Honouring Samoa: A Survivor Retells the Day The Tsunami Hit The South Coast
Posted: December 10, 2009 Filed under: NZPacific | Tags: adult, aleipata., Apia, beach, Bestof, capital, Community, debris, destruction, earthquake, Emergencies And Disasters, following, horizontal, kenape, men, natural, natural disaster, pacific news, People, road, saanapu tai, salu lima, samoa, scale, shore, steph, steph faamalata, strength, time, topics, Topix, Upolu, Village, Walking, weather Leave a comment »
This story is written by a young Samoan woman who survived Samoa’s tsunami. Because of its length, it will be posted as a three part series. When we first heard of this young woman’s experience, we contacted her to see if she would be willing to share her story with our readers, in her own words. Her name is Steph. Here’s an excerpt from what she wrote to us in which she stresses the need to hear other people’s stories:
Other stories are more miraculous than mine but I’m thankful I have somewhere to voice what happened where others cannot, and believe me, there are other stories from that disaster that I hopefully will be told to the world. God bless. Steph
In honour of all the dead, the victims, and survivors of Samoa and Tonga’s Tsunami.
By Steph Fa’amatala
This story is dedicated to Kenape the boy who held onto me.
My mother, my son and myself all travelled to Western Samoa on the 19th September 2009. We were heading to a village in Saanapu Tai on Upolu Island, where most of my mother’s family lived.
On the Tuesday 29th September 2009, between 6:30 to 7:30 in the morning, the earthquake struck. As the earth continued to tremble, my mother, my aunties, and all the elderly ladies were trying to get us kids out of bed, and out of the house, using those held samoan- made brooms, known as salu lima.
Photo frames were falling off the walls, flower necklaces, pictures, stereo and TV, all falling off. The computer fell off its table. Our suitcases fell off the tables it was on. Chairs were falling over backwards.
Us elder kids grabbed the little ones and tried to run out of the house. It was difficult as the ground was shaking so bad that you could not even walk straight. Everything was smashing all around us. The little ones were crying. The elders were screaming from outside to get out. The older boys were carrying the elderly up behind the houses and huts towards the hills and mountains. The little kids who were all dressed for school, were running up the hill, laughing, happy thinking, this is a game.
I grabbed my mother’s bag, and our passports, that were in our suitcases. I looked around and everyone was just standing around talking about what just happened. My mother and her sisters, were just telling us to run for the hills and to get away from the houses.
We started moving towards the hills but the majority of the villagers were still standing around wondering what happened … ( as Samoans sometimes do,) when the minister drove past in his car in a hurry and screamed that a tsunami was coming.
Everyone was for their own self after that. We were running but it was hard to run up the hill. I was wearing se’evae kosokoso (sandals), and the grass was high, the bushes were thick, the trees and shrubs were sharp but the loud explosion was what kept us going. It was an explosion like a bomb had been set off. Then there was a noise like a rushing sound only louder. Little did we know, as we were rushing up that hill, that the sound was the waves coming towards us.
Someone pushes me upwards and forwards. I’m pushing a neighbour’s child up the hill and pulling my cousin with me. I look far up ahead and see my mother crying and looking out towards the ocean behind me. I hear children screaming. The older boys are yelling:
Faakope le kamo’e la ua sau le galu! (“Run faster the wave is coming!”), kamomo’e! (“Run”).
I turn quickly only to see the house that we slept in half an hour before look so tiny against the big waves. It was a sight that i’ll never forget for the rest of my life. I look towards the bottom of the hill. There are still people coming…I knew that they might not make it.
I prayed and I cried. I knew what was coming and that some of us might not make it. I was shocked.
I see a man hold a woman to a tree and then throws himself around her and pushes her into the tree. I see men holding onto each other and holding onto fences that were the entrance to the hill. I knew I had to run but I couldn’t stop watching.
Someone slaps me on the head and screams, Aikae Kamoe! (S***t, run!”). It was my older cousin. He had already taken the kids off me and had ran straight pass me. I don’t remember much after that, but I knew that I had just keep going.
Click here for Part 2 Kenape: Suga, aumai lou lima kago e fusi mau a’u ae o lea o le a ou kaupe i le laau...Girl, give me your hand, try and hold me tight, and I will hold onto a tree.
Auckland University Staff & Students Donations Fill Up Two Container Loads for Lalomanu
Posted: December 8, 2009 Filed under: Business, Community, Current, Earthquake Tsunami Samoa/AmSampa 09, education, NZPacific, South Pacific Region | Tags: auckland university, container, disaster, Emergencies And Disasters, emergency, generosity, lalomanu, natural disaster, nz pacific community, nz pacific news, pacific news, People, relief aid, samoa tsunami, shipments to samoa, strength, Village Leave a comment »
By Danelle Clayton
Lalomanu village in Samoa, which was devastated by the September tsunami, has received two container loads of donated supplies from staff and students of The University of Auckland.
Building supplies, food, kitchen utensils, bedding, medicine and toiletries were collected in a shipping container at the Faculty of Education in Epsom, with donations also sent from the University’s city campus and some schools.
Dean of the Faculty of Education, Associate Professor Graeme Aitken, was moved to assist Lalomanu after speaking to Ben Taufua shortly after the tragedy. Ben, from Lalomanu, is a member of the Pasifika Education Advisory Group, which advises the Faculty on Pacific matters. He lost thirteen members of his family to the tsunami.
