NEWSROOM: 25 November - 01 December 2007

Thanksgiving at Ft Bragg, North Carolina
01 December 2007 - Source: Major Tauapai Laupola

The Samoan Christian Faith Congregation Fort Bragg, North Carolina hosted a Thanksgiving luncheon for Samoan single soldiers and their friends at the Casablanca Community centre.

The theme of this Thanksgiving celebration was, “Recognise the Giver as well as the Gift”. According to CSM Tuileama Nua, this is our way of thanking the Almighty for his blessings on the Samoan community at Ft Bragg, service members that are enduring the holiday in combat fatigues around the world and their sacrifices, our families and most of all His gift of love.

Pastor Solomona Olo opened the program with thanksgiving remarks emphasising the Giver, Almighty, and his Gift of Love, as we reach out to everyone during this holiday. The hymn, Faafetai i le Atua” was sung, followed by the invocation and blessing of the food. A moment of silence was observed for Toa o Samoa who paid the ultimate sacrifice in prosecuting the War on Terror as well as remembering all service members that are away from their families during this holiday.

After the tributes, everyone was treated to a lavish buffet, provided by the Ft Bragg Samoan community. This included your usual turkey, ham & brisket with all the trimmings, as well as several Samoan dishes to add a local flavour to this Thanksgiving Day feast. A slide show of redeploying service members from Iraq and Afghanistan as well as other church related events were shown during the buffet. After the buffet, the Ft Bragg youth entertained the crowd with dazzling Samoan siva. Not to be outdone by the youth, Ms Nita Tuiasosopo Leomiti, of Vatia, AS and SFC Siaki Liua Mata’utia of Poloa, performed a siva Samoa to celebrate their birthdays.

SFC Siaki Mata’utia spoke on behalf of the single soldiers from Ft Bragg, expressed their heartfelt thanks for the luncheon and making them feel loved, special and important on this Thanksgiving Day. The program ended with singing of “Lota Nu’u” and the benediction by Mr Fuimaono Ponafala of Vailoatai, AS, who is at Ft Bragg with his wife visiting with their daughter SPC Antionette Ponafala.

It is the spirit of thanksgiving and love that brought the community together so no one would be left alone during this time of the year. In addition to the luncheon, members of the Samoan community travelled to Tampa, Florida the following day and visited with its very own SSG Sualauvi “Malua” Tuimalealiifano, who is undergoing rehabilitation at the Tampa, FL, VA hospital for a spinal injury he sustained when his team was fighting its way out of an ambush at firebase Cobra, Southern Afghanistan.

As a result of his injuries, SPC Tuimalealiifano is paralysed from his neck down; however, he is making a miraculous progress with his rehab program. He is able to move his hands and is starting to wiggle his toes.

According to “Malua” as he is known to his family, it’s his faith in God together with the power of prayer that has given him the strength to live and the will to work towards a full recovery from his injuries. He said, “When my mother was here couple weeks ago, she massaged my whole body, and believe it or not; that was the first time I have a peaceful sleep since I was medivac out of Afghanistan this past August.”

SSG Tuimalealiifano is expected to be released from the hospital to his home at Ft Bragg NC sometimes in March 08. SSG Tuimalealiifano is married to Shannon Fatuesi Tuimalealiifano and they have 3 children, Sualauvi Moeva, Aolele Mialagi and Aumalaga Ativalu. Shannon and her children have been commuting to Tampa, FL since August.

CSM Tuileama Nua, CWO1 Tauosose Tupua, SFC Taisi Steffany Alo and MAJ Tauapai Laupola drove to Tampa, FL, and relayed well wishes, thanksgiving and love from the Ft Bragg Samoan community to SSG Tuimalealiifano. The intent of the trip was to thank him for his sacrifice, reaffirm that he is always loved and remembered by his aiga at Ft Bragg and continue to keep the faith until he returns home. SSG Tuimalealiifano cried and thanked the group for acknowledging him. “Who am I that warrant this special treatment? I am very grateful and humble by this experience. On behalf of my family, I would like to thank all of you especially the Samoan community at Ft. Bragg for your love”. His parents Sualauvi Tuimalealiifano and Sosefina Seui Tuimalealiifano of Hawaii expressed their heartfelt thanks over the phone for the long trip and especially the love for their son. Ulale Pusi of Lauli’i, AS and other Samoans at Tampa, FL were also notified and they have pledged to visit with SSG Tuimalealiifano during his recovery in Tampa.

