After being awarded the right to host the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games involving over 71 countries, the real work begins. The president of the Samoa Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (S.A.S.N.O.C.), Fepulea’i Patrick Fepulea’i gives a glimpse into what is going on behind the scenes to ensure that the organization of this event goes smoothly in the sports operations preparation. He also gives an update on the country’s sports body.

COMMONWEALTH GAMES FEDERATION VISIT

Four weeks ago a couple of guys from the Commonwealth Games Federation visited to see how we were going forward with preparations for the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games in September.
From the point of Sports Operations which I chair, there is still some work to be done. One of the requirements is for each of the nine sports to draw up a Sports Manual setting out how the Games will be delivered.
So we have now been set a timeline of what we need to do. All the nine sports have had to prepare their drafts and have them in today (Friday 31 October).
We have got people in the Commonwealth Youth Games office here like Moira, who is one of our sports advisers and will be helping us with the running of the Games, assisting with the drawing up of these manuals. So by mid November we have to submit all of these to the Commonwealth Federation for them to go through. After they have given their approval, the Manuals have to be sent off to the 71 Commonwealth countries.

Preparation of athletes

There were five of the nine sports at the meeting, four were unavailable to attend. It was to give everyone a hurry up. The other matter on the meeting’s agenda was looking at where they are in the preparation of athletes. Most of the sports have not finalised their teams yet and are still working on their development and preparing their juniors. While most of the participants will be locals, there will be some sports which will call several of our young athletes who are offshore. Swimming for instance are hoping to have gender balance with six of each.

Challenges
For some of our sports, they are on hold at present with the sports facilities closed down and unavailable in preparation for the Tuna Commission meeting in December, but after that, we will be back on track. In the meantime sports associations are having to be resourceful and look around to get the use of other gymnasiums and training facilities. The boxers also have no ring at present, the existing ones have been taken over by the professionals.
We do rely on the presidents and office bearers of the sports associations and federations to follow their constitutions and our rules of selection. It was disappointing to return from the Glasgow Games and to field phone calls from members of Lawn Bowls complaining there had been no trials for the selection of the team. Then the members were told that the team had been picked by us, S.A.S.N.O.C.
We endorse the teams to go, when they say “This is the team”. We rely on the sports doing the right thing and holding proper trials before they come to us. I mean it’s sad and I have told the members who complained, what are you doing about it? Get rid of those administrators.

Positive Olympic
Solidarity Audit
In the past weeks, we had Dennis Miller from Fiji and Nicole, the lady from Lausanne who is in charge of Olympic Solidarity Funding. They were actually quite pleased with what we have done.
I’m going next week to Thailand for a meeting of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC). I think the more important meeting as far as I’m concerned is the regional Oceania National Olympic Committees (O.N.O.C.) meeting which will be held there at the same time. One of the things I’m looking forward to is that since they have just done our audit they will be giving me a report which we’ll discuss with these people in Thailand. The feedback that we had was very, very positive. They have been surprised with the work we have done in such a short time. Our C.E.O. Taiva has been one of the biggest pluses. They asked questions about all different areas like H.R., Job Descriptions, Organisation Charts, Training, Capacity Building and we had everything in place. Before they left they sent an email to the Secretary General of O.N.O.C. saying they were happy with what they have seen so could they please release some of the money for us. That’s a big sign of confidence in what we are doing. Taiva’s been working very hard with the staff and even when he was away for a meeting, there have been no issues while Agalelai and Phoebe have looked after things.
I’m very happy now that the S.A.S.N.O.C. staff with the training they have had, are managing the projects. We are giving them more responsibility now we have to start looking for funding and helping our sports.

Financial policy changes

We are now creating policies in areas where we haven’t had them before and we are nearly finished our financial protocols – how money is to be handled. Part of the problem was that our administration grants don’t really cover the salaries of the staff and all the grant money was also paid into the same account. Now we have set up a second account where grants and stuff are deposited so they can be easily accounted for and administration grants go into our operating account. Simple things like that the financial protocols our treasurer Talalelei is working on and I think that went down well with the people who came into do our audit.

Experienced Chef de Mission

The shortfall of changing the Chef de Mission for each event really showed up during the Nanjing Youth Games. We inherited a mess. We missed out on Youth Ambassadors, we missed out on entries in some of the sports like rugby 7’s for example. We just had two athletes for that. This was because of a lack of information.
So I decided it was not going to happen that way.
When there were the Mini Games, nobody would put their hand up but it was different when it came to the Commonwealth and Olympics.
This is why we now have a Chef de Mission for a four year period. We won’t be making the same mistakes again. He will continue on for the rest of the time that I am president. All that institutional knowledge that he gets is useful. You start with the Mini Games and then the next one gets bigger – the Pacific Games etc.
Prioritising funding
This is where I need to talk to government. If I had to pick the three sports that are likely to get medals at Olympic level they would be the rugby 7’s, weightlifting and boxing. They are our tier one sports and then there are tier two sports. Other sports may move up under that tier. However I think the bulk of our resources should be placed with tier one.

The way to the top

I mean our people and our government demand a lot in terms of getting those gold medals and it’s not an easy thing. I think we’ve all got to do our part to ensure that we give all the support and as much funding as we can.
We want these people to be training full time but we also know they have families and kids and so we need to start thinking outside the box to give them support. What can we do as a sports association to alleviate that? Very few have got scholarships, I.O.C. scholarships. But what else can we all do? At Glasgow I was looking at what we need to do to take the next step up? Perhaps having a proper dietician? Maybe getting a business to sponsor an athlete to train full time but having the use of him for their promotional or marketing work. These are some of the ideas we are looking at.

Business Spasific, in collaboration with the Financial Education and Research Centre of Westpac-Massey University, has launched a pilot programme that targets Financial Literacy among Pacific people.

Hosted by two Pacific island churches at the Business Trust’s premises last Thursday, the programme is designed to address the issues Pacific people are faced with when dealing with financial matters – especially personal finance.

The programme is being delivered by ‘Poto Money’, a business under the directorship of Jackie Curry-Malolo.

“The Pacific people will relate better to the name Poto Money, meaning ‘smart money’ which does reflect better in what we are trying to achieve in the programme, ‘be smart with your money’,” says Mrs Malolo.

“The overall objective of the programme is to improve the financial literacy and financial well-being of the Pacific families in New Zealand. We aim to empower them so they are able to enjoy financial freedom and good quality of life while meeting their family and cultural obligations.