“It was a very humbling experience to talk to someone who has lost so much,” Dr Aitken says.
The Faculty of Education’s Associate Dean Pasifika, Dr Meaola Toloa, says while the goods will assist with basic needs such as food, shelter and clothing, there is still much to be done before the village can fully recover.
“It will make a difference in the meantime but we need to keep an open mind that there is still work to be done on sustaining life for the long term,” Dr Toloa says. She and Dr Aitken led a group from the Faculty of Education to visit the village in November to see the devastation and offer support to villagers.
“Normally there would be lots of people around but the beach was barren and deserted with everything stripped. Down on the beach we saw just one survivor with his head bandaged, and we saw very few children. The fact we couldn’t locate many people to talk to just shows how bad it is.”
With the village virtually destroyed, staff and students were asked to donate practical goods to help Lalomanu rebuild. Many included a personal note and extras like children’s toys, crayons and colouring books. An empty shipping container placed on the front lawn of the Faculty’s Epsom Campus was quickly filled, and a second was made available to take extra goods.
Dr Toloa expressed her thanks on behalf of the staff and students in the Faculty who have lost close family members. The Faculty has also made allowances for its large numbers of Samoan students, some of whom interrupted their studies to return to Samoa to support their families.
He Who Rallies In My Hour of Need; Samoa Head of State on Why We Laugh In Dark Times
Posted: November 29, 2009 Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Community, Current, Earthquake Tsunami Samoa/AmSampa 09, education, Environment, Honour & Tribute, NZPacific, South Pacific Region | Tags: american samoa tsunami, Emergencies And Disasters, emergency disaster, grief, he who rallies in my, mourning, national mourning, pacific comedy, pacific news, pacific sense of humour, People, Politics, samoa, samoa head of state, samoa tsunami, samoan comedy, samoan wisdom, sorrow, Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Ta’isi Efi, why samoans laugh so much 2 Comments »
Do you notice how Pacific people, even in tragedy, find a way to laugh in the midst of sorrow? We’re used to laughing at ourselves in the midst of any crisis. It has helped us cope with tragedy, with loss, and the bad things that happen in life. Still, seeing survivors laughing was a sight that surprised mainstream journalists who reported on Samoa, Niuatoputapu and American Samoa after Tuesday 29th September this year. They were taken aback . Judging by their reaction on camera, they did not expect that our people could still find reasons to laugh in their darkest hour.
In this weekly post on the writings of Samoa’s Head of State, Tui Atua talks about the vital role of humour in the lives of Pacific people.
O le e lave i tiga, ole ivi, le toto, ma le aano
He who rallies in my hour of need is my kin
Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Ta’isi Efi
Head of State of the Independent State of Samoa
New Zealand Families Commission Pasifika Families’ Fono
3 November 2009
This address is dedicated to the victims of the 2009 Tonga and Samoa Tsunami
Excerpt of Keynote Address
When I think of the idea of family, I think of the relationships of kin and belonging and of the ties that sustain us as social and spiritual beings. As I have said elsewhere,
“I am not an individual; I am an integral part of the cosmos. I share divinity with my ancestors, the land, the seas and the skies. I am not an individual, because I share my tofi (an inheritance) with my family, my village and my nation. I belong to my family and my family belongs to me. I belong to my village and my village belongs to me. I belong to my nation and my nation belongs to me. This is the essence of my belonging”.
…..
When I say that I am not an individual, I do not mean that my individual happiness is not important. The ideals of family in the Samoan context are shaped by respect for each person’s mental, physical, social and spiritual wellbeing. It is the responsibility of the family, especially the heads of families, to make sure that each person in the family is happy.
In my Samoan indigenous reference, each member of the family has an inheritance, including individual gifts and talents that are bestowed from God, nurtured within the family and shared with the community. Individual talents are used for the benefit of the whole. Ensuring that the good of the whole is always just requires competent and vigilant family heads, capable of commanding authority or pule on the one hand, and demonstrating grace and personal integrity on the other.
When preparing for this address I kept thinking about what it is that holds families together and keeps them well despite the turbulences of life? How have the values of a Samoan family survived such turbulences? How have we named and captured these values? How do we celebrate the joys of family? How do we cope with its challenges, paradoxes, ironies and riddles?
Sometimes the best way to provide an answer to hard questions is by telling a story.
…..
Humour as coping mechanism
In the Pacific context humour is often used to deflect, if only for a moment, the deadening weight of pain or rejection. In the opening quote of this text, I stated that I am not an individual because I share divinity with my ancestors, the land, the seas and the skies. For indigenous Samoans the sea is kin. For those who lived near the sea before the tsunami, the sea was their friend, their provider; it was family. The trauma of the tsunami was not only felt in terms of the devastation impacted by a life-threatening force, but also in terms of the pain of being rejected and chastised by kin.
In dealing with family trauma humour offers natural relief. The ability to laugh at one-self is healthy. This applies whatever the crisis. Status and social stigma take on fresh meaning when viewed from different front seats.
