Delegation for 2Samoa Talks arrives today headed by Samoa PM Fiame

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Samoa Government delegation will arrive today from Apia for the 2Samoa Talks, the first since talks since 2017.

Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa is leading the delegation and will be accompanied by members of her Cabinet, Ministers Laauli Leuatea Schmidt;  Olo Fiti Vaai; Leatinuu Wayne So’oialo, Mulipola Anarosa and Valasi Tafito Selesele.

The Governor’s Chief of Staff, Tuimavave Tauapa’i Laupola told Samoa News in a brief message there is a “provisional agenda that will be discussed on Wednesday.

“And the meetings will be at American Samoa Community College Multipurpose Center,” he said.

Adding that there are 19 delegation members from the Samoa Government. During a press conference in Apia with the media on Monday local time, the Prime Minister said the 2Samoa Talks will be held this Thursday.

“It’s a three day meeting and it has been in the works since last year. This would be the first official meeting since the new FAST Government took office as well as the [Lemanu and Talauega Administration].

“The last meeting was in 2017 and Samoa was the host then.”

According to the Prime Minister, the agenda of the meeting is travel between the two Samoas, immigration issues, health, and trade among other issues.

In May this year, the Samoa Government confirmed the talks between the two Samoas are back on the agenda during discussions between American Samoa Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga, Lt Governor Talauega Eleasalo Ale, and Consul General of Samoa, Fata Brian Kaio.

A press release from the Samoa Government said the discussions focused on the resumption of the Two Samoa Talks in an attempt to increase the level of cooperation in development areas namely agriculture, labor mobility, trade, and services amongst others, said the release.

Others members of the delegation are the Chief Executive officers of the Ministry of Prime Minister and Cabinet Agafili Shem Leo; Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Tilafono David Hunt; Ministry of Finance, Saoleititi Maeva Betham-Vaai; Ministry of Commerce Industry and Labor, Pulotu Lyndon Chu Ling; Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peseta Noumea Simi and Ministry of Works Transport Infrastructure Fui Tupa’i Simanu.