Special thanks go out to the Samoan Christian Faith Congregation Fort Bragg, North Carolina for making this Thanksgiving Day event possible.


Photo #1: (Front) SFC Taisi Steffany-Alo, SSG Tuimalealiifano, MAJ Laupola (Back) CSM Tuileama Nua, CWO1 Tauosose Tupua, outside SSG Tuimalealiifano’s room at the Spinal Ward, Tampa, FL, VA Hospital.

Photo#2: (Front) CSM Tuileama Nua, SSG Sualauvi Tuimalealiifano, MAJ Tauapai Laupola (Back) SFC Taisi Steffany-Alo, CWO1 Tauosose Tupua, inside SSG Sualauvi Malua Tuimalealiifano’s room at the Spinal Ward, VA Hospital, Tampa, FL, where he is undergoing rehabilitation for a spinal injury he sustained when his team was fighting its way out of an ambush at firebase Cobra, Southern Afghanistan.

Photo #3: Lindsey Laupola, Athenia Laupola & Georgina Laupola, on behalf of the youth group, provided entertainment for The Samoan Christian Faith Congregation Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Thanksgiving luncheon for single soldiers stationed at Ft Bragg, NC.

Va’a Moana regatta a great success
30 November 2007 - Source: Lauren Cassar

Pualele Outrigger Canoe Club and Tautai Outrigger Club clearly dominated the competition at last weekend’s Va’a Moana. In most categories the two clubs claimed the three top places between them but not without a fight.

The regatta launched at around 5.30pm on Friday afternoon and concluded 24 races later, after dark on Saturday evening. Despite the rain that swept in mid afternoon on Saturday, Mulinuu Peninsula was a crowd of smiling faces thanks to both a wealth of social teams and enthusiastic supporters.

Few of the weekend’s competitors had paddled in the boats that they headed out in during the regatta. Thanks to the South Pacific Games (SPG) Authority access to the SPG va'a was granted for the event which ensured that a greater number of teams could compete and that all teams were on level footing.

According to Cam Wendt, President of the Samoa Outrigger Canoe Association (SOCA), “the regatta served to highlight great growth in the sport. We had a large number of competitors and many people watching who had no experience at all in the sport of va’a. The Va’a Moana was a great success and I would especially like to thank our sponsors the Ministry of Education, Sports & Culture, KL Security and Rees Hirage.”

The event concluded with a presentation and dinner at Laumei Faigaga where after a full day of rowing, the paddlers dipped into their reserves of energy to bring some life to the dance floor. Thanks to SOCA, first place winners were awarded with engraved medals and those placing second and third were awarded with certificates and prizes.

The next SOCA va’a regatta is planned for early 2008 but most clubs will remain training over the Christmas period. For more information on outrigger canoeing in Samoa contact SOCA President Cam Wendt on 7570192.

Official results
Social Mix V 250m Social Mix V6 500m
1st Tautai World Invitational 1st SMI 1
2nd Tautai 1 2nd Tautai World Invitational
3rd Attorney General’s Office 3rd Vailima Strong

Open Women V1 500m Open Women V6 500m
1st Betty (Alo Samoa) 1st Pualele 1
2nd Upu (Pualele) 2nd Alo Samoa
3rd Malama (Alo Samoa) 3rd Pualele 2

Open Women V6 1500m Open Women 12K Marathon
1st Pualele 1st Pualele

Open Men V1 500m Open Men V6 500m
1st Faatele (Tautai) 1st Pualele
2nd Pulenu’u (Pualele) 2nd Tautai 1
3rd Dice (Tautai) 3rd Tautai 2

Open Men 1500m Open Men 12K Marathon
1st Pualele 1st Pualele
2nd Tautai 1 2nd Tautai 1
3rd Tautai 2 3rd Tautai 2

IWF World Cup official opening ceremony
29 November 2007 - Source: Matthew Joyce of Polynesian Xplorer

Yesterday the athletes and their entourage of coaches, trainers and officials, participating in the SIFA International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Cup were treated to a maximum dosage of Samoan culture.

The cultural experience began just after midday when the athletes assembled with their assigned village representatives outside of Hotel Kitano for the official Athlete's Parade. As part of the Village Support Program designed by Paul Wallwork and Maulolo Amosa, each visiting country was paired with a village who will act as their support squad during the World Cup. The first responsibility of the Support Villages was to create a float upon which the athletes would travel down Beach Road during the Athlete's Parade.

