NEWSPAGE 18 January
2010

(Photos: Immigration New Zealand / TVNZ ONE News)

NEW ZEALAND: Pacific communities cautioned about immigration scams

(Photo: Samoa Government)

SAMOA: Parliamentary Updates
Source: Government Press Secretariat Press Release

Opening of the new Court House at Mulinuu

Cabinet has approved the opening of the new Court House and the Ministry of Justice and Court Administration at Mulinuu on Monday, 25 January 2010 at 2.30pm.

Chairman of the Samoa National Council of Churches, Elder Oka Fauolo will be conducting the services for the Opening of the New Building. Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi will deliver the keynote address. A representative from China will also be speaking as well as Chief Justice Patu Tiavaasue Falefatu Sapolu. Justice Minister’s good lady, Mrs Nola Galo will cut the ribbon before the tour of the building.

Invitees will include Government and Church dignitaries, and representatives of the public.


Signing of delivery documents for the MV Lady Samoa III

Cabinet has endorsed the attendance by Minister of Works Transport and Infrustructure, Afioga Tuisugaletaua Sofara Aveau, Samoa Shipping Corporation CEO, Susuga Papalii Willie Nansen; and the CEO for the Ministry of Works, Vaaelua Nofo Vaaelua to the official signing of the documents for the MV Lady Samoa III ferry.

Construction of the ferry is scheduled to be fully completed between the 25th January - 2 February.

A tour on the ship will be conducted before the official signing of documents in acceptance of the new ferry and to prepare the ship for its maiden voyage for Samoa.

The ferry leaves Japan for Samoa on 1st February 2010.


Testing the MV Lady Samoa III

Cabinet has allowed two crew members and a representative of the Ministry of Works Transport and Infrastructure to travel to Japan for testing of the vessel MV Lady Samoa III in Japan and to temporarily register the vessel before it departs for Samoa on 1 February 2010.

Captain Tuilaepa Jacob Poe Nansen and Engineer Galuvao Ariu Galuvao will also be given trainings for maintenance of the Vessel when its been handed over to the Government of Samoa.


Tenix Alliance NZ Services Limited awarded Contract

Cabinet has approved the Contract awarded to Tenix Alliance NZ Services Limited for reconstruction of Transmission Lines at Puapua.

An invitation for Bids was advertised and three Companies submitted applications. The applications were then assessed by the Sub-Committee which consists of members from the EPC, Ministry of Finance and Attorney General. The assessment was based on conditions and requirements made by Asian Development Bank.

After assessments of applications the Tenix Alliance NZ Services Limited was awarded the Contract at the total cost of $1,172,715.60.


Global Samoan Nursing & Midwifery Symposium

Cabinet has endorsed the Global Samoan Nursing and Midwifery meeting to be held in Samoa this week starting from the 13th to the 19th January 2010.

Consultations among nurses and midwives in Samoa started in 2006 to share and compare issues that were needed to improve. A meeting between local nurses and midwives and New Zealand based Samoan nurses and midwives started in 2007 when the local Health Ministry sought help from Samoan specialized nurses in New Zealand to work at the Samoa National Kidney Foundation (SNKF).

This meeting aimed at sharing the knowledge and skills between Samoan Nurses and Nurses from around the world. Its main goal is to improve the services provided by the Health Sector to help the Public.
 

AMERICAN SAMOA: Why are Samoans flocking to the NFL?
Source: CBS Sports

60 Minutes recently went to American Samoa to find out how a territory with a population less than the capacity of a pro-football stadium sends more players to the NFL than any similarly populated place in America. In fact, boys born to Samoan parents are estimated to be 56 times more likely to play in the NFL than other Americans, reports Scott Pelley in his story, broadcast Sunday, January 17 on the CBS Television Network.

The Samoan people tend to be on the larger side and the islands’ six high schools have sent 10 linemen to the NFL in the last five years. One of those 10 NFL linemen who played Samoan high school ball is the Cincinnati Bengals’ Domata Peko, who says Samoans’ speed plays a role as well. “The combination of size and ability and speed, that’s kind of hard to find. Big dudes who can have nimble feet and are able to run and go sideline to sideline,” says Peko. Peko’s teammate, another Samoan named Jonathan Fanene, is a defensive end who proves Peko’s point with his six sacks and a touchdown this season. Says Fanene, “With the talent that we have, we have to take pride of it, especially when you have the opportunity to come to the mainland.”

