NEWSROOM: 27 May - 02 June 2007

Independence celebrations, a tribute to Malietoa
02 June 2007 - Source: eventpolynesia.com

Samoa's 45th anniversary celebrations was dedicated to the late Head of Sate, Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili II.

From the beginning of the celebrations to the end, memories of Malietoa echoed from all corners of the country as the people remembered the man that led Samoa for nearly half a century.

Pictures of Malietoa were carried by some organizations during the independence march past and it was the same message carried through to the floral parades. A huge portrait of Malietoa hung from various floats.

Villages performing in the traditional entertainment section also took time out to remember Malietoa and songs written about him and his legacy were sung during the traditional performances.

Joint Deputy Heads of State, Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese Efi and Tuiaana Tuimalealiifano Sualauvi presided over the celebrations.

Tuiatua read out the independence declaration while Tuimalealiifano had the honour of raising the flag, to the sound of a 21 gun salute.

Schools and various organizations braved heavy rain as they marched proudly in celebration of Samoa's independent status.

Traditional entertainment was provided by the villages of Apolima, Satitoa Aleipata, Safune, Gataivai and Tafitoala. Other entertainment included a performance by the Chinese Acrobats. Some of the intended programmes were cancelled due to bad weather.

All throughout the two days celebration, Malietoa has been highlighted at every turn.
 

Mistakes ruin Manu Samoa's chance at beating Junior All Blacks
01 June 2007 - Source: eventpolynesia.com

Manu Samoa's much anticipated match against the visiting Junior All Blacks attracted over 12,000 people to Apia Park. But while a sea of blue and the searing Samoan heat proved a formidable obstacle, the New Zealanders proved too clinical winning 31-10.

But there were some positives for Manu Samoa who had many chances to score tries but through hurried preparations with players joining the team from overseas just days before kick off, and simple handing mistakes and bad passes, ruined many opportunities that came their way.

Seilala Mapusua had a shocker for the Samoans directly responsible for the visitors first two tries; his kick clearance charged down by Junior ABs prop John Afoa who regathered and cantered over for a try. And a mistackle on Casey Laulala who broke through the Manu backline and eventually put Rico Gear over for the first of his two tries. Mose Tuialii added a third try just before halftime.

The Kiwis led 19-3 at the break with a solitary penalty to rookie fullback Gavin Williams the only points for Samoa.

But the they came out more fired up in the second half managing a try to replacement wing David Lemi. Other try scoring opportunities were put down by Samoa and the Kiwis finished the stronger team with additional tries to Ross Filipo and Gear.

Afterwards, both teams got a rousing ovation for an action packed game.

Junior ABs coach Colin Cooper paid tribute to his troops for holding strong on defence against a bigger Manu Samoa forward pack.

Samoan coach Laauli Michael Jones admitted to being disappointed and rued the mistakes that could have the made the scoreline more respectable. But he singled out the early departure of hooker Mahonri Schwalger through injury as a big blow to the Samoan set pieces especially the lineouts. He also said the team will get better with more game time together.

Manu Samoa next plays Australia A at Coffs Harbour and the side has since been bolstered with the additions of European based players Daniel Leo, Elvis Savealii and Alesana Tuilagi, the latter player nominated for the English Premiership player of the year award earlier this month.

Manu Samoa's next home match in Apia of the IRB Pacific Nations Cup is against Tonga in late June.
 

Manu Samoa autograph jersey auctioned for $5000
31 May 2007 - Source: eventpolynesia.com

Manu Samoa is not only a force to rekoned with on the field, but is now  proving to be an icon off the field as well. A jerseys autographed by the Manu Samoa players has just sold for SAT$5000 which is a nice bonus for the Samoa Rugby Union. The jersey was auctioned recently.

The lucky winner Polynesian Xplorer had a tough competition from American Samoa businessman and owner of Maliu Mai Restaurant and SWELL.

The auctioned started at SAT$300 and it was quickly apparent not all were prepared to pay the highest price as the number of bids dwindled as the bidding weht higher. At the end, only three battled it out with Polynesian Xplorer walking away the happy winner of the night.

The auction was part of the fundraising dinner for the Junior All Blacks and Manu Samoa after their match last Saturday. The fundraising was to raise funds for the Manu Samoa's preparations for the World Cup in France in September.

