Samoa

The Samoan Judicial Commission has appointed five temporary judges from the New Zealand High Court to assist the local bench. In a press release yesterday the Commission said the judges were sworn in via video link 11 August by the Head of State Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II from his official residence at Vailele. Justices Robert Fisher, Peter Blanchard, Rhys Harrison, Rodney Hansen and Raynor Asher have been appointed for two year terms.

Samoa's former prime minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has finally conceded defeat in the April 9 election. During a TV interview on Sunday night he said he looked forward to working with the new FAST government. Tuilaepa said he has asked Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa to give him and his government seven days to move out of his office. Even at the end of last week Tuilaepa was refusing to concede that he lost the election.

To celebrate Samoa Language Week RNZ Pacific journalist Mariner Fagaiava-Muller and his Papa, Faasootauloa Fepuleai Galo Fagaiava, sat down together to make oka.

Samoa's incoming leader has condemned the actions of the former government and demanded it hand over power. Fiame Naomi Mata'afa, speaking formally as the country's elected prime minister, slammed the behaviour Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and his Human Rights Protection Party. Fiame's FAST party, which won the most seats in last month's election, and the previous ruling party, HRPP, are waiting for the Supreme Court to rule on several contentious issues.

Samoa's constitutional crisis deepened on Monday morning with the party that commands the majority of seats locked out of parliament, but still insisting it can form a government today. The FAST party, its leader Fiame Naomi Mata'afa and a large number of supporters gathered in a tent on the lawn in front of parliament house in Apia, where there was a heavy police presence. The officers were unarmed and wearing green shirts, RNZ Pacific's correspondent said.

Samoan seasonal workers waiting to get back to New Zealand are eager to return. Fruit growers in New Zealand, faced with a massive worker shortage, are also anxious for Pacific workers to return. But thousands of Pacific workers who come to New Zealand each year under the Recognised Seasonal Employer have been unable to because of travel restrictions due to the pandemic.

Two hundred candidates have been registered for Samoa's general election in April next year. The total number of candidates has been released by the office of the Electoral Commissioner at the closing of nomination at 12noon today. The ruling HRPP party is top in the number of nominations with 114 candidates, while the Faatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi party has fifty candidates.

Samoa has signed an agreement committing to preserve 30 percent of its ocean area. Some 36,000 kilometres of new marine protected areas are expected to come from the agreement. The agreement was signed between the government and the Blue Prosperity Coalition, a network of scientists, activists, experts and governments. Prime Minister Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi said Samoan waters held exceptional marine habitats and diverse life.

A free WIFI project for Samoan schools is being called illegal by the government. The project involves a private communication company working with a new political party chaired by former cabinet minister and speaker, La'auli Leuatea Polata'ivao Schmidt. Launched in Savai'i with a future roll-out planned across the country, the project aims to provide free internet connection for students to aid their education.

Samoa has approved a petition from the Tokelauan government to allow a special trip to the atolls to repatriate contract workers island as well as Samoans wanting to return home. Approval had also been given to allow Tokelauan students to be repatriated from New Zealand and to travel directly to Tokelau after arrival in Samoa. The approval was given by Cabinet this week along with other additions to the current Covid-19 State of Emergency orders.