Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sa’ilele Malielegaoi spoke at the United Nations Open House event to mark the relocation of the U.N. Offices from Matautu to Tuanaimato. The event was held at Tuanaimato. He also thanked U.N. Resident Coordinator, Lizbeth Cullity, for her work in Samoa. She is leaving after four years of service. This is what Tuilaepa said:

I am happy to join you all on this significant occasion of the One U.N. House housewarming. 

This also presents me with the opportunity to officially welcome the United Nations Country Team to these premises courtesy of the Government of Samoa. Of course, that comes with a message we have continually promoted for the United Nations to Deliver as One.

We are indeed happy to house the U.N. in the complex we had dedicated for the last South Pacific Games in 2007 as well as the 3rd International Conference for Small Islands Developing States in 2014. 

The fact that you have moved in despite yet to be completed renovations shows me that you are indeed happy to be here.

I wish to also use this occasion to acknowledge the four years of service in Samoa of the Resident Coordinator, Lizbeth Cullity on the eve of her departure for a posting in Mali Africa. 

You touched the ground running in 2014 in the midst of our urgent preparations for the S.I.D.S. Conference; you have never stopped running for Samoa. 

We have delivered on our commitment for this One U.N. House and we will continue to strongly advocate for the continuation of the Resident Coordinator position in Samoa amidst the U.N. reforms for rationalization. 

The Blue Pacific ‘continent’ deserves to uphold the three multi-country, Resident Coordinator - led offices. 

I would venture further on this occasion to also extend an invitation to any U.N. agency not represented in Samoa to join the One U.N. House.

 To the U.N. Country Team staff, I do hope you will enjoy working in your new premises. Finally thank you Lizbeth for your services to Samoa and we wish you every success in your sojourn in Africa. Soifua.