A special ceremony was held today to officially open the Atoa O Samoa Executive talks between Samoa and American Samoa and also welcome the American Samoa delegation in front of the government building. Earlier on, American Samoa Governor Lemanu P.S. Mauga did the honours of inspecting the Police Honor Guard.
This meeting is a continuation of meetings between the governments that started back in July in the US territory.
Governor Lemanua P.S. Mauga during his speech in Samoan outlined some of the issues to be discussed which included economic developments, immigration issues such as permits and talofa pass, trade and importing of goods between the two Samoa, healthcare, education opportunities, border protection, as well as Samoan citizen prisoners housed at the territorial corrections facilities.
Also on the agenda are climate change issues.
Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa spoke on the behalf of the Government and said the continuation of the Atoa Samoa Talks, its second session being hosted in Apia over the next two days.
“The Atoa Samoa Talks is now an integral activity of the year-long celebrations of the 60th independence anniversary of Samoa.
“Of notable significance is the fact that the talks provide a good opportunity for greater and more sustainable cooperation between Samoa and American Samoa now and into the future.
May we achieve fruitful outcomes from the Atoa Samoa Talks with God’s guidance.”