“Both Business Spacific and the Financial Education and Research Centre are committed to educating and enriching our people with financial skills and knowledge – one family at a time, to overcome these issues.”

The long-term goal is to train local representatives to deliver the course throughout the wider Pacific communities based on the initiative already in use by other service providers – and that is utilising those who are skilled in their own individual languages; i.e. Samoan, Tongan, Cook Island and others. Mrs Curry-Malolo’s background in Business Education, started as a Marketing Lecturer at the National University of Samoa.

She continued when she shifted to New Zealand, teaching at the Te Wananga o Aotearoa and at Martin Hautus Institute where she came across many Pacific students with aspirations to start their own businesses.

They were unable to do so due to lack of financial management skills among other things. It made her realise that in order to help and start Pacific businesses, she needed to come up with a solution to help people understand and better manage their finances.

“I noticed that Finance companies with high interest loans were directly targeting Pacific people in their promotions – that bothered me and I knew the only way to counter this was to educate our people.”

“Growing up as a Samoan, I have experienced financial hardship when it comes time to contribute and meet our cultural obligations and the need for a ‘quick cash’ during these times makes it very hard to resist the temptations to access quick easy loans from finance companies or loan sharks.”

Dr. Pushpa Wood from the Financial Education and Research Centre, saw the programme as the only sustainable way on improving financial literacy nationwide.

“I see it as my role to ignite passion in individuals and communities to take responsibility for their own financial health.

The centre is committed to promoting high quality and accessible financial literacy programmes to empower communities to ultimately take charge and deliver and Poto Money is one of of them.”

Alesana Talopau, of Break Through Advisors & Brokers Limited, and Hana Seumanu- Ikenasio, a Career Consultant of Careers NZ, who were amongst the audience both agreed that it’s about time the Pacific people have the opportunities to serve their people from positions where they can affect some changes to the mindset of the Pacific people about managing their finances.

Alex Leapai’s comeback from his world heavyweight boxing title defeat by Wladimir Klitschko ended in disappointment Friday night as he was outpointed by American Malik Scott over ten rounds.

Leapai (now 30-6-3), six months on from his fifth-round stoppage loss to the world champion, was outclassed throughout with the visitor earning a unanimous decision; 100-90, 99-91 and 98-92 on the three scorecards.

By winning this crossroads fight, Scott, coming off two defeats in his previous three fights, can now look forward to big paydays against some of the biggest names in the division, while Leapai’s dream of fighting at the top level again seem over.

The 185cm Leapai said he would take his time to make a decision on his future, discussing the subject with manager and trainer Noel Thornberry and his family, but his tone suggested a man at the end of his career.

“I didn’t want to come back and just fight anyone, I wanted to fight the best fighter out there,” Leapai said.

“All credit to Malik Scott.

“It’s really hard when you lose two fights straight. We’re going to sit down and see what the plan is.”

Early in the fight, the American kept on the move, wary of Leapai’s power, holding in close and flicking out punches on the run. By the third round, Scott was comfortable standing in range and firing combinations at his opponent who, never the most elusive fighter, seemed hampered by a calf injury which delayed the fight for a week and presented an easy target walking forward in straight lines.

The Samoan gamely kept walking forward and swinging his trademark hooks and uppercuts that brought him 24 knockouts in his career, but the classy Scott - a former Junior Olympic champion - proved an elusive target.

By the fifth round, Leapai’s right eye began to close from Scott’s persistent jab and for the first of two occasions, his mouthguard fell out, a sign of a tired fighter.

In the sixth, his mouth began to bleed and as he took increasing punishment a stoppage looked likely.

That the 35-year-old home fighter lasted the distance after tasting so much leather against a fighter with 34 knockouts on his resume was to his credit.

Leapai even gave his passionate supporters cause to cheer in the closing stages as he forced the American backwards while swinging wildly, looking for the elusive haymaker, and he was given the round by two of the judges.

Ultimately his efforts were in vain and it may be time for the truck driver to call an end to a career that, against the odds, had him fighting for the biggest prize in the sport

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Think a minute…

A school teacher was complaining about a little boy in her class who was not showing any interest in learning. She said: “David will not do his school work. He’s not even motivated to try!”  But that same boy, David, will jump out of bed early in the morning to go fishing or play with his friends.

He just needs the right motivation.

Everyone can be motivated. Just watch people leaving work on Friday.

Even at the end of a long week of work, they still have plenty of motivation and energy to party that evening and throughout the weekend!

Maybe you had a school teacher who made a certain subject interesting and exciting to you.

He or she inspired and gave you the desire to learn.

They explained things so you could clearly understand, and as a result you did much better in that teacher’s class than you did in other classes.

But we parents are our kids’ most important teachers. We are the main ones responsible to motivate our children, so they want to learn to succeed and become their best in life. But to do that we cannot just tell our kids, we must also show them that we believe in them.

We must spend time watching and listening to our children, so we can help them know what their natural, unique talents are.

Then we need to encourage them in that area so they can fully develop their own special abilities—whether it is academics in school, business, social skills and relating to people, sports, music, or whatever they naturally enjoy and do well.

You and I can motivate our children by always loving and accepting them without conditions, no matter what they do. We must understand the difference between approval and acceptance.

Even when we do not approve of everything they do, our kids need to know we still always accept and love them without conditions. Then when our children do something well and right, we need to motivate and help them to become more confident by encouraging them.

Maybe you yourself never had someone who motivated you to become your best. But today, if you will ask Jesus to take full charge of your heart with His real love and power, He can start changing your life.

He wants to show you the special abilities He gave you, plus, He will help you fully develop them. Then as you become your best, you can share His love by encouraging and motivating others to become their best. Just think a minute…

Alex Leapai’s comeback from his world heavyweight boxing title defeat by Wladimir Klitschko ended in disappointment Friday night as he was outpointed by American Malik Scott over ten rounds.

Leapai (now 30-6-3), six months on from his fifth-round stoppage loss to the world champion, was outclassed throughout with the visitor earning a unanimous decision; 100-90, 99-91 and 98-92 on the three scorecards.

By winning this crossroads fight, Scott, coming off two defeats in his previous three fights, can now look forward to big paydays against some of the biggest names in the division, while Leapai’s dream of fighting at the top level again seem over.

The 185cm Leapai said he would take his time to make a decision on his future, discussing the subject with manager and trainer Noel Thornberry and his family, but his tone suggested a man at the end of his career.

