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Samoa Briefs

SAMOA’S MINIMUM WAGE TO INCREASE

 

Workers in Samoa earning the minimum wage in the private sector have reasons to look forward to an increase in the coming year.

 

It follows an announcement by the government of a 15% increase in the minimum wage.

 

The Samoa Observer last week published a notice from the Ministry of Commerce, Labour and Industry (M.C.I.L.), saying the increase will come into effect in January 2015.

 

According to the notice, the increase is in accordance with section 32 of the Labour and Employment Relations Act 2013 and Cabinet Decision F.K. (14)17 dated 21 May 2013.

 

As such: “Employers and employees of the private sector organisations and the business communities are advised that the minimum wage will be increased from $2.00 to $2.30 per hour.”

 

The effective date of this wage increase is January 1, 2015.

 

(Source: Samoa Observer)

 

TEUILA FESTIVAL SET FOR AUG 30-SEPT 6

 

Bouquets of red ginger flowers will festoon street lights and all of Samoa will be in celebratory mode for the annual Teuila Festival.

 

The festival, which runs from August 30 to September 6, is timed to celebrate the flowering of the national flower, Teuila — the sweet-scented, bold and beautiful red ginger — and each year features special festive and cultural events.

 

This year's 24th annual festival should be particularly well-attended: the beginning coincides with a major UN conference held in Apia on SIDS (Small Island Developing States), and the event is expected to attract about 3,000 international visitors.

 

Since its launch in 1991, Samoa's Teuila Festival has grown to become one of the Pacific's largest cultural festivals.

 

This year includes a choral concert, traditional Siva Samoa and contemporary dance competitions, Chief's Fiafia Polynesian Spectacular and Ailao Afi/Fire Knife dancing.

 

Also scheduled are tattooing and carving demonstrations, as well as how to prepare an umu. A celebration concert and the Miss Samoa Pageant are among the many other events.

 

(Source: New Zealand Herald)

 

P.M. REJECTS CLAIM HE IS LOOKING TO BECOME HEAD OF STATE

 

Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, has firmly rejected claims he is setting himself up to be appointed the Head of State.

 

The claim surfaced after the government tabled the Constitution Amendment Bill, which seeks to change the way the Head of State is elected.

 

If it becomes law, the bill means the government will appoint the Head of State, instead of Parliament.

 

The tabling of the Bill has led to claims from the Tautua Samoa Party as well as the Human Rights Protection Party (H.R.P.P) that the Prime Minister is setting himself up for the position, later on.  

 

But Tuilaepa dismissed the claims.

 

“It just shows how shallow they are to suggest such nonsense,” Tuilaepa told the Samoa Observer last week.

 

The Prime Minister said the position of the Head of State is “addressed as the Figure Head.” He reminded, however, that “the heart of everything is with the government.”

 

Tuilaepa said any person who would want something else when he’s the Prime Minister is a “fool.”

 

(Source: Samoa Observer)

 

WOMAN FIGHTING FOR HER LIFE AFTER KNIFE ATTACK

 

A 27-year-old woman, who is fighting for her life at the Moto’otua Hospital after she was stabbed last week Saturday morning, is lucky to be alive.

 

Found “with no clothes” and “screaming hysterically,” she had lost a lot of blood from multiple stab wounds to her body and her face.

 

On Monday, the Assistant Police Commissioner, Fauono Talalelei Tapu, confirmed the incident.

 

“The residents in the area heard a female screaming out really loudly,” he said. “They said it was the sound of someone who desperately needed help and so they ran to where the voice was coming from.

 

“That’s when they saw a female coming towards them all covered in blood,” Fauono explained.

 

He said the woman was stabbed all over her body, including her face. “So the people took the victim to the hospital and she has been in Acute 7 ever since. Doctors are monitoring her condition.”

 

The Assistant Commissioner said they still have not been able to speak with her because she is “in a critical condition and she cannot talk.”

 

The suspect has been found and he is in custody.

 

Fauono declined to speculate on why the stabbing took place.

 

“All I can say is that the suspect is a 24-year-old male from the village of Togafu’afu’a and Vaimea,” he said. “He was found on the same night of the incident and has now been charged with causing injuries. We are waiting for the final medical report to finalize the charges.”

 

The accused is scheduled to appear in Court on 21 July."

 

(Source: Samoa Observer)