July

4
04
July 2016 Local News Australia Samoa Newspaper
By Nanai Laveitiga Tuiletufuga
Police Minister Sala Fata Pinati is
reserving comments on a $1 million
tala civil action against the Ministry
filed by Suitupe Misa, the man police
arrested at gunpoint at the Fugalei market
18 August 2015.
The lawsuit claim was not only on the alleged
unlawful arrest, but the manner in which the
police shamed the plaintiff in and the impact
on his family.
“I am fully aware of the incident,” says Sala.
“But since the matter is now in court, it would
be premature for
me to make any
public comments.
“However, I urge all
parties to concern
to let the justice
system takes it
course.”
The plaintiff made
headlines last year
because of the
way police raided
his stall at the
Fugalei market
and arrested him.
He later lodged
a complaint with
the Office of the
Ombudsman.
Described in the Ombudsman’s 46 page
reports as “something out of a Hollywood
movie” the police armed with guns rushed
in the market, stepped on vendor’s goods
while one of the police officers pointed a
gun at Misa’s head, and another barking
out orders in front of a shocked and
distressed multitude of people at the Fugalei
marketplace.
The report also revealed the Police
Commissioner, Fuiavailili Egon Keils’ “lack
of understanding of the law” and the police
Police Sued
officers failure in conducting a proper
investigation before the unlawful arrest.
Misa was taken to the police office in Apia but
was never charged, and was later released.
The market incident was described as a
“watershed moment in the history of Samoa
– it was the day police used firearms in
a public place to carry out a pre-planned
arrest of an individual for the very first time.”
The Ombudsman investigation proved that
Misa had “committed no crime and the
arrest was carried out based on insubstantial
and second-hand
Police Minister
reserves
comments…
evidence, raising
serious questions
over the actions of
the Commissioner of
Police.”
The report also
stated that the
incident was
nothing more than
a “sorry affair
that highlighted a
dangerous trend
towards greater use
of firearms by the
Police, a tendency
towards an American
style of policing.”
The report also
stated the authority given to the Minister
to approve police to be armed, should be
revoked and that certain provisions of the
Police Powers Act should be reviewed.
The Ombudsman’s report also recommended
that several articles in the Police Power Act
should be reviewed.
It was also recommended that 2 of the police
officers involved in the raid be charged with
perjury.
The Court has yet to set a date for the
hearing.
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Poly Airline’s
General
Manager
Seiuli Alvin Tuala
Samoan talo export demand
‘unprecedented’
By Nanai Laveitiga Tuiletufuga
Samoan talo is dominating the New
Zealand market and has been for a while
now.
And to meet the growing demand for our
talo exports, the Ministry of Agriculture,
(MAF) has developed three new talo
varieties which have been successfully
tested and found perfect for the Aoteroa
markets.
The three varieties are named after their
respective villages and place of origin.
For instance the Talo Fusi from Safata, the
Lani variety from Salani Falealili and the
Talo Tanu from Tanugamalala.
And the new ready to export talo tops
according to the Agriculture Minister
Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao
Fosi are being massed produced by the
ministry’s Nuu-based Research center for
distribution in the coming weeks,” noted
Laauli.
“Over 20,000 taro planting materials
are produced for the taro launching so
that farmers, the private sector, cabinet
and senior officials receive enough taro
planting material for further planting in
their taro patches.
Taro exports of the Samoa 1 and 2 varieties
have risen dramatically between January
2014 and June 2015, which accounts for
close to 1.5 million taro exported, based
on figures from the MAF taro pack-house.
“The number of containers of taro exported
by Samoa to New Zealand and the United
States has also increased from four to 16
containers per month, and this figure is
expected to further increase.
“That’s not to mention, the on and off
market in the United States which remains
open even though finances is restricting
talo exports to the US.,” said the Minister.
“The demand boom has also coincided
with a jump in the price of talo.
“Up to 10 percent from just a couple of
years ago.
“In 2013, talo was being exported for just
$35 per 20-kilogram bag to the farmer.
Now it’s up to $45 tala with an expectation
By Nanai Laveitiga Tuiletufuga
Polynesian Airlines will be adding two
new aircrafts to service the two Samoas
in early 2017.
Airline’s General Manager Seiuli Alvin Tuala
says that the target is to acquire two new Y12
aircraft to its fleet in early 2017 for flights to
American Samoa.
In the meantime, Seiuli says that the Airline
will also resume schedule flights later this
year from Faleolo International Airport to the
Tafuna Airport in the territory.
In another development Polynesian Airlines
online booking system is now up and running
giving travelers to and from American Samoa
a fast and convenient way to book flights.
Founded in 1959, Polynesian Airlines had
operated jet flights linking Samoa with
Auckland, Wellington, Sydney Kingsford Smith,
Melbourne Tullamarine, Nadi, Rarotonga,
Papeete, Tongatapu, Niue and Pago Pago
regionally as well as Honolulu and Los Angeles
International in the United States.
However, with the establishment of Polynesian
Blue in 2005 now Virgin Samoa the carrier
scaled back its operations focusing on shorthaul
flights from its Apia Fagali'i airport hub
to Pago Pago in American Samoa alongside
domestic ad-hoc charters to Maota Savai'i
Island and Asau.
for a further increase in the next few
months. It is a very good price for farmers.
“And more farmers are going into talo.
“We have over 700 talo farmers in our
registry now both big and small farmers.
“There are many more farmers we know
who are not registered with the ministry.
“What we are particularly happy with is the
response from new farmers to the scheme.
“It’s not only the big farmers who are
supplying the containers now but also the
small-scale ones. Whether it’s just ten or
twenty bags from them (small farmers), we
are more than happy to receive them. It is
in line with what we are trying to promote
to encourage all farmers to grow talo.”
He said that the pay up front policy is also
a contributing factor.
“Gone are the days, where talo farmers
have to wait for their talo exports to be sold
first overseas before they get paid.
“Since we have taken over, one of the most
important requirements for an exporter to
be eligible in our drive is for them to take
the risks by paying the farmers up front
and on the spot.”
Capitalising on the momentum, the Nu’u
Crop Division have also launched a new
manual proving guideline for talo farmers
and exporters on the requirements and
processes for them to be part of a booming
export outlet.
The mission to resurrect our talo exports
and fund the manual project would not
have been made possible without the
South Pacific Commission, AustAid and NZ
Aid’s generosity.
For the Agriculture Minister he says that
gone are the days of research and trials.
“It’s high noon for action.
“And the ultimate goal here is to increase
local talo production to meet demand
on island and capitalize on the booming
export market which translates to more
money for the farmers and their families.
“But most importantly, increasing
agriculture’s contribution to our Gross
Domestic Product.”