In a story told by and involving a catechist – a Catholic feasoasoni – the idiosyncrasies of Samoan humour as coping mechanism is exposed. Taking full advantage of the opportunity to make a point to his wife, a very large Samoan woman, the feasoasoani becomes infectiously alive as he forgivingly exaggerates his story; delighting all in his audience, except of course his wife. The feasoasoani shares that in seeing the wave coming towards him he runs for his life, as he passes his house he sees his wife, he turns and nonchalantly says to her, as if going on an ordinary run, ‘fa’ [see you]. He then climbs up a nearby breadfruit tree and looks back towards her, she is now screaming at him to come and help her. Clinging onto his breadfruit tree trunk, he calls out to her, ‘pii mau [hold on tight]’.
Then he see’s the highest ranked chief in his village, Ale, being swirled around by the wave, he looks over at him and waves to him. He yells, ‘fa, Ale’ [good-bye Ale]. There is insight here not only into how our people are coping with the trauma of what they experienced, but also how they make their points about social roles and status and poke fun at the fragilities of our humanity.
When such natural disasters take place, worrying about social etiquette just seems silly. In sharing stories, a group of men told of how the wave took one of them, twisting and twirling him towards the sky. In the process this man, who is of significant status and mana in his village, lost the lavalava or sarong he was wearing and that morning he did not have any undergarments. In an uproar of laughter they explained how two of them were below, looking up at their chief swirling around in the sky, naked from his waist down, his private parts fully exposed and dancing all on their own – one part going one way, the other parts going another. In those moments one could not care less about the stigmas of society.
New times, new sources for family power and wealth, each create opportunity for shifting old or irrelevant norms and/or boundaries. Where Pacific household heads in the past could control and regulate change through stringent appeals to precedence, history, custom or tradition, today the forces of change are too great.
What Pacific household heads can do is to appeal to ideals and values, those that are life-affirming, love-affirming and faith-affirming.
This does not mean we deliberately ignore the depressing challenges, negative contradictions and recurring problems that also face many Pacific families.It means that hope for a positive way out is better generated when leadership approaches are based on strengths-based rather than deficit-based models.
Part4: American Samoa Telco Role In No Tsunami-Warning System Examined
Posted: November 28, 2009 Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, Earthquake Tsunami Samoa/AmSampa 09, Environment, Name Them Shame Them, NZPacific, South Pacific Region, Tourism, US & Foreign Affairs | Tags: aleipata., AMERICAN SAMOA, american samoa tsunami, capital, CNN story, Community, corruption, disaster, earthquake, emergency, emergency tsunami siren, natural disaster, nz pacific community, pacific news, tonga tsunami, tsunami samoa, Village 3 Comments »
This is part of an ongoing series on American Samoa post-tsunami and its disaster preparedness. In October, CNN broadcast a damning report on American Samoa’s misuse of federal funds intended for tsunami preparedness. Close to $23 million worth of funds to help the citizens.
On Tuesday 29th September 2009, in the early hours of the morning, an 8.3 magnitude earthquake struck the islands of American Samoa, Samoa and the Tongan island of Niuatoputapu. That earthquake triggered a destructive tsunami that killed close to 200 people on the official death count across all three islands. American Samoa’s official death toll, although no casualty list released, states 34 died; Samoa released an official casualty list of more than 140 dead including at least 70 children no older than 11 years old; Niuatoputapu lost 9 people including a child and an infant.
There was no island-wide emergency tsunami siren on that horrific day. America Samoa, though not releasing a casualty list citing patient privacy laws, state that 34 lives were lost.
The loss of lives on American Samoa prompted CNN to ask questions about where the millions of dollars of disaster preparedness . Those misused funds were inapprorpriately drawn down by the Treasurer of American Samoa, and the Governor’s Authorised Representative(GAR). They continually ignored express direction from both the US Administration and Ala’ilima to return funds to the homeland security budget.
One of the key players, who has perhaps displayed a degree of negligence in this tragedy, is American Samoa Telecommunications Agency. Despite signing a Memorandum of Understanding with American Homeland Security, prior to funds being frozen, they did not buy let alone install the island-wide emergency tsunami siren. Yet official records show in this box that they signed a document but failed to carry it out.
Below are the final installation of responses between Governor Tulafono’s Cabinet and the former Homeland Security Director reveal a wide difference between each one’s understanding and comprehension of the issues involved, and exactly what happened or didn’t happen.
GOVERNOR/SALA: On matters related to the sirens, Sala said that when he came on board, he found evidence of a study which had been done for an island-wide siren system. He agreed with the governor’s remarks to CNN that “it was only a study.”
AlA’ILIMA: This was way more than a study. The Territorial Office of Homeland Security had already entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with American Samoa Telecommunications Authority (ASTCA) in May 2006 to purchase and install the sirens…In the memorandum it was clearly stated that the installation of the sirens was a top priority for the American Samoa Government and DHS funding was approved for the project before my termination.
GOVERNOR/SALA:A facilities manager at American Samoa Telco, who asked not to be identified, verified that it did order one siren, based on a survey done in 2006. “To date, ASTCA has not been paid for the one siren which was ordered for a test, he said. A full warning system was never delivered, per the ASTCA official.
AlA’ILIMA:Mr. Sala has obviously not read the Memorandum of Understanding. This was recognized as a top priority matter for the American Samoa Government and American Samoa Telecommunications Authority obligated itself to finance and install the sirens and then to seek reimbursement. Given that the Memorandum…was signed before the freezing of the funds, American Samoa Telco as an independent government agency could have followed the agreement, installed the sirens and then sought the contract reimbursement.
