(Thursday 15 August 2024)
In preparation for Samoa’s hosting of CHOGM in October, New Zealand has been working with the Government of Samoa to strengthen security measures, and to ensure the safety of CHOGM delegates and visitors.
Today, at Fale’olo International Airport, Samoa’s Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa and New Zealand’s High Commissioner to Samoa Her Excellency Si’alei van Toor officially marked the handover of a range of security scanning equipment that will be installed and used at the Airport, as well as at various hotels and CHOGM venues across Upolu.
“New Zealand’s assistance supporting Samoa to improve, enhance and promote a safe and secure civil aviation environment is underpinned by a partnership spanning more than 15 years which has brought together the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority, the Samoa Airport Authority, and other Samoa Government enforcement and border agencies,” said Her Excellency Si’alei van Toor.
“We are delighted to build on the already strong New Zealand–Samoa collaboration that exists in this sector to help Samoa deliver its safety and security requirements for CHOGM.”
“And following CHOGM, having a safe and secure airport is an essential enabler for tourism, trade, and people-to-people flows, and a significant driver of Samoa’s economy,” HE Si’alei van Toor said.
In addition to the new equipment, New Zealand Aviation Security will provide comprehensive operator training to relevant security workers on the ground, and the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority will implement a programme for ongoing maintenance.
The support provided to Samoa is part of a broader New Zealand-funded NZ$9.4 million activity (announced in 2017) aimed at enhancing aviation security across nine Pacific countries and 11 airports, including: Samoa, Niue, Cook Islands, Vanuatu, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Nauru.
ENDS
SOURCE – New Zealand High Commission in Samoa
