Category: MIL-OSI

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[PRESS STATEMENT 20th November 2025]- With great interest I have taken into the account the reactions to my decision to temporarily suspend “not ban” as widely reported, the Samoa Observer newspaper from attending my Press Conferences as well Press Conferences by Ministers of Cabinet.

To set the record straight, the freedom of the media in Samoa including the Samoa Observer to report accurate, factual and impartial stories is not compromised by the suspension.
Basically the justification to support the temporary suspension is to bring into account the Samoa Observer to practice what they preach which includes reporting factual, accurate and impartial articles with integrity and professionalism.

To that effect, in announcing the suspension Monday this week, a Press Conference with the media was Live Streamed on Government Platforms complimented by a Press Release which was subsequently circulated publicly reiterating the circumstances that prompted the suspension.

For the record, the recent infringements by the newspaper include invasion of my privacy and my rights as a citizen and Prime Minister when the Samoa Observer Editor with two female colleagues invaded my private home without invitation. They entered my property and despite being told by police at the gate, demanded an interview. This happened less than 10 minutes after I arrived home to reunite with my children and family after being away for 8 weeks for medical treatment.

Also while abroad, senior government officials were implicated in what is now labelled and verified as a “phantom meeting” that never happened between the officials and Deputy Prime Minister as reported by the newspaper.

A Press Release was issued to correct the unsubstantiated article. The officials were not contacted by the Samoa Observer to seek their comments to confirm or deny the report prior to issuing the misleading breaking news to the public.

A formal request was also sent to the Editor to publish the Press Release to correct the misreporting. But the newspaper failed to print the Press Release as requested and did not acknowledge their mistake through a correction, retraction or apology articulated by the JAWS Code of Ethics.

Moving forward, I have also taken note that Parliament had passed the Media Council Act 2015.

Prescribed in the Act is the establishment of a Media Council and a Media Code of Ethics was prepared.
Launched in 2017, the Code of Ethics prescribes a broader set of principles for journalists in Samoa with priority to serving the public interest, upholding media freedom, and adhering to professional standards.
The national media association of Samoa, JAWS, played a leading role in this development.

And I was recently told that JAWS is in the process of resurrecting the Media Council which is empowered by the Act to self-regulate the Media without any interference from Government. I welcome the JAWS initiative and looking forward to a successful outcome.

I pray that the temporary suspension will produce a fruitful way forward for not only the Samoa Observer but all other media outlets to maintain the highest standards of professionalism as prescribed in the Media Code of Ethics.

Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Fosi Schmidt

PRIME MINISTER OF SAMOA

November 20, 2025

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Transition of Management at Sheraton Samoa Beach Resort (Mulifanua)

The Government of Samoa, through the Samoa National Provident Fund (SNPF) as the major shareholder, confirms that the shareholders and Board of Mulifanua Beach Resort-Samoa Limited (“MBRS”) have formally resolved to terminate the Management Agreement with Marriott International for the property known as Sheraton Samoa Beach Resort at Mulifanua, effective 31 December 2025.

This decision was made jointly by the shareholders and Board of MBRS, and has been endorsed by Cabinet following comprehensive review and consultation. The decision relates only to the Sheraton Samoa Beach Resort in Mulifanua, and does not affect any other properties in Samoa currently managed by Marriott International.

Acknowledgement of Partnership with Marriott International

The Government acknowledges and deeply appreciates Marriott lnternational’s professionalism, leadership, and partnership throughout the past 1O full operating years managing the Sheraton Samoa Beach Resort.

Marriott International has played a significant role in building Samoa’s profile as a high-quality hospitality destination. The Government emphasises that this transition is not a reflection on Marriott’s performance or brand, but rather a strategic decision by the shareholders to reposition the property in preparation for future investment.

The Government of Samoa and SNPF maintain the highest regard for the Marriott brand, its global reputation, and its continuing presence in Samoa through the other property it manages.

Transition to Owner Management

From 1 January 2026, management of the Sheraton Samoa Beach Resort will transition to the Owner, MBRS, which will assume direct operational control under the new name Samoa Beach Resort, pending completion of the ongoing sale process.

This transition has been carefully planned in collaboration with Marriott International to ensure that operations remain stable, guests experience no disruption, and employees are fully supported throughout the process.

The Government is satisfied that the transition plan upholds sound governance, corporate due diligence, and regulatory compliance.

Commitment to Employees and Stakeholders

The MBRS Board has assured Government that the welfare and employment continuity of staff remain a top priority.

The Owner intends to retain all current employees following the management changeover. For those who choose to pursue other opportunities, the process will be conducted fairly, transparently, and in full compliance with Samoa’s labour laws, including the payment of all contractual and statutory entitlements.