GOVERNOR/SALA: The Emergency Alert System is a separate matter. “We have the emergency alarm system, continued Sala, but NOAA was unable to deliver the EAS warning system equipment in a timely manner, after $250,000 had been advanced to them in 2004 to deliver the product.
AlA’ILIMA:As I mentioned earlier, Mr. Sala does not understand the development and integration of the Emergency Alert Systems. He also does not comprehend the problems we were working through with NOAA. The federal Department of Homeland Security was concerned about using the territory’s homeland security funds to buy NOAA equipment because NOAA, as a federal agency, had its own separate funding for homeland security. American Samoa, however, did not have an existing alert system like the individual US states already had before 9/11 with their own tie in to NOAA.
If we were to make the connection, we needed to pay for the equipment and give it to NOAA. This was the basis of our Memorandum of Understanding with NOAA. I am pleased to hear that FEMA recently agreed that such a system was warranted and that the NOAA option we invested into was the most cost effective alternative .This was a manageable federal issue but it required someone who understood the problem, which clearly Mr. Sala did not and apparently still does not after two and a half years on the job.
No response from Governor Tulafono or his Lieutenant Governor Evelyn Langford. FEMA, after initially posting a comment on the website which we replied with a request to correct our stories if need be, have not responded further. Ongoing silence from US agencies responsible for federal funding in American Samoa.
We will continue to follow this story and keep you posted on any developments.
Photos: Our Writer on Two Weeks Volunteering in Samoa Post-Tsunami
Posted: November 27, 2009 Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, Earthquake Tsunami Samoa/AmSampa 09, Honour & Tribute, NZPacific, South Pacific Region | Tags: aleipata., Apia, Breaking news tsunami, capital, Community, disaster, earthquake, emergency, falealili, following, lalomanu, Manono, nz pacific community, NZPacific, pacific news, Pastor Ron Westbrook, poutasi, Ruta Sinclair, Saleaaumua, Saleapaga, samoa, samoa tsunami, Satitoa, Siumu, strength, Ti’avea Tai, tonga tsunami, tsunami samoa, vaovai, Village, weather 2 Comments »Photos taken by Malia Tu’ai Manuleleua and Pastor Ron Westwood
Along the South Coast of Upolu, on Tuesday 29th September 2009, over 140 people lost their lives, over 300 injured, crops ruined, villages, schools, clinics, fales and some resorts destroyed leaving thousands homeless, hungry and destitute after an 8.3 earthquake triggered a destructive tsunami. American Samoa and Niutoputapu lost over 40 lives.
PEW writer Malia Tua’i Manuleleua recently returned from Samoa after volunteering with the Psycho-Social Response teams working in tsunami-affected villages along the South Coast of Upolu. One of about 70 or so local and overseas volunteers, Malia was part of a team assessing the physical, spiritual and mental health needs of individuals and families affected.
They worked in the villages of Ti’avea Tai, Vaovai and Saleaumua. Other team members: Ruta Sinclair, Team Leader and local volunteer; Pastor Ron Westbrook, Assembly of God, Australia; David Lui (NZ), and Peone Afamasaga (Samoa). They identified those who required counselling and further specialist services. Other teams visited families in all the affected villages along the southern-west and east coastline from Siumu, Falealili to Aleipata including the small island of Manono.
In the photos are a mix of volunteers working on the South Coast of Upolu, including an Air New Zealand pilot(he’s wearing a black T-shirt with white koru design), who volunteered during his rest break.
There are also photos of the following: local staff at Samoa’s National Hospital in the ward of tsunami survivors; staff at Disaster Management Office showing crops and checking through goods received and distributed; Village of Saleaaumua: Malia interviewing an elederly gentleman on his needs; a picture of a swamp where five people lost their lives; a village mechanic and his boys helping a stranger/volunteer to get his car back on the road after the axle broke.
We Were Walking Among Angels; On-The-Ground Insight Into Samoa’s Aid & Relief Work
Posted: November 25, 2009 Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, Earthquake Tsunami Samoa/AmSampa 09, education, Environment, Fono Notices, health, Honour & Tribute, Noticeboard Tsunami, NZPacific, Opinion & Commentary, South Pacific Region | Tags: aid, AMERICAN SAMOA, capital, Community, disaster, earthquake, Emergencies And Disasters, emergency, horizontal, lalomanu, pacific news, relief, samoa relief, samoa tsunami, strength, survivors, tsunami samoa, Village, weather 1 Comment »Along the South Coast of Upolu, on Tuesday 29th September 2009, over 140 people lost their lives, over 300 injured, crops ruined, villages, schools, clinics, fales and some resorts destroyed leaving thousands homeless, hungry and destitute after an 8.3 earthquake triggered a destructive tsunami. American Samoa and Niutoputapu lost over 40 lives.
This is Part 2 of a two part post by our newest PEW writer Malia Tua’i Manuleleua who has recently returned from Samoa after volunteering with the Psycho-Social Response teams working in tsunami-affected villages along the South Coast of Upolu. One of about 70 or so local and overseas volunteers, Malia was part of a team assessing the physical, spiritual and mental health needs of individuals and families affected.
