Pacific Magazine > 2007 Pacific Almanac
Samoa
The Basics
Population: 186,649 (2007 est.)
Capital: Apia
Land Area: 2850 sq. km.
Political Status and Form of Government: The region’s first independent country. It gained independence from New Zealand in 1962. Democratically-elected, parliamentary-style government
Languages: Samoan, English
Currency: Tala
Number of Islands: 10
The Numbers
Gross Domestic Product: ST$1.25 billion (US$488million) (2006)
Gross Domestic Product per capita: ST$6,976 (US $2,593) (2006)
Gross Domestic Product Growth Rate: 3.1% (2007 ADB)
National Budget: ST$584.64 million (US$228 million) (2007/2008)
Aid per capita: Grants: ST$98.4 million (US$36.9 million) (as stated in 2006/07 budget)
Life Expectancy: Male: 71.3 years Female:
Ethnicity: Samoan 92.6%, mixed-ancestry: 7% (persons of mixed, primarily European blood), Europeans 0.4%
Nationality: Samoans
Age Distribution:0-14 years: 38.1%, 15-64 years: 56.3%, 65+: 5.6% (2007 est.)
Population Growth Rate: 1.291% (2007 est.)
People in Power
Head of Government: Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi
Head of State: Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese Efi
Cabinet Members: Misa Telefoni Retzlaff, Deputy Prime Minister, Commerce, Industry and Labour; Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, Women, Community and Social Development; Toleafoa Faafisi, Police, Prisons and Fire Services; Tuisugaletaua Sofara Aveau, Works, Transport and Infrastructure; Faumuina Liuga, Natural Resources, Environment and Meteorology; Niko Lee Hang, Finance; Tuuu Anasii Leota, Revenue; Gatoloaifaana Amataga, Health; Mulitalo Sealiimalietoa, Communication and Information Technology; Tuala Ainiu Iusitino, Internal Affairs; Unasa Mesi Galo, Justice and Courts Administration; Taua Tavaga Kitiona Seuala, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; Toomata Alapati Toomata, Education, Sports and Culture.
Representative Body: Unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fono (49 seats). Only chiefs (matai) may stand for election.
Regional Organizations
ACP, ADB, C, FAO, FFA, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, IPU, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, SOPAC, Sparteca, SPC, SPREP, SPTO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO,WCPFC,WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Media & Internet Service Providers
Radio: AM 2, FM 5 including Samoa Broadcasting Corporation, Radio Polynesia, Laufou.
Television: 2 (TV3, Samoa Broadcasting Corporation)
Newspapers: Samoa Observer, Newsline, Le Samoa, Samoa Post, Samoana, Teuila. Internet servers: Samoa Computer Services, Lesamoa Telephone Services, ipasifika.net
Recent News
New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters called Samoa the "pinup star" of the Pacific during an official visit there in 2007, and the country has sought to bolster that reputation through 2007.
Samoa leads Pacific Island states on Transparency International’s 2007 corruption perception index (CPI) with the lowest perceived level of corruption -- a ranking of 57, on par with Namibia and Seychelles.
Indices developed by the University of the South Pacific to measure the governance performance of seven Pacific Island countries also had Samoa among the leaders of the region pointing specifically to “steady improvement in the core governance area of rule of law.”
Economically Samoa has overtaken New Caledonia to rate as the third most popular tourist destination in the South Pacific behind Fiji and French Polynesia. “Samoa is really setting itself up as a role model for tourism development in the South Pacific. They’ve identified strategically that it’s a keen opportunity for them, they’ve got great support from their government and they’re also working really well with their private sector,” says Southpacific.travel Chief Executive Tony Everitt.
The joint venture between Samoa’s government and Virgin Blue, Polynesian Blue, announced a record pre-tax profit of NZD$5.363 million for the year ending 30 June 2007, up from NZD$1.19 million it reported last year for the period 1 October 2005 to 30 June 2006.
But the Asian Development Bank warned against complacency, saying the Samoan economy is vulnerable to external shocks, particularly with its persistent trade and current account deficits.
The Pacific Water Association relocated from Fiji to Samoa in 2007. Prime Minister Tuila'epa Sailele Malielegaoi wants the country to become a regional center, starting with sporting events in the wake of the successful 2007 South Pacific Games. A corporation has been established to manage the new sports facilities built for the Games and the country also hosted the world weightlifting competition in November. The overall cost of hosting the SPG was around US$92 million.
On the political front, the Samoan government enjoyed the benefits of its large parliamentary majority. The leader of the Samoa Democratic United Party, Asiata Sale’imoa Va’ai, was charged with contempt of court for accusing the chief justice and the judiciary of bias.
Samoa mourned the passing of Head of State, Malietoa Tanumafili II I 2007. Malietoa became joint head of state with Tupua Tamasese Mea'ole in 1962; however he was the sole Head of State since 1963 after the passing of Tupua.
Former Prime Minister Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese Efi was sworn as Samoa’s new Head of State after the mourning period. Tuiatua’s term in office is for five years and can be extended by Parliament, according to Samoa’s constitution.
At the end of 2007, government's plans to switch to right hand drive vehicles created widespread opposition, culminating in a public rally which attracted over 10,000 protestors to the streets of Apia.
Airlines, Shippers Serving Countrys
Air: Air New Zealand, Air Pacific, Polynesian Blue. Inter-island Airways
Shippers: Samoa Shipping Corporation, Pacific Forum Line.
Main Government Contact
Office of the Prime Minister
Apia, Samoa
Ph: (685) 23-636
Fax: (685) 21-822
Web:
www. govt.ws
Web:
Central Bank of Samoa: www.cbs.gov.ws
Sources and Samoa on the Web
Government of Samoa
www.govt.ws
Samoa Ministry of Finance
www.mof.gov.ws
Central Bank of Samoa
www.cbs.gov.ws
Samoa Statistics
www.spc.int/prism/country/ws/stats/index
CIA factbook;
www.cia.gov/
Samoa Visitors Bureau: http://www.visitsamoa.ws/
Map courtesy UH Press, The Pacific Islands; an Encyclopedia
Click map for larger image
