IUGAFONO A LE KAPENETA [FK]- IANUARI MA LE AMATAGA O FEPUARI 2025

1: TUUESEESEINA O LE MATAGALUEGA O TIUTE MA TUPE MAUA

Ua faamaonia e le Kapeneta le tuueseeseina o le Matagaluega o Tiute ma Tupe Maua e avea ma Matagaluega e lua (2) a le Malo. O nei Matagaluega o le a aofia ai le;

i. Matagaluega o Tiute

ii. Matagaluega o Tupe Maua

O loo laualuga pea le faataua a le Malo i le siitia o auaunaga mo le malu puipuia o tatou tuaoi faavaomalo aemaise i oloa faaulufale mai i le atunuu. O le alia’e mai pea o le maua ai o fualaau faasaina, auupega ma isi soligatulafono i oloa e faaulufale mai i le atunuu, e matua moomia ai le siitia ma le saga faamalosia o le puipuiga a le Ofisa o Tiute. E faapea foi i le taunapa i le usitaia o ala o Tulafono mo lafoga ma tupe maua a le atunuu e pei ona faatino e le Vaega o Tupe Maua.

O le tuueseesega lenei o le a uunaia atili ai le puipuiga malu o le faaulufaleina mai o oloa i le atunuu, ma saga matimati ai galuega uma mo le mulimulitaia o aiaiga faaletulafono mo le aoina o tupe maua a le atunuu.

E amata faatino lenei galuega i le Tausaga Faaletupe o lumana’i nei 2025/2026. O galuega faalotoifale moomia mo lenei fuafuaga o loo faagasolo nei, e aofia vaega faaletulafono, aufaigaluega, ma vaegatupe e faatino ai.

2: TU’UESEESEINA O LE MATAGALUEGA O LEOLEO, FALEPUIPUI MA LE TOEFUATAIGA

Ua faamaonia e le Kapeneta le tu’ueseeseina o auaunaga faaleoleo mai auaunaga mo falepuipui ma le toefuataiga. O Ianuari 2015 sa muai tu’ueseese ai nei Matagaluega i le maea ai o le toe fetuunaiga o matafaioi ma tiute a nei Matagaluega sa faatino e le Malo i lena vaitau. Peitai i le 2020, sa toe tuufaatasi ai ina ua alia’e mai luitau na feagai ma le Pulega o le Falepuipui ma le Toefutaiga.

O le faatauaina e le Malo o faamuamua ma mataifaioi tupito a nei Matagaluega, ua afua ai le toe tuueseeseina. O le Matagaluega o Leoleo e gafa ma le malu ma le faamalosia o le Tulafono, a o galuega mo le tausia, faaleleia o auaunaga i falepuipui, ma le toe fuataina o soifua o i latou o loo i toese, e patino i le Auaunaga mo le Falepuipui ma le Toefuataiga. O nei auaunaga e taua aua le soifua lelei o i latou o loo tuli faasalaga. E le gata i le tausiga, ae faapea foi i lo latou soifua maloloina, ma le faatinoina o polokalame mo le toefautaina o i latou o loo i toese.

O le a amata faatino lenei fuafuaga i le amataga o le tausaga faaletupe 2025/2026.

3: MALIEGA MO FALEMAI E 2 MO TOGAFITIGA O GASEGASE E AUINA ATU I INITIA

Ua faamaonia e le Kapeneta le sainia o ni maliega se lua (2) i le va o le Matagaluega o le Soifua Maloloina ma le Kamupani a le Medican Services Limited. O nei maliega o le a mafai ai ona auina atu gasegase mai Samoa, ua faamaonia i lalo o le polokalame a le Malo mo gasegase e auina i fafo, mo togafitiga i falemai e lua i Initia ua faaopoopoina nei. O falema’i o lo o aofia i nei maliega o le Artemis Medicare Services Limited ma le Fortis Hospital Limited.

O le polokalame lenei mo gasegase e auina i fafo, ua tele tausaga o faatino ma o loo faaauau pea. O Niusila ma Initia o loo auina i ai a tatou gasegase ua faamaonia e le mafai ona togafiti i Samoa nei. O le sainia ai o nei maliega, o le a mafai ai ona maua isi auaunaga ma togafitiga faaopoopo, e le o mafai ona faatinoina e falema’i o loo galulue ma Samoa i le taimi nei.