Lead by the Samoan Police Marching Band and surrounded by woven palm fronds, teuila, traditional siva dancers and the humid Samoan air, some of the athletes looked a bit overwhelmed by the fanfare that had been created for their arrival. This said all of the athletes happily obliged for the photographers and inspired onlookers lining Beach Road. The Athlete's Parade was only the start of the cultural injection that the visitors were to receive however. A few hours later and the full onslaught of culturally inspired entertainment was presented at Faleata Stadium in the Official Opening Ceremony.

After speeches and welcome notes by various members of the weightlifting community each of the 38 competing countries' flag bearers entered the stadium to a chorus of applause from their respective Village Support groups. Notable was the village of Faatoia, supporting the African nation of Ghana, who donned not only the country colours but also their traditional dress. As the athletes proudly held their nation's flags the SIFA IWF World Cup was
officially declared open by the Samoan Head of State Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese Efi.

Leasi Papalii Scanlan, Chairman of SIFA and Governor of the Central Bank of Samoa, addressed the international weightlifting community and audience most aptly when he said, "thank you for traveling thousands of miles to be with us this week…[the event will serve] to improve the development of our economy and the development of weightlifting in our country." Pointing to the economic benefits of tourism provoking international events such as this, reinforced the significance of the culturally charged performance which lay ahead.

Interestingly, a fa'afafine item was selected to open the night's entertainment. Despite the fa'afafine sub-culture being a distinct part of fa'a Samoa, the item was received with mixed reactions. The audience was obviously entertained but not necessarily impressed as praise for the performance heralded only from select sections of the stadium and either cat-calls or silence resonated from the others. Closing with a weightlifting inspired aerobic routine performed to the ironically chosen "Macho Man" by the Village People, the stage was cleared of the glitter and frivolity to make way for the youth group from Salani Faleolini to perform a war dance with the traditional talavalu weapon.

The group obviously impressed the Head of State Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese Efi, who comes from the same village, as his smile did not falter throughout the performance. Little about the succinct performance was not impressive however. Dressed in traditional palm leaf adornment and lava-lavas, the young boys displayed an exemplary talent for keeping in time and captivating both the Samoan and international audience. Despite some minor costume malfunctions the overall effect was incredibly professional and quite obviously well rehearsed.

In the face of an impressive performance given by boys up to half their age, Don Bosco College entered the stadium with an air of unrivalled confidence. As the 300 strong, sea of lithe young bodies flowed into the stadium in perfect time with one another, flashes from cameras became evermore visible as the international visitors fought to capture the moment. The performance was structured around a medley of traditional Samoan music and the movements choreographed accordingly.

According to To'o To'ovao, a Don Bosco student and performer from the SIFA IWF World Cup Opening Ceremony, "we were all very nervous about tonight's performance. I felt it was a good performance though as we haven't been practicing for very long."

One may ponder what in fact these young performers could have improved on however. Following their impeccable opening item the group reappeared to introduce humour to their already exceedingly impressive performance. The students even managed to bring a smile to the face of The Honorable Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi as they acted out a skit spoofing some over-ambitious weightlifters.

Don Bosco's performance closed with a rhythmic item to the song "Eye of the tiger", a song traditionally synonymous with boxing but reminiscent of strength in sport nonetheless. The performers appeared to enjoy themselves and their enthusiasm easily transferred to their audience. The final notes of the song unveiled a symbolic notion of four performers lifting the weight of the world above their shoulders which reflected the Prime Minister's words in his earlier address, "we are a small nation but we will continue to lift above our weight internationally."

According to Ray Williams Coach of England and Wales, "tonight was tradition at its finest. It was performed with military precision and was obviously well rehearsed." William's experience of today's cultural injection was quite obviously a positive one, "peace resonates through the whole place (Samoa). It is a place of total peace," he said.

If the rest of the SIFA IWF World Cup functions as smoothly and professionally as tonight's opening ceremony, it will be one more feather in the cap for the nation that hosted the "best ever" South Pacific Games earlier this year and will serve as a reminder to the rest of the world that Samoa is no longer just a dot in the Pacific Ocean but a sporting nation not to be reckoned with.

Final preparations for the SIFA IWF World Cup
28 November 2007 - Source: Matthew Joyce, SIFA 2007 IIWF World Cup Media Team

As excitement builds for the first day of competition at the SIFA International Weightlifting Federation World Cup today, last minute preparations are under way and some small changes have been made to the opening day's schedule.

