Fiame Naomi Mata'afa

Samoa PM urges world to save Pacific people from climate crisis obliteration

The world must step back from the brink of climate disaster to save the people of the Pacific from obliteration, the prime minister of Samoa has urged.

On the eve of a landmark report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which is expected to deliver a scientific “final warning” on the climate emergency, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, Samoa’s prime minister, issued a desperate plea for action.

Samoa PM arrives in Fiji for Forum Special Leaders Retreat

Fiame was met by Fiji’s Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Lynda Tabuya.

PM Fiame will join Pacific Islands Forum leaders for their special retreat at the Sheraton Hotel on Friday.

Fiji’s Prime Minister and Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), Sitiveni Rabuka will host the meeting which is being described as a milestone moment for regionalism.

Samsung meets with country leaders at the Pacific Islands Forum

Present at the event, Samsung’s Corporate President and Head Corporate Management- Hark Kyu Park explained the advantages of Busan as the host city for 2030 World Expo, to the major government officials from the Pacific Islands countries.

Kyu Park met Fiji's Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama on 11 July and Samoa's Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa on 12 July.

He explained Samsung's innovation technology cases and global social contribution activities.

Samoa PM looks to 'raise the quality' of RSE programme

In her address to horticulture industry leaders in Hawke's Bay on Thursday, Fiame Naomi Mata'afa made it clear that Samoa's government wants to strengthen the RSE scheme, not stop it.

She said this is why there is a review into the recruitment process.

Having arrangements with villages or organisations may be the way to go, Fiame said.

"When groups travel and they come from the same village there is a greater level of success because there are built in controls and support systems," Fiame said.

Samoan community in Hawke's Bay welcomes PM

Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa was welcomed to the region in an emotional Ava ceremony, one of the most significant customs in Samoan culture.

Seasonal workers, their bosses, church leaders and Samoan community members poured their hearts out, greeting Fiamē on her first official visit there.

Fiamē started her three-day trip to Aotearoa on Tuesday in Wellington, making it her first official bilateral trip abroad since becoming leader last year.

     

The ‘gals’ behind Samoa’s first woman PM

But this year Samoa elected a woman as its head of government - only the second Pacific Island nation to do so - thanks in part to a network of women friends who supported her every step of the way.

"This is the margarita circle," the first woman prime minister of Samoa says, raising a salt-rimmed cup. "It's a place for honest confessions."

Her friends raise their glasses.

"Manuia!" they reply - "Cheers!"

Samoa PM sacks the AG

The government suspended the Attorney General and the Clerk of Parliament two weeks ago saying it did not have trust or confidence them.

The prime minister said she also did not accept Savalenoa's submission that neither she nor the Head of State have the legal authority to suspend or dismiss the Attorney General.

Savalenoa suggested that the prime minister could not make such a decision because having been the subject of some of the court cases decided over the last few months, Fiame was subject to bias.

Samoa Prime Minister says Sunday ban under state of emergency needs proper law.

All main and small markets can now reopen for business from 4am to 9am in the morning.

The prime minister told reporters after a cabinet meeting that the Sunday ban was introduced by the previous government under the Covid-19 State of Emergency but it needs a proper law.

"I think that is something that needs to be a dedicated law, I think it's something that we need a discussion on in the country because no one had discussion about Sunday banning, it was all part of the protection for Covid."

Samoa's Tuilaepa lays police complaint about Fiame

Newsline Samoa reports Tuilaepa has filed an official police complaint after Fiame claimed in a press conference that Tuilaepa attempted to influence judges of the court.

Fiame said Tuilaepa has personally visited the court complex at Mulinu'u attempting to speak to three sitting Supreme Court Judges before key cases in May were decided.

She also accused Tuilaepa of sending his former MPs to attempt to visit judges in their private homes to speak with them prior to court hearings.

Samoa's Tuila'epa sued for contempt

It was filed by the prime minister-elect, Fiame Naomi Mata'afa, in the latest twist in a two-month political crisis.

Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi is named alongside the speaker of parliament, the clerk of the legislative assembly, and the attorney general.

The FAST party, which won April's election, accuses the four of contempt for ignoring a Supreme Court order to convene parliament, at which point FAST should have been sworn in as government.

They were forced to hold an ad-hoc swearing outside - the legitimacy of which is also subject to legal challenge.