional swearing throughout the night. He shook the cell door’s iron bars from time to time and was frequently heard to call out “Lisa” his wife’s name to the deaf world around him. At about 7.15 a.m. on Boxing Day, Hans Dalton was dead. He was found head down in a large drum half full of water in the prison cell.

The event described above tells of the pitifully low level of performance that Tafaigata prison through habit has permanently set for itself to deliver. It reflects miserably also on the capacity of Samoa Police to be sensitive and responsive to the situation of an ill person in desperate need of relief from his mental anxieties.

Tafaigata is used to having only three or four officers as the full complement of the night watch in the prison office and male inmate compound. Such numbers provide capacity for nothing more than the manning of the office and rounds of the cell blocks by foot from time to time throughout the night. The low numbers is also a convenient excuse for not attending to any demands outside of the basic tasks that may arise during the night. Demands outside of the basic tasks include requests from inmates for medical attention.

Hans Dalton presented the Tafaigata night watch with a challenge that, had the prison wanted to handle in a minimally satisfactory manner, would have required additional manpower to provide, at the least, fuller surveillance throughout the night of the seriously agitated detainee. Such manpower was only a shout away for the asking. All of the Samoa Police force on Upolu not on regular duty that night were camped at Tafaigata in readiness for contingencies. The camp is routine Police procedure for the festive season holiday period.

Sadly however, the idea of doing anything out of the ordinary that night to help Hans Dalton does not appear to have entered the duty leader’s mind. To him the mentally ill detainee was a nuisance. In fact he was more concerned about the safety of the other two detainees in the cell block from Hans Dalton. The team leader and another colleague said so quite plainly in statements given to the Police Professional Standards Unit.

The watch was commanded by a Senior Constable. Why was command in the hands of such a low level officer? Why weren’t any of the senior ranks available to make decisions when the mental patient’s behaviour changed drastically later in the evening? The Superintendent who is 2nd in command of the prison resides in the compound. Why wasn’t his wisdom and experience brought to bear on the problem on the spot? In total perspective, what kind of a ‘ship’ was the Assistant Commissioner running at Tafaigata? How could the pitiful cries of an ill, for all intents and purposes, totally trapped human being yearning aloud desperately for the comfort of his wife and children, not be heard in the midst of assembled police manpower poised in readiness supposedly, to keep the community safe?

Police command showed no interest in these questions after the event. The investigation ordered by the Commissioner of Police focussed on shortcomings in the actions within the cell block of the lowest ranked prison officers involved.

Disciplinary charges of negligent performance in not locking the individual cells were laid against the Senior Constable who was in charge and two duty constables.

The two constables quickly pleaded guilty to the charges even though it is clear that leaving the cells unlocked in this cell block had been common practice. The two constables were dismissed. The Senior Constable team leader while admitting in statements to the PSU that he had not locked Dalton’s cell and throwing himself at the mercy of the Commissioner, chose to defend the disciplinary charges against him. To date, one year later, these charges have yet to be heard by a police tribunal. No one else was held to account for the tragic events of Christmas and Boxing Day 2012 at Tafaigata Prison.

An observable manifestation of the creeping abandonment of prisons by the Ministry over the years is the absence of any verifiable active interest by police command in prisons performance. Where there is little expectation of quality performance or even of the mere possibility of it, little performance in fact emerges. Delegation is a vital factor to operational success in the Police. Over reliance on delegation appears to have been a downfall here.”

The man who has the most sought after pair of shoes in Samoa today is all smiles.

Twenty-five-year-old, Toe Evile, who is a member of the Toa Samoa residents squad, says superstar Sonny Bill Williams handed him his shoes and more.

He even gave him the pair of socks he wore after a training session with S.B.W at the Apia Park on Monday evening.

The pair of shoes made headlines around the world yesterday following a tweet by Sonny Bill which reads; ‘Went and trained with the

Toa Samoa team tonight…left with no shoes - “Only in Samoa.”# cheeeooo.’

The tweet immediately became the subject of a heated debate on social media with some people speculating that perhaps someone stole Sonny Bill’s shoes.

Yesterday, the Samoa Observer tracked down the man who has the shoes.

“I didn’t steal the shoes,” he laughed.

“We had training together with Sonny at Apia Park. After training, I had the chance to have a little chat with him and then I followed it up by asking him a big favour.”

“I told him I was a massive fan of him and I said I wanted a souvenir from him and he asked me if I wanted his shoes.”

“I couldn’t believe it. I was over the moon, my heart was pumping and I felt like jumping up and down with happiness.”
Evile didn’t stop there.

“I also asked for his pair of socks and he agreed.”

Evile was one of the many Toa Samoa resident players who had the opportunity to meet S.B.W.

