CABINET RELEASE 2 OCTOBER 2014
(English and Samoan)
1. Training for SROS scientists
Cabinet has approved the participation by representatives of the Scientific Research Organisation of Samoa (SROS) at a short-term scholarship training in New Zealand, from 29 September – 31 October 2014.
The training, on “Sampling and Drug Analysis”, is provided by the Institute of Environmental Science and Research Ltd, and will cover Sample Preparation, Screening, Confirmation Techniques, Use of Reference Standards, Instrumentation, Routine maintenance, Health and Safety and more. This training will up-skill Samoa’s representatives and enable the SROS Narcotics Laboratory to conduct drug analyses for other Pacific countries.
Attending on behalf of SROS is the Manager for the Technical Services Division, Pousui Dr Fiame Leo and Senior Research Scientist, Luanda Luaipou Epa.
Aoaoga faapitoa mo sui o le SROS
Ua faamaonia e le Kapeneta le auai atu o sui mai le Faalapotopotoga o Suesuega Faasaienisi a Samoa (SROS) i se aoaoga faasikolasipi e faia i Niu Sila i le aso 29 o Setema – 31 o Oketopa 2014.
O nei aoaoga o le a mafai ai ona malamalama ma manino i auala aloaia mo le faia o suesuega faapitoa i ona vaega esese e pei o le suesueina o fualaau faasaina matautia ma faigofie ai ona avea le Nofoaga Faapitoa mo Suesuega a le SROS e suesueina fualaau faasaina mai isi atunuu o le Pasefika.
O sui o Samoa o le a auai atu i lea aoaoga o le Ofisa Sili Lagolago ia Pousui Dr Fiame Leo ma le Saienitisi Sinia ia Luanda Epa.
2. Report on Youth Olympics in China
Cabinet approved the report submitted on the Youth Olympic Games, recently held in Nanjing, China on 16 – 28 August 2014.
Over 3,000 athletes between the ages of 15 – 18 from 206 countries competed in the Games.
Samoa was represented in competition by two athletes.
Samoa’s participation at the Youth Olympics was an important part of preparations to host next year’s Commonwealth Youth Games. Delegates were able to visit and observe the organising committee’s efforts and strategies to accommodate such a large gathering. They paid close attention to the co-ordination and administrative efforts, facilities, and logistics like transport and accommodation.
Of the nations that took part in the Youth Olympics, 35% are Commonwealth countries and are expected to attend the Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa next year.
Samoa’s team included SCYG Chief Coordinator, Susuga Vitolio Lui and representatives from SASNOC and the Ministry of Education Sports and Culture.
Lipoti o Taaloga Olemipeka Autalavou i Saina
Ua faamaonia e le Kapenta le lipoti faatatau i Taaloga Olemipeka a Autalavou lea na faia i Nanjing, Saina i le aso 16 – 28 Aokuso 2014.
E silia ma le 3,000 tupulaga talavou i le va o le 15 – 18 tausaga mai atunuu e 206 o le lalolagi na auai i ia taaloga. E to’alua tagata taaalo afeleti a Samoa na tauva i ia taaloga.
O le auai atu o le aumalaga mai Samoa, o se tulaga lelei a o tapena ai mo le taligamalo i le tausaga fou. Sa asiasi ai i vaega uma mo le faatinoga o nei ituaiga taaloga tetele, e pei o malaetaalo, femalagaiga aemaise o le faamaopoopoina ma le faagaioioina o nei taaloga.
E tusa o le 35% o atunuu na auai i taaloga ia, o atunuu foi i totonu o Malo o le Taupulega, ma ua faamoemoe e auai mai i Taaloga a le Taupulega mo Autalavou i le tausaga fou.
O le aumalaga na aofia ai le Ofisa Sili o Tapenaga mo le Taaloga a le Taupulega mo Autalavou, Susuga Vitolio Lui faatasi ma sui o le Asosi o Taaloga ma le Komiti a le Olemipeka a Samoa (SASNOC) ma le sui o le Matagaluega o Aoga, Taaloga ma Aganuu.
3. Samoa’s status on pledge for Tobacco Free Pacific
The Ministry of Health has informed Cabinet on Samoa’s status concerning the “Tobacco Free Pacific by 2025” measures, as stipulated in the World Health Organisation (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).
Samoa became signatory to the WHO FCTC in 2003; ratifying it in 2005.
Samoa’s Parliament enacted the Tobacco Control Act in 2008, which aims to protect people from ill-effects and premature death caused by tobacco use; protect non-smokers from exposure to tobacco smoke; regulate marketing, advertising, sale, promotion and distribution of tobacco products; and to monitor and regulate the presence of harmful constituents in tobacco products.
Part of the Tobacco Control Regulations (2013), which prescribes how the Tobacco Control Act is carried out, requires that tobacco manufacturers ensure all tobacco products sold in Samoa display a health warning and graphic images. The Minister of Health has nominated the 1st November 2014 as the date to implement and enforce this regulation.