Fanene’s little, well, not so little, brother, 17-yr.-old Aiulua, is poised to follow in Jonathan’s footsteps. At 6-5 and 280lbs., he’s considering offers from Arizona University and Oregon State. Like many other Samoans, he does a day’s worth of chores before school starts. His father, David, thinks the discipline has a lot to do with his kids’ football success. “That’s how he’s been brought up. Discipline. Obedience should be involved in this house and I am expecting our children to obey us,” Fanene tells Pelley

Jonathan Fanene built his family a palatial home in Samoa with the seven-figure salary his NFL career affords him.

Perhaps the most famous Samoan in the NFL, Pittsburgh’s Troy Polamalu - born in the U.S. to Samoan parents - says the island is lucky to have the option of football. Beyond a career in the NFL, Samoans have little opportunity beyond the military or work in a tuna canning industry based there that is threatening to pull out soon. “The beautiful thing about football is it’s allowed us to get into education,” says Polamalu. “Football is something that comes naturally to us,” he tells Pelley.

There are currently more than 30 Samoans in the NFL and another 200-plus playing Division 1 college football. There are just 65,000 people living on the islands. “What if there were 120 million Samoans,” wonders Polamalu. “How many Samoans would there then be in the NFL?”
 

(Photo: Pearl Perspectives)

COOK ISLANDS: Avaiki marketers being sought
Source: Cook Islands News

The pearl authority is seeking locals to market Avaiki, the new Cook Islands premium pearl brand, to the international jewellery trade as part of the brand’s development.

Launched last September, Avaiki now needs a network of wholesalers and marketers as well as manufacturing and retail jewellers here and overseas to attain higher prices for the A, B and C grade pearls under the brand globally.

Pearl authority (CIPA) chief executive officer George Ellis says one or two locally based marketers will be accredited to be part of the global marketing strategy.

CIPA is also advertising internationally through pearl and jewellery publications for overseas-based marketers and wholesalers for Avaiki. As well as servicing the domestic market, local marketers/wholesalers will also have a major role in promoting and developing overseas sales through their established network of contacts.

Tomorrow the invitation for expressions of interest for locally based marketers closes but Ellis says it will take much longer to secure overseas marketers and wholesalers for the brand. He says one or two locally based individuals or companies will be accredited marketers/wholesalers and overseas there will be many more accredited over the course of the year.

“Overseas networks are harder to set up and take time. We now have to work hard to establish Cook Islands pearls on the international scene.”

CIPA has already completed the Avaiki accreditation of seven farmers in Manihiki with 20 farms meeting the strict compliance standards for the brand already.

The other 10 farms were ‘borderline’ according to Ellis, and they will have to work with them to find ways to reach the standards for Avaiki if they choose to apply for accreditation. Ellis says farmers may be disappointed in the time it takes for the accreditation process but CIPA is working to develop Avaiki step by step according to strict guidelines in the aims of giving the brand the best foundation possible.

Ellis is confident Avaiki’s presence will grow in Rarotonga as well, despite only one local pearl and pearl jewellery retailer - Moana Gems -- being accredited. He says two other high end retailers are considering accreditation.

For now CIPA is focused on developing Avaiki - a process that it expects will take around three years.
 

(Photo: Fiji Times)

FIJI: Sacrifice pays off for cricketers
Source: Fiji Times

Commitment and sacrifice paid off for the Nadi Jetsetters cricket team as they returned home satisfied winning two of their four matches at the Women's National Championship last week.

The side was made up of players from the clan (mataqali) of Naduruniu, in the village of Nakavu and coached by former national rep Ilikena Bula.

Bula and his group of girls sacrificed their festive season to prepare for their first ever women's cricket competition. Having played other sports like rugby, volleyball, touch rugby and hockey helped improve the girls' skills.

Bula said winning two games was a good start for future games.

"I think this is a good start for us. This team is only from one village and I'm proud of the way the girls interpret the game on their first competition," Bula said.