Due to an unconfirmed number of entries in the Men's 56kg category the event has been combined to run at the same time as the Men's 62kg category at 3pm. This means that the first event of the day will be the 48kg and 53kg women's event starting at 12.30pm.

In the Oceania Weightlifting Federation (OWF) Annual Congress yesterday morning, Paul Coffa announced that he would be moving the OWF training centre from Samoa to New Caledonia as of 1st February 2008. Coffa thanked those that have supported him here in Samoa, particularly Zita Martel of Polynesian Xplorer for her competence and unwavering assistance in the preparations for the SIFA IWF World Cup.

According to Coffa, "this has been the easiest event that I have been involved in organising with regards to finance, transport and promotion. I have been involved in organising these events since 1980 and I can easily say that it has been Zita that has made the preparations for this event run so smoothly."

Further issues discussed at the Congress included correct competitor attire, accurate competitor registration and compliance with the rules of the competition. Dr. Aján Tamás of Hungary and President of the International Weightlifting Federation also addressed the audience dutifully thanking Paul Coffa, the OWF and Samoa for organising and hosting this event.

Tamás also voiced his concerns that performance enhancing drug use remains all too prominent within the sport of weightlifting globally. In a move to stamp out this issue the services of the Regional Anti Doping Organisation (RADO) have been employed for this World Cup and 25 random drug tests will be administered.

When the Congress was dismissed athletes and officials took to the main street of Apia in a parade of colour and decorated floats. The procession started just after midday at Hotel Kitano with each athlete being escorted by an assigned village as part of the Village Support Program designed by Paul Wallwork and Maulolo Amosa. The program has been created to make the overseas athletes feel more at home and to give them support during their stay here in Samoa.

Judging by the smooth operation of the past two day's meetings, registrations and opening events the SIFA IWF World Cup is sure to be another successful sporting event for Samoa. The official opening ceremony commenced yesterday evening at 6.30pm and competition begins today at 12.30pm.

Fruit and vegetable post-harvest treatments seminar
27 November 2007 - Source: Research Development Institute of Samoa

The Research and Development Institute of Samoa (RDIS) held a seminar on its first project on post-harvest treatments (with emphasis on fresh breadfruit and papaya export), co-funded by FAO and RDIS, which was presented by Professor Ron Wills, consultant to the project.

Professor Ron Wills is an Emeritus Professor of Food Technology at the University of Newcastle, Australia. He has had a distinguished career in food and agricultural science and enjoys considerable international recognition for his research into post-harvest technology, nutrient composition of foods and value-adding to food crops.

He has published more than 300 research papers and is the senior author of the leading text book "Postharvest" which is now in its 5th edition and has been translated into Spanish, Chinese, Malaysian and Persian.

Ron has also had considerable experience in food and agricultural development projects as a consultant to AusAid, FAO and International Atomic Energy Agency in many countries. The experience includes substantial time spent in China, Korea and Asian countries assisting each to establish new development and training institutes in the post-harvest handling and marketing of fruit and vegetables.

Many of the business people in Samoa were there at the Seminar, sharing their ideas and methods on how marketing their local goods to overseas markets, with emphasis on fresh breadfruit and papaya exports.

Upolu Power Outage
26 November 2007 - Source: Electric Power Corporation Press Release

Interruption to power supply on Friday morning at 9.07am was caused by a problem on the main High Voltage (HV) power line between Tanugamanono and Afulilo.

EPC was notified at 9.20am and immediately sent out a team to attend to the problem. Power was restored at 11.30am.

However, a second outage occurred at 11.45am, due to a problem on one of the main switchgears (circuit breaker fault) at Tanugamanono Power station. EPC men attempted to fix the problem during the outage, and had the power restored at 2.13pm.

At the moment, EPC continues to further examine the problems to avoid more outages in the coming days.

The majority of the areas in Upolu were affected by the two outages.

EPC apologises for any inconvenience caused.

Ferry service between America Samoa and Samoa resumes
25 November 2007 - Source: Radio New Zealand International

The Lady Naomi ferry which travels between American Samoa and Samoa will resume tomorrow.

There was meant to be no passenger cargo voyage until May 31 because the MV Naomi boat was in dry dock in Pago Pago.

But Polynesian Shipping said that the Lady Naomi returned to Apia last Friday to pickup passengers and cargo.

Lady Naomi returns to its regular Wednesday voyage next week.

The vessel’s restart comes at a time when air service between the two Samoas will be busy for the three-day Memorial Day weekend.

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