13 June 2024 – Tanoa Hotel, Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa officially launched Samoa’s first National Anti-Corruption Policy at the Tanoa Hotel, marking a step forward in the country’s efforts to promote good governance and transparency.
Reverend Latu Latai led the opening prayer, stressing the importance of addressing corruption. Prime Minister Mataafa highlighted the policy’s role in strengthening good governance and transparent administration, which are essential for national development and the well-being of the people.
“This policy is a very significant event in the history of our nation and government,” Mataafa said. “The establishment of good governance and transparency greatly aids the development of any country and the well-being of its people.”
The creation of the National Anti-Corruption Policy was a collaborative effort. It involved the Public Service Commission, the Steering Committee, and various government sectors, with support from United Nations agencies such as UNODC and UNDP, and the Government of Australia through the Tautai program. Contributions also came from private organizations, businesses, and community representatives.
“This policy will guide the government’s efforts to promote good governance and transparency, and to reduce corruption within our country,” Mataafa stated. “It is hoped that having an independent body to oversee all sectors of national development will further strengthen public confidence in our services and ensure fair and unbiased decision-making for the benefit of all Samoans.”
The policy will be implemented by a core team within the Public Service Commission, which will also prepare legislation for establishing an independent body to manage anti-corruption efforts. The Prime Minister expressed hope that this entity will enhance public confidence in Samoa’s governance and ensure fair and unbiased decision-making.
“The formalisation of this policy will ensure the effectiveness of our laws and guidelines, enhancing and strengthening good governance and fair decision-making for the common good of our country,” she added. “This responsibility will not rest with one sector alone but will involve the collaboration of national leaders from all sectors, including Parliament, the Public Service, the Judiciary, the Council of Churches, businesses, private organizations, and village councils.”
Prime Minister Mataafa noted that Samoa is progressing well in implementing the United Nations Convention against Corruption. The initial review has been completed, and the second review conducted in March 2024 is awaited. She acknowledged support from international partners, including the United Nations and the Pacific Island Forum, in reviewing and amending the Crimes Act 2013 to align with international standards.
“I am pleased to inform you that Samoa is progressing well in implementing the provisions of the United Nations Convention against Corruption,” Mataafa said. “The initial review for Samoa has been completed, and we are awaiting the report of the second review conducted in March this year.”
The Prime Minister thanked all representatives and sectors who contributed to the policy’s development, underlining that this policy is a step towards enhancing national development and the well-being of Samoa’s people.
“Let this policy mark a new beginning for the continued development and well-being of our nation and its people,” she concluded.
This event was essential in demonstrating Samoa’s commitment to combating corruption and fostering a transparent and accountable governance framework.
Lauga i le gagana Samoa ma lona fa’aliliuga e Samoa Newshub
Saunoaga Autu a le Afioga i le Palemia Hon. Fiame Naomi Mataafa i le Faalauiloa Aloaia o le Faiga Faavae a le Atunuu mo Faiga faa-alatua
13 Iuni 2024, Tanoa Hotel
(Launch of Samoa’s first National Anti-Corruption Policy)
Lau Susuga i le Taitai o le Sauniga– Reverend Latu Latai
Afifio Minisita o le Kapeneta
Lau Afioga i le Fofoga Fetalai ma Sui mamalu o le Palemene
Sui o le Faamasinoga
Resident Representative UNDP Aliona Niculita
Members of the Diplomatic Corps
Lau Afioga i le Taitaifono ma Sui o le Komisi o Galuega a le Malo
Afifio Taitaifono o Komiti Faatonu o Faalapotopotoga a le Malo
Susu sui o le Fono a Ekalesia Soofaatasi
Afifio Ofisa Sili o Pulega o Matagaluega ma Faalapotopotoga a le Malo
Afio le Peresitene ma le Faauluuluga o Pulega o Faalapotopotoga ma Pisinisi Tumaoti
Afio le Peresitene ma le Faauluuluga o le Faamalu mo Faalapotopotoga Tumaoti
Afifio sui o Nuu ma Afioaga
Le Paia ma le Mamalu ua tatou Faatasi i lenei Faamoemoe
Faatalofa atu ma le laufofoga Fiafia!
O lea ua to’a i lagī la tatou faafetai ma le viiga i lo tatou Atua, e ala i la tatou taulaga osi i lenei taeao, e pei ona avea ai lau Susuga Latu Latai, ma o tatou ositaulaga.