“I feel like the luckiest rugby league player in Samoa,” he said.

“Everyone wants to step, taste and feel Sonny’s shoes but I can safely say I have the shoes of the most famous star in the world.”

So what does he plan to do with the Adidas pair?

“It’s a souvenir,” he said. “I will hang them inside my room to challenge myself.If ‘Sonny can do it, why not me?”

Evile, who plays for Marist, has been a member of the Toa Samoa squad for two years now.

Fritz Tuiavi’i Savai’inaea, of Samoa Rugby League, said everyone had a bit of a giggle when Sonny Bill took off his shoes and gave it to Evile.

“Toe asked and he gave it just like that,” said Tuiavi’i.

“Sonny told him to go and wash it … Toe is obviously pretty lucky he has the chance to wear a superstar’s shoes.”

Tuiavai’i said that Samoa Rugby League was very honoured to have had Sonny Bill in Samoa, especially to develop the game at grassroots level.

“We hope to see him again soon.”

“The way I see myself is that I am just a servant to my district and my country and therefore I look forward to serve them to the best of my ability”

Gagaifomauga No. 1 Member of Parliament, Faimalotoa Kika Stowers, is looking forward to representing the views of her constituents in the House.

Days into her new role after winning the by-election last Friday, Faimalotoa told the media during a press conference yesterday, that she was ready for the challenge.

“I’m very humbled by the honour (to be chosen an M.P) and I’m looking forward to the challenge ahead,” she said.

“I want to serve my constituency well and I want to do what’s right for my constituency and the people of Samoa.”

According to the former Director of Radio 2AP, there is much to be done to place the needs of the people first.

“And that’s my priority. I want to put the needs of my people first."

“The way I see myself is that I am just a servant to my district and my country and therefore I look forward to serve them to the best of my ability.”

Faimalotoa also used the opportunity to thank her constituents for placing their faith in her.

“There can never be any success unless we are humbled and committed,” she said.

Becoming the third woman M.P in Parliament’s current sitting, she also encouraged other women to give Parliament a go.

“Women play a huge role in their churches, villages and their country,” she said. “I am confident that the women of Samoa can become leaders of their country if they put their hearts into it."

“I know some people refer to us as the weak side and that our voice is never heard. This should not be the case.”

Last Friday, Faimalotoa defeated all four men candidates for the seat left vacant by the passing away of Tuilo’a Anitele’a.

The final count saw her finish with 270 votes. She was followed by Lavea Natoe Ieti who secured 231 votes, Taito Vaea Tanu with 198, Gaiga Aukisitino with 184 while Lavea Peseta Nafo’i secured 102 votes.

Faimalotoa, a mother of seven is married to Tevaga Filipo Ah Kau. She was born in Safotu Savai’i and is the daughter of the late William and Savali Stowers.

Before she contested the by-election, she was on the Board of Directors for Pacific Ezy Money Transfer. Faimalotoa, her husband and their children manage the family business, Pacific Ezy.

Her most notable role until now has been the Director of Radio 2AP.

“All my life I have been a part of the media,” she said.

“It wasn’t easy as everyone pointed the finger but as long as we are not biased in our decisions, we are in fact making a change.”

The new M.P. said Tuiloa raised a number of issues during his time of which she will be following up.

Faimalotoa is expected to be sworn in this week.

The Samoa Audit Office is hosting the 17th Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institutions (P.A.S.A.I) Congress at the Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi Building this week.

Samoa last hosted the P.A.S.A.I Congress in 2004 with just over 20 participants.

This year, the Samoa Audit Office is hosting more than 60 participants from around the Pacific region, China, Brazil, South Africa, Austria and development partners like Asian Development Bank and World Bank.

The theme for this year’s Congress is “The role of Supreme Audit Institutions (S.A.Is) in the effective governance and accountability of Pacific Island countries”.

P.A.S.A.I members include American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam,

Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and

Vanuatu. Country presentations will include progress updates, reforms and capacity development and training needs of audit staff.

Guest speakers throughout the week include:

• Dr. Josef Moser – President of the Austrian Court of Audit and Secretary General of International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI)

• Haiying Jiang – Deputy International Director General from the National Audit Office of China

• Thembekile Kimi Makwetu – Auditor General of South Africa

• Luciano dos Santos Danni – Head of Department for International Relations from the Federal Court of Accounts of Brazil

• Archana P. Shirsat – Deputy Director General and Head of Capacity Development of the INTOSAI Development Initiative (IDI)

• Brian Blood – Chief Executive of Confederation of Asian and Pacific Accountants (CAPA)

Other guest speakers will include local consultancy firm KVA Consult and Samoa Audit Office development partners Asian Development Bank and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.

