Samoa’s Prime Minister warmly welcomed leaders and delegates to the 27th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Apia, heralding a historic first as the event is hosted by a small Island State. She extended greetings to attendees on behalf of Samoa’s government and people, noting the nation’s honour in hosting the Commonwealth family under the leadership of King Charles III for the first time.
In her address, the Prime Minister accentuated the theme, ‘ONE RESILIENT COMMON FUTURE: TRANSFORMING OUR COMMONWEALTH,’ reinforcing the importance of resilience across the Commonwealth. She spoke of Samoa’s commitment to unity and collective action, inspired by the fa’asamoa, the Samoan way of life. This traditional approach stresses values like respect, dignity, love, and service; principles that she said align closely with the Commonwealth Charter.
The Prime Minister also noted that Samoa had invited American Samoa as a special guest, reflecting the close “Atoa Samoa” partnership between the two nations. This relationship, she said, demonstrates the importance Samoa places on family, or aiga, within the Commonwealth community.
In her speech, the Prime Minister addressed Samoa’s stance on climate action, calling climate change ‘the greatest threat to Pacific people.’ As the first independent Pacific state, she stated that Samoa is a key advocate for ambitious climate action and the attainment of a 1.5-degree world. She invited delegates to plant native trees in the new CHOGM Lowland Forest at the Vailima Botanical Garden, part of Samoa’s national carbon offset program, intended to reduce CHOGM’s carbon footprint.
Reflecting on the Commonwealth’s role in Samoa’s journey as an independent nation, the Prime Minister thanked the organisation for its support during Samoa’s 2021 constitutional crisis and praised the dedication of Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland. She also acknowledged Rwanda’s example of resourcefulness as Samoa assumes leadership of CHOGM for the next two years.
The Prime Minister concluded by thanking delegates for traveling the long distance to Samoa, expressing her hope that they would carry with them a piece of Samoa’s beauty and resilience when they return home.
