No public ceremony will be staged for Tuesday's Independence Day celebrations with a pre-recorded commemoration being broadcast instead due to COVID-19 restrictions, health authorities say.  

A speech by the Head of State, His Highness Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II - who has not been since his absence at Monday’s Parliamentary swearing-in ceremony - will feature in the recorded commemorations. 

This is the second year in a row that there will be no parade and an official celebration as is usually the case. Last year’s celebrations were similarly pre-recorded, taking place, as they did, months after a national state of emergency was declared. 

But this year’s anniversary will still be marked as a public holiday on Tuesday, 1 June.

The programme will be a duplicate of the 2020 programme with a pre-recorded flag-raising ceremony. 

The flag-raising at Malae o Tiafau by the sole member of the Council of Deputies, Le Mamea Ropati Mualia, will be pre-recorded for broadcast across television, radio and online platforms. 

The plan was revealed by the interim Chair of the National Emergency Operations Centre (N.E.O.C.), Agafili Shem Leo, during a press conference on Thursday. 

He said the national Independence Day Committee has been advised by N.E.O.C. that all ceremonies must adhere to state of emergency restrictions. 

Performances from past Independence Day festivities will  also be broadcast on television and online to mark the 59th anniversary of national sovereignty.

“I’m sure some of our people have been curious and asking about the plan for this year’s 59th independence celebration on Tuesday 1, June next week," Agafili said. 

The interim Chair added that last month the Cabinet made a decision to base this year’s celebration on the previous year’s by broadcasting a pre-recorded display online and television. 

“We want to ensure the protection of our people against the virus [COVID-19],” he said. 

“As the Director-General of Health has said earlier, we have a flight that is due to arrive on Friday with close to 300 people with more than 20 quarantine sites that will be used.”

He said the pre-recorded independence programme will include a church service, a speech by the Head of State,  Le Mamea’s flag raising and past independence performances.  

On 28 October 1960 the people of Samoa overwhelmingly adopted and enacted the constitution of Samoa; in doing so it became the first South Pacific nation to become independent. 

The General Assembly of the United Nations unanimously terminated the Trustee Agreement on Samoa on 7 July 1961. The termination took effect on 1 January 1962.  

Samoa had previously been under New Zealand and German colonial administrations.