Comments for Peter Vandever

Comment on Why the internet must be fixed in Samoa and soon…. by Peter Vandever

Peter Vandever — Thu, 17 May 2012 07:45:24 +0000

When looking at technology, cost has to be the last factor.

Comment on Why the internet must be fixed in Samoa and soon…. by Andrew

Andrew — Thu, 17 May 2012 06:00:38 +0000

Peter,

I can’t agree more… there’s a huge fiber deployment slated for 2013 – PacificFibre, they were originally considering Pago as a deployment location, but the costs were pretty steep. Maybe Apia is a viable option? Either way, we need to find a way to pay for this stuff, whether it comes from grant funds from the IMF, the UN, China, Japan (if it’s Samoa) or the US if it’s American Samoa.

Bottom line is money.. Technology is the key to a better economy, not because of computers, but because of communication. Better communication backbones will attract companies that want to develop, they’ll attract tourism opportunities, they’ll attract manufacturing or assembly companies, they’ll attract (not that we need more of it) fishing industries. If it’s American Samoa, maybe the Department of Defense would be more interested in investing money and time here.

Technology is the key… getting the right people into advisor positions is another key. Since those decisions were made I think both Samoa and American Samoa have done a better job at improving who are in these advisory positions, unfortunately too late for this decision, but not too late for future decisions.

I must admit I don’t always agree with your banter and have been ‘singled out’ by it in the past (not by name but by assumption) however, I can’t agree more here and I’m hopeful people will realize there’s a big issue here and we have the ability to fix it (more so right now then we may have in the near future).

Less talk and more action needs to happen.

Make a plan, present the plan, get funding for implementation and move from there. I am encouraged at least by American Samoa’s recent attempt at revising their economic plan, it seems as though Technology may actually be the heart of it this time around. (From what I’m reading in the media at least)

(also I can’t read this font color at all)

Comment on Why the internet must be fixed in Samoa and soon…. by Peter Vandever

Peter Vandever — Mon, 14 May 2012 07:38:08 +0000

At what point, did I say “dump the fiber cable?” I said replace it.

Comment on Why the internet must be fixed in Samoa and soon…. by Reg

Reg — Mon, 14 May 2012 00:42:09 +0000

Peter – I can beleive you are saying dump a fibre cable and go back to Satellite ? Are you crazy?????

Im not sure if you have costed for an undersea fibre recently but to put the current cable to Samoa in perspective. PAcific fibre in NZ is planning a new cable that will pass by Samoa. The cost.. a whooping $USD500M. tonga is in process of a spur cable to Fiji – the cost $USD40M – thats $WST100M to get to Fiji, so they still have to buy onwards capacity.

So lets be realistic how does a country of $180,000 pepole fund such ventures.

Comment on Why the internet must be fixed in Samoa and soon…. by NMS

NMS — Sat, 12 May 2012 09:25:25 +0000

Ninety-nine-point-nine percent of the people who use this connection and complain about it don’t realize that they are the key to bringing change. Most Samoans settle for the obsolete lines and decades old speeds because they feel this is the best they can get. The key is to make them aware that they can and should DEMAND better services and better speeds. The great thing about technology is that competition doesn’t drive change.. necessity does. And right now, people have to show that they NEED better connection rather than WANT it.

Comment on Why the internet must be fixed in Samoa and soon…. by Peter Vandever

Peter Vandever — Fri, 11 May 2012 23:52:54 +0000

This is more about Samoa. I will write about American Samoa later.

Comment on Why the internet must be fixed in Samoa and soon…. by Dylan

Dylan — Fri, 11 May 2012 23:09:31 +0000

It surprises me how many people know, and are ignorant about the oceanic crapline. They’re being robbed blind, but they’re so used to it. Bsky on the scene, not missing a good opportunity to charge the shit out of this island.

Another thing that cracks me up is that ASCC has an IT department and the campus map (among most other basic functions) on the site has been under construction for like a year and a half now? What a joke.

Comment on Yap. Amazing place. Amazing culture. Amazing people. by Christeen

Christeen — Thu, 10 May 2012 23:18:04 +0000

interesting place. Like your photos.

Comment on Why I could NOT marry a Somoan by ROBIN M TUANIGA

ROBIN M TUANIGA — Wed, 09 May 2012 01:29:44 +0000

You can take the Samoan away from Samoa, but you can never take away what is in the soul. They may be half a world away, but you’re right there in Samoa. What’s your excuse?

Comment on Why I am so harsh on the Samoan culture? by ROBIN M TUANIGA

ROBIN M TUANIGA — Tue, 08 May 2012 05:53:48 +0000

previously posted this to Mr Vandever’s site on 1Apr2012. I thought you would like to see it.

There has been much brouhaha over comments made by one Peter Vandever about/against the Samoan people and I would like to make a comment as well.
Mr. Vandever,
When you feel unable to get what you want, you start to stamp your feet and act like a child. You need to take a lesson from the very people you profess to love and care about. Step back to learn before its too late and they send you packing. Even after all these years I am still learning and grateful for it every single day.
Robin M Tuaniga (widowed palagi

P.S. He responded with: Send me packing? He just doesn’t get it does he?