Samoan citizens have been urged to nominate people who've made exceptional contributions to the country for Samoa's Honours and Award ceremony this year.

The country's Honours and Award ceremony is making a comeback this year after a six-year hiatus. 

The Chairman of the Special Committee tasked with assessing the nominations, Agafili Shem Leo fronted the media on Thursday to inform the public and encourage the community to submit nominations for the special awards. 

He was accompanied by Seiuli Tulimaseali'i Moala, who is also a Committee member representing the village councils and matai in Samoa. 

Agafili confirmed that they have received only eight nominations so far during a press conference at the Ministry's conference room. 

The nomination period due date was last month, according to Agafili, but it has now been extended until January 31 because the committee only received eight nominations.

The C.E.O. of the Ministry said there are 13 awards to be given out in recognition of long service within the community. 

"However, there are other four medals that have never been given out to anyone since the inception of this special award programme," Agafili said. 

Confirming that the ceremony first started in 1993, the C.E.O. said the Samoa Government had given awards to over 100 influential people in the community over the last three decades. 

The last time an award ceremony was held was in 2017. There were plans to have it again in 2019, but then the measles epidemic struck followed by the COVID-19 pandemic, said Agafili.

Agafili added that they have not decided on a date for the special ceremony, though they are looking at having it on the third week of May this year as part of the official program to close Samoa's year-long 60th Independence anniversary celebrations. 

For this year the Committee is encouraging nominations from the villages across the country of people who are taking up leadership roles within the different communities in Samoa. 

"We do not want to keep it to just the public servants and people who are serving in the private sectors and businesses across the country," Agafili said. 

"There is also an opportunity for the different organisations and villages to make nominations of who they think has done great service for the community. 

"This also include our talented carpenters out in the community. People who are knowledgeable in designing Samoan traditional houses, canoes and other things. 

"We also welcome the long serving tattooists in the country, as well as women who are still making siapo or women taking the lead in continuing and encouraging young Samoan girls to weave in the community. 

"The opportunity is also opened for leaders of the different denominations in the country to be nominated."

Agafili said one of the challenges they have experienced in the previous years was that not many people were nominated for the awards. There are 13 awards to be given out plus four awards which have not been claimed since the inception of the programme. 

According to Agafili, these four awards include the Samoa Cross Award, Malietoa Award and two other awards for any courageous Samoan risking his or her life to save someone. 

Samoans residing overseas are also allowed to make nominations for their life of service to Samoa and its people. This can include any famous Samoan athlete who has been a great ambassador of Samoa and put Samoa on the map. 

In 2017 the Samoan boxer Lupesoliai Joseph Parker was recognised by the Government through this award after he won the world heavyweight boxing title in 2016. 

People who are willing to make nominations can either download the nomination forms from the Ministry of Prime Minister and Cabinet website or uplift it from the Office's level 4 in the Government building. 

The awards ceremony used to be an annual ceremony hosted on the week of Independence celebration in the previous years. Cabinet has already appointed a Special Committee, chaired by the Secretary to Cabinet, Agafili to assess and screen all the nominations to see if they meet the requirements for the different awards. Other committee members include representatives from the Government, private sector, churches and village councils.