Royal New Zealand Navy Amphibious Sealift Vessel the HMNZS CANTERBURY has this morning berthed at Apia to offload aid, vehicles and supplies for the Tsunami ravaged south coast.

The Canterbury has spent the previous two days anchored west of the Tongan island of Niuatoputapu, and the embarked Seasprite helicopter has moved 84 underslung loads of supplies from the ship to the island in more than 100 individual ‘sorties’.

All relief cargo for Tonga from New Zealand and the additional cargo loaded during a short stop in Nuku’alofa earlier in the week is now ashore in Niuatoputapu. Also ashore are 14 NZ Army personnel including a medic, a nurse, and engineers who are coordinating and assisting engineering response tasks. These personnel will be joined by additional engineers when CANTERBURY returns to the island in the next two days.

The ship is now offloading the NZAID cargo in Apia, including 540 fale poles, telephone poles, plumbing and electrical supplies, and vast amounts of water piping requested by the Samoan Government.  There are also 13 containers of donated aid coordinated by Michael Jones and the New Zealand Samoan community.

The Canterbury will depart Apia tomorrow to return to Niuatoputapu to land Tongan Government and NZDF vehicles via her embarked Landing Craft. These are needed as the island’s reefs preclude all but the smallest vessels getting to shore. She will then return to Apia.

Commanding Officer Commander Jim Gilmour is pleased with how the operation has gone so far. Said Commander Gilmore, “HMNZS Canterbury has proven that her designed amphibious capabilities including vast cargo and personnel carrying capacity, Landing Craft, Cargo Cranes and Helicopter makes her effectively a ‘one stop shop’ for this kind of contingency operation.  I’m delighted with how much help we have been able to provide.”

(Source: RNZ Navy Press Release)

NATIONAL WEEK OF PRAYER AND FASTING TO BEGIN SUNDAY

Cabinet has approved of the National Week of Prayer and Fasting to commence on Sunday, Oct. 18-23 of October 2009.

The Official Service will take place on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009 at the Government’s Prayer House, Mt Vaea at 6 p.m. The service will be officiated by members of the National Council of Churches. Fasting will go from mid-night to noon of the following day, for five consecutive days until the Closing Service to be held at the end of this very important week of prayers.

The service to officially close the National Week of Prayers and Fasting will be held on Friday, Oct. 23, 2009, at the Government’s Prayer House, Mt Vaea at 11 a.m.

The Public and especially public servants are hereby advised to please participate and help in the enforcement of this important week for the whole country.

(Source: Samoa government press release)

CONTRACTS AWARDED FOR POWERLINE MATERIALS

Cabinet has approved awarding of contract to four companies for  purchasing of power line materials for upgrading power lines at some parts of Tanugamanono to the National Hospital at Motootua, Lalovaea, Afiamalu and also Salelologa to Puapua and Asau. These companies are: Bluebird AHLAL, Olex Cable Australia, South Austral and ETEL Transformer.

An invitation for Tenders’ Bids was advertised for expression of interest and eight contractors submitted their bids. Assessment of bids was carried out by a Sub Committee which included officials from the Electric Power Corporation, Ministry of Finance and Attorney General’s Office. The four companies selected have been assessed as the most qualified bidders for the job, having met all the requirements and necessary conditions.

The four companies will supply all materials at a total cost of SAT$1,617,192.93.

(Source: Samoa government press release)