I believe our sacrifices have paid off now.

"The girls preferred to train and prepare for the game rather than drinking and partying during the festive season.

"The girls were determined to win the championship.

It was so good to be repaid by winning two matches from the four we played."

Bula said all his team members were his nieces. He said he loved to help the girls improve their individual skills.

Bula said he worked extra hard to overcome the challenge of teaching girls the basic rules of the sport.

"It was tough in the first place especially when all these girls knew nothing about cricket but they managed to do well at the championship."

As a result two of the team members were drafted into the national women's squad. Mareta Vuadreu and Miriama Mada were the pioneers from Nakavu to be national women's reps.

Bula added the duo played aggressively which attracted the attention of the national selectors. They had a combined score of 208 points and 38 overs in the last two games.

"Miri and Mareta played a huge role in the team and it was not a surprise to hear their names in the national team."

He said he wanted to maintain their interest in the sport and for them not to lose focus but to do their best for their country in future test matches.

Bula thanked the village of Nakavu and the vanua of Navatulevu for showing their support for the team despite Nadi being represented by only one village.

"I want to thank everyone that contributed to the girl's expense. I took my hats off for the marvelous efforts from the girls and this is only the beginning to much bigger things in this year."

"This is the first team and our first competition and I believe we'll better and improve our performance to another level in future games," Bula said.

He added that all interested players that wished to join the Nadi cricket women's team were welcome to be part of the team.

Photo Caption: The Nadi women's cricket team pose for a photo.
 

(Photo: Oceania Football Confederation)

WORLDWIDE: American Samoa head for New Zealand
Source: Football Federation of American Samoa via Oceania Football Confederation

American Samoa's U-20 women's squad leave for New Zealand today to compete in the OFC U-20 Women's Championship starting 21 January at Auckland's North Harbour Stadium.

They will compete alongside Cook Islands, New Zealand and Tonga in the round-robin competition to see who will will qualify for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Germany this July.

After training together for the past year, American Samoa are raring to go according to Coach Ruben Luvu. The squad of 17 players recently enjoyed a 3-2 victory over the Football Federation American Samoa's (FFAS) referees which Luvu says was an encouraging result.

"I was pleased with their performance as they have improved since the first time we played against the referees back in July," Luvu said.

"But there were still things I saw in that game that we need to improve on. Especially since our first opponent is Oceania’s best: New Zealand.”

The team consists of five players from American Samoa Community College, 11 from local high schools and one who has joined the territory’s work force. Their opponents are New Zealand (Jan. 21), Tonga (Jan. 23) and Cook Islands (Jan. 25). All games will be played at North Harbour Stadium.

FFAS President Iuli Alex Godinet says he is confident the squad will represent American Samoa proudly.

"What we can only hope for is for them to do their best," said President Godinet. "These young ladies are going with our association, executive committee, secretariat and my blessings to this tournament and we are all praying for their safe return."

Meanwhile, CEO Tavita Taumua says the championship will provide valuable international experience for the players.

"One thing I’m really banking on is the match experience they will be bringing back with them and that they will use in upcoming competitions such as an U-18 tournament scheduled for July this year against a team from Hawaii and Seattle and also the 2011 Pacific Games in New Caledonia."

Already there are five squad members with international experience under their belts — Filiga Ioapo, Meleane Ioapo, Angela Sa’o, Malia Sefo and Beulah Oney. All were part of American Samoa’s women’s team at the 2007 Samoa South Pacific Games. Three others were part of an U-15 team that traveled to Samoa and came back with a tournament championship — Faith Emboy, Horonaima Tulafono and Marissa Vagaia.

Originally scheduled for October last year, the OFC U-20 Women's Championship had to be postponed due to the earthquake and tsunami disaster that struck American Samoa, Samoa and Tonga last September killing more than 100 people and leaving thousands homeless.

The tragedy directly affected the American Samoa U-20 women’s team with the players’ travel documents being swept away and the training field at Football Federation American Samoa’s (FFAS) headquarters badly damaged by the waves.

Fortunately, they were offered alternative training facilities at the Kananafou Theological Centre and have since returned to the FFAS fields for their final preparations ahead of the OFC qualifying event.