They worked in the villages of Ti’avea Tai, Vaovai and Saleaumua. Other team members: Ruta Sinclair, Team Leader and local volunteer; Pastor Ron Westbrook, Assembly of God, Australia; David Lui (NZ), and Peone Afamasaga (Samoa). They identified those who required counselling and further specialist services. Other teams visited families in all the affected villages along the southern-west and east coastline from Siumu, Falealili to Aleipata including the small island of Manono.
Malia describes what she saw during her two weeks in Samoa. We published Part 1 yesterday. This is Part 2.
A young chld who survived the tsunami staying at Samoa's National Hospital. Photo: Malia Tua'i Manuleleua
We Were Walking Among Angels
By Malia Tua’i Manuleleua
On white Sunday we visited the Tsunami Ward at the national hospital with Elena Peteru, a local counselor at the University of the South Pacific. We gave out the crunchie bars and lollies to the tsunami survivors, children, parents and hard working staff, gifted from Cook Island friends Dr Tapu Rairi and Bernard Tairea. We also delivered medical supplies to Lalomanu Hospital from Dr Joe Williams from the Mt Wellington Accident & Family Health clinic. Tauilili Paul Stowers and his son Daniel had travelled from Wellington with suitcases of clothes and food for the tsunami victims and gave them out randomly to villagers along the affected coastline. Such has been the overflowing spirit of love and compassion from all.
A whole nation rallied together to take whatever was in their cupboards, in their pockets to those in need.
It has been the same with a tidal wave of assistance from all corners of the world, New Zealand, Australia, Germany, UK, USA, Middle East, Asia etc. The giving and receiving has been overwhelming.
Family living makeshift at Saleaaumua. Photo: Malia Tua'i Manuleleua
Samoans and non-Samoans have worked shoulder to shoulder, offering freely of their time, skills, knowledge, love and compassion for the cause. Most working more than 12 hour shifts, weekends, some forced to go home out of sheer exhaustion, some sleeping where they lay their weary heads.
In the villages, despite the circumstances, families welcomed us into their tents or makeshift fales, offered us water and food and still managed to give us a warm, dignified smile. It was a humbling experience.
When our 4wheel drive was stuck in the sand at Ti’avea Tai, the village boys pushed it to firmer ground. When driving back to the main road, up the rough access track, our trucks right rear wheel hung off a ditch a metre deep. Elderly women, men and small children in the tents came to our aid and helped to lift and push the truck back onto the road- amazingly, we achieved this on one attempt.
At Saleaumua, the next day the axle of a private vehicle belonging to one of our volunteers snapped. In seconds we were surrounded by villagers who quickly summoned Lino the village mechanic. He and his boys were able to get it back on the road within 3 hours. Considering the complexity of the job and limited tools at their disposable it was a small miracle.
A local village mechanic, and his boys, freely help fix the axle of a volunteer's car after it snapped along the South Coast of Upolu. These acts of kindness from local Samoans in the tsunami-affected areas were commonplace . Photo: Malia Tua'i Manuleleua.
We were definitely walking among angels.
But that is who we are as a people, always looking out for each other. It is how we have been raised and live our lives. This tragedy has made us realise and appreciate that even more today.
Soon after we were blessed with heavy showers from the heavens that cooled us from the heat, cleansed the dirt from our faces, and quenched our thirst till the next day.
We met a puppy called Sunami, talked to children, mothers, fathers, a blind woman, a disabled person, a fisherman, a planter, a teacher, a carpenter, a shop keeper, a taxi-driver, a beach fale operator, ministers and their wives, matais (chiefs) two 90 year old great grandmothers, a pre-school teacher, a 12 year old school girl and many many more.
Each had their own remarkable heroic story to tell- stories of survival and loss, of incredible acts of kindness, of bravery. Some emotionally, physically exhausted, dazed and lost, some philosophical and strong, grateful to be alive, and a gentle acceptance that it is Gods will and that life must go on.
Disaster Management Office. Root crops donated for the tsunami-affected families. Photo: Malia Tu'ai Manuleleua.
So many lives changed on the 29 September. As a nation, Samoa has endured so much together, of great tragedy and sorrow, of great joy, great courage and great resilience. And the world has stood beside this little country in the middle of the Pacific ocean. These are definitely days to remember. Mistakes will be made, we are only human. But let us not forget the bountiful good that has been done and will no doubt continue.
On my last visit to Vaovai a matai farewelled us with a familiar biblical verse, “O oe o le Isaraelu moni…” to express his deep gratitude for all who assisted and gave so generously in his time of need, from all over Samoa, New Zealand, Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, United Kingdom, USA, Germany, Middle East, Asia from all four corners of the world.
The work by all has been heart-wrenching and yet so uplifting. We came to give but what we gave was nothing compared to what we received.
Eulogy: Tuifeamalo Tuatagaloa Annandale; Tui Annandale, Sinalei Reef Resort
Posted: November 22, 2009 Filed under: Earthquake Tsunami Samoa/AmSampa 09, Environment, Honour & Tribute, South Pacific Region | Tags: aleipata., american samoa tsunami, beauty, beauty queen, earthquake, Emergencies And Disasters, eulogy, first miss samoa, honour, honours at government house, humanitarian, joe annandale, kindness, love, Malvern Atherton, mourning, pacific news, Politics, poutasi, sadness, samoan beauty queen, sinalei, sinalei reef resort, South Coast, strength, tsunami samoa, Tui Annandale, Tuifeamalo Tuatagaloa Annandale, Upolu, Village, weather 1 Comment »
Tui Annandale, wife of Joe Annandale, at Vavau Beach Resort December 2003. Tui lost her life rescuing children caught in the tsunami of 29th September 2009. The Annandales are owners of Sinalei Reef Resort, South Coast of Upolu. The resort, which was severely damaged by the tsunami, will be re-opened early 2010. Photo credit: Malvern Atherton. Published with permission courtesy of Malvern Atherton, nephew of Tui and Joe.