Other regulations include the prohibition of tobacco product advertising, organising or promoting any activity using trademarks of tobacco products in Samoa and of sale to minors under the age of 21.
In line with recommendations from WHO for excise tax to be at least 70% of the retail price of all tobacco products – as a way to reduce consumption – Samoa has greatly increased the excise tax on tobacco products in recent years. A recent assessment by the Ministry of Revenue indicates that Samoa has achieved or surpassed the target.
Saoloto mai le Taumafa Tapa’a i le Pasefika
Ua mae’a folasia mo le silafia e le Kapeneta le Pepa o Faamatalaga na tuuina mai e le Matagaluega o le Soifua Maloloina e tusa ai o tulaga ua i ai tapenaga a Samoa i le mataupu o le “Saoloto o le Pasefika mai le Taumafa Tapa’a 2025”.
O le mataupu lenei na faataoto mai i le Feagaiga a le Faalapotopotoga o le Soifua Maloloina o le Lalolagi lea na sainia i le 2003.
Na sainia e Samoa ia Setema 2003 ma faamaonia lona auai ia Novema 2005.
O le tausaga e 2008 na tapena ai le Tulafono tau Tapaa a Samoa e puipuia ai tagata mai le aafia i faama’i e mafua mai i le taumafa i tapa’a, puipuia ai ma latou e lē ulaula tapa’a, faaitiitia ai le maliliu laiti o tagata Samoa mafua mai le taumafai tapa’a, tulafono mo le faatauga ma le faalauiloaina o tapa’a faapea ma le faatauina atu ma le mataituina o vaega lamatia o aafia i le faiga o le tapa’a.
E i ai vaega o le Tulafono Faatonutonu 2013 e limataitaiina ai auala e faaatino ai le Tulafono tau Tapaa, o lo o manaomia ai le tatau ona i ai se feau faailoilo e faailoa i ata ma faailoilo i luga o tapaa o lo o faatau atu i totonu o Samoa. Na faatuina e le Afioga i le Minisita o le Soifua Maloloina le aso 1 o Novema 2014, e avea ma aso e amata faataunuu ai le faamalosia o lea tulafono faatonutonu.
O isi vaega o le tulafono e aofia ai le tapu ona faia faasalalauga faatosina, faamaopoopoina ma le faalauiloa o so’o se ituaiga faiga e atagia ai faailoilo o le tapaa i Samoa ma le faatau atu o tapaa i tagata i lalo o le 21 tausaga le matutua.
Ua siitia e Samoa lafoga e faaopoopo i le tau o le tapaa e faatau atu ai i totonu o Samoa, ina ia alagatutusa ma fautuaga mai le Faalapotopotoga o le Soifua Maloloina o le Lalolagi mo le faia o auala ma manulauti mo le faaitiitia o le taumafa tapaa e ala i le lafoga e lē itiiti ifo ma le 70% ua tuuina i so’o se oloa tau tapaa. Ua ausia e Samoa lea manulauti, e pei ona faailoa i iloiloga a le Matagaluega o Tupe Maua.
4. Improvement of untreated water supply schemes
Cabinet approved representatives from Samoa Water Authority (SWA) to attend the tender opening and contract signing for the Project for Improvement of Urban Untreated Water Supply Schemes, held in Japan from 21 September – 5 October 2014.
Representing Samoa at the signing is the Managing Director for SWA, Afioga Seugamaalii Jammie Saena, as well as Legal Advisor Mele Hunter-Betham and Senior Officer Katenia Rasch.
The first phase of the project has already been completed starting with the exchange of notes between the Governments of Samoa and Japan, as signed in 24 February 2014.
Implementation of the Project is scheduled to begin in October.
Poloketi i le faaleleia ma le siitia o suavai faamamaina
Ua faamaonia e le Kapeneta le auai atu o sui o Samoa i le tatalaina o le tauofoga ma le sainia o le konekarate mo le poloketi i le faaleleia ma le siitia o suavai faamamaina o lo o faagasolo nei i Iapani mai le aso 21 o Setema – 5 Oketopa 2014.
O sui o Samoa o lo o auai atu i lea faamoemoe o le Ofisa Sili o Pulega o le Pulega o Suavai a Samoa, Afioga Seugamaalii Jammie Saena faapea le Loia Faufautua ia Mele Hunter-Betham ma le tamaitai Ofisa Sinia, o Katenia Rasch.
O lenei poloketi o lo o faatautaia i lalo o le Pulega o le Suavai a Samoa, ma ua mae’a faagasolo foi lona vaega muamua e pei ona sainia ai se maliega i le va o le Malo o Samoa ma le Malo o Iapani i le aso 24 o Fepuari 2014.
O le masina o Oketopa ua fuafua e amata ai lenei galuega.
-ENDS
