The plan by Catholic schools in Samoa to introduce sex education into its curriculum is supported by Samoa’s Minister of Education, Sports and Culture, Magele Mauiliu Magele. The Minister said such topics need to be taught so that students are well informed of the consequences of HIV Aids and also methods of prevention. However Magele Read more
A former diplomat who asked for his name to be withheld for “obvious reasons” says church donations burden the poor and they should be bold enough to “at least admit” that it contributes to hardship within families. He said the church needs to stop being “ignorant” about the plight of poor people who are “slaving” Read more
Samoans are not slaves says outspoken Member of Samoan Parliament, Levaopolo Talatonu. His comments follow claims that workers from Samoa were allegedly threatened with deportation by the ANZCO CMP Rangitikei meat processing company. Levaopolo says people must be careful and advises against signing individual contacts if there is no agreement under the initial working contract Read more
Samoa has promised the World Trade Organisation it will lift its current import ban on cars more than 12 years old and set up a vehicle safety inspection programme.
The WTO says it wants to accelerate Samoa’s integration into the world economy and offer a more transparent environment for trade and foreign investment.
Samoa has five years to make sure all cars are safe to drive.
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Reports from Samoa say there have been two priests suspended for alleged misconduct. It has been reported that one of the priests is facing allegations he had had a sexual relationship with a young woman parishioner, a claim he denies. According to Le Weekender, the leader of the Catholic Church in Samoa, Archbishop Alapati Mataeiliga is leading Read more
Two Year 11 students, age 16, from St Joseph’s College in Apia, Samoa were charged with assault and released on bail last Wednesday. The arrest followed a school brawl on Friday. Ten others were taken into Police custody. Assistant Police Commissioner Le’aupepe Fatu Pula said ten students were arrested from Fugalei Market after a fight Read more
The Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell, has questioned the cost benefits of financing action to curb climate change, such as funding clean, renewable energy. Speaking at the annual lecture of the Global Warming Policy Foundation (GWPF), a climate sceptic think tank he said “The cost of attempts to make global warming go away Read more
In Samoa, a Bill to prevent violence against women and children has been presented to Cabinet. Currently domestic violence comes under the Crimes Ordinance Act. But the Family Safety Bill aims to give more power to police, health officials and educators to prevent violence and rehabilitate victims. In an interview on Radio Australia International Lina Chang, Read more
All Pacific nations recently completed their Universal Periodic Review (UPR). The Cook Islands, Kiribati, PNG, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tonga and Tuvalu all retain colonial-era anti-sodomy laws. Palau and Nauru have pledged to decriminalise homosexuality following the audit of their human rights as part of the UN Human Rights Council’s (UNHRC) review. But Samoa, the Solomon Islands and Read more
Celebration of White Sunday, or Lotu Tamaiti, is enabling some Samoans in Hillsborough to boost the leadership skills of the community’s youth.
The term Lotu Tamatiti means Children’s Service and has been celebrated for more than 100 years.
On White Sunday, children are dressed in white clothing and are allowed privileges normally reserved for elders such as being the first to be served food at a family meal.
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