Eulogy: Tuifeamalo Tuatagaloa Annandale
Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Ta’isi,
Tanumapua Plantation
29 September 2009
I was hesitant to talk last night because I was aware of Tui’s discomfort with politics, politicians and status. My reservation was allayed when Tuatagaloa asked me after the service to say something this morning. I decided to speak because I felt that his request was also hers.
Nothing becomes Tui more than the manner of her leaving. As Carol, said last night, in this tragedy she put the safety of her mother and Joe before her own – a gesture underlining selflessness and humility.
Her family admits that her funeral was carefully planned and today one senses that she’s still very much in command. She has orchestrated the time and space: the order of the rituals, liturgies and testimonies. The programme was and is: the funeral within twenty four hours of death; a quiet family service at 8pm; a funeral service at Tanumapua at 5.30am; and her burial at Siusega. All this is metaphor for moving on lest we dwell too long on death and tragedy – a salutary lesson not only for our family but also for a grieving nation.
As the wife of Tuatagaloa, she is entitled to the protocols, rituals and conventions befitting the funeral of the wife of a Falealili grandee. This includes a funeral service at the official residence of Tuatagaloa in Poutasi. But, in opting for less fanfare, Tui was and is claiming space: space for privacy.
She wanted a funeral where the ambiance would be markedly different in tone and context; she simply wanted to move on with grace. Whereas she became the mainstay of the Poutasi hierarchy, in the end she preferred a quiet and private funeral.
Her outstanding gift to us was the example of how she eased her way with finesse and aplomb through the different corridors of Samoan society. She would reincarnate herself many times, sometimes all in the same day. One moment she could be entrepreneur, the next a chair of a charitable organization, or Board member of an art or culture group, or a lead person in the village women’s committee, or a delegate to an annual Malua EFKS Fono tele.
All this achieved with quiet wit, thoughtfulness and grace. Through this she brought people from different persuasions and cultures together. This is high achievement.
She saw the Sinalei staff not as workers or employees to be bullied or put down but as human beings that you need to work in partnership with. She did not pretend to a knowledge or expertise that she did not have. She was quite comfortable in learning from others or from books. She was successful in the village because she had the common touch; she understood people and was humble and modest.
How did she do it? Through an innate sense of humility. Whether she knew it or not, her humility gave her an uncanny insight into what the Bible refers to in Ecclesiastes as the “vanity of vanities”.
Tui was humble yet not meek. She sought and celebrated simplicity which was not simple because of the allusions to metaphor and nuance. She was most accommodating and alluring when she stood firm on what she believed to be principle.
Tui was a deeply spiritual person. For her, God was not distant and formidable; God was always present and an integral part of loving. He was present when she planted flowers, when they sprouted, budded, blossomed, bloomed and withered. He was present in her love of animals, especially in her love for her dogs. He was truly present for her when the sun rose and set. He was present when she loved Joe, her family, friends and especially the disadvantaged. He was present when she and Joe prayed in the morning and in the evening.
Knowing her, she would have prayed for the last time for the safety of Joe, her mother Anna and Tafa her mother’s nurse. I believe God heard and heeded her prayer.
If I’m struggling to capture the essence of Tui, then I invite you to take a good look at her face, her glow, her gentle smile and her sense of inner peace. That is her legacy.
I loved Tui dearly for a very simple reason: she loved Joe, and because of this love, Joe and her family and all who came in contact with her became better people.
Soifua.
Editor’s Note: We posted Tui Annandale eulogy earlier as part of a collection of tributes. This time, however, it is being reposted on its own. Among the many memories of this humble lady of Samoa, Tui possibly first came to national attention as the very first Miss Samoa beauty queen.
Part 3: Who Authorised Federals Funds Be Taken Away from Tsunami Preparedness American Samoa?
Posted: November 21, 2009 Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, Earthquake Tsunami Samoa/AmSampa 09, Environment, Name Them Shame Them, NZPacific, South Pacific Region, US & Foreign Affairs | Tags: AMERICAN SAMOA, american samoa tsunami, Breaking news tsunami, corruption, earthquake, Emergencies And Disasters, emergency, Evelyn Vaitautolu-Langford, Governor Tulafono, homeland security, Lei’ataualesā Birdsall Ala’ilima, mike sala american samoa, natural disaster, pacific news, Politics, usa, Village, weather 2 Comments »
This is part of an ongoing series on American Samoa post-tsunami and its disaster preparedness. On Tuesday 29th September 2009, in the early hours of the morning, an 8.3 magnitude earthquake struck the islands of American Samoa, Samoa and the Tongan island of Niuatoputapu.
That earthquake triggered a destructive tsunami that killed close to 200 people on the official death count across all three islands. American Samoa’s official death toll, although no casualty list released, states 34 died; Samoa released an official casualty list of more than 140 dead including at least 70 children no older than 11 years old; Niuatoputapu lost 9 people including a child and an infant.
