Fiame Naomi Mata’afa

The pact was initialed in April 2021 but remains unratified, 20 months after negotiations concluded between the European Union and African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States.

PACNEWS reports the special relation that the Organisation of the African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) share with the European Union, governed by Cotonou Partnership Agreement to be soon replaced with the new SAMOA Agreement.

Fiame has been recognised as the first female Prime Minister of Samoa and leader of the Faʻatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) Party.

Her agenda has a strong environmental focus, to fight against the climate emergency in one of the regions of the world most vulnerable to global warming.

Fiame is one of nine women from Asia Pacific (APAC) and the only woman from the Pacific on the list.

The Chair of the Pacific Small Islands Developing States (PSIDS), the Prime Minister of Samoa, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa led the special meeting that brought together Pacific leaders and Ministers both in Glasgow at COP26 and those who participated remotely, unable to attend COP26 due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Disappointment was expressed by the Pacific with the slow progress made at COP26, a disappointment that resonated with the COP26 President Alok Sharma

The conference will be online

She is joined by the Prime Minister of the Cook Islands, Mark Brown and former Prime Minister Helen Clark who are also keynote speakers.

CID is the umbrella organisation for New Zealand’s aid agencies and their partners, with over 65 members.

The theme of this year’s conference is ‘New Ways to Work: Stronger Relationships and Resilience’. It will shine a light on how New Zealand’s aid sector has changed since Covid, with aid programmes and humanitarian responses more locally led.

Fiame also welcomed support from the Commonwealth Secretariat on trade and economic recovery particularly in the revival of the tourism sector and ensuring sustainable financing for recovery.

This is the second consecutive year the CFAMM has been held virtually since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

The meeting was chaired by the Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom.

At a press conference this week. Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa said, “We are not quite sure at this point how soon those tests and processes will take place, meanwhile, Cabinet is taking the opportunity to once again reach a clearer understanding of the progress of the Samoa Airways project from its inception to where it is now, and also what future implications there are for government, especially government liabilities or responsibilities in terms of the funding arrangements that have been made.”

“No firm decisions have been made.”

Chikoti extended his congratulatory remarks to Fiame in an official statement from Brussels, Belgium.

He noted the “peaceful resolution” found after Samoa’s months-long “political stalemate and constitutional crisis.”

The former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Angola, also acknowledged the Court of Appeal ruling that brought an end to the unprecedented crisis.

He reiterated his commitment to working with Prime Minister Fiame and her new government for the achievement of “inclusive and sustainable development.”

 It was her speaking out against three bills, which would, together, create an autonomous Land and Titles Court (LTC) that led to Fiame’s resignation earlier this month. 

 “Mata’afa had the opportunity to raise her concern in Cabinet over these measures, but she didn’t,” the Prime Minister said 

 During a Parliamentary committee consultation on the bills at her constituency of Lotofaga, Mata’afa described the bills as having too many “gaps” and called for them to be rewritten.