NEWSROOM: 28 October - 03 November 2007

Children selling goods on streets cause for alarm
03 November 2007 - Source: Pacific Magazine

There are calls in Samoa for the government to address the growing number of children selling goods on the streets.

The President of Survival Foundation, Tuilaepa Mary Gray believes the problem is getting worse.

She also said that some of the children interviewed by her group say their parents made them sell on the street to raise money for school fees.

The children were sent home from school and cannot sit exams unless their school fees are paid.

Tuilaepa Mary said Police should be enforcing the law on compulsory education.

The law states that education is compulsory for children aged 14 and under.

Tuilaepa says she’s trying to get the labour law amended to increase the working age from 15 to 18 years.

She said 15 is too early and children need more education at that age.

Samoa 2007/2008 IRB tournament sevens team announced
02 November 2007 - Source: Samoa Rugby Football Union Press Release

The Samoa Rugby Football Union has officially announced the Samoa 7s Team for the 2007/2008 IRB Tournament to Dubai and George.

Also announced was the Samoa 7s Development Team, who will be participating in the Pacific 7s Tournament to be staged in Papua New Guinea.

The Women’s Team to the Pacific 7s Tournament will be announced next week.

The Samoa 7s Team for the 2007/2008 Dubai/George IRB Tournament are:

1. Simaika Mikaele
2. Apelu Faaiuga
3. Alafoti Faosiliva
4. Alapasa Cortz
5. Mussolini Faalupega
6. Uale Mai
7. Lolo Lui
8. Roger Warren
9. Alatasi Tupou
10. Gasolo Salima
11. Pulemalie Sopo
12. Desmond Faaiuaso
13. Stephen Betham, Manager
14. Galumalemana Rudolf Moors, Coach
15. Kelly Horne, Physiotherapist

The Development Team heading to Papua New Guinea, 31st Nov – 1st Dec 2007 are:

Coach: Galumalemana Fred Crichton
Assistant Coach/Manager: Palea Setu Tuilaepa

1. Siaosi Akerei
2. Morgan Salesa
3. Reupena Levasa
4. Fetu Sasalu
5. Junior Leota
6. Meki Purcell
7. Mike Cabriel
8. Fanuafou Tofi
9. Fale Afamasaga
10. Esera Lauina
11. Afa Aiono
12. Mathew Solomona

Non Travelling Reserves

15. Uaealesi Faatauvaa
16. Misioka Solomona
17. John Lemisio
18. Sitiveni Siaosi
19. Taua Faletoese

Vaniah Alafia Toloa releases new album
01 November 2007 - Source: Cellestina F. Mata’afa

Tokelau-born Samoan artist Vaniah Alafia Toloa is breathing new life into Pacific entertainment with the release of “E le Galo Oe”, dedicated to late Samoan Head of State Malietoa Tanumafili II.

Toloa’s music blends Samoan and Tokelau lyrics with smooth, moving even upbeat dance tunes. “E Le Galo Oe means “left behind.” The song was inspired by the death of his paternal grandfather and little brother Toloa in 1991. Several years later the deaths of his paternal grandmother and maternal grandparents further inspired him to write those lyrics. And this year’s passing of Malietoa gave it new resonance.

But “E Le Galo Oe” also evokes many other aspects of life in sovereign Samoa- God and faith, one’s loving parents and family, the victory of Manu Samoa at the Hong Kong and Wellington Sevens, love, heartache, poverty, school life and pride, friends, fun, laughter and the spirit of sharing to help others. Just about anything inspires him to write: a good party with interesting characters, conversations and even something funny he might see at-a-glance. Sometimes inspiration comes when he is without a pen or paper and he has been known to write lyrics with rocks from the “umu” on Bongo wrappers.

Toloa is due to perform in Hawaii late 2007 and released a special compilation during the South Pacific Games in Samoa late August. One popular track, “O oe o le Toa” pays tribute to the U.S. soldiers from American Samoa, the Toa O Samoa. Of any U.S. jurisdiction, state or territory, American Samoa has the highest death rate per capita in the ongoing war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Tsunami evacuation exercise takes place in Apia
31 October 2007 - Source: Radio New Zealand International

A big tsunami evacuation exercise was conducted by Samoa’s Disaster Preparedness Committee on Monday, as part of this year’s environment and disaster awareness week. The exercise was held in two low lying areas in the capital Apia, including the industrial zone at Vaitele.

