Police has advised that the Fautasi race regatta, which was deferred from July to the end of last year, will now be held in March this year.

The Ministry of Police Prisons and Corrections Services issued a statement to inform the public of the regatta which will include half sized fautasi race known as the tulula which is traditionally for women as well as the paopao and alo va’a races.

The 60^th Independence Committee will meet with aspiring participants or competitors on Friday 27 January 2023 at the Police headquarters in Apia, states the Ministry's public notice. 

"This meeting will discuss preparations for each competitions at sea for the month of March, in commemoration of Samoa's 60th Independence anniversary," states the public notice.

It has been six years since the country last held a national fautasi race after it was dropped by the then Independence Organising Committee and incorporated into the Teuila Festival. 

However, in 2017 the traditional fautasi regatta was abandoned altogether by the Teuila festival, and replaced with traditional dancing and other forms of entertainment. 

The last time Samoa celebrated the Teuila Festival was in 2020 due the activities was limited due to the border closure and COVID-19 restrictions.

Despite $60,000 in price money for the winning crew, it was not enough to lure more teams to register, given the short period of time for groups to put a crew together. In June 2022 the deferral of the regatta was due to minimal number of interested groups.

Prior to that a meeting was called by the committee to gather all interested groups and individuals to join the fautasi race. The meeting was also for others who were interested in the half sized fautasi race known as the tulula. A little over 10 individuals attended the closed door meeting in June.

Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa last year said an update from the Independence sub-committee recommended that the traditional canoe race be deferred to allow ample time for preparations. 

“The reason given and you have already publicised this is there are only three fautasi [interested],” Fiame said at that time. 

“The view from the sub-committee responsible for the fautasi and other traditional canoe race its best to defer the event to allow for preparations because it’s not an easy task and it is proposed and recommended to have it at the end of the year…”