Samoa Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa views the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) as a unique opportunity for the small island nation to highlight its rich culture, traditions, and the tranquillity of its community.
In response to queries from the Samoa Observer newspaper, Mata’afa expressed her excitement about welcoming global leaders to Samoa, stating, “There’s no measure to the excitement we have as we get closer to the meeting.”
“We are hospitable people. No matter the event, we always prepare the best to make our guests feel welcome.”
She drew on Samoa’s experience in hosting significant events, such as the signing of the Samoa Agreement and the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) conference.
“The only difference is the high-level delegations we are hosting for CHOGM. The thing is, we want to host a successful meeting. But we are used to hosting people.”
While acknowledging the importance of the gathering, PM Mata’afa stressed the need for attendees to remain focused on the meeting’s objectives.
“Because it’s a meeting, people always prioritise the issues and topics they bring to the table and make sure they achieve what they want. For some meetings, some even go back after the meeting without achieving their agendas. So, everyone wants to make sure they push for the issues related to their countries. That’s one way to measure the success of a meeting.”
Mata’afa also addressed the tendency to compare Samoa’s preparations with those of other host nations.
“We need to remember we are a small island state. We cannot compare our preparations to that of the previous host nations,” she said.
“Everything depends on us and our preparations. We don’t need to compare ourselves to other big countries with much bigger economies. We just need to make sure that the accommodations are well prepared, transportation and other logistics.”
Another important aspect of the preparations is catering, as the Prime Minister highlighted the diverse dietary needs of the delegates.
“We need to ensure that the catering fits the needs as some of them don’t eat meat. All those have been carefully taken into consideration.”
“I’m not worried about our preparations because we are used to hosting people and giving our best to make our guests feel welcomed.”
“I came across an article that describes Samoa as the Switzerland of the Pacific because of the peacefulness of our country and community.”
The Prime Minister also pointed out the historical significance of the meeting for Samoa.
“We are a peaceful and safe country. One of the things that makes Samoa unique is that we were able to settle the constitutional crisis on our own. We need to showcase our values, our culture, our patience, and our hospitality,” she stated.
“We don’t always get the chance to showcase our values to these countries with big economies, but this is a great opportunity for us to show what we can offer.
“This is an opportunity for us to show the values and environment of the country we proudly call our home. Despite our challenges, we are a peaceful, beautiful, and close-knit community,” PM Mata’afa said.
