SAMOA PRIME MINISTER RETURNS HOME AFTER NZ HOSPITAL MEDICAL CHECKS —

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi arrived home safely from New Zealand Sunday evening after completion of his medical checks.

He was accompanied by Mrs. Gillian Malielegaoi, Director General of Health, Leausa Dr. Take Naseri, and Chief Executive of the Ministry of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Agafili Tomaimano Shem Leo.

Deputy Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa with Police Commissioner Fuiavailili Egon Keil, Chief Executive of Foreign Affairs Peseta Naomi Simi, and MPMC staff were at the airport to welcome the Prime Minister home.

(Source: Samoa Press Secretariat)

AWARD WIN PRECEDES UPCOMING REVAMP OF AIRCRAFT SAFETY AUDITS 

The Australian-led effort to revolutionize safety on contract flights globally has been recognized for its “outstanding international success” by becoming a finalist in the Australian Export Awards.

The non-profit Flight Safety Foundation’s Australian office has won the Governor of Victoria Export Award’s prestigious Business Services category for its Basic Aviation Risk Standard (BARS) Program.

The BARS Program is designed to improve global aviation safety standards and audit contract aircraft operators working around the world in the resources, mining, agricultural, insurance and aid agency industries.

This award means the Foundation is now in the running for the Australian Export Awards and recognizes that the BARS Program has become a world-leader by “continually improving aviation safety methods” and standards for aircraft contractors.

Flight Safety Foundation’s managing director, David Anderson, said that over the past seven years the BARS Program had done more than 480 audits in 31 different countries for about 160 different aircraft operators.

He said news of the award came just weeks ahead of the Foundation’s formal announcement of an upgrade to the BARS Program.

“Our team is proud to be leading the way with initiatives that deliver increased safety for the contracted aviation sector and delighted to receive the award,” Mr. Anderson said.

“When it comes to improving aviation safety, we have had the continual support of some forward-thinking resource, humanitarian aid and mining member organizations that have helped us raise the bar for global air safety.

“Over the coming weeks we will launch an upgrade to the program that follows widespread consultation with industry, aircraft owners and operators, pilots, auditors and regulators. The upgrade will mean reduced fees, greater flexibility and audits with better evaluation of implemented safety procedures to advance global aviation safety for contracted operators.”

The BARS Program has established a common global aviation safety assessment and audit protocol that features a suite of risk-based aviation industry standards with supporting implementation guidelines.

(Source: Flight Safety Foundation)

APIA WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT PROJECT ON THE MOVE

The New Zealand Aid Program has committed funding to develop in front of the main Government Building into an events space, and create an attractive pedestrian walkway from the Clock Tower to the waterfront edge.

Meanwhile Huizhou Municipality from China is also developing a concept design for a public park at Eleele Fou behind the Government Building in accordance with the Waterfront Plan.

It’s the latest developments to the Apia Waterfront Development Project with stakeholders for the Project recently participating in a workshop to review the Draft Urban Design Standards (UDS).

At the launching of the Apia Waterfront Plan last year, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi called on stakeholders to be open minded.

“We ask you to open your minds with the possibilities that can transform our existing city into an enjoyable and functional place that is well thought out and designed.

“More technical assessment and detailed designs will need to be undertaken before any of these ideas take place.

“These illustrations allow us to visualize how we can raise the standard of our city and entertain different ideas for the four waterfront areas.”

“The waterfront plan provides a packaged implementation approach to develop the capital works. This approach will allow potential investors and development partners to implement a defined package of works within a particular area," he said.

 The area covered by the project is from Mulinuu Peninsula to the Apia town area and Vaiala and Taumeasina. The Vision for the Plan is to create an inclusive, safe and clean waterfront that reflects a unique Samoan experience.

It must also connect people to the sea, enhance the area for community use, and support opportunities for local business initiatives.

There are four waterfront areas in the plan: Mulinuu Waterfront - from Mulinuu to the Malaefatu Play Space at Sogi; Apia Waterfront Central - from the Savalalo market to the Mulivai Bridge; Apia Waterfront Harbour - Beach road towards the Matautu wharf; Vaiala Waterfront - from the Palolo Deep Reserve to Taumeasina.

Improving the Apia Waterfront will also help showcase Apia as one of the leading sustainable tourism destinations in the Pacific region: opening Samoa up for investment and creating more jobs and business opportunities for locals, according to the PM.

(Source: Samoa Press Secretariat)

SAMOA TO HOST PACIFIC ARTISTS IN NOVEMBER

Samoa will once again play host to another conference in November 2017.

This event will see Pacific artists and academics from around the world descending on Apia, prepared to take on this year’s theme of “Making the invisible, visible.”

The International Pacific Arts community will be taking their turn to weigh in on the issues of climate change and dislocation and how they will impact our cultures in the future.

Samoan artist, Tupe Lualua, is the creative director behind Le Moana Dance Company based in Wellington, New Zealand, and she will be attending this year’s arts conference.

In addition, she has been invited by the Samoa Arts Council to use her talents as a writer, director and choreographer to present her findings through the performance art piece titled, Aumaga.

 The young creative director spoke about her upcoming presentation which will be very interactive in nature. The project will see the dancers live and work on a plantation in the village of Savaia in Lefaga, to further research and develop the choreographic, theatrical and elements of the story, which they will then present to the PAA conference in a live session.

Ms. Lualua looks forward to the chance to come together with other Pacific artists to share, celebrate and hopefully collaborate in this year’s PAA conference and more than that she is thrilled that it will be held in Samoa, a place she holds close to her heart.

Registrations will take place on Monday, Nov. 27, 2017 and the conference itself will run from Tuesday Nov. 28 through Friday, Dec. 1.

The conference will not only include academic presentations, but will also provide delegates with the opportunity to engage with artists and museum personnel and participate in workshops. The conference will be held in the Pacific Fale at the National University of Samoa (NUS).

(Source: Samoa Press Secretariat)