The celebration of the Samoa National Provident Fund’s 50th Golden Jubilee took off in style on Thursday morning with 15 floats joining a parade that started from Apia’s Beach Road.

With an official dias built in front of the Government Building, the floats representing various organisations including businesses began in front of the Sheraton Hotel and Bungalows through Beach Road and past the front of the official dias.

The Deputy Prime Minister Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio was among those who gave a speech at the event and presented the prizes to the winners of the best looking floats, while giving a congratulatory speech acknowledging the SNPF management, as well as everyone who celebrated the day. 

Prizes were awarded to the best float designs with the Samoa Pacific Business Development winning $4,000.00 with a giveaway prize. EFKS Apia Youth came second and won $3,00.00 and SSAB took out third place to bag themselves $2,000.00 as well as giveaway prizes. Consolation prize of $1,000.00 was given to the other 12 floats that participated.

Isabel Naseri Tuatagaloa, the Fund’s Assistant Finance and Administration Manager who was in charge of the float preparations, said she was happy with their effort and hard work paid off. 

"We are grateful and we thank God if it wasn't for him that guided us we wouldn't have gotten this prize,” she said. 

Ms Tuatagaloa explained how the staff of the Fund contributed to the win.

"It was really tiring, a lot of effort was put in to it, we are very proud of ourselves and we just started putting together yesterday and through the night most of us didn't sleep"

The design of their float was a combined contribution of all the SNPF staff. 

According to Ms Tuatagaloa, the concept of the floats’ design looked at the SNPF and its various partnerships and how they wanted to reach out to the community where they don't have the manpower that SPBD could provide.