The Government commends MBRS and Marriott for managing this process with professionalism and respect, ensuring stability for staff and the ongoing strength of Samoa’s tourism industry.

Government Oversight and Future Outlook

This transition represents a strategic step in MBRS’s restructuring plan to strengthen the Resort’s financial position, prepare for new investment, and enhance Samoa’s overall tourism offering.

Through the Samoa National Provident Fund and other government shareholding entities, the Government will continue to exercise oversight to ensure that the transition serves the best interests of staff, shareholders, and the people of Samoa.

The Government remains confident that the Sheraton Samoa Beach Resort, under its new name and management, will continue to contribute significantly to employment, economic growth, and Samoa’s international reputation as a welcoming destination for visitors and investors alike.

Hon. Mulipola Anarosa Ale Molioo

Minister of Finance and Minister responsible for Samoa National Provident Fund

PEPA O FAAMATALAGA

Suia o Pulega a le Faletalimalo i le Sheraton Samoa Beach Resort (Mulifanua)

Ua fa’amaonia aloaia le fa’aiugafonoina e Sui Fai Sea Uma ma le Komiti Fa’atonu a le Mulitanua Beach Resort Samoa Limited (“MBRS”), ina ia ta’amutaina le Maliega taiga paaga sa sainia ma le Kamupani Fa’avaomalo a le Mariott mo le Faletalimalo o le Sheraton Samoa Beach Resort i Mulifanua, e amata atu i le aso 31 Tesema, 2025.

0 lenei ta’aiuga ua autasi ai Sui uma o loo umia Sea e aofia ai ma le Sui Autu o le Fa’alapotopotoga mo le Lumana’i Manuia o Samoa (SNPF) ma le Komiti Fa’atonu a le MBRS, ma ua mae’a ta’amaonia e le Kapeneta. 0 lenei ta’aiuga e ta’aautu lea i le Sheraton Samoa Beach Resort i Mulitanua ma e le a’afia ai isi Faletalimalo i totonu o Samoa o lo’o puleaina e le Mariott International.

Fa’afetai Aloaia o le Faiga Paaga ma le Mariott

Mai le Malo o Samoa, e fia fa’amauina ai le agaga fa’atetai tele i le Mariott i la tatou faiga pa’aga ma le galueaina o le Faletalimalo i lena 10 tausaga.

Ua maitauina le siitia maualuga o galuega i Faletalimalo i Samoa nei, aemaise le fa’alauiloaina atili o Samoa i tagata tafafao mai le lalolagi. 0 le naunautaiga foi lea o le Malo i lenei fesuiaiga e le ona o ni lape i se auaunaga a le Mariott, ae o fuafuaga alu alu mamao mo le lumanai manuia o ana tupe fa’afaigaluega.

E maualuga pea le fa’aeaea ma le amanaia e le Malo o Samoa ma le SNPF o le tautua ma le auaunaga fa’aauau pea a le Mariott i totonu o Samoa e ala atu i nisi foi o Faletalimalo o lo’o latou puleaina.

Pulega fou

E amata atu i le aso 1 lanuari 2026, o le a fa’amutaina ai loa le auaunaga a le Mariott ma amatalia ai Joa le Pulega fou ma Iona fa’agaioiina i lalo o le Samoa Beach Resort, e fa’aauau ai le fa’amaeaina o le fa’atauese atu o le Faletalimalo.

0 le manulati ua autasi i ai le Mariott ma le MBRS o le mautinoa le sologa lelei o galuega masani, le fa’aauauina o galuega fa’atino i tulaga aupito sili ona maualuga e

pei ona masani ai mo malo feasiasi a le Faletalimalo, aemaise o le fa’amautuina o avanoa faigaluega mo tagata galulue.

0 le agaga maualuga a le Malo, o lenei suiga ua fa’atinoina i lalo o Pulega lelei ma le taualoa, taiala talafeagai ma o lo’o lima taitaiina i tulafono fa’avae.

Tu’utu’uga mo Tagata Faigaluega ma Tagata Lautele

Ua fa’amautinoa e le Komiti Fa’atonu a le MBRS le Malo o Samoa o le fa’aauauina ma le fa’atumauina uma o le aufaigaluega o lo’o galulue i le taimi nei. E i ai le talitonuga e faia lava le filifiliga saoloto a le tagata ia. E i ai nisi o le a filifili mo nisi avanoa. E lima taitaiina le Pulega fou i le fa’atinoina o lenei suiga i ala masani o faiga fa’avae, Tulafono Fa’atonutonu ma isi Tulafono a Samoa e faapito augafa i fa’amanuiaga faa-konekarate mo le aufaigaluega e agava’a.

