2nd advance visit inspect Samoa’s preparations to host CHOGM 2024

Apia, Samoa – 29 July 2024 – Sixty-five (65) delegates from fourteen (14) Commonwealth member countries and the Commonwealth Secretariat took part in the second Advance Visit to see Samoa’s preparations to host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in October 2024.

The visit took place on 24 and 25 July 2024.

The Head of the Commonwealth Foundation and her two staff attended alongside a three-member team from the Commonwealth Secretariat who had been working out of CHOGMs headquarters assisting with preparations.

The delegates were welcomed at the Auditorium, Arts and Cultural Centre in Malifa by the CHOGM 2024 Organising Committee headed by the CEO of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Co-Chairs of each of the twelve Sub-Committees. In her welcome remarks, Peseta Noumea Simi encouraged the delegations to view, visit and make their honest assessment on Samoa’s readiness.

This was followed by a schedule of site visits to the key meeting venues, Leaders Retreat venue, main accommodation for the Leaders and Foreign Ministers, as well as other official function venues.

The participants also had the opportunity to meet with their Delegation Liaison Officers who will act as the link between the respective delegations and the CHOGM Taskforce on all pertinent issues throughout CHOGM.

On the second day, the delegates were briefed in a detailed presentation on all CHOGM preparations. This included arrangements on protocol and airport facilitation, security, accreditation, accommodation, transportation, venues, media and communications, health and emergency, catering as well as receptions and functions.

The two-day programme wrapped up on Thursday evening 25 July with bilateral meetings between delegations and Sub-Committee representatives to respond to concerns of the countries.

According to the local organisers, the majority of queries countries had were around security of their Heads of Governments, placement of their Close Protection Officers during movements of Leaders as well as where in meeting venues they would be allowed.

Other delegations were concerned about access into meeting venues, accommodation or bilateral meeting facilities for their Leaders.

On the Tuesday 23^rd July, the Samoa Umbrella of Non-Governmental Organisations (SUNGO) in collaboration with Government of Samoa through the Public Service Commission held a full day program which is a lead-up event to the Commonwealth People’s Forum to be held at the start of the CHOGM week.