E ma’eu foi fa’asinoga a le Alii i lo outou soifua ma sō tatou ola, pei ona iai lenei taeao ua momoli mai i le gagana tuusao le iuga o le agasala ae o lea ua otatou potopoto ona o le tatou mataupu o le tatou foia lea o ala fa’aalatua. O le ala fa’aalatua o le agasala. Faafetai i lau susuga i le fa’afeagaiga i le momoli mai o lenei feau taua i lenei taeao.
O se taeao ua tumāti’e ma tumauāluga lenei taeao aua ua mafai ona potopoto mai lo outou paia ma le mamalu tatou te patipatia se tasi lenei o matati’a ausia i le atinae o fuafuaga ma galuega faatino a le tatou Malo.
O le faalauiloa aloaia o lenei faiga faavae, o se faamoemoe taua tele i le tala faasolopito o le tatou Atunuu ma le Malo. O le mautu o pulega lelei ma pulega manino e fesoasoani tele lea i le atinae o soo se atunuu ma le soifua manuia o ona tagata. O soo se Atunuu fa’atemokarasi e faavae lona atinae i le talitonuina o le Faavae o ana Faaiuga Fai ma le Faasoasoaina tatau o lona Tamaoaiga ina ia agavaa tutusa ai ona tagatanuu.
Ina ua sainia e Samoa le maliega Faa-va-o-malo e tineia ai faiga fa’aalatua i le tausaga e 2018, sa avea lea ma molimau o le faataua e Samoa o faiga ma pulega lelei ma manino i le atinae o le Atunuu. O nei taumafaiga uma ua saga faamautu ai le sao o Samoa i faiga faava-o-malo mo le unaia o Pulega Lelei e aofia ai ma le tuliloaina o Sini autu o le Fuafuaga a Malo Aufaatasi mo le tausaga 2030 (2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals) faapea le Fuafuaga Autasi a le tatou Itulagi 2050 (2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent) le SAMOA Pathway, faatasi ai ma le Vaai Mamao a le Itulagi le Teieniwa Vision sa sainia e Taitai o Malo o le Pasefika i le tausaga 2020. Aemaise o se tasi foi lenei o vaega autu o loo faamamafa i le Taiala mo le Lumanai Manuia o Samoa (Pathway for the Development of Samoa) 2022/2026.
O le Faiga Faavae muamua lenei mo Faiga Fa’aalatua ua fausia mo lo tatou Atunuu. O se galuega sa faatautaia e le Komisi o Galuega a le malo ma le Komiti Faafoe e aofia ai Itutino eseese o le Malo, faatasi ai ma le fesoasoani mai a Ofisa o Malo Aufaatasi e aofia ai le UNODC ma le UNDP, ma le fesoasoani a le Malo o Ausetalia e ala i le polokalame a le Tautai. Sa iai foi le sao o Itutino eseese mai Faalapototoga Tumaoti ma Pisinisi faapea Sui o le Atunuu e ala i finagalo sa tuuina mai sa fesoasoani tele i le tapenaina o lenei Faiga Faavae ma le Taiala.
O lenei Faiga Faavae o le a avea ma Taiala e limataitaina ai taumafaiga a le Malo mo le u’unaia o Pulega Lelei ma Pulega manino aemaise o faiga ma auala e faaitiitia ai faiga fa’aalatua i totonu o si o tatou Atunuu. I totonu o le Maliega a malo Aufaatasi, e le o faamaoti mai ai se fa’auigaina o le upu corruption poo faiga fa’aalatua, peitai o loo taatia mai lava i Malo ma Atunuu taitasi le faauigaina e fua i le talafeagai ma tu ma aganuu aemaise o faigamalo ma le faavae o talitonuga a Atunuu taitasi. O Samoa ua mautu lana Agunuu faapea ana Talitonuga faa Kerisiano aemise o le faavae o ana Pulega e amata mai i totonu o Nuu ma Afioaga faasolo mai i le Faavae o lo tatou Malo tutoatasi o loo limataitaina ai Galuega a le Fono Faitulafono faapea Auaunaga a le Malo i ona Itutino Eseese. Peitai e maualuga le faamoemoe o lo tatou Malo, o le iai o seisi Itutino tutoatasi e tuliloa faatinoga uma a Itutino eseese o le atinae o le Atunuu, o le a saga faamausali ai le talitonuina e tagata lautele o auaunaga aupito sili ona lelei aemaise o faaiuga fai e lelei ma lē faaituau mo le manuia tutusa o tagata uma o Samoa.
