NEWSROOM: 21 October - 27 October 2007

98 Samoans chosen for New Zealand work scheme
27 October 2007 - Source: Radio New Zealand International

At least 98 young unemployed men and women have been selected by the Samoan government to work for New Zealand apple producer, Mr Apple, under the new Registered Seasonal Employer scheme, or RSE.

Samoa is one of five Pacific countries chosen for the seasonal work trial.

Close to 4,000 Samoans applied for the jobs and nearly half were short-listed for final interviews.

The scheme was introduced by the New Zealand government and endorsed by the Pacific Island Forum leaders as island countries sought to provide job opportunities for their growing numbers of unemployed.

The chief executive of the Samoa Prime Minister’s office, Auseuga’efa Va’asatia Poloma Komiti, says the first group of Samoan seasonal workers leaves in two weeks, with more due to go in February.
 

Boxer Lawrence Tauasa now in Samoa for training
26 October 2007 - Source: eventpolynesia.com

Event Polynesia Boxing in Association with the South Pacific Boxing Federation recently held a press conference with Samoan media for the latest Samoan boxing sensation, Mr. Lawrence Tauasa.

The Press Conference was held at 10.00am Thursday morning 25th October at the South Pacific Boxing Ring at Vaiusu.

Those presented include Mr. Lawrence Tauasa and his father Mr. Lumanai Tauasa. South Pacific Boxing Inc. was represented by President Mr. Uligia Elijah Stanley and Secretary General Mr. Ale Vena. Event Polynesia was represented by Tuilagi M. S. Esera.

Lawrence Tauasa recently fought and won the International Boxing Federation Australasia Cruiserweight Title two weeks ago in Melbourne Australia on the 12th of October 2007.

Lawrence won this title from world ranked fighter Jamie Wallace in a four round TKO and is now rated in the top 10 in the world.

His other credentials as follows:
• No. 1 - NSW Cruiserweight
• No. 1 - Australia Cruiserweight
• No.1 - Australia Super Cruiserweight
• No. 1 - Commonwealth Cruiserweight
• No. 6 WBF World Cruiserweight
• No. 3 Australian Heavy weight

Ratings and credentials are currently been revised, since Lawrence won the IRB Australasian Belt, and will be released by their governing bodies in the near future.

Lawrence Tauasa is currently in his homeland of Samoa, accompanied by his very proud father Mr. Lumanai Tauasa, for two weeks training in preparation for his next title defence, November 23 in Sydney Australia.

If successful in his next fight, Lawrence will continue to climb the world rankings, with an opportunity to receive a world tittle shot by as early as April next year.

Profile:
Age 27 years young
Single

• Represented school in rugby league at highest level
• Represented NSW district Penrith in rugby league at highest level
• Represented NSW schoolboys in rugby league at highest level
• Represented Australia in boxing overseas at high level

Amateur boxing record:
• Fought over 130 bouts, with only 13 defeats
• Represented NSW, represented Australia, Police and Community Youth Clubs
• Over 30 tittles as an amateur boxer

Professional boxing record:
• 27 wins, 5 defeats
Contender for the WBF world heavy weight tittle in 2006
 

Parliament approves change to police powers bill
25 October 2007 - Source: Radio New Zealand International

Parliament has voted to amend the Police Powers Bill to give the police minister the authority to arm the police.

In the original bill, it was the police commissioner who had the sole authority to order the arming of police and the import of explosives, ammunitions and guns.

The bill is now in its third reading in parliament.

The changes come after public concern about the police being armed.

The minister of police has also been given the authority to approve the import of explosives, ammunitions and guns.

The Prime Minister, Tuila’epa Sa’ilele Malielgaoi, says there is no way the government wants to arm the police, but he added that officers could be armed for self defence.
 

Samoa Games Minister says Tuvalu contingent did not steal mattresses
24 October 2007 - Source: Radio New Zealand International

The Minister for the South Pacific Games Authority, Faumuina Tiatia Liuga, has dismissed reports that some of the missing sleeping equipment used during the Games has ended up in Tuvalu.

The minister was responding to claims that a number of mattresses used by the athletes had been taken by the Tuvalu contingent.

Faumuina told the Samoa Observer the Tuvalu contingent had asked if they could buy the beds.

He explained that the team travelled to Samoa by ship and they wanted to use up spare space on their return trip.

According to Faumuina, the SPGA board agreed to the request.

The deal was that the Tuvaluans would pay the price that the beds had been purchased for. However, the Tuvaluans left for home without saying whether they accepted the deal or not.

Faumuina says it appears the rumour mill or "mosooi wireless" took the request from Tuvalu, added suspicion to it and expanded upon it.

He went on to state that no mattresses were taken by the Tuvalu contingent.
 

National Week of Prayers and Fasting, 21-26 October, 2007
23 October 2007 - Source: Government Press Secretariat

Samoa last Sunday, October 21, officially opened the annual National Week of Prayer and Fasting.

A service at the Mount Vaea Prayer House at 6.00pm Sunday evening, conducted under the auspices of the National Council of Churches, marked the official commencement of this national event.

Fasting begins from midnight to noon the next day, until Friday the 26th October. A service will be held at the Methodist Church, Matafele, at 11.00 am that day, again conducted by the National Council of Churches, to officially close the week-long event.

The National Week of Prayers and Fasting was initiated in 1992, to thank our Lord for his bountiful blessings to Samoa and beseech the Almighty to safeguard the country through the cyclone season and any other natural disasters that may occur.

An official message from the National Council of Churches delivered in the pulpits of all denominations around the country during church services Sunday morning, October 21st.
 

Financial assistance for the Samoa Netball Association
22 October 2007 - Source: Government Press Secretariat

Cabinet has approved financial assistance for the Samoa Netball Association, to assist the National Netball Team in its preparations for the upcoming Netball World Cup in New Zealand next month.

The National Team consists of eighteen (18) players and four (04) officials.

Samoa is currently ranked 6th in the world and 2nd in the Pacific region.

The National Netball Team won silver in the recent South Pacific Games.
 

Miss Samoa Pageant; a national event
21 October 2007 - Source: Miss Samoa 2007 Press Release

The Miss Samoa Pageant is a national event devoted to showcasing the talents and physical attributes of the contemporary Samoan lady, synonymous with the beauty and the friendliness of the people of Samoa.

By nurturing personal attributes, leadership skills and grace under pressure, the event aids positive personal development and encourages Samoan women to contribute to national and regional affairs and to advance in diverse fields. As a prospective ambassador for Samoa, each contestant must bring to the event the essence of the Samoan people and Samoan culture.

The event helps to foster tourism and cultural promotion. In that unique capacity it serves to showcase the cultural identity and beauty of our people with the objective of promoting to the international and regional arena this wonderful country of ours, Samoa!
 

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