“I didn’t want to come back and just fight anyone, I wanted to fight the best fighter out there,” Leapai said.

“All credit to Malik Scott.

“It’s really hard when you lose two fights straight. We’re going to sit down and see what the plan is.”

Early in the fight, the American kept on the move, wary of Leapai’s power, holding in close and flicking out punches on the run. By the third round, Scott was comfortable standing in range and firing combinations at his opponent who, never the most elusive fighter, seemed hampered by a calf injury which delayed the fight for a week and presented an easy target walking forward in straight lines.

The Samoan gamely kept walking forward and swinging his trademark hooks and uppercuts that brought him 24 knockouts in his career, but the classy Scott - a former Junior Olympic champion - proved an elusive target.

By the fifth round, Leapai’s right eye began to close from Scott’s persistent jab and for the first of two occasions, his mouthguard fell out, a sign of a tired fighter.

In the sixth, his mouth began to bleed and as he took increasing punishment a stoppage looked likely.

That the 35-year-old home fighter lasted the distance after tasting so much leather against a fighter with 34 knockouts on his resume was to his credit.

Leapai even gave his passionate supporters cause to cheer in the closing stages as he forced the American backwards while swinging wildly, looking for the elusive haymaker, and he was given the round by two of the judges.

Ultimately his efforts were in vain and it may be time for the truck driver to call an end to a career that, against the odds, had him fighting for the biggest prize in the sport

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And they’re off!!!

Local Rotarians are racing to help the community with their biggest annual fundraising event getting underway yesterday afternoon.

The first of a two-day event, people gathered at Le Manumea in Vailima for the Calcutta Sweepstakes – the lead-in to the main affair – the Melbourne Cup which will be held tomorrow.

Rotary President Tony Callaghan said the Melbourne Cup was the “largest fundraiser” for the Rotary Club of Apia.

“Today, a lot of the public will come and all the raffle tickets purchased will be put in a barrel and the Melbourne Cup horses in another barrel,” he said.

“All horses are then up for auction. “After the last horse is auctioned, the prize pool is worked out, with a certain percentage for 1st, 2nd, 3rd and last.”

He said this Rotary event received a lot of support from local businesses and the club’s biggest hope is to use this money to give back to the Samoan community.

“The money will help with health, education, water tanks and other things for the community,” he said. Mr Callaghan said the second part of the fundraising event – the Melbourne Cup – will be held at the Robert Louis Stevenson’s Museum.

There, guests will be treated to food and beverages as well as a barbeque stall set up by the Rotaract Club of Apia. Live races will be streamed throughout the day in addition to a live Tote operated by A.N.Z. Samoa. There will also be raffles, auctions, and fashion show from Tanoa Samoa and live entertainment later in the day with Apia’s own Dream Girl Divas.

Last year’s event raised almost $25,000.

A Calcutta is a certain type of sweepstake where a raffle is conducted before a sporting event such as a horse race and then there is a draw held to see who ‘owns’ each horse.

Once this happens, the host then auctions off each runner in the field beginning with the horse with the longest odds down to the favourite.

The money raised from the raffle and auction is the prize money for the Calcutta, which is paid out after the main event – in this instance, the Melbourne Cup.

"We are also doing a lot of training working together with National Health Service (N.H.S.), training our doctors and staff,” said Leausa.

RNZI - Samoa's Ministry of Health says it is looking to boost its border control and is preparing a new health declaration form which will alert authorities to anyone arriving with symptoms of viruses such as Ebola.

The Director General of Health, Leausa Dr Take Naseri, says he is also maintaining preparations for Ebola, in place since July, prior to hosting the international Small Island Developing States conference.

He says a small room has been set up at the airport for any patient who may need to be isolated immediately and the government is educating staff.

"We are also doing a lot of training working together with National Health Service (N.H.S.), training our doctors and staff,” said Leausa.

“So infection control is the main thing we need to look at."

He says if necessary Faleolo hospital could be run as a quarantine space for Ebola patients with the public diverted to other hospitals.

PR - A three-day workshop organised by Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) in partnership with United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) on the topic ‘Climate change financing for forests in the Pacific’ was held in Fiji last week.

According to Ryo Nakamura, Forest Affairs Officer with the UNFF Secretariat, UNFF is the only global intergovernmental policy platform within the UN system dealing with all issues related to forests, recognising the need to widen the debate on forests beyond deforestation and afforestation, to a broader sense of their economic, environmental and social values.

Mr. Nakamura explained: ‘The central objective of UNFF is to promote sustainable forest management (SFM) worldwide and to strengthen political commitment towards SFM.

‘Against this background, the facilitative process was established in 2009 within the UNFF Secretariat to assist member states in mobilising funds for forests,’ he added.

Mr Nakamura added that, this year, they had launched a project approved by the UN General Assembly aimed at harnessing climate change finance for forests. This workshop marks the last of three global workshops will help achieve the aim. The first was held in Tehran, Iran, earlier this year for Central Asia, and the second was held in Johannesburg, South Africa, earlier this month for the Southern Africa region.

‘The primary objective of this workshop is to identify key action points to address challenges in harnessing climate change financing for forests and to improve the flow of climate change funding in the Pacific region,’ Mr Nakamura said.

‘These action points will then serve as a basis for a regional action plan to increase climate financing for forests in the Pacific.’

Mr Nakamura also mentioned that the outcome of the workshop would be posted on the UNFF website and shared with countries of other regions.’ He said.

As part of this project, a regional study on climate change financing for forests in the Pacific is being carried out.

Its preliminary findings suggest that, while considerable progress has been made by several countries in harnessing climate change financing for forests in the region, its distribution remains highly uneven among countries in the region.

‘Climate change financing represents a formidable opportunity in today’s world in supporting the implementation of sustainable forest management. It is therefore critical to identify those key actions which will increase the levels of much-needed financing for sustainable forest management and make its distribution more equitable across the Pacific,’ Mr Nakamura said.

He added that much remains to be done, especially by regional organisations, notably SPC, which could play a key role in this regard, and UNFF is also here to assist SPC in this task through the facilitative process.

‘In this regard, the deliberations of this workshop will be of great value to broaden our understanding of how climate change financing can be harnessed for SFM at the national, regional and international levels,’ he said.