4: TUUINA ATU O LAISENE MO FESOOTAIGA TAU TEKONOLOSI MO LE SPACEX

Ua faamaonia e le Kapeneta le faamatuuina atu o le Laisene mo Fesootaiga i le Kamupani o le SpaceX i le maea ai o iloiloga ma suesuega sa faia e le Ofisa o le Pule Faatonu. O lenei kamupani o se Kamupani Amerika. Ma o le laisene ua faamatuuina atu nei o le a mafai ai e le Starlink Samoa, o le lalā o le SpaceX ua faatuina i Samoa, ona ofoina atu auaunaga tau initaneti ma fesootaiga tekonolosi, atoa ai ma mea faigaluega mo Samoa. O nei auaunaga o le a mafai ona maua ai e tagata Samoa fesootaiga tau initaneti e le gata mo aiga, ae faapea foi ma pisinisi.

O se tasi lenei o faamuamua a le Malo i lana fuafuaga mo le atinae o le atunuu. O fesootaiga televavave tau Initaneti ma le siitia o auaunaga tau tekonolosi, e fesoasoani tele i le u’unaia o itu tau aoaoga, togafitiga ma auaunaga faalesoifua maloloina, galuega a le Malo ma pisinisi, ma le fausia o tomai fou faasaienisi mo le atunuu. Ma ua saoasaoa le atinaeina o itu tau tekonlosi i atunuu uma o le lalolagi.

Mo Samoa, e laualuga i nei faatinoga le maua o auaunaga faapenei e le atunuu e mafai ona faalagolago i ai a tatou fesootaiga, atinae o pisinisi ma alamanuia, ma e gafatia le tau e faaaogaina ai.

Ua maea ona faatino e le Ofisa o le Pule Faatonu feutagaiga ma lenei Kamupani i le faaaogaina o Tala Samoa e faatau ai masini, ma totogi ai pili i Samoa nei, e ui o loo iai foi le avanoa e faaaoga ai auala e totogi ai faatauga i fafo atu o Samoa.

O se laasaga taua lenei mo le faaleleia o auaunaga tau fesootaiga i Samoa, ma ua faaaopoopo lenei auaunaga i isi auanaga faatekonolosi ma tulaga tau Intaneti o loo i Samoa, e pei ona iai Kamupani a le Computer Serivces Limited, Digicel, ma le Vodafone.

5: FAAMAONIA LE FAATONUFOLAU MO LE TAPU’EINA O OLAGA AMATA O FANAU A SAMOA

O le faamaonia ai e le Kapeneta o le ‘Faatonufolau mo le tapu’eina o olaga amata o le Fanau’, ua faamalosia atili ai le faataua a le Malo i le faafaileleina o fanau, pei ona taulamua ai le Matagaluega o Tina ma Tamaitai. O le ola tuputupu a’e o fanau iti e tele vaega taua e ao ona faamuamua. E aofia ai lo latou soifua maloloina, ola a’oa’oina ma le ola fiafia i o latou siosiomaga. O se galuega ua saga faamautu ai galuega o loo faagasolo i le taimi nei mo le saogalemu ma le malu puipuia o fanau a le atunuu.

O le a avea lenei faatonufolau ma Taiala e limataitaiina ai galuega uma e faatatau i le faafaileleina o le ola tuputupua’e o le fanau. O se faamuamua taua mo Samoa ina ia mautinoa o loo ola manuia le fanau ma saoloto lo latou tuputupu a’e.

6: FAAMAONIA LE FAIGA FAAVAE MO LE UUNAIA O TOMAI FAASAIENISI, FAATEKONOLOSI MA LE FAUSIAINA O FAATUFUGAGA FOU (NATIONAL SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION POLICY).

O le fonotaga a le Kapeneta ananafi sa iloilo toto’a ai se tasi o faiga faavae mo le u’unaia o tulaga faasaienisi, tomai faatekonolosi, ma le fausiaina o ni faatufugaga fou (National Science Technology and Innovation Policy). O lenei faiga faavae ua loa tausaga o tapena mai, ona o le faatauaina o tomai faasaienisi i aoaoga, o galuega, o pisinisi, faapea ma le siitia o faatufugaga fou e fanau mai i suesuega ma matatia faasaienisi.

