The Australian government will finance a replacement Police Patrol Boat for the MV Nafanua II which was damaged when it ran aground on the reef at Salelologa, Savai’i last year.
Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Penny Wong, made the announcement of the provision of a new Guardian Class Patrol Boat for Samoa during a joint press conference with Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa yesterday afternoon.
“In support of the regional Boe Declaration, this will help Samoa to respond to increasingly complex threats in the region, including transnational crime and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing,” she said later in a joint press release.
Fiame, who is also Minister for Foreign Affairs Minister, thanked the Australian government for continuing to support Samoa’s maritime security.
The new boat, to be delivered within the next 12 months, was just one of the topics discussed during the minister’s two day visit to Samoa.
She also announced a new eight-year partnership between Australia and Samoa to address its human development and social inclusion priorities.
“This new partnership, ‘Tautua – Human Development for All’, will seek to foster collective action in health, education, gender, disability and social protection, addressing areas most critical to Samoa,” said the joint release.
She had earlier met with the Head of State, Tuimalealiifano Va’aletoa Sualauvi II and PM Fiame and “listened to the opportunities and challenges facing Samoa.”
Minister Wong said she “also met with representatives of Samoa’s Cabinet and private sector and community leaders to hear Samoa’s aspirations for its future and ways we can work together to ensure our Blue Pacific remains strong and prosperous.”
She listened to the challenges and successes for Samoan families under Australia’s labour mobility programs and undertook to ensure settings continue to be of mutual benefit to Samoa and Australia.
Prime Minister Fiame wished her well in her new role, and looked forward to working closely together as members of the Pacific family.