‘We are also closely following the ongoing forest financing work under the UNFCCC process, particularly under its Standing Committee on Finance. In order to have a comprehensive SFM strategy, it is critical that the finance addresses all seven elements of SFM: extent of forest resources; biological diversity; forest health and vitality; productive functions of forest resources; protective functions of forest resources; socio-economic functions; and a legal, policy and institutional framework.’

SPC’s Sairusi Bulai echoed these sentiments and acknowledged UNFF support for the Pacific in organising the workshop for the region. He also said that the workshop was very timely, given the need of many Pacific Island countries to identify and access new funding sources to support them in implementing programmes for the better management of their forests.

‘We are willing to continue and strengthen our collaborative activities with UNFF to harness and promote sustainable forest management in Pacific Island countries,’ said Mr Bulai.

Twenty delegates from ten Pacific Island countries are attending the three-day workshop.

Think a minute…

Have you heard many people say: “Oh, good! I’m going to work today!”? I sure haven’t. Usually what we say is, “I have to go to work today!” Why? Probably because many people do not enjoy their work. We feel it’s just something we’re forced to do. Our job is like a necessary evil that we must endure so we can feed and care for our family—which, of course, is very important.

No wonder studies show that most people do not do their best at their work or job. It’s also why many people throw away their hard-earned money on foolish gambling like lotteries. They think they have a chance to hit the big jackpot and never have to work again! Then they’ll be free to do nothing the rest of their life. But someone said, “The problem with doing nothing is that you never know when you’re finished!”

However, when it comes to our weekends, not many people say: “Too bad! I have to take the weekend off from work.” You see, it’s all in our attitude and the way we look at something. So if we’ll approach our work with a positive attitude, being grateful that we even have a job to provide for our family, then we’ll start to appreciate and enjoy our job more. We’ll also take more pride in our work and do it better. Then we just might get a promotion or better job somewhere else!

As adults we must work like we did as children when our father was watching. Because our Maker IS watching us all day! He sees our attitude and how well we do our job. Since He gave us our life, health and abilities, He expects us to do our best at every small job we do no matter how unimportant we think it is.

So if you’ve not had a good attitude about your work and not done your very best, you can ask Jesus to forgive you today. But He also wants to change you and help you start doing your best at everything you do. It’s then you can finally start fully enjoying all the blessings that God wants to give you. Just Think a Minute…

The allegation was made by the Works, Transport and Environment (W.T.E.) Committee in its report to the Legislative Assembly on the S.A.A’s Annual Report for the year ending June 30 2012.

A Select Committee has accused the government of putting its interests above that of struggling Public Enterprise – the Samoa Airport Authority (S.A.A).

The allegation was made by the Works, Transport and Environment (W.T.E.) Committee in its report to the Legislative Assembly on the S.A.A’s Annual Report for the year ending June 30 2012.

The Chairman of the Committee is the Associate Minister for The Ministry Of Works, Transport And Infrastructure (M.W.T.I.), Tusa Misi Tupuola. In addition to Tusa, the W.T.E Committee comprised of Deputy Chairman Afoafouvale John

Moors, and Members Levaopolo Talatonu, Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi, Peseta Vaifou Tevaga, Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster and Fagaaivalu Kenrick Samu.

The report is republished in full below:

The Works, Transport and Environment Committee Recommends that the Assembly takes note of its Report.

1. RESOLUTIONS The Committee recommends that the Assembly approves the: - P.P.2014/2015, No. 16, Annual Report of the Samoa Airport Authority for the Financial Year ended 30th June 2012; and Committee Recommendations hereinafter.

2. RECOMMENDATIONS: The Committee resolved to recommend that the Government:- 1. Strongly supports Projects recommended by the

Authority such as renovation work of the:- - Airport Terminal Buildings; - Runway and the apron; - Communication equipments (cables) within the airport. 2. The Authority should opt to use solar power in other parts of its services in order to save expenses on electricity bill. 3. To comply with the provisions of the Act in tabling its Annual Reports in Parliament. 4. The Authority for the second time is recommended to finalise its Master Plan for its more important for its future plans.

3. CONSIDERATIONS: 3.1 Corporate Plans Expectations: VISSION: To be the most efficient, safe and secure Small Island State Airport in airport operations in the Region. MISSION: To comply fully with all applicable standards and practices to sustain and enhance effective service delivery.

3.2 ACHIEVEMENTS: Achievements for the Period 2011 — 2012: - The Airport Authority is currently included in the Strategy for the Development of Samoa for the first time. More importantly, Donors can access to this strategy and the

Authority can easily apply for financial assistance to fund its future projects; - The Authority for the first time achieved a decrease in loss since its establishment; - Preparations for the increase in airport departure tax; - Terminal upgrade; - Upgrade to sanitation system; - Cargo Building; - Aeronautical safety study; - Security System Enhancement; - Samoa Airport Authority Act 2012 Achievements (10 years): Since the establishment of the Authority, the Committee noted that the Authority for the first time has achieved a decrease in its accumulated loss of SAT1million compared to its usual annual loss of SAT2million — SAT3million.

3.3 Compliance: 1. Compliance with legislations: The Samoa Airport Authority Act 2012 was passed by Parliament and assented to by the Head of State in January 2012. The new legislation expands on the provision of safety and security related functions for airport operations and more commercially oriented practices for the Samoa Airport Authority. In addition to its main Act, the Authority is also mandated by the following relevant Acts, Ordinances and Regulations which includes: - Air Transport/Aviation; - Airport Facilitation; - Public Order; - Public governance. The following also provides direction and guidance to Samoa Airport Authority activities; - Cabinet Directives; - Dividend policy; - Community Services Obligations (CSO) policy; - Samoa Airport Authority policies; - Treasury Instructions 4. Compliance with the Strategy for the Development of Samoa: Hereinafter are the three main key issues prioritised by the Airport Authority and currently in the Strategy for the Development of Samoa:- (i) Improve passenger facility; (ii) Improve safety; (m) High consistent of international standards.

5. Compliance with the approved appropriations for the Period 2011-2012: According the Authority‘s audited accounts, it clearly highlights that:- - Proper books of accounts have been kept by the Authority; - The accompanying financial statements give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Authority as of 30th June 2013 and of the results and cash flows of the Authority for the Year ended on that date; - The accompanying financial statements are properly drawn up to give in the prescribed manner the information required by International Financial Reporting Standards and give in a prescribed manner the information required by the Airport Authority Act I984.

