Samoa 100th country to sign the US State Partnership Program

By Lagi Keresoma

APIA, SAMOA – 28 JULY 2023: Samoa is the 100^th country to sign the United States Partnership Program to provide training for local law enforcement officers, Fire & Emergency Services climate change disaster response and general security.

The partnership program was signed by the Minister for Police, Faualo Harry Schuster and Police Commissioner Auapaau Logoitino Filipo during the celebration of the program’s 30th anniversary in Washington DC last week.

The event brought together security leaders from the other 99 State Partnership members.

Samoa’s attendance follows the signing of the State Partnership Program in Apia on July 4 between the Government of Samoa and the State of Nevada.

Faualo told Talamua that the program offers assistance to countries specifically in the military area and has assisted in resolving civil conflicts and transition of some countries to democracies.

Samoa however is different as unlike Tonga and Fiji who have military forces, Samoa only has the police force.

“The assistance for Samoa is not only training programs for our local law enforcement police force but also assisting the Fire & Emergency Service Authority (FESA) climate change disaster response program,” said Faualo.

Faualo is happy with the assistance offered and is looking forward to their first meeting in November to discuss training programs.

Samoa, Tonga and Fiji are in partnership with the State of Nevada while Papua New Guinea is in partnership with the State of Maryland.