In a public address prior to the exercise, the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Faumuina Tiatia Liuga urged people to give their full support to the drill.

All businesses, companies and households within the two zones targeted in the exercise were strongly advised to leave their homes and belongings, including vehicles, to enable them to move quickly to designated evacuation sites.

The tsunami evacuation exercise went well and everyone who participated now has a clear understanding of what to do, should an impending natural disaster be announced.

SAT$15,000 for Marist Sports Club
30 October 2007 - Source: Government Press Secretariat

Cabinet has approved financial assistance of SAT$15,000 for the Marist Sports Club, to assist the Marist Ten’s Rugby Team in its preparations for the upcoming Cobra and Borneo Sevens, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from the 27 – 28 October and 3 – 4 November, 2007.

The Marist Ten’s Team won the Cobra Sevens in two consecutive years, 2004 – 2005.

Pacific netball teams gather for World Netball Championships next month
29 October 2007 - Source: Radio New Zealand International

South Africa’s Proteas will lead the charge of 16 teams arriving in Auckland to contest the World Netball World Championships from November 10.

The Proteas, ranked fifth in the world, arrive November 1st, for the eight-day tournament to be played at the Trusts Stadium in Waitakere.

Scotland are expected to touch down around the same time, but will spend time playing the regional sides in the Bay of Plenty and Waikato.

New Zealand fresh from a five-day warm-up tour to Melbourne, will move into their Auckland base on November 3. Perennial rivals Australia, who have been in boot camp lugging bricks with police officers and playing the Victorian men’s side, arrive two days later.

Eight of the competing nations will get a pre-taste of the New Zealand netball style with shake-down games against the New Zealand under-21 squad.

The Samoan team, led by ex-Silver Fern defender Linda Vagana, has a strong New Zealand influence, but will get together in Samoa before heading to Auckland.

The Cook Islands side, coached by former New Zealand captain Ana Noovao, will assemble in south Auckland before settling into their world championship base. Fiji will name their 12-strong side this weekend, after an intense training camp in both Fiji and Australia.

They will be one of the last teams to fly into the country. Jamaica have chosen to travel to New Zealand with 14 players and will whittle down their squad to the regulation 12 before the November 10 deadline. No nation will be able to change their teams after that date.

No ministerial policy to feed teachers
28 October 2007 - Source: Samoa Observer

The Ministry of Education does not have a policy where schools are required to feed teachers, or exam supervisors, Principal Communications Officer, Fa’amatuainu Sa Vasa said.

“No, it is not a policy of the Ministry; with all due respect, it is not allowed,” he told the Samoa Observer.

The Ministry was asked for a comment following complaints from parents who said they have had to borrow money to buy food their children have been instructed to provide for the exams.

The exams they are referring to is the Year 8 National exams currently underway.

Fa’amatuainu said the Ministry has constantly reminded school committees about this issue but some refuse to listen.

“It has been a problem in the past and it continues to be a problem,” he admitted.

“The school committees continue to ask students to provide food. This is always the case during exams and parents call (us) about it all the time.”

The issue is often discussed during the teachers’ annual conference held in January, attended by principals, their deputies, senior teachers and members of schools committees.

“When we bring up the issue, we are often told that it cannot be stopped because of the fa’aSamoa,” Fa’amatuainu said.

“For instance, villagers often ask us how we could allow a teacher from another school to come to supervise our exam to go unfed. In the fa’aSamoa, they say it is inappropriate.”

Besides, there are also parents who are happy to feed teachers.

“It’s a tough issue because although we don’t have a policy that requires schools to provide food, our customs and traditions make it hard for many school committees to stop. And that’s why this problem still exists today.”

This week, offerings of food and other items by students to teachers in rural areas was discussed in Parliament.

The Education, Science, Communications and Information Technology Committee noted in its report that the practise was a concern and it should be discouraged.

In their report, the committee says:

“The Committee noted with concern the hospitality extended to teachers in district schools. This gives raise to suspicions of favouritism, which is of great concern to the committee.”

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