(October 5, 2024)
President
Pacific Island News Association (PINA)
And
Mr Robert Iroga
Chairman
Pacific Freedom Forum (PDF)
Dear Sir.
I write in response to your correspondence, RE: ‘Let au tell our own stories, Our Way, To our own people’, received by my office on 3 October 2024.
Samoa’s hosting of the Commonwealth Heads of Governments Meeting (CHOGM), from 21 to 26 October 2024, will be a unique opportunity to profile Samoa, the Blue Pacific and our voices experiences and perspectives on the global stage
The Government of Samoa has and is working in close collaboration with the Commonwealth Secretariat to ensure the media and communication elements for a meeting of this scale are well planned and well-coordinated as articulated in the Commonwealth Secretariat’s CHOGM Blue Book (the handbook for host governments given the privilege of delivering a CHOGM)
Referring to your specific concern regarding restrictions limiting media to perform their role as a vital pillar of any democracy, I would like to reaffirm there are no such restriction on Samoa’s media, or any visiting International media, at Samoa CHOGM 2024
As is usual at all CHOGMs, all media are required to go through a process of accreditation.
As is also usual at all CHOGMs, and due to the various security and logistical considerations of an event of this nature, media access at some venues will need to be more controlled and due to space constraints will managed via escorted media pools
Together, Samoa and the Commonwealth Secretariat have taken every available measure to deliver a system that will allow journalists to gather content, including through pools at the top of closed sessions and in fixed positions at events where we expect high interest, alongside the Host Broadcast and the Official Photographer. This approach to managing capacity through pooling is a regular feature of the media environment around the world.
Also, in recognition of the breath and the width of the Commonwealth – and the shared commitment to upholding a strong Pacific lens at Samoa CHOGM 2024 – both Samoa and the Commonwealth Secretariat are steadfast in balancing media opportunities and media opportunities and media pools so that as many journalist as possible are able to participate across the programme.
I hope this helps to clarify your understanding on the arrangement for Samoa CHOGM 2024 particularly given how central a robust media will n=be in helping to ensure a safe, secure, and successful CHOGM Samoa 2024
Should you have any further questions relating to media and communications for Samoa CHOGM 2024 you should contact media@samoachogm2024.ws
Sincerely,
Hon. Fiame Naomi Mataafa
Prime Minister of the Independent State of Samoa
