Press Releases
Looking for more press releases? Explore our full press release archive by date to access past announcements, news updates, and media releases published on Alofi Political Observer.

Remarks by Chargé d’Affaires Daniel Tarapacki at the Welcome Reception, U.S. Embassy Residence
SAMOA, September 11 - (September 12, 2024) Faafetai Chaplain Lt Col (Todd) Brown for the thoughtful word of encouragement. Your Highnesses, Head of State and Masiofo Your Excellency, Council of Deputies and your good lady Honorable Deputy Prime...

SPREP’s Fourth Executive Board Meeting ends on a high
Island and Ocean Ecosystems Climate Change Resilience Environmental Monitoring and Governance Waste Management and Pollution Control General News 6 September 2024, Apia Samoa - The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme’s...

VCNO Delivers Remarks at SENEDIA's Defense Innovation Days
Well, good afternoon, Kim. Thank you very much for that kind introduction. I really do want to take a minute to thank Chairman Reed, who originally encouraged me and gave me this invitation to be part of this year's conference, and for his...

Samoa Hands Over New Wing of One UN House to UN During Secretary-General Guterres’ Visit
24 August, 2024 – The Government of Samoa officially handed over the new wing of the One UN House at Tuanaimato to the United Nations on Friday, to coincide with the visit to the country by the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres. The United...

PRESS RELEASE – New Zealand supports Samoa to strengthen security and safety at Fale’olo International Airport and CHOGM venues
(Thursday 15 August 2024) In preparation for Samoa’s hosting of CHOGM in October, New Zealand has been working with the Government of Samoa to strengthen security measures, and to ensure the safety of CHOGM delegates and visitors. Today, at...

Tuvalu hosts Fourth Clean Pacific Roundtable
3 August 2024, Funafuti Tuvalu - The Government and the people of Tuvalu have embraced the opportunity to host the Fourth Clean Pacific Roundtable (4CPRT) at the Rt. Hon. Dr Sir Tomasi Puapua Convention Centre (TPCC), Funafuti, from 5 – 9 August...

PS Dr Rodie attends ADB Project Implementation Seminar in Nadi, Fiji
PS Dr Rodie attends ADB Project Implementation Seminar in Nadi, Fiji Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) Dr Franco Rodie was among senior officials from the government ministries in the pacific...
Call for Project Concepts: Enhancing Gender Equality Outcomes in the Pacific Developing Member Countries
Background Gender issues vary across the Pacific developing member countries (DMCs) because of various intersecting factors such as levels of economic development; social, cultural, and gender norms; population size and migration trends; as well...

PRESS RELEASE – Meeting Discusses PACER Plus Benefits and Future
SAMOA, May 20 - 21 May 2024 APIA, Samoa – The seventh Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus Joint Committee meeting concluded on Friday, 17 May in Apia, Samoa. Hosted from 16-17 May 2024, this important gathering brought...

PRESS RELEASE – Electric vehicles transition on the move with discussion of two key reports
Apia, Samoa – In preparation for a Governmental fleet large scale move towards electric vehicles(EVs) in Samoa, two assessments were conducted. The results of these assessments are detailed in two reports that were discussed today – the ‘Baseline...

Partnerships formalised at Plastics Treaty talks to empower a resilient Cook Islands
25 April 2024, Ottawa Canada - Enhancing Cook Islands capacity and learning opportunities when it comes to science, environment and legal policy is at the core of a partnership between the National Environment Service and Monash University in...

Call for Applications: Sea and Human Security Training – Leaders for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific
The programme is open to motivated government officials and others from the private sector and civil society organizations, who are: eager to learn and apply new knowledge to enhance sea and human security keen to succeed and make a positive...

Tonga Expands Efforts to Safeguard Biodiversity with New Ecological Restoration Site in Eua National Park
December 12, 2023: The Government of Tonga, with funding from the Global Environment Facility’s Regional Invasives Project (GEF6 RIP), continues to strengthen its commitment to ecological restoration by announcing the inclusion of part of the Eua...

Pacific Tourism Organisation Champions Data-Driven Tourism Growth in Tonga
In a collaborative effort to enhance the capabilities of Tonga Tourism, the Tongan Government ministries, and the Statistics Department, around 20 participants are engaging in a five-day training organized by the Pacific Tourism Organisation...

RMI Endorses NISSAP to Enhance Effective Management of Invasive Species
9 October 2024 Majuro, Republic of Marshall Islands - Invasive species continue to be a costly issue for all countries and particularly for island nations, and with increasing trade and movement of people between countries, the threat of new...

PRESS RELEASE – VISIT OF THE UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL, H.E ANTONIO GUTERRES, 21-23 AUGUST 2024
Samoa hosted the United Nations Secretary-General, His Excellency Antonio Guterres on his official visit from 21st to 23rd August 2024. The UN Secretary-General’s visit to Samoa and the Pacific region not only brings global attention to the severe...

One Pacific – One People, One Ocean at CBD COP16.
16 October 2024, Apia, Samoa – The Pacific islands contain rich and vast biodiversity, and they hold responsibility over large proportions of global ecosystems, including about a third of all oceans and seas within national jurisdictions. However,...

Third SPREP Executive Board meeting opens with call to strengthen Pacific’s resilience
08 September 2022, Apia Samoa - The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme’s (SPREP) third Executive Board Meeting has opened with a call from the Prime Minister of Samoa, Honourable Fiame Naomi Mata’afa to strengthen the...

SPREP Members commend progress and work of Secretariat in 2023
5 September 2024, Apia Samoa – The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) continues to strengthen efforts to build a resilient Pacific environment. During the past 31 years, amidst many challenges, SPREP has continued to...

Role of Indigenous communities recognised at world’s first-ever ‘nature positive’ summit
08 October 2024, Sydney, Australia - The critical role of Indigenous peoples in addressing the triple planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and plastic pollution was recognised at the inaugural Global Nature Positive Summit (GNPS)...