O se taimi muamua lenei ua fausia sea faiga faavae mo Samoa, ma o loo taulamua ai le tatou Faalapotopotoga o Suesuega Faisaienisi i Samoa (Scientific Research Organisation of Samoa) ma le tatou Iunivesete (NUS). E faapea foi i le Matagaluega o Faatoaga ma Faigafaiva, Tina ma Tamaitai, Fesootaiga ma Faamatalaga Tekonolosi, Punaoa Faanatura ma le Siosiomaga, Pisinisi, le Vaega Maoti ma Civil Society Organisations.

E le gata la i le matimatiina o tomai faasaienisi i aoaoga ma suesuega, ae faapea foi i mea faigaluega e faaaogaina ai, e ao ona mautū. Ua faatulaga foi le vaitaimi e faatino ai lenei faiga faavae ma taimi e lauliliu ai.

7: FAAMAONIA E LE KAPENETA LE FAIGA FAAVAE E TETE’E ATU AI I SOLIGATULAFONO

Ua faamaonia e le Kapeneta i le vaiaso nei le Faiga Faavae mo le Tete’e atu i Soligatulafono e pei ona taulamua ai le Matagaluega o Faamasinoga ma Tulaga Tau Faamasinoga ma le Lāla o le Tulafono ma le Amiotonu (Law and Justice Sector). O se faiga faavae taua lenei i le uunaia ai le vave ona fofo faafitauli po o ni gaioiga, ae le’i o’o atu i ni tulaga e avea ai ma solitulafono.

E aofia i lenei faiga faavae le faamalosia o auivi o Tulafono o loo aiaia ai soligatulafono, siitia o auala e taofia ai soligatulafono, atoa ai ma le faatuina o polokalame e tali atu ai i soligatulafono, ma auaunaga moomia e tulei ai le silafia lautele o le atunuu i tulaga ogaoga o soligatulafono.

O se galuega e galulue faatasi uma ai le atunuu atoa, e le gata i le Malo, o Faalapotopotoga ma le Vaega Maoti, ae faapea foi i le pulega mamalu a alii ma faipule i afioaga ma alalafaga. E faataua foi le sao o Taitai o Ekalesia ma Ekalesia i le atunuu.

E lautele la lenei faiga faavae, ma afai e mapo faatinoga uma ua faatulagaina ma apo e itutino eseese o le a taulamua i le faatinoina o lenei galuega, o le a fesoasoani tele i le tatou tali atu i le faatupulaia o soligatulafono i le atunuu.

** MAE’A **

PRESS RELEASES FROM CABINET: JANUARY TO BEGINNING OF FEBRUARY 2025

1: MINISTRY OF CUSTOMS AND REVENUE SEPARATED

Cabinet has approved the separation of the Ministry of Customs and Revenue into two Ministries. This includes;

i. Ministry of Customs.

ii. Ministry of Revenue.

Border protection remains a significant component of national efforts to combat transnational organized crimes such as illicit drugs and arms smuggling and trafficking, and all other unlawful activities targeted to penetrate our national borders. This requires effective customs monitoring of all goods entering our borders.

At the same time, revenue collection through compliance with Samoa’s taxation laws is important. These functional responsibilities are currently undertaken by the Ministry for Customs and Revenue. However, the separation will enable demarcation of Customs functions from Revenue collection functions, with emphasis on effective compliance and border protection.

Relevant preparations are currently underway for implementation including legislative, staffing, and budgetary requirements. The separation will be effective from the next Financial Year 2025-2026.

2: MINISTRY OF POLICE, PRISONS AND CORRECTIONS SERVICE SEPARATED

Cabinet has approved the demarcation of the Ministry of Police from Prisons and Corrections Service. The two agencies were initially seceded in January 2015 as a result of government organisational reforms and departmental arrangements. The Samoa Prisons and Corrections Service operated for four years until 2020 when Parliament passed a legislative amendment to the Prisons and Corrections Service Act, signaling to re-merger of the Ministry of Police, Prisons and Corrections Service. This was in response to ongoing systemic and operational challenges which impacted the Samoa Prisons and Corrections Service.