The P.A.S.A.I Governing Board on Monday preceded the Congress yesterday which was officially opened by Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi..

“I have been here a couple of times before, but the welcome was second to none. Thanks for showing my friends that Samoan hospitality. The drive around town on the back of a truck is something that we will probably remember for a long time”

Australia’s National Rugby League (N.R.L.) launched its Pacific Strategy here in Samoa this week, with Sonny Bill Williams leading the charge.
During an event held at the Samoa Cultural Village Fale in Apia on Monday, the N.R.L’s C.E.O., David Smith, said with Samoa landing a place in the Four Nations Cup, it made what his team was here to do all that more important.

According to the N.R.L. the Strategy is aimed at strengthening Rugby League and building stronger business and community ties in the Pacific Islands.

Last week nrl.com reported Mr. Smith as saying the Pacific Strategy would focus on: game development, player welfare, commercial and corporate opportunities, supporting education, social and community outcomes and strengthening the Rugby

League bodies in each nation to build the international game.


“I have to say since I got off the plane this morning and I know Sonny got off the plane last night the welcome has been incredible,” Mr. Smith said.

“It is an incredible country with incredible people, so thank you very much for making us feel so welcome.”

“This is the launch of the NRL Pacific outreach strategy.”

“What we are doing here is recognising that through community, through connections with government and business and thorough community engaged development that our great game can do a lot more in the Pacific.”

“Which is very important because already Samoa is in the Four Nations now they are there by right - playing a fantastic game against Fiji.”

Mr. Smith said with nearly 40 per cent of players in the N.R.L. having Pacific heritage, it was vital that the game increase its connections with the region.

“And (that) we do that with a long-term future in mind,” he said.

“It is also very important that we do that with some of our wonderful players. Sonny Bill is here today with us as the Ambassador for Samoa.”

Mr. Smith told nrl.com that one of the great aspects of the program was that it enabled N.R.L. stars like Sonny Bill Williams to give something back to their homeland.
 


He said the players will combine skills clinics with educational programs aimed at teaching children how to eat well and lead healthy lifestyles.
 


“It is very important that we use those players to connect with the country,” he told the crowd on Monday.

“(Through) the health and wellbeing programs we are going to run to connect in a way with our elite development programmes and some of the other programmes that we want to run.”

“Such that hopefully for the next world cup maybe we will see Samoa in the final, maybe lifting the World Cup.”

“I know we are going to be coming back a lot and I look forward to a long-term future for Rugby League with Samoa.”

Australia’s National N.R.L. Coach, Tim Sheens, here in Samoa for the first time, was also in awe of the welcome given to the team.

“I have been to Fiji, I have been to Tonga, I have been to Papua New Guinea,” he told the crowd.

“But I must admit it is the first time I have gone around the town on the back of a truck and enjoyed it so much.”

“So thank you very, very much for that welcome.”

“I am looking forward to the next couple of days when I get to see your wonderful island.”

Mr Sheens said his role, while he was here on island, was to talk to and encourage the coaches.

“Because it is really what they teach is what the kids learn so as well as their wellbeing and their education.”

“It is about encouraging them to play sport.”

“We obviously want them to play Rugby League - however if they play any sort of sport I think that is a healthy, great thing for them to do.”

“So I will be here talking to the coaches and working with some of the kids.”

Getting up to speak, Mr Williams thanked Samoa for showing his friends true Samoan hospitality.

“(It is) awesome to be standing here today, back in Samoa,” he said.

“I have been here a couple of times before, but the welcome was second to none. Thanks for showing my friends that Samoan hospitality.”

“The drive around town on the back of a truck is something that we will probably remember for a long time.”

He said in addition to launching the Strategy, what they were here in Samoa to do was to spread the word of healthy living style, active living style.

“That is something that I am very, very passionate about,” he said.

“(I am) very honoured to be able to come back here and preach that word and hopefully over the next couple of days we can set in place some programmes that the kids will pick up.”

He said with the 40 per cent player statistic, it meant that it was real possibility that any of the young men that play rugby league can make a living out of it.

“As I have and you can make it not just for yourself but for your family,” he told his fans.

“And that is probably the biggest thing of my sporting career that I am proud of is that I have been able to look after my family.”

“It is a special occasion and a really humbling experience so far, I just want to say thank you very much for having us.”

In response to the conference the President of Rugby League Samoa, Tagaloa Fa’afouina Su’a, said the fact that such high-ranking N.R.L. officials had come to Samoa meant that they were not forgetting about our people here.

“They realise that the Pacific people have long been the sleeping giants of the game of Rugby League when they found out that around 37 per cent of the players have a Pacific background,” he said.

In regards to Mr Williams leading the charge:

“It is good for him to come here and promote the game,” Tagaloa said.