3.4 Observations: OVERVIEW: Committee Observations: Most of its operations were mainly on:- - renovation work prior the 50th Independence Celebrations; - preperations for newly appointed Board Members; - Stan of VIP upgrade. Since 1984, the Authority was operated without any profit until 2011 with a total accumulated loss of SAT45 million. At the end of 2012, the accumulated loss decreases at SAT1million for the first time due to a profit but the accumulated loss usually at a total of SAT2million — SAT3million a year. The Authority has confirmed that the 2013/2014 Annual Report highights a profit of SAT1million. Despite the Authority’s contribution in upgrading the airport, it strongly believes that it is the responsibility of the Samoa Tourism Authority in term of marketing our airport overseas. Upgrading work starts in 2012 however the Board intends to seek for foreign financial assistance. The same year, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Authority and the World Bank. The Authority’s Master Plan includes recommendations by the KVA that our runway length is not up to international standards. The World Bank and the Shanghai Company were also involved in the study conducted by the KVA, Airport Terminal’s renovation work will be constructed by the Shanghai Company.

The last increase in depattute tax really assists the Authority’s annual revenue. Despite it comes into forcé in 2013 but consultations initiated during the last 6 months of 2011/2012.

The Committe noted that, the Authority now focuses on improving its priority areas in order to upgrade its services to assist its revenue collection. Negotiation with the World Bank and the Shanghai Company is already in place with regards to: - Terminals and Sanitation System Upgrade. The Project deferred due to financil issues. The whole Project costs is US$54 million; - Upgrade runway and Apron fatigue test.

Despite financial issues faced by the Authority, but the Committee had witnessed a lot of improvements and achievements. Concerns or difficulties faced by the Authority: 1. Committee concerns/solutions recommended: The Committee noted without any doubt that the accumulated loss and decrease in revenue will be an ongoing issue with the Authority compare to a decrease in passengers and flight movements. In addition, the Authority has confirmed an increase in expenses on electricity at a total of SAT100,000 — SAT110,000. The Total Car Park revenue earnings is still questioning. The Authority has been awaited for a final decision for Fagalii Airport, even the allocation is already approved in the

Budget. Moreover, it is still waiting for a final Cabinet Decision with ground handling services. The Committee believes that the issue has been delayed because the Government have shares at the Polynesian Company. For safety reasons, and minimising expenses on maintainig runway lights, cables within the Airport should be relocated and replaced.

2. Authority’s responses to concerns: - It is provided under the Airport Authority Regulations that all revenue earnings in terms of departure tax, should be submitted by airlines to the Authority on the 20”‘ day of each month; - Consultations now in progress with solar companies for future plants in order to to minimise expenses on electricity; - Revenue earnings from the car park in incesed compare to the previous financial year. The new change was initiated in order to cater for not achieveing past car park revenues. - The Final Decision for Fagalii Airport was deferred until SIDs Conference ends, however it is still pending; - Technology (MDP) to monitor flights movements is the oldest machine at the airport but it is well maintained. However there are cables located within the land owned by Aggies Resorts which is already planned to relocate as well as old lights at runway. This Project is already in the Plan by the World Bank. 3.5 COMMITTEE

VISIT: The Committee was able to witness during its visit on 17 October, the achievements of the Authority’s services. The Committee noted that achievements for the period under consideration are in line with informations submitted in the

Annual Report. These include:- (i) Construction of a new plastic fence on the coastal side of the airport. The fence was manufactured and imported from New Zealand and it saves expenses on maintaining the old fence. (ii) The Authority still considers monitoring the runway. Also it is still waiting for the results of the runway and apron fatigue test. (iii) Improving preparations for emergencies. This Division continues maintaining four big fire trucks and one inflatable craft for emergencies. (iv) The Arrival and Departure Terminals as well as Public area and toilets are well upgraded. A special building for the Ministry of Health is completely constructed for a purpose of inspecting any suspected passenger who brings into Samoa a symptom of any disease. Despite achievements during the period under considereation, a lot of renovation works were completed prior 2011/2012. Terminals Renovation Plan will start son. The Committee wishes to thank the current Management and the support of Government for this project.

3.6 Recommendations and Government Responses: 1. Government Responses to Committee Recommendations: The Committee wishes to acknowledge the Government Responses to its previous Recommendations. The Committee noted that, these Responses were in line with issues raised for future improvements of the Authority. The Committee considers the support of Government in its role of government scrutiny, especially the compliance with the provision of

Standing Orders and it highlights good governance. 2. Authority’s intentions with Committees concerns: The Authority highly considers the concerns raised by the Committee with expectations on improving the Authority’s Accumulated Loss and Revenue in the future Solutions to these concerns are included in the Authority‘s Master Plan. It also prioritised ways to achieve its performance with an intention to improve revenue and profits. 4. WITNESSES: During the course of its deliberation, the Committee was able to hear evidence submitted by:- Samoa Airport Authority Magele Hoe Viali - General Manager Tumanuvao Evile Falefatu - Assistant General Manager, Security Services Silimana’i Ueta Solomona -

Assistant General Manager, Operation Linda Alapae - Principal Finance Officer Enid Westerlund - Consultant - Business Development
5. PAPER CONSIDERED:- (Tabled 29/5/2014)(Referred 30/5/2014) P.P.2014/2015, No. 16, Annual Report of the Samoa Airport Authority for the Financial Year ended 30th June 2012.

TUSA Misi Tupuola
CHAIRMAN

AFOAUVALE John Moors DEPUTY CHAIRMAN

L AVAOPOLO Talatonu
MEMBER

TOEOLESULUSULU C. P. S. Schuster MEMBER

FAGAAIVALU Kenrick Samu MEMBER

Leatisa-o-Malaefono Uitime Tala
COMMITTEE CLERK

Iole Sanerivi ASSISTANT COMM. CLERK

Auckland (Sunday News) 02/11/2014 - Kevin Barry has no worries about throwing Joseph Parker in the ring with undefeated Australian heavyweight boxer Lucas Browne and believes the juicy trans-Tasman clash will eventually happen.

Parker's promoters Duco Events have been calling out Browne for the past year, believing he has an inflated record. They feel Parker's extensive amateur background and explosive speed would be too much for the Browne, 35, who came to boxing from a mixed martial arts background.

"Big Daddy" Browne is in the top 10 rankings of the WBC, WBA and IBF and can obviously sniff a title shot.

