It gives me great pleasure to address you all tonight at the Finale of the 19 th
International Siva Afi Competition 2020. We give glory to the Good Lord, as
he continues to bless our Beautiful Samoa.
 The Government has been working hard unswervingly in keeping our
country afloat, especially the Tourism Sector that has been adversely
affected the most. Following the enduring effects and setbacks we face, the
focus now as it has been over the past 9 months since the pandemic, is
domestic tourism.
 The Government through the Samoa Tourism Authority has supported
various local programs to help sustain businesses, and promote their
products and services for the local market.
 With tremendous support, we have seen from our very own people
towards tourism businesses in these trying times, it is a positive step

towards paving the way to recovery. The Tourism Industry has created
initiatives of events and activities to go compliment the favorable drop-in
room rates and one of the ongoing initiatives is what we are witnessing
here today.
 The 19 th International Siva Afi Competition 2020 has been a major event in
supporting our Teuila Festival and international events, through sustaining
the talents of our youth over these many years.
 Unique to Samoa, Fire knife dancing is a tradition rooted in our culture, and
a means of maintaining Samoan identity with other cultures. It has
promoted Samoa throughout the world, and has blessed many families
with their talented youth granted work opportunities to continually
perform and entertain overseas.
 This year, the International Siva Afi Competition 2020 in adapting to the
current situations and further supporting our communities have taken the
competition to the Big Island of Savaii, with one of the preliminaries held
there, at the superb backdrop of the iconic natural tourism site of the Taga
Blowholes.
 I congratulate Leota Lene and Claire Leota and Siva Afi and wish all the
competitors the very best tonight, with well-wishes for an even bigger event next year for your 20th year of celebration.
 The Finale for the 19th International Siva Afi Competition 2020 is officially
opened.

SOIFUA MA IA MANUIA.