The dinner was attended by mostly local business people who managed to secured a $2000 corporate table.

There was some disappointment after the Junior All Blacks beat Manu Samoa 31-10 at Apia Park. However, the atmosphere at the after match dinner was warm and friendly.

Deputy Head of State, Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese Efi, who is also the President of the Samoa Rugby Union, gave the keynote address for the evening.
 

Programme for the 45th Samoa Independence Celebrations
30 May 2007 - Source: Prime Ministers Office

This year's celebration is only for two days. The programme starts on Thursday 31st May 2007 with a dedication church service at the Prayer House at Mount Vaea at 6.00pm. The service will be under the auspices of the National Council of Churches under the leadership of Chairman Reverend Oka Fauolo. The Methodists Church from Gataivai will sing the hymns.

Friday 1st June:
6.00 am - Groups from schools and organizations fro the march to Mulinuu will gather at Malae Tiafau
7.00 am - Invited guests seated at Tiafau.
7.15 am - Prime Minister and Mrs Malielegai arrive
7.20 am - H.E. Governor Togiola Tulafono and First Lady arrive
7.25 am - Members of the Council of Deputies and Masiofo arrive
7.30 am - National Anthem of Samoa
* Invocation: H.E. Archbishop Alapati Mataeliga
* Member of the Council of Deputies delivers the Independence Anniversary Address.
* Raising of the flag of the Independent State of Samoa
* Samoa National Anthem
* 21 gun salute
* March Past
10.00 am - Brass Band Exhibition
* Other special performances
11.00 am - Marching girls competition (Tiafau Mulinuu)
2.00 pm - Traditional Entertainment (Tiafau Mulinuu)
* Safune, Apolima, Aleipata Itupa -i-Lalo
7.00 pm - Independence Cocktail reception (Papaigalagala Hall, National University of Samoa)
* Chinese Acrobatic Team Entertainment (EFKS Youth Hall Sogi)
* Fashion Show (in-front of Government Blg)

Saturday 2nd June 2007
7.30 am - Fautasi Regatta
8.30 am - Floats, Live concert (in-front of Government blg)
10.00 am Traditional entertainment (Tiafau Mulinuu) Gataivai, Tafitoala,
12.00 noon - Closing Ceremony
* Awarding ceremony
* Traditional presentations
* Address by joint Chairperson , Independence committee 2007.
* Police retreat and lowering of flag
* Closing hymn "Lota Nuue, o Samoa"
* Closing prayer and benediction - H.E. Archbishop Alapati Mataeliga.
7.00 pm - Chinese Acrobatic Team entertainment (EFKS Youth hall Sogi)
 

The Media and Parliamentarians
29 May 2007 - Source: Apulu Lance Polu - JAWS Advisor

2nd Regional Meeting for Pacific Parliamentarians. "Safeguarding Pacific Youth: Accelerating Actions Through Partnership with Pacific Parliamentarians" Kitano Tusitala Hotel, 23 May 2007.

As politicians, I gather that you are masters of using the media to your political advantage.

Fifteen years ago, I appeared in front of the Bills Committee of Parliament to present a submission
against the Publishers and Printers Act. The Bill requires the media to divulge our sources of
information - even confidential sources of information. It was an intimidating experience as I
was quizzed by Members of Parliament who were all senior citizens who wondered why we were against the Bill. Of course the Bill was passed by parliament a week later without any amendments and only our names were added to the list of witnesses who gave evidence to the Committee.

Since then, we in the independent media in Samoa had been appealing to the government to repeal and abolish the law. Two weeks ago, the Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi had this to say when he opened the Editors Forum organised by the Journalists Association of Samoa:

"I know that your Association has continued to seek changes in laws that you consider are stifling media freedom. My brief reply to this call is that there is a time for everything and you have seen the changes that have happened in life and circumstances of our country including those affecting the media.

"The commitment of the Government is to keep moving our country forward. As institutions in the public sector, the private sector and our community continue to mature, so will the changes take place to reflect and accommodate this maturity."

The Printers and Publishers Act was devised by the then Government for Newspapers and news outlets to reveal the names of their sources of information which were very critical to the government and often insinuates corruption. The law also aimed at identifying those writing letters to the Editor in the newspapers under pen names to hide their true identities of which the Government suspected were senior government officials or politicians from the government camp.