Fighting a rising star like Parker is undoubtedly too risky at the moment and it seems no amount of money will entice Browne to New Zealand.

But Barry believes it's only a matter of time.

"I think that's a big trans-Tasman fight that will happen at some stage. It's a very interesting fight with two undefeated guys," he said.

Parker is 11th in the WBA rankings and 14th with the WBO and needs fights that will help his rapid climb.

"I know our promoters are very keen for this fight and it's definitely a fight that I'm not dodging," Barry said.

"But it's a fight that seems hard to make at the moment.

"Lucas is doing very well. He's had a couple of big wins, he beat an undefeated guy (Ukraine's Andriy Rudenko) last fight. He's making waves and he's trying to position himself.

"But I don't think that his promotional team would want to gamble on a fighter like Joe at the moment.

"When you are developing a fighter you pick styles that work for your guys and I don't believe that Joe's style is a favourable style for him."

Barry and Parker are back in Las Vegas preparing for the next assignment, a December 6 headline act on the Fight For Life promotion in Hamilton against veteran American Vinny Maddalone.

Browne is back in action in Melbourne on November 12, when he defends his WBC Eurasia Pacific Boxing Council heavyweight title against Chauncy Welliver, a 31-year-old American who has extensive experience in New Zealand.

Welliver has compiled 55 wins from 68 fights as a pro since 2001. But he has lost three of his past five fights, including a majority decision over 12 rounds to Sherman Williams, the Bahamas boxer who Parker comfortably beat in his last outing.

Just two natural disasters cost Samoa close to $800 million tala. Whereas the deadly tsunami of 2009, which claimed 143 lives cost $309million, Cyclone Evan in 2012 displaced nearly 5,000 people, costing the government a staggering $465million tala.

The figures were revealed by Acting Prime Minister, Fonotoe Pierre Lauofo yesterday, during the official opening of the National Environment Week in Manono.

“With a small fragile economy these figures are very significant for Samoa, a small island developing state,” Fonotoe said.

The Acting Prime Minister was highlighting the importance of looking after the environment when he delved into the statistics about the vulnerability of Samoa to natural disasters.

“The World Bank currently ranks Samoa 30th (on the list) of countries most exposed to three or more hazards while the Global Climate Risk Index 2012 ranked Samoa at 51 out of 179 countries who suffer from extreme weather events,” Fonotoe said. “The statistics confirm what we already know. Climate Change is Real.”

To manage climate change, the Acting Prime Minister said Samoa must remain prepared at all times.

“I cannot emphasize enough the importance of conserving and preserving Samoa’s biological diversity and natural resources,” he said.

“This is the resource base upon which Samoa relies on for its economic development, livelihoods, traditional medicine as well as it being the foundation of our cultural heritage and identity.”

“Loss of biological diversity would significantly undermine and compromise Samoa’s ability to adapt and respond to impacts of Climate Change.”

This year’s National Environment week is being guided by the theme of “Healthy island biodiversity is crucial for a climate resilient Samoa.”

Fonotoe said the environment is a priority area for the government and to reflect such a commitment, environmental sustainability and climate resilience are priority goals in the Strategy for the Development of Samoa 2012-16.

The opening of the Environment Week also saw the launching of key documents to strengthen continual national efforts towards an environmentally sustainable and climate resilient Samoa.

These include the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (M.N.R.E) Corporate Plan 2014-2018. This will guide the implementation of priority strategies and actions to enhance Samoa’s environmental sustainability and climate resilience.

The second document is the Pacific Mangroves Charter, which is a collective declaration by the leaders of the Pacific to conserve mangroves and critical ecosystems that they support.

The third document was Samoa’s 5th National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

This reports on the status of Samoa’s National Biodiversity as part of “our commitments and obligations towards the collective implementation of the International Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020; and the SMSMCL Project funded by

GEF through UNDP to address ‘Strengthening multi-sectoral management of Critical Landscapes.’

Manono Island is one of the targeted project sites.

According to Fonotoe, the annual commemoration of the National Environment Week continues to provide and support an interactive platform for development partners, professionals, business and local communities to exchange and share experiences, expertise, lessons learned and best practices on environment related issues and themes. The continuation of this annual event is therefore well supported by the Government.

“Lastly, the government acknowledges genuine, enduring and strategic partnerships with our Development Partners, local communities, NGOs and the Private Sector.

“In particular we acknowledge the tremendous and unwavering technical support and financial assistance from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); SPREP, IUCN, Conservation International, the Australian and New Zealand Aid Development Programme, JICA and the EU.”

The lawyer acting for the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (S.P.R.E.P), Semi Leung Wai, in a lawsuit against the organisation, has been given until 17 November to respond to an amended statement of claim.

The amended statement was filed by the complainant, Pauline Johnstone, as part of an ongoing hearing of a lawsuit against her former employer.

Ms. Johnstone is being represented by lawyer, Ruby Drake.

When the matter came before Chief Justice, His Honour Patu Tiava’asu’e Falefatu Sapolu yesterday, His Honour informed Mr. Leung Wai that Mrs. Johnstone had already filed an amended statement of claim, to which his client must respond to.

The matter was then adjourned until 17 November.

Ms. Johnstone is suing S.P.R.E.P, claiming that her contract was terminated without completing a mediation process or reaching agreement on the payment of reimbursable expenses under the terms of her contract.

Last month, His Honour Patu denied a strike out motion by S.P.R.E.P. The decision followed an attempt by Mr. Leung Wai to strike out the claim on the grounds that S.P.R.E.P. had diplomatic immunity.

During the hearing, the Court was told that the Certificate of Immunity was signed by the Deputy Prime Minister, Fonotoe Pierre Lauofo, ten days after notice of Ms. Johnstone’s suit was served on S.P.R.E.P.

In his determination, the Chief Justice upheld the principle of equality of arms, which is inherent in the right to fair trial, a human right guaranteed by the International Bill of Rights and the Samoan Constitution.

"We're often seen as being 'broken' and told we should stay home, but with a lot of hard work we're making inroads into changing those views”

The well-known Wellington Samoan Band Kabasa has arrived in Apia for the Samoana Jazz & Arts Festival starting this Friday 7 to 9 November.

Formed in the late 70’s-80’s in the Wainuiomata garage of the Umaga family, Pati, Daniel and Lani teamed up with Peter Tuitama, Allen Sa’ena and Peta Si’ulepa to form Kabasa the popular Samoan band that played at weddings, church functions, community socials and Samoan Students Association functions.

