KEY POINTS:
More than 1000 high school students from all over Samoa performed at the opening of the much awaited South Pacific Games last week.
The elaborate performance choreographed by Samoan contemporary dancer Alan Aiolupotea was well received by the thousands of spectators who turned up on Saturday.
Athletes from all over the Pacific marched through the newly renovated and expanded Apia Park, signifying the official opening of the games.
The games began on Tuesday at Apia Park and the Tuanaimato Sporting Complex at Faleata.
Health
While the athletes attend to their respective games, it has been confirmed that female condoms, (diaphragms) were removed from athletes kits before they were handed out over the weekend. Sources said an order "came from the top" to remove the female condoms as it might "expose young athletes to sex." There have been no reports on the removal of eight male condoms per athlete.
Press Freedom
Results of an investigation into the burning of the Newsline Samoa Newspaper printing press and headquarters last week have yet to eventuate.
This is the second burning of newspaper headquarters in Samoa.
Newsline is the second privately owned publication in Samoa and it has been reduced to a weekly Newspaper while the company rebuilds.
Biosecurity
Samoa Quarantine Biosecurity has advised Samoans that they will confiscate and impose on-the-spot fines for any quarantine-able items not meeting requirements at arrival ports.
According to the Quarantine Division, the new stringent methods are for the benefit of Samoa.
"The permits contain conditions which are enforcement actions which assist in minimising risks entering Samoa via the imported commodities; hence, these conditions need to be met by the exporting country," Quarantine stated.
Immigration
The Immigration meeting recently held in Samoa revealed that in 2006, 1 billion international arrivals were recorded annually in the People Smuggling and Illegal Trafficking Report.
A total of 7 million arrivals were recorded annually in the Pacific.
According to the report illegal migration is increasing at a greater rate than arrivals.
The Pacific Immigration Directors' Conference (PIDC) agreed that immigration related crimes in the Pacific are indeed a growing concern and that nations must work together in order to prevent a further growth in the problem.
Currently Samoa poses the most advanced Border Management System (BMS) which enables the tracking of visitors; unfortunately it does not record transit passengers.
According to Chief Executive Officer of Immigration in Samoa, Vaasatia Poloma Komiti, this has lead to incidents such as the three Chinese men who overstayed in Samoa.
Currently the permitted time for transit through Samoa is seven days to allow time for infrequent flight schedules.
"But this will have to change, now that it is possible to catch a flight out of Samoa within 24 hours," Komiti said.
Government
The Minister of Natural Resource and Environment Hon. Faumuina Liuga has confirmed that the Government was not aware of the planned sale or partial sale of the Taumeasina Tourist Project in Samoa.
In a Newsline investigation into the island development, it was discovered that the developer, Mr Gordon Taylor had intentions to sell the island, based on the website.
Stevenson previously confirmed to Newsline that representatives from a Fijian group of hotels have shown interest in joint development.
He asserted: "The Government is aware of this and they will be visiting in the next few weeks."
This however was not the case according to Faumuina. Asked about the sale, he said: "There is nothing like that, if it was up for sale then the land would have to come back to Government."
The website states: "If you just wish to purchase the resort or just the site and build your own resort this can be done, too. Or you might wish to purchase the whole island in which the current development includes condominiums and villas. You may wish to do your own thing."
According to the minister those holding the lease to the land have no legal right to sell it.
He said: "They cannot sell the land, the land is [belongs to] Government, as you know I am the signatory of the Government in this matter, and it is only through me that I advice such issues through Cabinet, and that has not happened."
The minister confirmed that he did hear reports about the alleged intentions to sell, however has yet to be approached by the developer.
Faumuina added: "So far our ministry, being the one responsible for such matters, we are not aware of such a sale."
About the terms of contract he said: "We negotiated three months for construction, and they then requested further negotiations but it will be based on agreements drafted by lawyers."
Village beat
In the coconut wireless this week, a traditional wedding almost ended in a dispute between the bride and groom's family over a wedding dress.
Traditionally the bride changes into two dresses, the first, bought by her family is worn to the Church service and the second, usually bought by the groom's family is worn during the reception.
At this wedding however the bride was given three dresses, the last one was hand-made by the bride's sister in Australia.
So the story goes, the first dress, a two piece, ready-made and your usual elegant strapless wedding gown was well received and praised by those who attended the wedding service on Saturday.
The second dress, courtesy of the groom's family from the more rural part of the island displayed what traditional Samoan mothers may term 'ultimate modern wedding dress.'
As you can imagine, the puffed shoulders, glitter and not to mention over-sized gown almost brought tears to the fashion conscious bride, but to show her love she braved the audience with the 'ghost-bride' dress.
When the time came to change into the third dress, the groom's family was not happy.
"This is not fair, they are cutting into our time, the dress should not be changed," said one of the groom's aunties.
Despite the complaints by the aunties, the bride was only too happy to change into hand-made wedding gown made by her sister.
My coconut wireless reporters say the groom's family was so disappointed that their dress was taken off, that they paid a special visit to the bride's family to demand an apology.
On that note, one just cannot help but laugh at this display of sheer pride.
Manuia le Aso
