According to General Secretary, Reverend Dr Iutisone Salevao, the proposed bank will be funded from the church's To'omaga Fund, a fund which already exists to provide financial assistance to parishes.

"The fund is close to ten million tala at the moment and we are looking to allocate anywhere between two and five million tala to the proposed venture.

"The loans firm and the bank would be to help church members."

Savelvao says the church doesn't plan to extend these services to the general public.

The church's decision enter the finance sector follows the opening of its TV Station.

Source

• Savali
• Talanei
• Samoa Observer
• Image:Savali

EFKS media opened with 80 percent coverage of the country.

"We hope to have complete coverage in three months," says Chairman of the General Assembly, Rev. Elder Tautiaga Senara.

Both the radio and TV outlets will be under the operational leadership of Tuiasau Uelese Petaia, a former CEO of TV One, who also ran his own television station and has wide experience in the print media.

When Tuiasau was named manager of the stations, the appropriateness of the appointment was questioned because Tuiasau has been convicted of 67 counts of theft and given an 18 month jail sentence which he completed last year.

Asked about the concerns raised by the appointment, General Secretary of CCCS, Rev. Dr. Iutisone Salevao responded with a question of his own.

"Who was crucified together with Jesus, was it an angel?" he asked.

"However, he has the experience needed to realise the church's dream of operating a radio and television service for her members and the community," he said.

Initially the focus will be on youth; all programmes are to be broadcast in English and Samoan.

Salevao has previously revealed the need to address the problems faced by youth and hopes the programmes will help them choose a better road in life.

Both media are co-funded by the Council for World Mission in Singapore and London, but the church hopes for financial self-sufficiency in the future.

Source

• Talamua
• Talamua
• Talamua
• Image: Bebo

The general secretary of the Church, Rev. Dr Iutisone Salevao, said the idea has been in the pipeline for about five years but after its General Meeting in May, the church finally decided to go through with it.

Talks have been held already with those whom the church think should carry out the transmission work. The only cable TV company in Samoa, Pro-Com, have been contacted to assist in ensuring that full national coverage is established by May next year.

A committee handling programmes and other aspects of television work has also met and will continue to meet and establish staff, equipment and sales and marketing strategies within the next ten months.

Source

• Island Business
• Image Arthur Henrique