Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Co-Chair of the Security and also the Catering Sub-Committees for the CHOGM, Agafili Tomaimano Shem Leo, is urging the community for a single-use plastic-free Samoa during the meeting next month.
Agafili, also Secretary of Cabinet, is calling on caterers who have won the bids to provide food for the Commonwealth Heads of Government and States, Ministers of Foreign Affairs, and their delegates to “reduce the use of single-use plastics,” especially at the venues of the meetings in and around Apia and at the accommodations.
He said this is very important, as it was also pushed by the Government during the Teuila Festival. As a result, Agafili is calling on the community to work together to support the government in this very important drive to keep Samoa clean and safe by ensuring that rubbish is picked up and minimised around these areas. Adding that these efforts will also ensure a very successful hosting of the Commonwealth Heads of Governments attending the meeting.
The CEO is also calling on the support of Ali’i and Faipule, government representatives, and Sui tama’ita’i o Nu’u to push a clean, plastic-free Samoa to their villages during this time.
Agafili is also urging the community in areas such as the Airports and Matautu Wharf to please keep those particular areas single-use plastic-free, given that this is where our guests will first get a glimpse of our beautiful Samoa.
In addition, he is urging the community of Apia and Matautu to help the Ministry of Police, Prisons, and Correction Services (SPPCS) to remove any stray dogs, particularly from the Apia area. He said there will be guests who might want to take a stroll in the evenings on Beach Road, and it would be good if they could do this freely without any problems or threats from stray dogs.
“It is all about ensuring the safety of our guests to Samoa for the CHOGM,” says Agafili.
Authored by Jasmine Netzler-Iose
