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Samoa Briefs

TWENTY-TWO RECEIVE COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARDS

 

Award winners, recommended and endorsed by the Honors and Awards Committee were acknowledged during an Investiture Ceremony held at the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum at Vailima this past Monday, the Samoa Observer reporter this week.

 

Among families and friends who attended were the Head of State, His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi and Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, who congratulated the winners.

 

The honorees are: Fe’esago Siaosi Fepulea’I, Leali’ie’e Rudy Ott, Tupua Friedrich Wilhelm Wetzell, Alistair Leighton Hutchinson, Muliagatele Brian P Lima, Papali’itele Dr. C.S. Benjamin, Savea Sano Malfa, Taffy Gould, Tilafaiga Rex Maughan, Walter Jan Vermeulen, Seiuli Paul Wallwork, Adimaimalaga Tafuna’I, Aumua Mata’itusi Simanu, Su’a Frieda Margret Keil – Paul, Professor Pelenatete Stowers, A’eau Taulupoo Lafaiali’i, Sr. Margaret Chalichery, Lei’ataua Punivalu, Moti Satuala Tua’iaufa’i Amosa, Vala Uale Ma’i, Magi Herman Westerlund.

 

RETURN TO PARADISE RECEIVES INT’L RECOGNITION

 

Return to Paradise Resort has been selected as one of the World’s Best to celebrate New Year’s Eve.

 

The Samoa Observer reports the resort has been chosen as the premiere resort in the Samoa time zone and THE place to spend New Year’s Eve 2015 by Booking. com.

 

From their worldwide listing of over 560,000 properties, Booking.com has searched its extensive list of accommodations around the globe to find one property that stands out in each of the 24 time zones of the world.

 

And Samoa’s very own Return to Paradise Resort has been chosen to represent this time zone.

 

“As one of just 24 properties chosen worldwide out of over 560,000 hotels and resorts, this is a huge honor,” says Business Development Manager, Vaimasenu’u Zita Martel.

 

“This selection vindicates the hard work everyone has put in to make Return to Paradise a very special place.”

 

Return to Paradise Resort is now ranked alongside 23 other selected prestigious properties including the Parkroyal (Sydney), Ritz Carlton (Moscow + Shanghai), MGM Grand (Las Vegas), Hilton (Niagara Falls), Belmond Copacabana (Rio de Janeiro), and the Waldorf Astoria (Edinburgh).

 

TAFAIGATA PRISONERS MEET SANTA

 

Christmas came a few days early on Monday for the prisoners of Tafa’igata Prison and those held in custody after they were each gifted with a small care package and some larger items for general use as the result of an initiative of a couple from abroad who work in Samoa.

 

Samoa Observer reported the couple organized a fundraising movie night at Home Café in November which raised just under $1,000 (including a $50 donation after the event by a Samoan family) and the proceeds were used to buy a toothbrush, toothpaste and soap for each of the 476 prisoners and people held in custody in Tafa’igata facility.

 

The initiative also led to local businesses donating to the prison as well with Bluebird contributing a chainsaw, wheelbarrow, machetes, spades and rakes to assist the prisoners in working on the Tafaigata plantation, which provides some of the food and work within the facility.

 

As well as the support the couple received from Home Café in hosting the movie night a donation was also made by Lynn’s Supermarket, which helped to ensure that each of the people inside Tafa’igata received a gift.

 

NO REGRETS FOR NANAI-WILLIAMS

 

Tim Nanai-Williams admits it was a weird feeling playing against his former teammates but says he has no regrets about committing to Samoan rugby.

 

The 25-year-old Chiefs utility back switched his allegiance from New Zealand in November and made his debut for Samoa at the Dubai and Port Elizabeth Sevens earlier this month.

 

It was a disappointing fortnight for Samoa, who failed to make the Cup quarterfinals at both events. A New Zealand sevens representative in 2008-09, Nanai-Williams is utilizing an loophole in eligibility laws to play for Samoa and will become eligible for the fifteen-a-side team after playing four tournaments on the sevens circuit.

 

Nanai-Williams says it felt great to pull on the blue jersey. “I’m totally happy,” he said.

 

Nanai-Williams will play for Samoa at the Wellington Sevens in February and says he’s likely to complete his commitments in Edinburgh in May, when the Chiefs have the bye.

 

(Source: Samoa Observer)