American Samoa

The meeting between the two Samoas was held on October 11 at the Taumeasina Island Resort in Apia as both nations commit to building closer social and economic relations and collaboration.

American Samoa Governor's chief of staff Loa Tuimavave Tauapa'i Laupola said that after receiving updates from the Samoan government, Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa and Governor Lemanu P.S. Mauga "will conduct a review for final approval for the publication of the 'Outcomes' for the fourth Atoa O Samoa Meeting".

Construction workers have completed upgrading the landing strip and work is underway on the parking lot.

The American Samoa Government has been very keen for Fagalii to re-open because of its proximity to Apia.

This will be the third time Fagalii has re-opened after shutdowns - the most recent in 2020 on safety grounds.

Its re-opening was promised by Samoa's FAST Party when it was campaigning ahead of the last election.

Previously the $65 tax was paid on departure at the airport.

This was one of the issues the American Samoa territory’s administration raised at the talks between the two Samoas.

The American Samoa delegation wanted the departure tax paid at the airport scrapped however Samoa Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa responded that paying departure tax was a norm and that the $65 departure tax was usually included in the airline tickets.

Previously the $65 tax was paid on departure at the airport.

This was one of the issues the American Samoa territory’s administration raised at the talks between the two Samoas.

The American Samoa delegation wanted the departure tax paid at the airport scrapped however Samoa Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa responded that paying departure tax was a norm and that the $65 departure tax was usually included in the airline tickets.

Tala Fou reports Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa has admitted to a security lapse on the part of government Ministries.

Fiame has expressed disappointment with how certain government bodies allowed a boat that sailed from American to enter and return without approval.

At her press conference last week Fiame stressed that it should never have happened.

She added that the boat should have been seized upon entry and the crew should have been locked immediately if they didn’t have the right documentation, however local officials failed to do so.

In a press conference on Thursday, Fiame said border security should have seized the Kite Runner, owned by a businessman in American Samoa, upon arrival at the Matautu wharf.

However, the Prime Minister said government officials scrambled to get all the necessary clearances for the boat, which should have never happened in the first place.

Fiame said according to reports, the boat docked at Matautu then to Mulifanua before heading to Savai'i, when the police intervened and seized the boat and escorted it back to Matautu.

The second confirmed case is a four-year-old boy from Tafuna who goes to the same school as the first confirmed measles case.

RNZ Pacific reports the Department of Health sent 39 samples to Hawaii for testing on Monday and 26 came back negative while one was positive for measles.

The samples are both nasal swabs and serum - the nasal swabs tested negative, but the serum samples have to be sent to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lab as Hawaii didn't have the capability for serum testing.

Travelers will be required to be vaccinated according to Samoa’s Director General of Health, Aiono Dr Alec Ekeroma.

Infants aged 6 months to 15 months will need to have received a single dose of the measles vaccination before travel.

Children aged 15 months to 24 months must have completed two doses of the vaccination.

A statement issued by Samoa’s Ministry of Health said travelers will be required to complete 14 days post vaccination prior to travel to Samoa.

The territory's Department of Health (DOH) said samples from the child, who was seen at a community centre with symptoms on 27 March, were sent for testing in California and returned positive.

Day cares are now closed to protect babies from being exposed to the virus, as infants under six months are not eligible for the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine.

RNZ Pacific reports Kanana Fou Elementary School in Tafuna, where the girl attends, has also been closed.

The ’30-day permit’ requirement does remain for Samoa passport holders wishing to travel to American Samoa, except that they have been exempted from providing medical and police clearances when applying for a 30-day permit, if they have no plans of residing or work during their stay in the territory.

Samoa News reports the change was made effective on 10 April, 2023 and was announced by Attorney General Fainuulelei Falefatu Alailima-Utu at the Atoa o Samoa meeting, held in American Samoa last week.