The annual traditional fine mats showcase (fuataga) programme scheduled for Upolu and Savaii next month has been cancelled.

The announcement was made by the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development (M.W.C.S.D.) on Friday in a public notice.

According to the Ministry, the fuataga programme scheduled for 1 February for Upolu and 3 February for Savai'i has been cancelled until further notice.

"This notice hereby informs all weavers for both Upolu and Savaii that our fuataga program scheduled for the 1st and 3rd of February is now canceled until further notice," reads the notice.

The Ministry said the reason behind the cancellation of the programme is due to the national lockdown and compliance with its restrictions associated with the State of Emergency.

"The Ministry will advise your good self of when we will have this event in due course. 

"We pray for God’s protection upon Samoa during these times and for everyone to remain calm and safe." 

It has been over two years since the annual fine mats showcase has been held in Samoa.

The former Administration decided to set up the programme, not only to revive the art of weaving traditional Samoan fine mats, but also to encourage the formation of committees of women weavers (Falelalaga and Komiti a Tina) to produce and sustain the traditional practice.

The programme also assisted the families of weavers to earn a living as the standard price range for fine mats in Samoa are over $1,000 tala.

The Minister of Finance, Mulipola Anarosa Molio'o revealed in her budget address last September that a total of $400,000 was allocated for the Samoa annual exhibition with funding under the M.W.C.S.D. budget.

However, the event was cancelled after a lockdown was declared for Samoa since 6pm last Saturday after the Cabinet decided that the Government's COVID-19 Alert Level should be upgraded to Alert Level 3 following the discovery of over 10 positive COVID-19 cases. 

However, on Friday this week Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa announced that the Cabinet has concluded that there is no community transmission after the 10 positive cases increased to 27, most of them passengers from a charter flight that flew into Samoa from Brisbane last Wednesday. 

Consequently, Fiame said Samoa has downgraded its alert levels to Alert level 2 - COVID-19 responses (orange) on Friday, though restrictions still apply. 

While work, businesses and government services re-open, public gatherings have been limited to 30 people. As of Friday Samoa has 27 COVID-19 positive cases with tests confirming the presence of 1 Omicron variants and 1 Delta variant.