That catastrophic event has forever changed the landscape of the islands and also the hearts of those who have lost loved ones, lost their homes and lost their livelihoods. It is estimated that it will take years for the people to recover emotionally and psychologically from this national trauma.
The loss of lives on American Samoa prompted reporters to ask questions about where the millions of dollars of disaster preparedness funding went. American Samoa had no island-wide tsunami emergency siren on the day of the tsunami. The Governor’s office, through its Homeland Security Director Mike Sala, has provided lengthy responses to justify why it wasn’t needed on the day. That the nation was prepared on the day for the tsunami. Others disagree and that’s where we kick off today.
Part 3:
After the CNN investigation blew the lid on corruption in the American Samoa Government, we later received a fabricated “story” from the Governor’s office purporting to be a story published and written by Samoa News. The current Homeland Security Director for American Samoa, Mike Sala, said in an email that a Teri Hunkin was writing a story with him. He had cc’d Teri into the email sent to pacificEyeWitness.org. Teri Hunkin is a copy editor for Samoa News.
The “story”, among other things, pointed the finger at the former Homeland Security Director, Lei’ataualesā Birdsall Ala’ilima. We have, however, spoken to others and cited official correspondence that supports Ala’ilima’s version of events. Governor Togiola Tulafono and his then Lieutenant Governor, along with the Treasurer of American Samoa, were responsible for inappropriately drawing down homeland security funds intended for disaster preparedness. That is why on Tuesday 29th September, there was no island-wide tsunami emergency siren to warn the people.
They spent the money on other things and refused to comply with any instructions from US authorities to return the funds to the office of Homeland Security, which at that time was under the direction of Ala’ilima.
Yet despite all his rhetoric and speeches to young American Samoans at graduation time about honesty, Governor Tulafono and his Cabinet seems unable to hold itself accountable to the people. If Governor Tulafono did so, he, and his Cabinet, would have turned up for the Emergency Preparedness Hearings organised by the House in American Samoa this week. Yet each time, twice so far, the Governor and his Cabinet have found reasons to not attend.
Now we’ll follow more of the paper trail.
Who oversees and manages federal funds firsthand in American Samoa?
The Treasurer of American Samoa under the authorisation of the Governor or in his place, the Lieutenant Governor, or GAR Governor’s Authorised Representative.
With the disaster preparedness funds designated for American Samoa, what happened there?
In an email dated 19th January 2007, an official with America Homeland Security wrote to Governor Togiola Tulafono to express concern at the drawdown of homeland security funds by the Treasurer.
…the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was notified that the American Samoa Treasury, authorized by the Lt. Governor, executed drawdown of DHS Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) funds to pay the salaries of personnel not affiliated with this program.
This drawdown of emergency management funds to pay other personnel was done without the knowledge of its then Homeland Security Director, Lei’ataualesā Birdsall Ala’ilima.
Once Ala’ilima found out, he asked Treasurer to reinstate the emergency funding. To jog your memory, these are the funds that were intended for disaster preparedness in the event of a tsunami. But the American Samoa Government simply continued to ignore the authority of Homeland Security to stay away from those funds.
Instead, the American Samoa Treasurer, authorised by the Governor’s office, continued to blatantly misuse funds. They were simply a law unto themselves. They ignored a request from their own Homeland Security Director, Ala’ilima. They also ignored a direct command from US officials. That hints at the degree of sheer arrogance from the Governor and his Administration.
the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was notified that the American Samoa Treasury, authorized by the Lt. Governor, executed drawdown of DHS Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) funds to pay the salaries of personnel not affiliated with this program… The first event occurred on or about 15 December. Mr. Ala’ilima, when he became aware of this chain of events, requested that the Treasurer reinstate those funds to the EMPG accounts. Austerity measures (locally) were drafted by TOHS Director Mr. Ala’ilima in an attempt to once again remind everyone of the parameters of the “In Lieu of High Risk” letter ASG agreed to, dated 6 January, 2006. To our dismay, DHS was notified that the Lt. Governor and the Treasurer once again authorized a second draw down for similar purposes during the week of January 10. Subsequently, a chain of events unfolded to rapidly “freeze” all DHS funding to ASG until an audit between the ASG Treasury and DHS Office of Grant Operations can be conducted.
No Option But to Freeze Emergency Preparedness Funding
Finally, Department of Homeland Security was left with no option but to freeze all homeland security funding. That is very clear from a reading of official correspondence and talking to those familiar with American Samoa governance. Before funds were frozen, however, US authorities commended Ala’ilima to the Governor for this actions in trying to get the Treasury to reinstate the funds:
Mr. Ala’ilima has worked valiantly to promote the TOHS mission and align DHS practices and policies with the Homeland Security Grant Program Guidance, to ensure enhanced capabilities are the end result. Unfortunately, there are procurement delays, contractual authority, and several other factors that continually challenge TOHS from executing the program accordingly.
The Governor’s response to this official rebuke?
From: Ttulafono@aol.com [mailto:Ttulafono@aol.com]
Sent: Thu 1/18/2007 11:32 PM
To: [ ]
Subject: Re: DHS Funding ShutdownIn a message dated 1/16/2007 12:57:22 PM Hawaiian Standard Time, [ ]writes:
Many of the recommendations you have outlined below mirror the recommendations that have been brought before ASG leadership previously. I am hopeful that this recent travesty results in swift overhaul of current practices and becomes the catalyst to promote positive change to the TOHS endeavors — Protecting the American Samoa Citizens from Terrorism and Catastrophic Disaster. Your recommendations are sound, necessary, and long overdue.