I le aloaia ai o lenei faiga faavae o le a avea ma auala e saga faamautinoa ai le lelei o a tatou Tulafono ma Taiala ma o le a fesoasoani tele i le siitia ma le faamalosia o Pulega Lelei aemaise Faiga ma Faaiuga le faaituau mo le manuia lautele o lo tatou Atunuu. O lenei matafaioi o le a le faapito i se Itutino se tasi, peitai e aofia uma ai le galulue faatasi o Taitai o le Atunuu mai lava i le Palemene, Le Pulega o Auaunaga Lautele a le Malo, le pitolaau a le Faamasinoga, Le Fono aoao a Ekalesia soo Faatasi faapea Pisinisi ma Faalapotopotoga tumaoti aemaise le Pulega a Alii ma Faipulea i Itumalo ma Afioaga.
O le Faatinoina o lenei Matafaioi i totonu o le Malo sa faapea ona amata faatautaia i lalo o le Ofisa o le Komisi o Galuega a le Malo, ma sa faavae ai se Komiti Faafoe e aofia ai le Ofisa o le Sue Tusi, Ofisa o Leoleo, Ofisa o Sulufaiga, Ofisa o le Loia Sili ma isi Matagaluega talafeagai a le Malo. Sa auai fatasi ai foi ma Sui mai le Faalapotopotoga o Pisinisi Tumaoti ma le Faamalu o Faalapotopotoga Tumaoti a le Atunuu. I le faamaonia ai o lenei Faiga Faavae e le Kapeneta, ua faamaonia ai foi ma le faavae o se Vaega autu i totonu o le Ofisa o le Komisi o Galuega e faatautaia le faagasologa o lenei faiga faavae aemaise o le Tapenaina o le Tulafono mo le Faatuina o se Itutino Tutoatasi e tauaveina lenei Matafaioi i totonu o lo tatou Atunuu i le agai atu i le lumanai.
O le tuualalo a le Malo ina ia galulue faatasi uma Itutino talafeagai o le Atunuu i lenei Faamoemoe, i le sini autu ina ia siitia le talitonuina e tagata lautele o a tatou Pulega, faaiuga fai ma le tuuina atu o auaunaga e le faaituau, mo le manuia o le atinae o le atunuu ma tagata lautele. E taua foi le maitau mai o a tatou Paaga Galulue ma Atunuu mai Fafo o loo ave le faataua a Samoa i Pulega Lelei ma Pulega Manino e tetee atu ai i faiga fa’aalatua.
Ou te fiafia foi e faailoa atu o loo tulaga maualuga le faagasologa o le faatinoina e Samoa o aiaiga o le Maliega a malo Aufaatasi poo le “UN Convention for Anti-Corruption”. Ua mae’a le iloiloga muamua sa faatinoina mo Samoa ma o loo tālia le ripoti o le iloiloga lona lua sa faatinoina i le Masina o Mati o le tausaga nei sa auai mai ai Sui o le Ofisa o Malo aufaatasi le UNODC ma le UNCAC, faatasi ai ma Sui mai le Malo o Papua Niu Kini ma Mongolia. Ua faamautu mai foi le fesoasoani a Malo Aufaatasi ma le Pacific Island Forum mo le toe iloiloina o le Tatou Tulafono mo Soligatulafono 2013 (Crimes Act 2013) ina ia aofia ai ma suiga talafeagai ina ia o gatasi ma aiaiga o le Maliega a Malo Aufaatasi.
E toe fia faamauina le agaga Faafetai i le lagolagosua a Ofisa o Malo Aufaatasi e auala ma i le UNODC ma le UNDP, faatasi ai ma le Malo o Ausetalia ma isi paaga tau atinae a lo tatou Malo sa fesoasoani i lenei faamoemoe. E momoli le Faafetai a le Malo i le paia ma le mamalu o Tofiga maualuluga ma Itutino uma o le Malo ma le Atunuu sa mafai ona tuuina mai lo outou sao i le tapenaina ma le fausia o lenei Faiga Faavae.
Ia avea lenei Faiga Faavae o se amataga fou i leisi laasaga mo le siitia pea o le atinae ma le soifua manuia o si o tatou Atunuu ma ona Tagata.
Soifua ma ia Manuia.
