United States reaffirms commitment to Samoa and a united Pacific Forum

By Lagi Keresoma

APIA, SAMOA – 5 AUGUST 2022: The United States Deputy Secretary, Wendy Sherman has reiterated her country’s commitment to support Samoa and for a united Pacific Forum during bilateral talks with Samoa Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mataafa today.

She was on a two hour stop-over in Samoa on a visit that will take her to meet government leaders in Tonga, Solomon Islands, Australia and New Zealand.

Sherman is the highest US government leader to visit since Samoa’s new government took over a year ago and after talks, she said the discussions with Prime Minister Fiamē had been productive about shared priorities for the Pacific region.

“I am here to listen and learn from our Pacific sisters and brothers,” said Sherman.

“We are one Pacific family bound together by our history, values, culture, our shared priorities and there is no limit to what we can achieve when we come together as partners.”

Among the issued discussed with Prime Minister Fiamē included

• COVID-19 pandemic recovery,
• Combating climate crisis,
• New partners in the Blue Pacific,
• Education and
• Return of Peace Corps volunteers.

She congratulated Prime Minister Fiamē for her cable management of the pandemic which the US assisted by providing dosages of vaccines through the COVAX partnership.

On security, Sherman expressed the US’s stance in supporting security issues in various sectors in Samoa, as evident in the partnership between Samoa and the US Coast Guard in security patrol of Samoa’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

“This is with regards to combating illegal, unregulated, unreported fishing which damages the ocean environment that undermines Samoa’s economy,” said Shermam.

For the past two years, although the US Peace Corps office was still open in Samoa, the United States could not sent volunteers because of the pandemic, but with Samoa’s borders now open, Sherman confirmed the return of Peace Corps volunteers to resume serve in Samoa.

Two thousand US Peace Corps have served in Samoa since the program started with most of them serving in the education sector.

“We all know the best way to face the challenges in the world is by working together and educating our young people,” said Sherman.

She also expressed her country’s gratitude for the invitation to the US Vice President, Kamala Harris to address the Pacific Islands Forum leaders virtually when they met in Fiji last month.

In turn, she extended an invitation to all PIF leaders to the White House when they come for the United Nation General Assembly in New York in September.

Prime Minister Fiame Nami Mataafa greets Wendy Sherman during her two hour stop over in Samoa.

Although her visit was very brief, she was happy that her visit to the Pacific countries started in Samoa whom the US considers their neighbour and good friend.

“Our two countries share a commitment to important values including respect for human rights, a commitment to protecting freedom of expression, religion and belief and strong belief in the free and open press,” said Sherman.

Prime Minister Fiamē reiterated the importance of her meeting with Sherman who is the most senior representative of the US administration to visit Samoa since her Government took office a year ago.

She took the opportunity to acknowledge the US support during the pandemic and for other developments for Samoa.

Fiamē also acknowledged the United States return to the climate change discourse and their participation in the Pacific Ocean conference hosted in Palau which has developed further networking for the Blue Pacific Continent.

She also welcomed US Vice President Kamala Harris decision on the Tuna Treaty where the US is donating US$60 million per year for the next treaty period, and the general framework on how the US would like to work with the Pacific fisheries.