By Staff Writer
NUMBER FOUR IN SAMOA TALK SERIES : Packed Taumeasina Island Resort conference room for the Samoa Talks yesterday, Wednesday.
Top political brass in the two Samoas gathered in Apia this week, to plod along with talks under the official title, ‘Atoa Samoa’ or translated ‘One Samoa,’ to reflect the dream pursuit of a reunification in the foreseeable future.
No selected agenda for discussion was listed for public information at the closed one-day session yesterday on Wednesday.
Samoa’s Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa, did mentioned concerns about climate change as the general issue for discussion in her opening address.
The session at the Taumeasina Island Resort is the fourth in the ongoing series of inter-Samoa talks since it was revived last year in July under the new FAST Party Government.
The talks were started earlier by the previous Government of PM Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi.
There have been no standout changes from the talks since it started especially on key issues including relaxed immigration restrictions for travel from Apia to Pago Pago – a long standing interest for independent Samoa.
The issue recently suffered an embarrassing fallout, when an American Samoa boat, Kite Runner, crossed into Samoa’s borders illegally
It is not clear if the shameful incident came up in the talks yesterday but the illegal action implicated several prominent individuals at both ends.
In Samoa, it went all the way to Cabinet with several Ministers allegedly involved.
Calls on PM Fiame for a Commission of Inquiry into the security breach continues to steam under the silent treatment it got.
American Samoa on the other hand set up a Homeland Committee to investigate and were looking at legal prosecutions for several individuals illegally involved.
Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga, led his delegation from the territory to site visits in Savaii today, in the last official event scheduled as part of the talks.
No formal confirmation has come through yet of when and where the next talks will take place.
The two sides alternate in hosting duties so it should be Governor Lemanu’s turn next in American Samoa.