The detainees were part of the school group who travelled to participate in the entertainment and fautasi racing for the celebration of the Flag Day on the territory.

In his statement Ford said that contrary to information conveyed in the media, the adult from the group who was also charged was not a teacher at Don Bosco.

He has provided some voluntary assistance in the school's workshops over the last three months and was travelling with the school group in an adult capacity. Continue reading

Digicel has given Don Bosco $ST35,000 to help with their youth development efforts.

The fautasi is a long boat used for racing in Samoa and American Samoa.

The boat is 89 feet long and has 47 rowers and a helmsman.

Digicel's head of corporate affairs, Leaupepe Talai Lene, praised the school's Principal, Fr. Chris Ford and Digicel Segavao's Skipper, Vaimasenu'u Zita Martel, for continuing the unique programme for the young men of the Technical College.

Ford says the financial support they receive enables the school to facilitate a proper training camp for the young men of the team for the race preparations.

He reiterated that the partnership with the telecommunications company was one that they treasured.

Vaimasenu'u Zita Martel was the first lady skipper in what was traditionally a man's sport.

In 2010 she said "I had to prove myself and my methods to a skeptical audience."

"In 2006, we were given the opportunity not just to race for our country but to show that there is room for a woman in this sport."

"To the consternation of our opponents in American Samoa, Digicel Segavao II won the American Samoa Flag Day Fautasi Race in 2006 - all based on the mantra 'One Beat.'"

She said she took on the task of skippering at Don Bosco on the condition that each year, she could train afresh a new crew selected from Technical Centre.

It is a challenge that she says is posed every year with the enlisting of newbies - the year one students who've never raced before.

The fautasi giants will again be competing in this year's major celebrations during the Independence Day races and the Teuila Festival Fautasi Races that will coincide with the September S.I.D.S. Conference.

Source

• The Samoa Observer
• Pacific Islands Report
• Image: The Samoa Observer

Director of Catholic Education, Aeau Chris Hazelman, said the students were involved in some misconduct in the previous week and had been sent home by the principal, Sr Monica Vaipuna. And the Principal is reportedly sticking to her guns.

She did not accept the traditional presentation and instead reaffirmed to the students "they were under suspension for a week."

Samoan culture has strict ways of showing respect to one another, and the ifoga (pronounced ee-FONG-ah) is perhaps the best example of atoning for one's wrongdoing. The ifoga is a ritual apology where the offending party demonstrates remorse by begging for forgiveness.

Before dawn, the guilty party arrives at the home of the person whom he has offended and kneels outside the home. An important part of the ifoga is the fine mat, or 'ie toga, considered of the highest value in Samoan culture, 'Ie toga (ee-ah TONG-ah) are woven with pandanus leaves and take months, if not years, to complete. Fine mats represent the wealth of the weavers' community and are presented as gifts. 'Ie toga are so labor-intensive that they will never be used on the floor. Once those receiving ifoga have forgiven the guilty party, they accept the 'ie toga as a symbol of the atonement and forgiveness. Regardless of any legal action taken by a court, the ifoga remains an essential part of Samoan culture as a demonstration of sincere remorse and respect.

Source

• Samoa Observer
• Seacology Blog
• Image: Tai Awatea