NEWSROOM: 04 March - 10 March 2007

Monty Betham boxing promoters confirm preliminary fights
10 March 2007 - Source: eventpolynesia.com

Boxing promoters Teleiai Sua Edwin Puni of Eventpolynesia.com and Vaimasenuu Zita Martel of Polynesia Xplorer together with the President of the Samoa Amateur Boxing Association (SABA), Togatalima Faafouina Milford, and South Pacific Boxing Incorporated's (SPBI) Ale Vena Ale, have announced the preliminary bouts which will kick off former league star Monty Betham's debut professional fight on March 31.

Ale said two professional fights have already being scheduled between Ionatana Pula of Tanugamanono and Pati Duffy of Safotu in the welterweight division, and Niusila Seiuli of Falelatai versus Fale Sialaoa of Faatoia, in the super middleweight division.

Four amateur fights are also scheduled for the night but Togatalima could not confirm the names as the fighters have yet to be weighed in.

People however are looking forward to the much talked fight between Princess Tiger of Upolu who will defend his title against Princess Liz of Savaii.

The main event will see Betham take on fellow New Zealand based Samoan Vai Toevai.
On the evening prior to the fight, the promoters will host a Samoa Boxing Tribute dinner. The dinner is a tribute to all the great Samoan boxers of the past and present. The guests include Ali Afakasi, Monty Betham senior and American Samoa's golden boy George Tanoa.

Ali Afakasi was Samoa's first gold medalists at the South Pacific games in 1966 at New Caledonia and again in Papua New Guinea in 1969. Monty Betham senior was one of Samoa's greatest athletes in the boxing arena winning international titles in the Commowealth games. Now his son Monty Betham junior hoping to emulate his success and legacy.

According to the Betham camp, Monty is making progress and is in good shape, but the fight against Vai won't be an easy one. Vai has been fighting professionally for the past 13 years and is ready to rumble all the way with Monty.

The fight may have been initiated and promoted overseas, but according to Ale, it will all be conducted under the rules and regulations of SABA. The fight will be refereed by well known New Zealand boxing identity, Lance Revill, a former champion boxer fought Monty's Dad in the 1970's and 1980's.

Monty is a well known sportsman. He made his mark in rugby league as the captain of the New Zealand Warriors and one of the most feared hardman in the international game for the Kiwis. He also holds a New Zealand national championship title in judo.
 

Samoa celebrates International Women's Day
09 March 2007 - Source: eventpolynesia.com

The women of Samoa came together yesterday to celebrate the Women's International Day at the Tupulaga Talavou Hall at Mulinuu. Guest speakers for the day included Minister of Women and Community Strategy Planning Fiame Naomi, Chief Executive Officer for the Ministry of Women Luagalau Foisaga Shon, as well as other key figures lobbying for women's rights.

Cabinet last week approved and endorsed the programme commemorating this event.

Fiame spoke on the important role played by all women of Samoa in developing not just their families and their villages, but also the nation as a whole.

Also highlighted on the day, was the achievement of Samoan women. The proudest moment was when names of local women Chief Executive Officers were highlighted at the gathering.

Fiame is the first woman politician to become a Minister, a post she has held for the past four HRPP governments.

Highlighted also was the courage by women to contend their parliamentary seats in last year's election.

Some of the women that are holding Chief Executive Officer positions include Galumalemana Faisea Matafeo (SBC), Luagalau Foisaga Shon (Ministry of Women), Palanitina Toelupe (Ministry of Health), Hinauri Petana (Ministry of Finance), Laeimau Oketevi Tanuvasa (CSL) and Fepuleai Sinapi (Education Depatment).

The seminar also encouraged women to come forward and share their problems with others. The issue of abusing women was also touched on by lawyer and President of Mapusaga o Aiga, Maiava Visekota Peteru.
 

Permits for travel between two Samoas increase
08 March 2007 - Source: eventpolynesia.com

The ongoing saga of increased costs of permits for American Samoans travelling to Samoa and the long wait by Samoa citizens to gain visas to enter American Samoa has again hit a high note.
American Samoans will now have to pay US$30 for permits to Samoa effective this month.

Samoa Immigration Chief Executive Officer, Vaasatia Poloma Komiti, said the decision was done with administrative work being taken into consideration. Prior to the new changes, American Samoan travellers paid US$10 for a 14 day permit and US$20 for a 30 day permit. The new changes will now see travellers paying US$30. 14 days permits have now been done away.

Vaasatia says there were two categories for travellers from American Samoa.

For those traveling for 14 days, they were required to pay US$10 dollars.

When asked whether it is a link to the recent immigration matters between Samoa and American Samoa, Vaasatia declined to comment saying he will issue a press release explaining the increase at a later date,

Immigration problems between Samoa and American Samoa has been an issue in the past.
Since American Samoa stopped allowing Samoans to travel on permits issued by the Samoan Government, Samoa then opened their consular office in American Samoa. Vaasatia also said that it was American Samoa's prerogative whether to increase the cost of visas for Samoa travellers.
 

