24 Oct 2011

Samoa's 50 years of independence to be marked with series of events

11:10 am on 24 October 2011

Samoa's 50 years of independence will be celebrated over five days in June next year.

A ceremony to mark the beginning of the golden jubilee anniversary is planned for January the 1st.

A government committee chaired by four government ministers has announced that the celebrations will include the commemoration of the Treaty of Friendship between Samoa and New Zealand in August next year.

Hundreds of Samoans living overseas have shown interest in participating the celebration and one of the chairmen and Minister of Women's Affairs, Tolofuaivalelei Falemoe Leiataua, says the government is inviting groups or organisations of Samoans abroad to take part.

The invitation has also been extended to American Samoa.

The government is looking at a budget of one million US dollars to fund the activities.