The Prime Minister of Samoa, Hon Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Fosi Schmidt has vowed to lead the war against illicit drugs now so prevalent in Samoa that it has infiltrated our schools.
The PM shared with local media at his latest press conference that reports on his desk confirms that illegal drugs have reached school children in Samoa.
“This is a sensitive issue to government because innocent young lives are at stake,” said Laaulialemalietoa. “Drugs are being found in test tubes in schools.”
The Prime Minister then called for a whole-of-nation holistic approach to combating the spread of drugs in Samoa.
“The growing drug incidents in Samoa should be a national concern,” said the Prime Minister as he urged the wider community, mothers, fathers, and every citizen to get involved in efforts to eliminate illicit drugs from our shores.
Part of Governments zero tolerance is the implementation of a new public sector wide policy with a Cabinet Directive (FK) for mandatory drug testing for all of the Public Service.
The Prime Minister applauded the initiative by Church Leaders from the constituency of Aana 4, where the villages of Fasitoo and Vailu’utai had met with him to give their personal assurance that they are ready to do their part.
Matai of Fasitoo and Vailu’utai have made a commitment to work alongside Government in any way they can, to save their children by taking a strong stance to eliminate drugs from their constituency, their schools and their homes.
This is a huge step for Samoa given the history of drugs in the District.
In just over three months since taking over the Government, the new Administration have taken action in simple but crucial areas such as major improvements in border control.
In addition to the existing container scanner, Samoa will now also procure a scanner for pallets (pailake) which is a popular form of packaging of imported foodstuffs.
Laaulialemalietoa told media that he had met with the CEOs of Revenue and Customs as well as Police and there is a lot of equipment and resources they have been needing to effectively protect Samoa’s borders.
“We have tasked Customs to identify and submit all the resources needed to improve their border security especially in Ultra Scans at the wharfs and airports,” the Prime Minister explained.
Currently the domestic airport at Fagalii and Faleolo International Airport have ultra-scans but they do not have the capacity to detect and identify illegal drugs entering the country.
During his medical stay in New Zealand the Prime Minister secured a request for two more K-9 dogs to help with drug detection. The New Zealand Government have already approved the request the Prime Minister announced.
Samoa has had two K-9 dogs. K-9 Estelle with Police who is being treated for overdose and K-9 Euro who is with Customs. Acting Police Commissioner Leiataua Samuelu Afamasaga said they have longed needed additional K-9s.
Going forward the Prime Minister says Customs has been given the green light to submit a funding request to Cabinet for the Ultra-Scans and any other resources needed to protect our borders.
In American Samoa this week, as a special guest to attend the dedication of the Territory’s Legislative Assembly new Maota Fono, the Prime Minister says he is determined to pay special attention to address the illegal drug trade between the two Samoas.
Two shipments from American Samoa containing drugs were seized at the Apia wharf within 5 days.. the first with 1.4 kg of meth was in a carton of frozen chicken and the second was hidden inside a milk powder (Coffee Mate).
“Ir is an issue that I will raise with the Governor,” said the Prime Minister.
Laaulialemalietoa has made it known that drug traffickinf between the two Samoas will be of high priority when the Atoa-Samoa talks resume.
Finally in taking this strong stance the Prime Minister has called on all those involved in drug trafficking to stop..
Government will no longer be complacent,” the Prime Minister warned, adding that drug traffickers are the prime targets of the Government’s renewed action against drugs.
Daniel is a junior reporter who has recently graduated from Waikato University with a Bachelor of Health, Sport and Human Performance (BHSHP). He continues to write part time for Samoa Global News.
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