By Staff Writer
Samoa’s country profile will again reach the rare heights of global recognition when it hosts the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, CHOGM.
More than 3 thousand visitors are expected in Samoa for the bi-annual high level gathering.
The anticipated turnout makes it the second biggest international conference hosted at home after the Small Island Development States, SIDS, in 2014.
Samoa will be the first Pacific Island country to host this head of Government meeting from 54 countries in Asia, Africa, Caribbean, Europe and the Pacific.
The official announcement for Samoa to be the next CHOGM host was made following the Rwanda meeting attended recently by the Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa.
The decision for Samoa to be the next host was basically decided in the 2018 CHOGM in London, attended by Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, as then Prime Minister.
“The British PM Theresa May chaired that meeting and it was Fiji and Rwanda who made bids to host the next CHOGM after London,” Tuilaepa recalled.
“Our bid was to be the host after the meeting to be hosted either by Fiji or Rwanda.”
Fiji’s leader Bainimarama wanted the Commonwealth leaders to gather in his country as part of their 50th independence anniversary celebrations.
Rwanda won the bid and Tuilaepa sensed the leaders were going to let Fiji host the next one to follow that Samoa had already expressed interest in.
“I raised my hand and expressed reservations at PM Theresa May as chairman, for overlooking the bid by Samoa in the discussion.
“Fiji’s timing was off as hosts after Rwanda won the bid for the meeting Fiame attended, and I told the members that Samoa holds high respect for the wishes of the leaders for a venue and will bow to their choice.
“Bainimarama was sitting opposite me at the end of our long meeting table and he jumped in and announced that Fiji was withdrawing its bid.”
The choice of Samoa as the host followed on from the London meeting and Tuilaepa is grateful to PM Bainimarama who made it possible for the next CHOGM to be hosted by Samoa.
Among the many appeals that made Samoa the choice of venue was the high approval rating in the running of the SIDS meeting.
“Most of these Commonwealth leaders were in Samoa for the SIDS meeting and they enjoyed their time here.
“Coming back to Samoa was the best chance for them to see the changes in the region since the last time they passed through.”
Prime Minister Fiame will chair CHOGM in Samoa, for the second time since it restarted in Rwanda after it was delayed for two years by the COVID19-pandemic.
The actual date of the meeting in 2024 is still to be announced.
The Rwanda CHOGM focused on strengthening ‘multilateral cooperation, explore new opportunities, and tackle common challenges for the well-being of future generations.’
The Leaders discussed important matters to the Commonwealth family of nations such as Democracy, Peace, and Governance; Sustainable and Inclusive Development; Post-COVID-19 recovery, climate crisis, new members and the Secretary General of the Commonwealth Secretariat.
On Saturday 25th during the Leaders Retreat, Samoa was confirmed as the next host for the CHOGM in 2024.
The direct economic benefits for Samoa as hosts are from tourism related opportunities of earning revenues for the hotels, restaurants, handicrafts and more.
SIDS kept Apia busy while it was underway at the Faleata Sports Complex, with schools and villages closely involved in organised welcoming activities for the visitors.
“There will be a lot of planning to be done that we should start getting into for 2024 as we did for the SIDS conference,” Tuilaepa felt.
Fiame was accompanied on her first visit out of Samoa as Prime Minister by Mrs Peseta Noumea Simi, CEO Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Agafili Shem Leo, CEO Ministry of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Francella Strickland, Ambassador of Samoa to Belgium and Mr Vani Vai, ADC.