Samoa taxpayer-funded ' fa'aoso' gifts shipped to Pago

Apia, SAMOA — Samoan taxpayer-funded gifts were presented to the visiting American Samoa delegation last Friday at the conclusion of the 4th Atoa o Samoa conference which was hosted by Samoa.

The gifts, which were prepared by Samoa government officials for the American Samoa Governor and his delegation, were shipped to Pago Pago on the Lady Naomi II ferry on Tuesday this week. They comprised 30 boxes of fish, 100 boxes of local sausages, 40 boxes of locally made chocolate, 30 sacks of taro and 250 koko Samoa. 

The Cabinet Secretary and the Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Agafili Shem Leo announced the gifts from the Samoa government for the visiting delegation at the official closing of the Atoa o Samoa conference in Savai'i last Friday.

As reported earlier in Samoa News, the U.S. territory's administration reciprocated the gesture with Prime Minister, Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa and her Cabinet also gifted over $20,000 in cash and kind as part of the fa'aoso (traditional gift exchange). The gifts in cash and kind were presented as a token of appreciation for the hospitality provided by the government and the people of Samoa.