The distinct functions of the Police and Prisons and Corrections Services are critical, but separate in priorities and legislative focus. This separation will enable the Police to focus on law enforcement and security, and the Prisons and Corrections Service to prioritize prisons and corrections rehabilitation and reintegration programmes for inmates, and improved prison and access services such as medical support.

Preparations are in progress to ensure the separation takes effect as scheduled for the 2025-2026 financial year.

3: MOU SIGNED FOR MEDICAL TREATMENTS IN INDIA

Cabinet has approved the signing of two Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Samoa’s Ministry of Health and the Medican Services Company, to coordinate medical treatments for Samoan patients referred under the Samoa Medical Treatment Scheme for treatments in India. The two hospitals included in these MOU are the Artemis Medicare Services Limited and Fortis Hospital Limited, which are based in India. This expands the existing network of hospitals supporting Samoa’s Overseas Medical Treatment Scheme.

The inclusion of the two hospitals will provide more options for Samoa to effectively place Samoan patients in facilities that not only offer the required treatment, but also ensure cost-effectiveness.

4: TELECOMMUNICATION LICENSE FOR SPACEX TO OPERATE IN SAMOA

Approval has been granted to issue telecommunication license to an American Company ‘Space Exploration Technologies Corp’ or SpaceX to operate in Samoa, following thorough assessment conducted by the Office of the Regulator. This license allows Starlink Samoa Ltd, a subsidiary of SpaceX registered in Samoa, to provide Internet services and relevant equipment for Samoa. Starlink Samoa Limited is a new venture added to current Internet service providers in Samoa including the Computer Services Limited, Digicel, and Vodafone.

Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) is critical to improving telecommunication, online systemic support, timely and effective service delivery, boosting support for education and health, science and research, and business and innovation. Government is committed to bolstering ICT services for Samoa that are reliable, consistent and affordable.

Negotiation with Starlink led by the Office of the Regulator has completed, which now enables users in Samoa to purchase equipment and to pay monthly subscriptions in Samoan Tala. An alternative is also available to those who prefer to pay their subscriptions in cash, if they do not have the means to do online purchase.

5: EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT (ECD) FRAMEWORK APPROVED

Cabinet has approved the Framework for Early Childhood Development. This framework, has been designed in a multi-sectoral approach, laying the groundwork for a coordinated effort to improve early childhood development throughout Samoa.

The ECD Framework provides for the creation of a National ECD Advisory Board, responsible for overseeing the ongoing implementation and evaluation of the framework. This board will include representatives from key ministries, such as the Ministry of Women, Community, and Social Development (MWCSD), the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. Their collaborative efforts will ensure a unified strategy that integrates health, education, and social services for young children.

The ECD Framework establishes a transformative pathway forward, ensuring that the youngest members of Samoa’s society have access to the necessary resources and support to lead healthy, fulfilling lives.

6: NATIONAL SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION POLICY APPROVED

The first National Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy for Samoa was approved by Cabinet this week. The Policy aims to leverage science and technology through research and innovation.

It is designed to enhance students’ access to scientific equipment and technology to advance scientific research and innovation. It seeks to create more opportunities for Samoa through strong scientific methodologies, technology and innovation to support national development priorities.

The Scientific Research Organisation of Samoa (SROS) and the National University of Samoa (NUS) co-lead the implementation of this policy in partnership with other government, private and civil society organistions in Samoa.

7: NATIONAL CRIME PREVENTION POLICY APPROVED

Cabinet at its meeting this week approved the National Crime Prevention Policy. The policy is being developed to strengthen strategic areas and measures, systems and programmes designed to prevent crimes. The Ministry of Justice and Courts Administration is the lead agency working closely with government, private and non government organisations in the Law and Justice Sector.

The Policy requires review of current legislation in view of enforcement and statutory penalites. It also targets counseling and educational programmes customized for crime prevention, public awareness, assistance for victims, and repercussions for perpetrators.

The policy calls for national participation and commitment to address crime prevalence in Samoa. Partnerships among government, private, civil society, churhces and village councils is central to the successful implementation of this policy.

** END **

February 11, 2025