E momoli le fa’afetai tele a le Malo o Samoa i le MBRS ma le Mariotti le faatinoina o lenei fuafuaga i Iona tulaga maualuga ma le fa’aaloalogia ina ia mautinoa le faatumauina pea o le aufaigaluega aemaise le si’itia maualuga o Samoa i itu aoaotetele mo Tagata Tafafao Maimoa mai Fafo.

Va’ava’aiga Lautele ma Fuafuaga alualu mamao a le Malo

0 le suiga i le Pulega o se la’asaga taua lea mo le Faletalimalo aua le toe fetu’unaiga o tulaga tau tupe aemaise o le puleaina lelei o ana aseta mo le fa’atuputupulaia o tulaga tau tulisi i totonu o Samoa.

0 le naunauta’iga a le Malo o Samoa, e tauala atu i le Fa’alapotopoga o Faatupugatupe mo le Lumanai Manuia o Samoa ma isi Paaga Fai Sea,

ina ia fa’aauau le lelei o le Suiga o Pulega aua ona Sui fai Sea uma aemaise o tagatanuu o Samoa.

0 le agaga maualuga foi a le Malo, o le a fa’aauauina pea e le Samoa Beach Resort i lalo ale ta’ita’iga a le Pulega fou le tulaga maualuga i auaunaga lautele, tamaoaiga aemaise o le siitia lea o le tulaga o Samoa i atunuu i fafo aua le faaulufaleina mai o tagata maimoa mai fafo ma tagata faipisinisi aua le atinaeina o Samoa mo le lumanai.

Soifua ma ia Manuia

Hon. Mulipola Anarosa Ale-Molio’o

Minisita o Tupe ma le Minisita mo le Fa’alapotopotoga Fa’aputugatupe mo le Lumanai Manuia o Samoa

November 20, 2025

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KEYNOTE ADDRESS Associate Minister for the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries & Scientific Research Organisation of Samoa. Aiolupotea Tony Aiolupo

Taitai o le Sauniga, Reverend Letupu Mata’utia

Honourable Delegates and Esteemed Guests from across the Region

Ladies and Gentlemen

Talofa lava and warm greetings to you all, It is with great honour and pleasure that I welcome you all to Samoa for this important Inception Workshop for the Global One Country One Product (OCOP) Project, under the FAO – China South–South Cooperation (SSC) Programme, and the Third (3rd) FAO OCOP Regional Organizing Group Meeting for Asia and the Pacific.

On behalf of the Government and people of Samoa, I extend a very warm welcome to the Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative of FAO, Mr Alue Dohong; the Directors and colleagues from FAO Headquarters; the FAO Subregional Office for the Pacific, our distinguished delegates from the Pacific Island countries, and our partners from China and other regions.

Your presence here today signifies a strong spirit of collaboration and shared commitment to advancing agricultural transformation and food security across our region. Samoa is honoured to be chosen as the Pacific’s OCOP Demonstration Country, focusing on cocoa-an economic resource and cultural heritage.

This initiative offers a valuable platform to advance sustainable production, processing, and marketing through innovation, knowledge exchange, and international partnerships, benefiting our farmers and communities.

This workshop marks another milestone in strengthening regional cooperation under FAO’s vision of achieving Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment, and a Better Life – leaving no one behind. It also reflects the success of the FAO–China South–South Cooperation Programme, which continues to bridge expertise, technology, and solidarity between developing nations.

In the coming days, you will engage in knowledge exchange, explore strategic approaches, and observe firsthand the advancements achieved within Samoa’s cocoa value chain. From pioneering research and innovation at the Scientific Research Organisation of Samoa (SROS) to the dedicated efforts of our farmers and entrepreneurs in production and processing, this journey reflects our collective commitment to sustainable growth. We are confident that Samoa’s experience will offer valuable insights to inspire and guide other Pacific nations as we advance together under the OCOP framework.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the FAO, the Government of China, and our regional partners for their steadfast support and collaboration. Through this shared commitment, we can strengthen and safeguard agrifood systems across the Pacific-systems that empower our farmers, uplift livelihoods, and drive sustainable development for our communities and future generations.

Once again, welcome to Samoa. I wish you all a productive and enriching workshop.

Soifua ma ia manuia.

November 20, 2025

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Overall consumer prices rose 1.2% year-on-year in October, slightly larger than the 1.1% increase in September, the Census & Statistics Department announced today.

Netting out the effects of the Government’s one-off relief measures, the underlying inflation rate was 1% in October, same as that recorded in the previous month.

Compared with the year before, price increases were recorded in October in the following categories: transport; alcoholic drinks and tobacco; miscellaneous services; housing; miscellaneous goods; meals out and takeaway food; and basic food.

Meanwhile, year-on-year decreases were logged for clothing and footwear; durable goods; and electricity, gas and water.

