Atoa o Samoa Talks officially open

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Bi-annual Atoa o Samoa Talks being held in Apia this week officially opened yesterday, Wednesday, September 11, 2023 (Samoa Time) at the Taumeasina Island Resort in Apia.

Samoa’s Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa on behalf of her government and the people of Samoa, welcomed the visiting delegation from American Samoa to the 4th Atoa o Samoa Talks, since two different government administrations have taken over leadership of the their island countries— The Faʻatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi Party (FAST) and the Lemanu- Talauega Administration have replaced the administrations of he Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) and the Lolo- Lemanu Administration, respectively.

Out of respect for the three pillars of the American Samoa Government, PM Fiame said it’s time to cast the net and braid the sennit [afa] to gather blessings for Samoa (timata le upega ma filiafa aua se manuia o Samoa).

 “So the two Samoa can work together in sharing against challenges of Climate Change.

 “Today’s outcome would help contribute to what’s already been in place from initial discussions.”

She then declared the Atoa o Samoa Talks open with God’s blessings upon all, during the session in Upolu Wednesday and in Savaii on Thursday.

On behalf of the people of American Samoa and its delegation, Governor Lemanu P.S. Mauga expressed his sincere appreciation to the Samoa government.

“…I must thank you again for yesterday’s events.

“Samoa gifting a piece of land to consolidate a foundation of American Samoa locally (in Samoa) and to serve together for our two Samoas.”

 Governor Lemanu used a legend of the twin sisters, Taema and Tilafaiga who swam from American Samoa to Samoa to begin his analogy of the ‘love’ (the alofa) between the two Samoas that has continued through generations and has led to today, where the two Samoas have now exchanged land — evidence of that love. 

Lemanu also spoke of the love of Samoans for each other as “Samoans”. He told of his experience when he recently met up with PM Fiame in New York (during a United Nations leaders Annual meeting).

“It was a meeting of leaders in America, and Samoa is at that level of leaders’ meeting, while American Samoa is under the USA leadership.

 “But it was obvious for Samoa’s leader (PM Fiame) to acknowledge my presence amongst the leaders.”

 That was love, the governor stated, as for American Samoa it’s under the US, but “I’m talking about love.”

Governor Lemanu also told of another experience of “love”  — one between Samoan fathers and their sons — which is being lost. 

He said he wasn’t aware of the Monday Holiday in Samoa, (White Sunday), and all barber shops were closed in Apia, and he needed a haircut before the Atoa o Samoa Talks began, so the next option was to do it “at home”.

The governor recounted that he found an electric hair clipper and then asked one of the police officers to do the job. At the time he realized, “in the past [in Samoa], that was the father's responsibility, cutting a son’s hair,” part of their filial relationship.

Lemanu said that memories of the 4th Atoa o Samoa Talks will be instilled in him with this ‘alofa’.

At the end of his address, during the opening of the Atoa o Samoa meeting, Governor Lemanu told his delegates from American Samoa, that they should all participate in the Savaii leg of the conference —set to begin Wednesday evening and all of Thursday to experience the rest of Samoa.