This was the band that many young Samoans joined and honed their musical “chops” and then moved on to play with other bands. Well-known names such as jazz guitarist Lance Su’a, Mara Finau – lead singer for the Holiday Makers, Martha and Sharon Samasoni – Quabax and others singers who went on to became solo recording artists in their own right such as Lole Usoali’i.

The band had undergone various line ups over the years but the Umaga brothers Pati and Daniel have kept the Kabasa flames burning.

Band leader, bassman and music maker Pati Umaga was recently awarded the Queens Service Medal for his services to the Pacific community pioneering new ground in Disability support. He knows the problems facing the disabled as a fall from slipping on a shower mat in 2005 left him paralysed.

"We're often seen as being 'broken' and told we should stay home, but with a lot of hard work we're making inroads into changing those views.”

He is the co-founder of the Contemporary Music Programme at Whitireia Polytechnic in Wellington which was the incubator for many a fine musicians, some of whom are performers at the upcoming Samoana Jazz Festival. Pati was also bass player for the Holidaymakers band, which had a number one hit “Sweet Lovers” in 1995 that has his distinct and trademark funk bassline.

Helping to break down stereotypes about people with disabilities amongst the Pacific Island community is a major driver for Pati Umaga. "Removing the stigma about disability within our own Pacific community is a big thing for me. We kind of get left a bit behind because we're still trying to come to terms with how our culture views the disabled.

“There is quite a groundswell of positive stuff happening within the community; we're getting there slowly."

In 2009 he was lead organiser for a Tsunami Benefit Concert and has been a judge for the Pacific Music Awards and the Central Region Secondary Smokefree Pasifika Beats Competition.

Last year, as part of the Rugby World Cup Real NZ Festival, he organised the music component of the Pacific Artists Collaboration Village a day-long event showcasing Pacific culture held in the Wellington Town Hall and Civic Square.

"It was part of the lead up to the Tonga vs France game and I got to perform with my band Kabasa, which really added to the day for me."
Homecoming for Umaga and Saena

Coming to Samoa is homecoming to both Pati Umaga and guitarist Allen Saena. Both lived in Samoa for some years before moving back to Wellington. In fact Pati is an Avele old boy where he learnt the hard yards in a school well-known for its unique and unorthodox disciplinary ways.

Now bound to a wheelchair after his accident, his work on behalf of the disabled includes chairing the ACC National Serious Injury Service Advisory Group and serving as a member of the Health and Disability Commissioner's Consumer

Advisory Group, along with other advisory roles.

"We're also working on the United Nation's Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities which will eventually influence government policy globally."

Despite a heavy schedule, Mr Umaga places great importance on maintaining his musical links. "I'm a bass guitarist and really enjoy being involved in the music scene. It's good to have something to balance the meetings, papers and stuff I usually deal with."

Kabasa will join other awesome artists of Samoan descent from overseas and Samoan bands and artists from American Samoa and Samoa for the three day Samoana Jazz & Arts Festival this Friday 7 November to Sunday 9 November.

A week dedicated to efforts to make Samoa a healthier country started yesterday.

The opening of the commemoration of the Healthy Lifestyle Week was held at the To’oa Salamasina Hall.

Initiated by the Ministry of Health, the Week is designed to raise public awareness about the dangers of non-communicable diseases and the importance of healthy living.

In his Keynote Address, the Minister of Health, Tuitama Dr Talalelei Tuitama, reminded that prevention is better than cure. “Commemoration of healthy lifestyle week has been a collective effort of the Ministry of Health and its partners to combat and control the increasing rate of lifestyle diseases,” said Tuitama.

“Non communicable disease are affecting the lives of many of our people…the objective is through the engagement of the community and society to encourage and advocate the importance of adopting healthy lifestyle behaviour and making healthy choices.”

More than two hundred representatives from schools, churches, villages, government Ministries and different organisations gathered for the Opening Ceremony.

The theme for this year is “Small Healthy Choices Create Great Impacts.”

According to Tuitama, the theme conveys a message “that daily choices will consequently affect our health in the long run.”

“With rising number of lifestyle disease case's in Samoa and the rising costs of required resources for treatment, the provision of essential health care services for treatment of diseases has been a challenge to the health system, in terms of sustainability given the financial demands,” said the Minister of Health.

“This is further reason for the Ministry to invest more effort in raising public awareness in order to strengthen prevention measures by encouraging the public to make healthy lifestyle choices.”

The Ministry also gave out prizes to several schools who had participated in health programmes.

The Ti’avea Women’s Training Centre built to provide training and serve as a committee house for women’s meeting and activities was opened at Ti’avea last week.

In a communication sent to the Samoa Observer, Chris Aluni, Project Coordinator of Civil Society Programme (C.S.S.P), shares the reason behind the initiative to put up the said training center.

“A lot of students in the rural areas of Upolu have very poor school results due to lack of accessibility to tutorial classes and parents can’t afford to pay extra tutorials for their children, since most parents are unemployed,” he says.

“Most of the families in the area are relying heavily on selling root crops produce, fishing and weaving to earn income, parents also contribute a lot in church and village obligations.”

The center funded by the Australian Government through its Australian Aid aims to serve as a training center for Ti’avea women for them to learn basic computer skills so they can apply/seek jobs in town to support their families, Mr. Aluni said.

“Tutorials for Primary and Secondary students as preparation for end of year exam is also part of the work plan.”

Among the resources and equipments provided by Australia for the center are: 6 desktop computer sets and 32 chairs.

Mr. Aluni added that the center which will be managed by the Ti’avea Women Committee will also serve as a community center for the village.

Think a minute…

Imagine you are in a store and you see a big new television for only $1. You look at a t-shirt and the price on it is $1,000. Next to it is a brand new motorbike that costs only $3. Wouldn’t you wonder if someone had sneaked into the store and changed all the price tags? What you thought was very valuable is now not very valuable at all.

Have you ever gone through a painful loss or frightening crisis that turned everything in your life upside down? Maybe the doctor told you that you have a serious, life-threatening illness. Someone you love died in an accident. Suddenly almost everything in your life was reshuffled and changed. Those things that seemed important and took much of your time before now meant nothing to you. And the things that you took for granted and hardly even noticed now became the most important things to you. It was like someone came and switched all the price tags in your life.