Well a lot has changed since and as you can gather from the Prime Ministers recent remarks, maturity on both sides has and will see further changes for the better.

Samoa currently has a very vibrant media industry one of the most free media in the Pacific region. It is freedom that comes with maturity and responsibility. And maturity that comes through some very tough and difficult times in the past in the relationship between those in powers and the local media. Since the Government opened up media licensing and ownership in the 1990s, the media industry has simply exploded over time. Samoa now has four free to air TV
Stations, three paid TV channels including a Pacific satellite service, about ten Radio stations including church owned stations- a host of privately owned newspapers and online news services.

That's all in a very small market of only about 180 thousand people. Moreover, the government is selling the most influential media outlet in the country, the state owned Radio and Television - the Samoa Broadcasting Corporation which is expected to have a new owner by January 2008. And there are a few more TV and Radio licenses issued but have yet to go on air.

The freedom of the Samoan media (in my view) correlates to the freedom of society at large to
express their views freely and in a responsible manner. And that freedom to express and exchange are elements that are so vital and necessary to the growth and maturity of Samoa as a nation and as a democracy.

So there will ultimately come a time when legislating to control the media and control the free flow of information so vital to the growth of a nation, would no longer be necessary.

It is this free flow of information that has its heart in improving governance and accountability and
better usage of our collective resources be it at the national level, the village level or the Church Youth Group or our sports clubs that someone has used the money for personal use.

In today's world and the inescapable truth of a globalized economy, the media plays a vital role in
informing the public about how all these changes - good and bad - will affect every man woman and child despite how isolated we are in our island nations.

The real issues we face in small island countries such as global warming and sea level rise,
environmental degradation, the health hazards such as the deadly HIV pandemic, our youth and the escalating drugs problem, our family units breaking up, teenage pregnancies and abandoned babies, border security and terrorism and many more, require a vibrant media to inform the country and our citizens and to initiate debate to create more awareness in addressing these
issues.

On the other hand, we should be just as vigilant about what the media is already bringing right into the privacy of our homes. The films and movies that are screened on our TV stations, the advertisements and images we allow our families and children to see usually with a derogatory or sexual connotation - are real and major challenges.

Samoa's electronic media - Radio & Television - are being blamed for their part in the deterioration of the Samoan language and the standards are slipping fast without recourse to improving. When names, words and terms are pronounced and used wrongly and the public - usually the youth - pick these up quickly and are taken and accepted as the correct version in the language usage.

The electronic media is also blamed for its role in killing originality and creativity especially in the
arts. They do this by promoting overseas artists and their foreign art forms such as music - that promote foul language, skewed perceptions and violence - and does very little to promote local original artists and their work.

The result has been that as in music, there has been very little original Samoan music written over the last fifteen years and almost every Samoan song you hear on the Radio and TV today is an English tune with Samoan words. This is a common trend in many of our island nations. And we seem to have lost the capacity to create original art forms and our mindsets are now based on borrowed ideas. More disturbing is the fact that many of our young singers think that writing an original song constitutes putting Samoan words to any new and popular English tune that hits the airwaves.

The media should encourage, feature and promote our identity, cultivate and promote our capacity to be creative and originality whether in various arts forms, or what we are as a people.

Our island countries are moving steadily towards becoming part of the globalized economy under the World Trade Organisation. It is my view that originality and what that makes us different in the
world market are what that will sell and makes us competitive products in this global economy.

Whether it is marketing overseas a modern interpretation of our traditional chants, or the
distinctive tapa patterns of Fiji against Samoan and Tongan designs, or the natural flair of our rugby players and netballers, or the distinct traditional patterns of the Samoan tattoo or the Maori koru printed on T-Shirts and other fabric now being pirated and mass copied in many metropolitan cities, what our minds create and our originality could be the only things that big businesses won't be able to touch and what we will be able to hold on to in order to survive in a globalized market and a very fast business environment. But this of course depends on the protection of intellectual property offered under WTO.

It is why the media should promote and encourage originality and creativity to be reflected in almost every other aspect of our daily living and even in innovative business ideas and undertakings.

So that when the container ship no longer comes with turkey tails and so many introduced foodstuffs that have contributed to so many of the lifestyle diseases killing our populations at so early an age, we can still survive on the creative ideas and skills we have learnt from our forbearers that we have not yet forgotten. Skills that we need to teach and pass on to our future generations for their own survival.

