KEY POINTS:
Dear Readers,
Although this letter is supposed to be from Samoa I am writing to you from the Solomon Islands where the Pacific Island News Association convention has just begun.
The Editor in Chief of Samoa Observer, Savea Sano Malifa is expected to attend the PINA Convention later
this week.
Matai' Akualo of Fiji Broadcasting Corporation and a Board Member of PINA says this meeting is a resurrection for the regional media organization.
"We need to be people of integrity," he said at the opening of the conference.
More than a 100 Journalists and Editors from all over the region are taking part in the convention.
When I left Samoa, the funeral of the late Malietoa Tanumafili II had just come to a sad close.
I managed to walk into the tomb along with many other members of the public to pay our last respects to Malietoa.
His death however gave our local team more reason to win in a tribute match to Malietoa last Saturday.
Manu Samoa's 8-3 win against the Flying Fijians in the opening IRB Pacific Nations Cup game at Apia Park was the ultimate tribute any rugby player can pay to a Leader.
While they were playing at Apia Park, the Samoans in Solomon Islands were holding a small Church service in Honiara to pay their own respects to Malietoa.
I had the opportunity to meet two of the ten Samoan Police officers currently in the Solomons as part of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI).
Margarette Margarete Donna Roache-Palepoi and Reupena Faailo from Samoa say they are making a difference to the lives of people in the Solomon Islands as part of the Participating Police Force (PPF).
Faailo from Tanugamanono is the first Samoan male to be part of the RAMSI Headquarters and is currently Commander of the White River Police Force near Honiara.
"It has been a great experience helping the Solomon Islands Police force in rebuilding law and order," Faailo said.
Since arriving in February the Samoan officers were stationed to different sections of RAMSI in the Solomon Islands.
According to Faailo, the Solomon Islands Police force is no different from the Samoan Police however social unrest has threatened the stability of law and order therefore weakening the power of the Police.
"Because of the similarities in the forces we as Samoans have much skills and knowledge to share and contribute to develop the capacity of Solomon Islands Police," Faailo said.
Mrs. Palepoi along with three other women are also attached to the RAMSI headquarters in leading positions.
As a Community Relations Officer Mrs. Palepoi faces Solomon Islanders daily in a bid to restore their faith in law and order.
"I have learnt a lot about the Solomons culture and have experienced their way of life," she said.
Asked whether she was treated differently as a woman, Mrs. Palepoi said she felt no discrimination due to her gender.
Currently the officers are housed in the GBR compound, a special facility equipped with leisure grounds, self contained units, cafeteria and other amenities for PPF officers in Honiara.
The Samoan Officers have already served three months in their PPF missions and plan to return after completion of one year.
According to Special Coordinator of RAMSI Mr. Tim George, Samoa has made a significant contribution to PPF since the beginning of the programme in 2003.
"We highly value the quality and professionalism of Samoan police in capacity building and all areas of RAMSI," Mr. George said.
The Samoan officers will be returning in June for a short break, they say they are looking forward to returning to their families and tasting Samoan food yet again.