Sadly, these painful losses and problems in life are sometimes the only things that wake us up to see what’s truly important in life. Unfortunately for many of us, it’s only when the problem and storm hits that we begin to understand there are only 2 things that really matter:  our Maker and people.  Life is short. Often shorter than we expect! And hopefully before it’s over we learn how valuable every day is. Each day is just one more gift from God. So we need to start spending what little time we have left on getting close to Him and the people He’s given to us to share our lives with. That is the only way we can have no fears or regrets when we die. Some of us are scared and don’t want to think of dying because we’re not sure if we’re ready to face our Maker and Judge.

The Age - German stayer Protectionist simply ran away from his rivals to win the $6.2 million (AUS dollar) Melbourne Cup by an easy four lengths under star international jockey Ryan Moore.

Second home - for the third time in his illustrious career - was English trained warhorse Red Cadeaux, piloted by French rider Gerald Mosse.

Sydney-trained ex-New Zealander Who Shot Thebarman, partnered by Glen Boss - the man forever associated with triple winner Makybe Diva - came in third.

The well fancied Signoff, from the Darren Weir stable, was a brave fourth in front of the Godolphin hope Willing Foe.

The Japanese trained Caulfield Cup winner Admire Rakti, was prominent early but was one of the first beaten as the field turned into the home straight and, perhaps anchored by his 58.5 kilo burden, fell back through the field to finish last.

But this race was all about Protectionist, a five-year-old by Monsun, who was also the sire of last year’s winner Fiorente.

Moore has long been regarded by many as the best jockey in the world, and the 31-year-old Englishman showed he had few peers with a nerveless ride on the lightly race stayer, prepared by Germany’s leading trainer Andreas Wohler.

Moore had shown his class two Saturdays ago with a classic ride on the Irish-trained Adelaide to take out the Cox Plate, and the Englishman has now landed two of the four great races on the Australian calendar in the space of a fortnight.

Protectionist’s victory means that the top three races of the spring carnival have all gone to overseas raiders from Japan, Ireland and Germany, with only one Australian jockey - the Hong Kong based Zac Purton - getting on the scoresheet.

English mare My Ambivalent was fresh and made the running at a quick tempo. Moore bided his time out the back of the field and made use of his horse’s superior stamina and turn of foot to simply run away from his rivals.

Red Cadeaux surely deserves to have a race named after him at Flemington even though he is trained in England.

The now nine-year-old is an international globetrotter of renown, and this was another magnificent effort by the Ed Dunlop trained gelding, who was trying to give the winner half a kilo.

Who Shot Thebarman, a dour Kiwi stayer, was the best of the locals, just ahead of the lightly-raced Signoff, whom Brazilian superstar Joao Moreira guided into fourth spot.

Moore afterwards said: ‘’they went a strong pace, he was struggling for a position, but once I got into it I had so much horse under me’’.

Wohler said of Moore: ‘’he is a superstar ... He was so patient. As they came round the last bend I said he just needs the right gap and he got it’’.

“The policy is in place with the biggest hope that it will help to ease the burden placed on parents during this time of the year and in the future”

Food must not be provided for examiners by the families of students, the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture (M.E.S.C.) reminded yesterday.

The ban, which has been in place for some time, was re-enforced by the Ministry’s Chief Executive Officer, Matafeo Falana’ipupu Aiafi.

The ban is applied to examiners at all government schools across the country.

“The Ministry wants to remind people of this so that at every school, all parents and teachers are clear on it,” he said.

“The policy is in place with the biggest hope that it will help to ease the burden placed on parents during this time of the year and in the future."

“As we all aware from looking at the past, the examiners were fed by communities as well as families of children in schools."

“But the Ministry has decided that we should put a stop to it.”

Matafeo, however, admitted that he did see the difficulty faced by the community; as such hospitality is intrinsic to Samoan culture, which many people still hold onto.

“We all know about our culture, of how our people still want to give food in this kind of situation, and that is their own free will,” he said.

“But for the Ministry of Education, we said ‘no’.”

Speaking to Tanugamanono Primary School’s Principal, Siupapa Salevao, said the ban has been a huge help for Samoan families.

“The changes started last year when the policy was put into place,” he said.

“As a principal for eight years in the Vaimauga Constituency, this is a very good start for this country."

“In the past, some students did not turn up for their examination because the parent or didn’t have money to buy their fafaga."

“With many fa’alavelave as well as the increased costs of living that we are now facing, I think this is another ‘helping hand’ to Samoa.”

As a young mother, Atonauga Tavita said she is very grateful for the Ministry’s current policy.

“This will encourage parents to take their children to school,” she said.

“I salute the ministry for these changes.

“Best wishes to all the children of Samoa for their examinations.”

Samoa Primary Education Certificate Examinations started this week throughout the country.

The spread of viruses like pink eye, chikungunya and now the threat of Ebola were on the agenda during the Health Sector Forum yesterday.

Held at the Samoa Convention Centre at Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi building, the Forum was part of the Healthy Lifestyle Week being commemorated this week.

At the Forum, health stakeholders are discussing challenges, sharing ideas and approaches to tackle many viruses and diseases the country is confronted by.

Addressing the gathering, the Minister of Health, Tuitama Dr. Talalelei Tuitama reminded that “health is everyone’s business."

Tuitama said partnerships are needed to confront the countless health challenges of today.

“I would like to comment briefly on some of the challenges we faced this year, the pink eye disease, chikungunya, and now the looming threat of Ebola,” said the Minister.

“These have provided challenges to a health system that is already burdened by increased instances of NCDS (non-communicable diseases)."

“Given many challenges we face, it is vital now more than ever that we address these together as a sector with support of non sector partners and donor partners.”

“For us in the sector, we have a responsibility to ensure that the services we provide is competent, accessible and meet the needs of the public.”

The Minister said the Health Forum presents an opportunity to look back and reflect on the challenges and the achievements of the Health sector.

“These forums are a vital part of the development process,” he said. “They provide opportunities for sectors and partners to come together through frank dialogue and shared issues and challenges as we approach the end of the year."

“It is through this process that we can work together to rethink and adjust our approaches and address issues and challenges in order to provide a platform to further transform Samoa’s health sector.”

Tuitama also congratulated health workers.

“Although we continue to face many challenges in health we must also remember that we have many achievements,” said the Minister. “We should be confident that we in the health sector have proven our resilience and commitment to our public and our course."

Issues discussed include: Health and Food safety, health and education, health and environment and health service and provision and Human Resources for Health.