As parliamentarians - you have the influence to devise and shape national and regional policies on the very theme of this conference - accelerating actions through partnerships to safeguard our youth and our future generations. It is in your court that these inevitable challenges need be addressed.

The local media in most of our island countries have already joined the globalized information market and highway and the media will continue to have a major impact on our lives despite the isolation of our small island communities.

It is parliamentarians who can make a difference by establishing the environment for a vibrant and free media to nurture and grow and knowing how to utilize the media for the benefit of the wider community and not for just cheap political points.

I know that often parliamentarians and governments think that controlling the media would be to their political advantage.

I must say that no amount of media propaganda can make a good politician, or good parliamentarian or any good government - bad. Nor the media can make a bad parliamentarian, bad politician or bad government any better.

In concluding, I wish to thank the organisers of this conference for inviting me to share a few thoughts and I thank you sincerely for your patience and attention.

Soifua ma ia Manuia!

*Apulu Lance Polu is the Pacific delegate in the Executive Board of the Commonwealth Journalists
Association (CJA). He is a former Head of News and Programmes for the state owned Radio and Television [1985-1993], former President of the Journalists Association of Samoa (JAWS-1989 - 2003), former President of the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA-2003-2005). He founded the multi media company, Talamua Media & Publications in 1994 of which he is the Publisher and Editor.
 

Business of the week: Western Union Money Transfer
28 May 2007 - Source: eventpolynesia.com

World renowned money transfer company, Western Union, is a household name in Samoa when it comes to sending and receiving money from loved ones.

Remittances makes up a large part of the Samoan economy and Western Union has been at the forefront of services meeting the huge demand.

Western Union's association with Samoa dates back to the 1980's and caters the four corners of the world.

The Pacific Holdings Limited (PHL) who has held the Western Union Money Transfer agency in Samoa for some ten (10) years had celebrated the company's success at Thailand last year, after winning an award in recognition for "Achievement in Highest Increase in Activation Rate."

Western Union Samoa offers money transfers and foreign exchange services from three separate offices in Samoa, two in Upolu and one at Salelologa, as well as two at Faleolo international airport.

According to PHL management, Fonoti Pio Molioo and Anarosa Molioo, Western Union Samoa is planning to establish new agents in Fagamalo, Aleipata and the new Market at Fugalei.

Western Union has has seen an increase in numbers of money transfers locally in the past five years.

Western Union has also given back to the people with chances to win in their various giveaway draws which is a way of thanking the people for their support.

Western Union is also foremost in having special giveaways on mothers and father days, white Sunday and Christmas specials.
 

Person of the week: Tapa Fidow
27 May 2007 - Source: eventpolynesia.com

Tapa Fidow is the first and only Samoan to graduate from the Oceania University of Medicine in Samoa.

He with five other students from the USA, Australia and India took the plunge and enrolled at the University five years ago, despite the controversies surrounding its formation.

At the time of its inception, the school was according to some, doomed to fold within the first year of its existence. However, Tapa and his overseas colleagues continue to treasure the University.

Tapa graduated with a doctorate degree and has been hailed by Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi as a good example for the local students who wish to take up medicine as a profession, to study in Samoa rather that opting for overseas placements.

Tapa went to Samoa College and according to a former teacher, Tapa is not only a quiet boy but a hardworking student who strived to be the best.

Tapa's sister and family agreed that Tapa is a very quiet person, however, he gets annoyed easily when his studies are disrupted.

The University Dean and lecturer Dr Satupaitea Viali speaks highly of Tapa echoing Tuilaepa's words.

"He's hardworking, persistent and the kind of person ready to lend a helping hand," he shares.

Tapa said he wants to serve his people in the best way he can. Before Tapa graduated, his medicinal career kicked off three years ago when he and a doctorate student saved a tourist from drowning at one of the beaches at Savaii. Those who witnessed the incident credited Tapa and his friend for their quick action and the medical assistance they gave the tourist. His medical days
started from there when he became an intern at the Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital at Motootua until his graduation early last month.

He now works as a full time doctor with the hope of taking on more medical studies in the future. He is probably the youngest doctor working at the hospital, but armed with a stethoscope, he's a force to be reckoned with.
 

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