Regional News

Dongwon plans $34m plant in Solomon Islands

Wed, 06/19/2013 - 11:16am | Category:

By

Undercurrents News staff

South Korean firm Dongwon Industries has proposed the construction of a SBD 250 million ($34m) tuna cannery and loin factory at Doma, West Guadalcanal, reported the Solomon Star News.

The Korean government and Dongwon are willing to be partners in this investment to assist the Solomon Islands in developing its fisheries sector and building its economy, said company adviser Ju-hyuk Daniel Kwon.

Investing in the project would benefit the people and the economy by providing more job opportunities, bringing in foreign currency and improving the standard of living, he added.

at Undercurrent News

Samoa quarantine officer convicted of importing ice

Tue, 06/18/2013 - 11:15am | Category:

By

Lagi Keresoma, Talamua Online

A Quarantine officer was this week found guilty in the Samoa Supreme Court of having imported methamphetamine or “ice.”

Junior Patau was caught by Customs officers when he appeared at the cargo section at Faleolo International Airport to uplift a bag which contained 60.5 grams of the drug in December last year.

Patau, of Vaiala, denied the ice were his.

They belonged to Paulo and Patricia Afamasaga, he told the court, referring to a couple who had fled the country before they were sentenced for drug offences.

at Talamua Online

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Samoa opposition calls to privatise new and costly wharf

Tue, 06/18/2013 - 11:11am | Category:

By

Radio New Zealand

Samoa’s newly built wharf at Satitoa Aleipata which was aimed at cutting times for ferry trips to American Samoa has been closed for reasons the government’s Ports Authority is not making public.

The Tautua Samoa opposition party leader says a recent parliament committee’s visit to the public funded project had found the facilities were damaged.

The Satitoa wharf was built about five years ago at a cost of about eight million US dollars.

Update: Two mystery boats in rescue bid

Tue, 06/18/2013 - 11:08am | Category:

By

Michael Field, Stuff New Zealand

A New Zealand air force Orion has been called in to assist in what is being described as an apparent sinking of one of two mystery boats that were ordered out of Samoa two weeks ago.

Maritime New Zealand says the 31 metre boat Horizons began to take on water 280 kilometres south west of Pago Pago in American Samoa.

But before the Orion could reach the boat in distress the vessel Last Stall, described by Maritime New Zealand as a charter fishing boat, went alongside Horizon and took off two Americans and a Canadian.

at Stuff New Zealand

Three rescued off coast of American Samoa

Mon, 06/17/2013 - 11:01am | Category:

By

NZ City staff

Three crew have been rescued from their sinking ship off the coast of American Samoa.

New Zealand search teams have co-ordinated the rescue of three crew whose ship is sinking off the coast of American Samoa.

Two Americans and one Canadian were rescued about midday on Monday, after the Rescue Co-ordination Centre of New Zealand received distress calls at about 8am.

RCCNZ directed three vessels to the area about 150 nautical miles southwest of American Samoa where the ship was taking on water.

at NZ

Samoa’s new consul-general to Hawai’i appointed

Mon, 06/17/2013 - 10:58am | Category:

By

Radio New Zealand

An entertainment businessman in Hawai’i, Papali’i Jack Thompson, has been named as Samoa’s Consul-General in the American state.

The announcement was made yesterday by Samoa Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi in Honolulu.

Papali’i who is more popularly known as Tihati, and his wife Cha own Tihati Productions which is one of Hawai’i’s leading entertainment companies, specialising in Polynesian dance and music.

The company employs many Samoans and other Pacific islanders.

Market uncertainty as Samoa farmers wait… and wait

Mon, 06/17/2013 - 10:57am | Category:

By

Jonathan Ta’ateo, Samoa Observer

Farmers at the Fugalei Market are still waiting for the government to make up its mind as to when construction of a new market will start.

Days? Weeks? Months? A year?

Asked for a comment yesterday, Chief Executive Officer of the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACCC), Malae’ulu Lose Niumata said they cannot confirm a starting date.

“We are awaiting the Cabinet’s confirmation.”

However, submissions for a new tender for the market must be submitted to the Tenders Board by Monday, he says.

at Samoa Observer

Samoa’s Minister of Finance again under fire for China trip

Mon, 06/17/2013 - 10:54am | Category:

By

Radio New Zealand

Samoa’s Minister of Finance, Faumuina Tiatia Liuga has defended a trip to China paid for by a company applying for an investment project in Samoa.

Faumuina, who came under criticism last month when a list of grievances against him by colleagues was published in the Samoa Observer, told the paper the trip was necessary.

The paper says Shanghai Construction Group is likely to be awarded the contract for a new 55 million US dollar 15-storey building.

Faumuina says the company paying for his trip saved taxpayers money, and the Government paid for his later trip on to India.

Vailima wins top award with its Vailima Pure

Sun, 06/16/2013 - 1:32pm | Category:

Vailima Pure, Samoa Breweries Limited’s newest beer, won Bronze in the Award’s most difficult category, Lager, where it competed again beers from all over the world.

“This is a great achievement for Samoa Breweries Limited as we continue to produce world class beer from a tiny island in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean,” said Tony Scanlan, Chairman of the Board.

“We originally intended to enter Vailima Pure in the Low Carb category but with an alcohol percentage of 4.9 per cent, the beer was a bit too high for the category which had a cap of 4 per cent alcohol."

Ex-spy boss: Intelligence trade-offs keep NZ free

Sat, 06/15/2013 - 12:57pm | Category:

By

David Fisher, New Zealand Herald

A former spy boss says New Zealand is a democratic and free country because of our relationship with the United States and other large powers.

Former GCSB boss Air Marshal Sir Bruce Ferguson said the sacrifice made to enjoy the relationship was small - even though New Zealand was extremely unlikely to suffer a terrorist incident like the September 11, 2001 attacks.

"We are a democratic, free country because of others, not because of us. That's the way it is when you're a small country."

at New Zealand Herald

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