The large ocean state of Samoa is currently in the final stages of getting ready to receive over 4,000 delegates for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) being held in Apia this week.
Samoa will host the Executive Sessions, where Heads of Government will assess the progress made since the last CHOGM in Rwanda two years ago and chart a course for the years ahead. CHOGM Samoa 2024 will feature several Ministerial Meetings, 35 side events, four Forums, and the election of the new Commonwealth Secretary-General.
Every day, more and more delegates have been arriving to experience and participate at CHOGM Samoa 2024, filling hotel rooms and visiting shops and restaurants.
Samoa’s Prime Minister, Fiamē Naomi Mata’afa, said: “Consistent with the spirit of our Commonwealth aiga, and guided by the fa’asamoa, my Government and I, and the people of Samoa eagerly anticipate welcoming the Commonwealth family to our island home, and to the Blue Pacific Continent.”
One of the people the Prime Minister will be welcoming to Samoa’s shores is His Majesty King Charles III, who—accompanied by Her Majesty Queen Camilla will attend CHOGM, as well as a series of engagements as part of an official State Visit. His Majesty has attended previous CHOGMs, but this will be the first time as Head of the Commonwealth.
The mood in Apia is expectant as the CHOGM days draw closer.
Villages have adopted Commonwealth member states as their own, and as you make your way around town, you will see people coming together in groups to rejuvenate their communities, adorning infrastructure, marking paths with brightly coloured stones, painting signs, and displaying other decorations to greet their guests with pride. These efforts are part of a beautification programme coordinated by the Samoa Tourism Authority.
People are quick to share a warm smile, a friendly wave, or a hearty ‘talofa’ to welcome you to beautiful Samoa.
Lyvia Hansell-Black, who owns the Sails Restaurant with her husband Ian, commented: “It’s been a pleasure welcoming guests from different Commonwealth aiga countries, the other day we welcomed some from South Africa, Nigeria, the Caribbean and the UK. It took them two to three days to get to Samoa and for some it’s their first time to the South Pacific.”
She noted that CHOGM will have long-term benefits for Samoa, and the friendships formed, and partnerships created will continue to pay dividends. Lyvia also encouraged visitors to Samoa to feel free to engage with people, stop at roadside stalls and visit the markets and shops to discover treasures that they can bring home.
While the country openly embraces other nations from the Commonwealth family, make no mistake—this is truly a Samoan CHOGM. But it is also a CHOGM that will showcase the cultures, opportunities, and challenges of the entire Blue Pacific.
Samoa has prepared these events with diligence and care, with some help from regional and international partners. The Samoa National Task Force—chaired by the Prime Minister; coordinated by Peseta Noumea Simi, Chief Executive Officer of Samoa of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and with the aid of 12 subcommittees from government ministries and agencies—has worked long hours to prepare the country for the week-long summit.
Roads have been resurfaced, the airport has been enhanced with a new VIP terminal, new equipment has been installed at the government’s radio and television stations, infrastructure has been improved, and hotels and other venues have been renovated.
While this has been done to support the staging of CHOGM, the investments will continue to benefit Samoa for years to come, and far beyond the economic boost felt during the hosting period.
