Samoa to host the Commonwealth Heads of Governments Meeting 2026

By Talaia Mika

APIA, SAMOA – 16 MARCH 2022: Samoa remains committed to hosting the next Commonwealth Heads of Governments meeting in four years time following Rwanda’s turn as host this coming June.

This was confirmed by the Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa during the celebration of the Commonwealth Day on Monday this week at the Sheraton Hotel.

This years’ Commonwealth Day also marks the start of the Commonwealth’s celebrations for Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee – marking her 70 years of service and commitment to the people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. To celebrate Her Majesty’s historic milestone, a special focus was placed on the role that public service plays in the lives of people and communities across the Commonwealth.

Based on the theme “Delivering a Common Future”, Prime Minister Fiame touched on the relationship between Samoa and the Commonwealth.

“As a small island developing state member of the Commonwealth, today allows us the opportunity to reflect and highlight how we as the Commonwealth  family are ‘innovating, connecting and transforming’ to help achieve our goals of fighting climate change, promoting good governance and boosting trade.

“Currently with the invasion of peace through aggression and war, we look to our membership in the various cluster groups such as the Commonwealth Family to augment and further accentuate what our individual contributions can provide towards our common goals,” said Fiame.

“In this regard, we acknowledge with appreciation the United Kingdom’s Chairmanship of the Commonwealth that is ending. You have kept our ship steady as we waged our way through the turbulence of the pandemic. Similarly, we had benefited from the counsel and support of the Good Offices of the Secretary General during our difficulties post elections in 2021.

“Ultimately, Samoa was able to demonstrate its respect for and upholding the rule of law and the Commonwealth principles and values,” stated Fiame.

“Samoa remains committed to hosting the next Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting following Rwanda’s turn as host, which had already been postponed. We continue to play an active role in the eight member Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group committee.

The British Ambassador to Samoa, HE David Ward, Points of Light Awardee, Fusi Masina Tietie and Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa.

“We have been a part of the Queen’s Commonwealth canopy program for a number of years now; signifying our contribution to the ecological restoration of degraded forests, building resilience against climate change and expanding the ‘Two Million Trees Campaign’

“Recently we had welcomed the Queen’s baton ahead of the 2022 July-August Commonwealth Games. Despite the difficulties and uncertainties of COVID 19 I am sure there are keen sports bodies that have been preparing for months to send representatives to the event.

“In closing I also acknowledge the collaboration and cooperation among Pacific island countries and their development partners in maritime surveillance of borders and in particular, IUU fishing which saw the British naval vessel HMS Spey dock in Apia Harbour to coincide with the celebration today, before it departs for her base in Wellington.  Hopefully this cooperation will be enhanced given the fact that Samoa no longer has a patrol boat.”

The celebration in Apia was hosted by the British Ambassador to Samoa, HE David Ward and among the guests was Samoa’s Weightlifting Team for the upcoming Commonwealth Games in the UK.

The Commonwealth Day celebration was to pay farewell to the visiting HMS Spey, but she left the Apia port before the ceremony started.

Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa with Samoa’s Weightlifting team for the upcoming Commonwealth Games in the UK.