An American Samoa delegation numbering close to 90 is in the country led by Governor Lemanu Mauga to attend the second Atoa o Samoa executive meeting that begins on Thursday. 

Governor Mauga arrived on Tuesday afternoon on a charter flight from the territory with several other officials and was greeted by Deputy Prime Minister, Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio.

The delegation are staying at the Taumeasina Island Resort where the official bilateral meetings between the two Samoas is being hosted. 

Deputy Police Commissioner, Papalii Monalisa Keti said there are 88 people from the Am. Samoa delegation on island for the two day meeting which ends on Friday. 

She said because of the high number of delegation on island for the meeting, an estimated 150 to 200 police officers are on duty around the clock to ensure the security of the officials. 

An official program released by the Press Secretariat office confirmed the schedule for Thursday and Friday with meetings starting with a Guard of Honour in front of the lawn of Government building. 

The Guard of Honour will be followed by an opening prayer service led by Archbishop Alapati Lui Mataeliga

The floor will then be handed over to the Co-chairs of the meeting, Governor of American Samoa, Lemanu Mauga and Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa. 

After their traditional presentation or fa’aaloaloga the officials will return to the Taumeasina Island Resort to begin bilateral discussions between the two chairs. 

On the last day of the talks, a closing formalities is scheduled on 3 p.m. with closing remarks from the leaders. A press conference is expected to follow.

A draft program noted areas of mutual cooperation between the two Samoa focused on economic sector (trade, tourism, movement of workers, agriculture and fisheries, finance and banking).

Social sector (health and education) and environment sector (climate change, weather and geoscience). 

The second session will look into transportation and connectivity (shipping, transport, ICT), Immigration and International relations (Talofa PASS, Permits, Repatriation, deportees) and other matters such as cultural preservation, land swap agreement. 

According to statement released by the Samoa Government's Press Secretariat, the meeting at the Taumeasina Island Resort follows the initial Atoa o Samoa Meeting in Pago Pago, hosted by the Government of American Samoa in July this year. 

The two countries Heads of Governments, Ministers and Officials met to discuss issues of mutual importance to both countries and to decide on a follow up process to focus on addressing these priorities.

The Second Atoa O Samoa meeting is an opportunity to discuss and focus on areas of mutual development cooperation between the two states on issues relating to health, tourism, economy, education, information and communications technology, immigration and agriculture, tourism and others.

The meeting began on Wednesday with site visits by the American Samoa delegation to their counterpart Ministries to progress discussions that began in Pago Pago in July. The leaders of both Samoa and American Samoa had tasked their officials to look at tangible outcomes from these talks and encouraged visits to the sites and operations while in Samoa.

The first day of the meeting proper will begin with discussions on the July meeting minutes, followed by presentations on the updates of work that has been done since then. 

On Friday the last day, there will be bilateral discussions between Samoa’s line ministries and counterpart agencies on the next steps and any follow up work needing attention. It is expected that each group will report back to the plenary on outcomes of their discussions.

The meeting will conclude with a cocktail reception where Samoa’s private sector will be invited to discuss issues of interest with the delegations.