Mr [ ], can you elaborate more for me about this paragraph of your email to Lei’ataua please. Particularly, the statements highligted above.
Finally, one direct question in this matter: What are the particular reasons for the shut down in the fundings for Homeland Security for American Samoa?
The Governor’s response is somewhat bizarre given the detailed explanations and warnings given previously. Instead of admitting wrong, there is a tone of belligerence and arrogance in his response. It is clear he did not appreciate the help Ala’ilima may have provided US Authorities in uncovering the misuse of funds that were being diverted away from disaster preparedness. Ala’ilima later lost his job. That has to be a most costly price to pay for those who perished on Tuesday 29th September 2009.
The Role of the Governor’s Authorized Representative, a post currently held by Evelyn Vaitautolu-Langford.
She is the second in command in American Samoa. Since the role of the GAR or the Governor’s Authorized Representative is a powerful one, we wanted to know about the current levels of responsibility for federal funds and in particular emergency preparedness funding. We sent questions to Evelyn Vaitautolu-Langford who currently holds the role. But no response as yet.
Next Friday: We look at the Memorandum of Understanding signed by American Samoa Government and the American Samoa Telecommunications Authority. This Samoa Telco was responsible for installing an island-wide tsunami emergency siren, that never happened.
CNN Report Part 1: Tsunami Warning Funds Sqaundered in American Samoa
CNN Report Part 2: An Avoidable Crisis?
Latest: Whistleblower Responds to American Samoa Governor’s Accusations
Solomon Islands: Time to End Safe Haven for Crimes Under International Law
Posted: December 8, 2009 | Author: pacificeye | Filed under: Analysis, Business, Community, Current, Environment, NZPacific, Opinion & Commentary, Politics, South Pacific Region | Tags: 57333539, amnesty inernational, built structure, burnt, chinatown, crime, destruction, disaster, following, geneva convention, Honiara, human rights, jurisdiction, lawyers, legal, Looting, no safe haven, nz pacific news, outs, pacific news, People, problems, protest, riot, solomon islands, Solomon Islands Capital, united nations, war | Leave a comment »HONIARA, SOLOMAN ISLANDS: Burned out buildings in Chinatown are shown following rioting and looting April 20, 2006 in the Solomon Islands Capital of Honiara. Rioters angered by the election of the unpopular Snyder Rini as prime minister attacked police and plundered parts of Chinatown in response. One hundred and eighty Australian soldiers and police arrived in the capital to quell the protests. (Photo by Ross Land/Getty Images)
Amnesty International Aotearoa NZ
Media Release
Solomon Islands: Time to end safe haven for crimes under international law
Amnesty International has today launched Solomon Islands: End Impunity Through Universal Jurisdiction, the first paper of the No Safe Haven Series covering a country in the Pacific and the first to analyse a common law legal system.
The paper evaluates whether Solomon Islands has met its obligations as a member of the international community to define crimes under international law as crimes under national law and to provide effective universal criminal and civil jurisdiction over those crimes. The paper also examines whether Solomon Islands is able to cooperate – subject to human rights safeguards – with other states in the extradition of those suspected of such crimes and in the exchange of information to assist other states which are investigating or prosecuting them.
Solomon Islands’ courts can exercise universal criminal jurisdiction over grave breaches of the 1949 Geneva Conventions. However, Solomon Islands has failed to define the most heinous crimes, such as crimes against humanity, war crimes (other than grave breaches), torture, extrajudicial executions or enforced disappearances as crimes under national law. Amnesty International is deeply concerned that Solomon Islands is, therefore, currently a safe haven from prosecution in its courts for foreigners who are responsible for these crimes (committed abroad against other foreigners).
A second series of concerns pertains to extradition. Amnesty International regrets that the Solomon Islands is also a safe haven from extradition to any country for foreigners who are responsible for genocide, war crimes, torture, extrajudicial executions and enforced disappearances committed abroad, as none of these crimes are listed as extradition crimes. In addition, such persons cannot be arrested and surrendered to the International Criminal Court or any other international criminal court.
Furthermore, no legislation authorises Solomon Islands to exercise universal civil jurisdiction, which means that it is unable to fulfil its obligations to provide full reparation for victims of crimes under international law.
Amnesty International is submitting this report to the Solomon Islands Law Reform Commission, urging it to take into account its detailed recommendations for law reform so that the country can fulfil its obligations under international law and rightly be at the frontline in the fight against impunity for the worst imaginable crimes.
Background
This paper is the sixth in a series on each of the 192 member states of the United Nations, designed to help lawyers, victims, and their families identify countries where people suspected of committing crimes under international law might be effectively prosecuted and required to provide full reparations through universal jurisdiction.
Each paper also provides clear recommendations on how the government concerned can bring its national law into line with international law. The series aims to ensure that no safe haven exists anywhere in the world for those responsible for crimes against the entire international community.
To read the paper, Solomon Islands: End Impunity Through Universal Jurisdiction, please visit www.amnesty.org.nz/news/solomon-islands-time-end-safe-haven-crimes-under-international-law
Celebrate International Human Rights Day (10 Dec) with us!
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