The Government said consumer price inflation remained low in October. It expects that overall inflation should stay muted in the near term, as domestic cost pressures are mild and external price pressures are subdued.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

The spokesperson for the Hospital Authority (HA) made the following appeal today (November 20) regarding a patient who requires an urgent heart transplant:

A male patient currently hospitalised at Queen Elizabeth Hospital is in critical condition, requiring an urgent heart transplant. The transplant team from Hong Kong West Cluster and the clinical team at Queen Elizabeth Hospital are proactively following up on the patient’s emergency situation. The HA appeals to members of the public to proactively support organ donations and consider donating the heart of a deceased relative to rekindle the lives of others.

In view of the critical condition of the patient, in addition to proactively searching for a suitable heart locally, the HA will also initiate procedures to seek assistance from the Mainland as soon as possible. When a patient who is willing to donate an organ is deceased and no suitable patient is identified to receive the organ on the Mainland, the cross-boundary organ donation and matching mechanism will facilitate a transplant in Hong Kong to bring hope to a critically ill patient.

The spokesperson emphasised that when a suitable heart is found, the HA will strictly follow the relevant organ transplant regulations and make an application with the authorities to ensure that all procedures comply with relevant standards and regulatory requirements. The HA will arrange a transplant operation with the aim of saving the patient’s life as soon as possible.

For critically ill patients with an organ failure, an organ transplant is often the only hope to extend their lives. When deceased patients and their families make a selfless decision to donate deceased organs for patients in need of an organ transplant, it not only gives critically ill patients the hope of life but also eases hardship in their families. The HA appeals to the public to pass on great love, blessings and care to those who are still fighting for their well-deserved lives.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government today promulgated the Conceptual Outline of the Development Plan for the Innovation & Technology Industry in the San Tin Technopole.

The conceptual outline provides a top-level design for the 210 hectares of new innovation and technology (I&T) land in the technopole in terms of development vision, objectives and positioning, industrial spatial layout and development model.

Secretary for Innovation, Technology & Industry Prof Sun Dong said the San Tin Technopole development will be anchored on three key strands: providing space for prototyping, pilot production and small-scale manufacturing; developing high-quality local I&T industries; and pooling global I&T resources and talent.

Prof Sun noted that the San Tin Technopole can provide land of a larger scale to support the development of strategic I&T industries such as life and health technology, artificial intelligence (AI), and robotics, microelectronics and smart devices, new materials, new energy, and green technology, as set out in the Hong Kong I&T Development Blueprint.

In terms of a layout plan, the new I&T land will be divided into three development hubs and three industry development corridors. They are the Hetao Hub, Chau Tau Hub and Ki Lun Hub from north to south, and the life and health technology corridor, AI and robotics corridor, and microelectronics and advanced industry corridor.

Prof Sun said that such planning can cater for the pace of I&T development and the relevant timetable for land resumption and site formation works undertaken by works departments, with five of development from introduction, industry ecosystem expansion, city-industry hub to consolidation.

Following the principle of a capable government and an efficient market, consideration can be given to forming a dedicated company to take forward the San Tin Technopole development in collaboration with the market, thereby leveraging market resources to accelerate development and optimise development costs, he added.

According to the consultant’s estimates, the technopole will contribute some $250 billion or more to Hong Kong’s GDP annually upon its full operation, and provide over 300,000 work positions.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Executive John Lee will depart for Shenzhen tomorrow to attend the closing ceremony of the 15th National Games.

Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki, Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung and Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Rosanna Law will join the visit.

Mr Chan will also attend a press conference of the Organising Committee of the 15th NG on the games’ overall operations.

He will return to Hong Kong tomorrow evening.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) has organised the “Hong Kong Cultural and Creative Mosaic” event at the Palace Museum Cultural and Creative Products Hong Kong Space inside the Palace Museum in Beijing. The event officially opened to the public today (November 20) to stage four successive events during the year ahead to showcase cultural and creative products with themes of Hong Kong’s intangible cultural heritage, art toys, fashion and accessories, and lifestyle products.

Addressing the event in Beijing on November 12, the Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries, Miss Drew Lai, said CCIDA hopes that the event not only makes the creativity and capability of Hong Kong designers visible to Chinese Mainland museums, but also encourages local designers or cultural and creative IP (intellectual property) owners to enhance collaboration with the Chinese Mainland.

The CSTB promulgated last November the Blueprint for Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Development which sets out that Hong Kong will fully capitalise on the distinctive advantages given by the strong support of the motherland to encourage designers from Hong Kong to collaborate with major museums and cultural and creative institutions on the Mainland to cocreate cultural and creative products. Last year, CCIDA signed Memoranda of Understanding with three Mainland cultural and creative brands, including one for collaboration on the Palace Museum Cultural and Creative Products Hong Kong Space, to continuously strengthen support for local original works to enter Chinese Mainland and international markets.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region