The local media will for the first time not cover this year’s ANZAC Day commemoration which gets underway early Monday morning at the Apia Town Clock Tower where wreaths will be laid.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Returned Services Association (R.S.A.) President, Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio, initially conveyed details of the strict protocols that the ceremony will adhere to in an interview with the Samoa Observer last Friday.

He said attendance at the event will strictly be by-invitation only after the Cabinet gave the approval for the commemoration to go ahead.

On Sunday night Tuala confirmed that the local media fraternity were not invited when responding to an email query from this newspaper.

“The ANZAC event tomorrow [Monday] is limited to the number of people allowed under the SOE,” the Deputy Prime Minister wrote in his email. “The event will [be] streamed live as it is staged for the screen so the ANZAC service can be viewed online.

“We have not invited our media friends this time as much as we would have liked them to be there as always.”

Attempts by the Samoa Observer to get a comment from the President of the Samoa Journalist Association, Lagi Keresoma on Sunday night were unsuccessful. 

The R.S.A. has not advised, by the time this newspaper went to press on Sunday night, which media or social media platforms will be used to live stream the ceremony that starts at 6am Monday (local time).

The ANZAC Day commemoration is mainly celebrated in Australia and New Zealand on 25 April and is recognised as the day marking the anniversary of the first military campaign by Australian and New Zealand soldiers during World War I.