Samoa govt urges citizens to surrender guns at CHOGM

Samoa’s Prime Minister Fiame launched a gun amnesty on Monday. August 5, 2024
photo: Samoa Government

Samoan Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mata’afa has launched a two-month gun amnesty to ensure “the safety of all world leaders” ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in October.

Samoa police told New Zealand’s Pacific Radio that a high-level meeting had been held to discuss preparations for the CHOGM.

The gun amnesty, the third since 2015, came into effect on August 1 and is aimed at reducing illegal guns and ammunition in the community.

The program will end on September 30.

Gun amnesties over the past seven years have resulted in 596 guns and 725 rounds of ammunition being surrendered.

“The purpose of the amnesty is to allow individuals who are in possession of illegal firearms and ammunition to surrender those firearms and ammunition without being prosecuted during the amnesty period,” Fiame said Monday as he launched the 2024 gun amnesty program.

“Samoa will host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in October 2024 and as the incoming Chair, the safety of all world leaders attending CHOGM is of paramount importance.”

If residents cooperate during the amnesty period, they will receive food coupons worth 100 tala.

Between 2015 and 2016, police received 317 firearms and 321 items of ammunition.

In 2018, a total of 81 guns were turned in.

Between 2020 and 2021, a total of 198 guns and 494 rounds of ammunition were surrendered.

Data shows that from January 1 last year to June 30 this year, a total of 16 incidents involving firearms were reported to police.

These include fatal A senior police officer was shot In another incident, the victim was a 12-year-old boy.

“(The gun amnesty) demonstrates the importance of ensuring our communities, our country and our people live in a safe environment,” Fiame said.

Police Chief Auapa’au Logitino Filipo told us samoa observer June Nearly 200 police officers Personnel from Tonga, Fiji, New Zealand and Australia will support Samoa at CHOGM.

“We are confident that our preparations will ensure a safe and successful CHOGM,” Aapao reportedly said.

Samoa is First Pacific member county to host A meeting held every two years.