Translated into English by Samoa Newshub
Keynote Address by the Honorable Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa at the Official Launch of the National Anti-Corruption Policy June 13, 2024, Tanoa Hotel
(Launch of Samoa’s first National Anti-Corruption Policy)
Reverend Latu Latai, the Leader of the Service
Ministers of the Cabinet
Honourable Speaker and Distinguished Members of Parliament
Members of the Judiciary
Resident Representative UNDP Aliona Niculita
Members of the Diplomatic Corps
Chairman and Members of the Public Service Commission
Chairpersons of Government Organizations
Representatives of the Council of Churches
Chief Executive Officers of Government Departments and Organizations
President and Heads of Private Organisations and Businesses
President and Heads of the Umbrella for Private Organizations
Representatives of Villages and Disctricts
Distinguished Guests gathered here today
Greetings and best wishes!
We offer our heartfelt thanks and praises to our God, through our sacrifice offered this morning, led by Reverend Latu Latai as our priest. We also acknowledge the Lord’s guidance over your lives and our gathering this morning, where the message delivered straightforwardly highlights the consequence of sin and our commitment to tackling corruption. Corruption is sin. Thank you, Reverend, for delivering this important message today.
This is a morning filled with pride and significance as we gather to celebrate an important milestone in the development of our nation’s policies and initiatives. The official launch of this policy is a very significant event in the history of our nation and government. The establishment of good governance and transparency greatly aids the development of any country and the well-being of its people. Every democratic nation’s development is based on the trust in the foundations of its decisions and the equitable distribution of its resources to ensure equal opportunities for all its citizens.
When Samoa signed the international agreement to combat corruption in 2018, it was a testament to Samoa’s commitment to good and transparent governance in national development. These efforts reinforce Samoa’s role in international initiatives promoting good governance, including the pursuit of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals, as well as the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, the SAMOA Pathway, and the Teieniwa Vision signed by Pacific leaders in 2020. Additionally, this is a key focus in our Pathway for the Development of Samoa 2022/2026.
This is Samoa’s first National Anti-Corruption Policy. It is a project led by the Public Service Commission and the Steering Committee, involving various government sectors with assistance from the United Nations agencies, including UNODC and UNDP, and the Government of Australia through the Tautai program. Contributions also came from various private organizations, businesses, and community representatives who provided valuable input in the preparation of this policy and guide.
This policy will guide the government’s efforts to promote good governance and transparency, and to reduce corruption within our country. The United Nations agreement does not specify a definition of corruption, but it is left to each country to define it according to its customs, culture, and government structures. Samoa has a strong cultural and Christian foundation that guides its governance from village councils to the national government, including the Parliament and public services. However, it is hoped that having an independent body to oversee all sectors of national development will further strengthen public confidence in our services and ensure fair and unbiased decision-making for the benefit of all Samoans.
The formalization of this policy will ensure the effectiveness of our laws and guidelines, enhancing and strengthening good governance and fair decision-making for the common good of our country. This responsibility will not rest with one sector alone but will involve the collaboration of national leaders from Parliament, the Public Service, the Judiciary, the Council of Churches, businesses, private organizations, and village and district councils.
The implementation of this responsibility within the government began under the Public Service Commission, establishing a Steering Committee that includes the Auditor General’s Office, Police, Ombudsman, Attorney General’s Office, and other relevant government departments. It also includes representatives from private businesses and the umbrella for private organizations. The approval of this policy by the Cabinet also established a core team within the Public Service Commission to oversee its implementation and prepare legislation for an independent body to carry out this role in the future.
The government calls for the collaboration of all relevant sectors in this effort to increase public confidence in our governance, decision-making, and unbiased service delivery for the development and well-being of the country and its people. It is also important to note our development partners and international counterparts recognize Samoa’s commitment to good and transparent governance against corruption.
I am pleased to inform you that Samoa is progressing well in implementing the provisions of the United Nations Convention against Corruption. The initial review for Samoa has been completed, and we are awaiting the report of the second review conducted in March this year, attended by representatives from UNODC, UNCAC, Papua New Guinea, and Mongolia. The United Nations and the Pacific Island Forum have also pledged support to review our Crimes Act 2013 to include relevant amendments to align with the United Nations Convention.
I would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for the support from United Nations agencies through UNODC and UNDP, the Government of Australia, and other development partners who assisted in this endeavor. The government extends its appreciation to all esteemed representatives and national sectors who contributed to the preparation and establishment of this policy.
Let this policy mark a new beginning for the continued development and well-being of our nation and its people.
Thank you and God bless.
