Your Excellency Sara Moriarty, Australian High Commissioner to Samoa;
Representative of the Pacific Media Assistance Scheme (PACMAS);
Senior Government Officials.
Talofa lava, malo le soifua ma le lagimatafi.
Despite the many competing priorities you are being tasked with as public servants, your presence here
this morning speaks volumes of the importance of this gathering to us. It is indeed a privilege to address
this workshop of senior government officials, to enhance information sharing in times of disasters.
As voyagers of the vast Blue Pacific Ocean, we have had colourful experiences of the tides, various
weather patterns and the seasons. We look back in our journey with hearts filled with thanksgiving and
praises to our Lord, for His faithfulness upon us all. Our experiences may have been dreadful and bitter
at times; joyful and celebrating sometimes, but the Word of God reminds us to be bold and strong, and
present ourselves wholeheartedly to the Lord with joy, in prayers, and thanksgiving.

Information is crucial because it builds knowledge, shapes talents, inspires creativity and innovation, and
identifies culture and identity. It brings forth expression of emotions, demeanour and personalities. In
our Samoan vernacular, information is expressed to have life ‘e fai vae o tala, e pala le ma’a ae le pala le
tala, o tala lealea i le ea (literally translated – words have legs, and are imperishable and could fly). But
there is a deeper expression of these proverbs in the Samoan context that symbolises the power, and
generational impact of information on an individual, a family, or a village.
Journalism is one of the oldest professions in the world. We are blessed to access the Holy Bible freely
to date because the Holy Spirit inspired writers like Moses, King David and King Solomon, the prophets
of the Old Testament like Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel, and the apostles of the New Testament like
Matthew, Mark, John and St Paul to write. They are the warriors of faith who took account of God’s
faithfulness, His miracles and His will for His people. The work of writers enables us to access history
and current events around the globe, which we continue to use to build academia, education and all
other professions.
It is therefore fitting to thank you – writers, journalists, the media and associates. We thank God for
giving you the talent and the commitment to write.
I want to remind all of you this morning that we are all writers. There is always a story to tell, and there
is always something to write about. However, we must be responsible writers. What we write today
could cause unity in the country, or otherwise. The information we register today, will teach us and the
generations to come to become responsible stewards of our resources in the future. Our duty is to
ensure that we write factual and quality information, and to inform our people in a timely fashion.
We are aware of numerous challenges emanating from the lack of, or disregard of the media ethics in
writing and sharing of information to date. Some have been colourful, others tasteless, and these have
been determined by writers’ beliefs, agendas and the bucks. In all humility, I remind you once again
that writing is our shared and collective responsibility. It is part of our service to the nation and our
people. This is the basis of our joint calling as the media family, both private and Government. Let us
keep the professionalism and humility in the performance of our duties.
That is the purpose and essence of this workshop. This is the second workshop organized by the Pacific
Media Assistance Scheme (PACMAS) in collaboration with the government of Australia. I thank the
government of Australia for continuing to support this programme to improve the professional working
relationship between the government media liaison officers, and the private media in times of disasters.
We are traversing through rough seas due to the COVID 19, coupled with the cyclone season in Samoa.
As Interim Chairman of the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), I implore your support in
continuing to work together as a team to inform our country. In times of disasters, it is so vital to front
up, to inform our people with factual and quality information. That will save lives, and eradicate panic
and indecision during disasters. It is our collective responsibility regardless of the sectors we work in. A
difference in opinions and viewpoints is expected, but let us not dwell on fault finding, because it
benefits nobody. The big picture must take precedent, ‘to ensure that our country is secure and well
informed’.

I hope this workshop will further boost professionalism and collegiality amongst yourself in your line of
duty. This is also a golden opportunity to share knowledge and experience about the whole of
government emergency response to disasters and hazards.
By the end of this workshop, you would be more equipped to perform your duties as Government
Media Liaison Officers. That is your designation to be bestowed at the end of the workshop in line with
the Government Communication Strategy. You will now form the Government Media Liaison Officers
Forum working closely with the Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and the media fraternity.
I wish you a resourceful and fruitful exchange of quality information and ideas over the next three days.
God bless you.
SOIFUA