When the sex video story broke one of the mobile providers issued a full-page advertisement the very next day promoting a texting competition to win cash prizes.

"They are after money; that's all they care about," says the Chief Executive of Computer Service Limited (CSL), La'eimau Oketevi Tanuvasa, adding that both Digicel and Bluesky SamoaTel should be responsible enough to help people be more aware of the negative connotations of mobile phones.

Tautua Samoa Member of Parliament, Afualo Dr Wood Salele agrees."I believe there is a negative moral impact of cellphones in our society," he says.

"This is heavily promoted by Free Nights. These promotions interfere with the bedrooms of our families and children."

He laments that, "in trying to satisfy our needs and wants based on the lives of developed countries is why we are at this stage."

The level of competition between mobile phone companies is intense. Samoa now has more mobile phone users per capita than land line, thanks to the entry of telecommunications giant Digicel last year.

Source

• SamoaObserver.ws
• www.spasifikmag.com
• Image: aysstuff.blogspot.com

The Director of Catholic Education, Aeau Chris Hazelman, and Marist Sisters head Sister Emanuela Betham went on Samoa Television to issue a televised apology to the nation.

It is understood that a confidant of the girl distributed the video that the video and that it passed from student to student on their cell phones via Bluetooth. According to the Samoa Observer a number of students confirmed that they have seen it.

Assistant Police Commissioner, Le'aupepe Fatu Pula says the matter is very serious the police are determined to get to the bottom of it.

"Our investigation started as soon as we got word about the incident," he says. "The outcome of the investigations will determine whether the boy broke the law in any way."

The "boy" in question is a student. Le'aupepe says the video should never have been distributed in the first place.

"If it was for him personally, then it should have stayed with him," says Le'aupepe.

Sources

• The Nelson Mail
• The Samoa Observer
• Image: Human Rights as Living Standards