(GOVT. PRESS SECRETARIAT); The Prime Minister, Afioga Fiame Naomi Mataafa announces key Cabinet decisions during a Press Conference Wednesday 18th August 2021. The following is the English transcript of the announcement by the Prime Minister.
This is the third week that we carried out this session following the meeting of Cabinet to give a few highlights of decisions made, events and happenings in the Government.
PLANNED AND ONGOING MAJOR PROJECTS OF THE GOVERNMENT
At the end of last week, we held a ceremony to formally begin a major project on the improvement of our wharf at Matautu-Tai to improve the infrastructure and also provide buildings to service mostly our Customs Division. The other major part of this project will also expand our containers storage area on the Apia Wharf. This is a measure to address the growing supply of goods coming into our country. It is a major project with different elements and we hope that it will be completed by 2024.
One of the major works which has been undertaken is the west-coast road going towards the Airport. This is the major transport area especially between Apia, the Airport and of cause the Wharf at Mulifanua. This is also the most heavily populated part of our country so the road Infrastructure is very important. This project is an on-going for a number of years now with the target to reach the Faleolo Airport and of-cause further to our Wharf.
The River Wall for the Vaisigano River project started 5 years ago as part of our adaptation to climate changes. We are on to second face of the River Wall and we hope that this project which is being funded by the Global Green Fund will be completed as expected for the protection especially of the town area and the surrounding of the Vaisigano River.
NEW APPOINTMENTS FOR CHIEF EXERCUTIVE OFFICERS (CEO) OF THE PUBLIC SERVCIE COMMISSION AND DIALYSIS UNIT IN SAMOA
Cabinet has approved two appointments to our Governments services.
Our Chairman for the Public Service Commission, Aiono Mose Sua resigned earlier this month and we have now appointed Mrs. Lauano Vaosa Epa who has been serving as a Commissioner to the Public Service Commission to move into the position of Chair of the Public Service Commission for the remaining part of her 3 years contract which will conclude in April next year.
The Public Service Commission of-cause serves a significant and important part in the workings of Government and we are pleased that we can have continuous of leadership in the Public Service Commission through the appointment of Lauano to the Chair of the Public Service Commission.
Mr. Mulipola Lose Hazzleman who has been the CEO for our Dialysis Unit has been reappointed for another 3 years contract. This is a very important service for the country and the Minister of Health has brought the paper to confirm the appointment of Mr Hazzleman and it has been confirmed by the Cabinet.
BRIEF UPDATE FOR VACCINATION PROGRAME COVERAGE
Whilst time on health issues, I would like to give a brief update of our Vaccine coverage for Samoa. The target that we have set for vaccine coverage is a 130,000 of the 200,000 population. This is the eligible population which does not include at the moment, those 18 and younger, pregnant and nursing mothers. It is our intent when the Pfizer Vaccine is available that this vaccine can then be roll out for our younger population.
So to date, we have reached 67% of the eligible population who have had their first dose, this is 81,672. And for the second shot we’ve reached 27% at 33,667. So as I indicated last week the Health Ministry has begun a door to door roller Covid-19 vaccination. This is the practice we undertook with the measles epidemic and had a very good impact. So we are hoping that the population will take up this new roller by our Health Ministry to ensure that we can reach our target as set for our coverage COVID-19.
DEFERING FLIGHTS TO SAMOA
No doubt you have heard New Zealand with the discovering of the new community based COVID case and moved into level 4 and with that decision by New Zealand we have also consulted with our NEOC committee with Cabinet today and we have come to a decision that we should defer all flights to Samoa for this period of time until the situation in New Zealand is further clarify.
I think that we can all agree that this is the best protection for us to ensure that our borders are kept safe, it is unfortunate because the next flight which would have been Thursday next week that would have brought between 200 and 300 passengers.
I know this will be a disappointment for families who wanting to return and also families who have been waiting keenly for their members to return to Samoa. But this is the decision that has been taken by Cabinet today and I feel confident that this is the right decision to ensure the safety of our country.
MINISTRY OF HEALTH, OVERSEAS MEDICAL REFERRAL AND RSE SEASONAL WORKERS
So lastly, I think I had spoken two weeks ago when I first started this program that Samoa and New Zealand were beginning to hold discussions a possible travel bubble and especially of travel from Samoa to New Zealand and guarantee travel at that.
So the two main groups that are now under discussion for that opportunity are our health cases going to New Zealand for treatment the second group is the RSE Workers. Although the situation in New Zealand now may delay the possibility of implementing any arrangement that can come through these negotiations but we feel that negotiations can still continue when our borders are clear and the situation in New Zealand is safe then I feel confident that we can move forward on that travel opportunity between our two countries.