Early Childchood school expands services to blind
07 March 2007 - Source: eventpolynesia.com

The Samoa National Early Childhood Education (SNECE) has ventured further in their services by teaching sign language and learning the use of brail to train the blind.

The school, which is located at Sogi, trains pre-school and elementary teachers. Subject material for their courses was limited to standardised programmes taught in any school. However, the school recently achieved another milestone by catering also for deaf and blind students.

This year's intake, according to the school, is one of the biggest in recent years, with more than 40 students enrolled.

The SNECE was established in the late 1980s with the goal of teaching teachers for pre-schools. However, the need for more elementary teachers has seen the school extend its curriculum to cater for that level too.

Fualole Amituanai, a student at Sogi, says that learning sign language and brail is something new to her, but understanding it now has given her the chance to understand the world of the blind and the deaf. He also said that at first, it was difficult to learn the languages but "thanks to our teachers fpr showing patience with us."

SNECE only takes in students for a year and from there they are encouraged to continue on to higher education before taking on a permanent role as a teacher.
 

Segavao won't defend Flag Day Fautasi title
06 March 2007 - Source: eventpolynesia.com

Last year's American Samoa Flag Day Fautasi race champion, Premo Segavao, will not defend its title this year.

The decision comes after a meeting between parents of the Don Bosco students and teachers last Friday. The outcome was a disappointment to some for the parents, especially the students who were looking forward to the trip.

Don Bosco Principal, Brother Sefo Iosefo, told the parents the sad news, after the Government turned down a request for funding.

Eventpolynesia.com understands that Segavao was invited to defend its title and expenses for the fautasi only would be paid by American Samoa. However, like former principal Brother Mosese, Brother Sefo believed that when Don Bosco is invited to anything, the whole school goes, not just half of the school.

Last year, the whole school, including the fautasi rowers and the dancing group, participated in the American Samoa flag day. There, Premo Segavao made history by winning the race under the leadership of a female captain, Vaimasenuu Zita Martell. It was also a victory of youth over experience with students out-rowing their adult counterparts.

The flag day celebrations are in April and the students are hoping for a miracle that there still may be a chance they will go.
 

Business of the week: Maninoa Beach Surf Resort
05 March 2007 - Source: eventpolynesia.com

They come from all parts of the globe to sample the warm waves of a tropical Pacific paradise. From Australia, New Zealand and as far away as Europe, they come in numbers to entertain themselves at Maninoa Beach Surf in Siumu.

Masui Lene Luamanuvao and Aiaraisa Lene are the owners and operators of the Maninoa Beach Surf Resort. The resort was first established in 1989 with five Samoan fales. It started with a few guests arriving one by one, but the couple had to leave their resort to answer a calling from God. They left their business under the care of Masui's brother and left to lead the Samoa Evangelist Ministry at Leauvaa.

The business went well for a time but the new operator could not handle the day to day running, so in October 2003, the couple moved back to Siumu to start their business all over again. From the five Samoan fales they left behind, three remained and the couple put in all their capital to develop their business.

They however, were still committed to their spiritual roles and are not leading the Samoa Evangelist Ministry at Vaitele, which is much closer to Siumu than Leauvaa.

The resort now has 11 fales with two units and a new restaurant operating manned by seven employees.

According to the pair, to run a surf operation, one must be familiar with the surfing culture and especially sea movement and behaviour of the waves. Araisa and her husband have become experts in that. They know the best months for surfing are from March to October.

Those months are also the best time for business as surfers flock in big numbers in that period.

Maninoa Surf Resort is a member of the Samoa Hotel Association. Staying at the resort will cost $90 tala per person with three meals included.
 

Person of the Week: Pastor Taimane Leota
04 March 2007 - Source: eventpolynesia.com

Leota returned to Samoa after years of working as a security guard in American Samoa. He is now back in Samoa with his family and has set up a new business Grace Security Services.

But Leota is not just a security man. He's also a qualified pastor of the Assembly of God church.

Pastor Leota is a humble man who will lend an ear and shoulder for whoever needs assistance.

For years, Grace Security Services had been serving the American Samoa community. As a security guard, he was often mistaken for a policeman because of the uniform he wore. Leota's friends hailed Leota as the man for the job. When Leota put on his security guard uniform, he acted as an escort, a door man, a waiter and even as a companion.

He is currently doing a one man job and has already recruited four other people as security men. These four are currently undergoing training, preparing themselves for their new roles.

Leota in the meantime has been hired by the Millennium Hotel as their security man. But beware when he is armed with the Holy Bible. He preaches, he criticises, he counsels, but at the end his message reaches many people.

Leota hopes to use his security job as a means of reaching many people with the word of God.

Leota was trained as a pastor in both Samoa and American Samoa and is back here with the hope of helping others. He said that at the moment, he has not thought of applying to serve as a pastor in a village of congregation, and is happy with every opportunity he gets to preach God's words.

With the upcoming South Pacific Games in August, security is one area the SPG committee is looking to be well served, and more security services are needed in order to cater for this enormous event.
 

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