5 Jan 2007

Questions raised over the exact year Samoa's head of state was born

3:23 pm on 5 January 2007

The celebration of Samoa's head of state's birthday this year has raised many questions about the exact year his highness, Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili II, was born.

He has been serving his country for 45 years, and is the longest serving head of state in the Pacific region.

Last year the government had celebrated the head of state's 93rd birthday and his highness should turn 94 this year.

But the chief executive officer of the ministry of the Prime Minister, Auseugaefa Va'asatia, says the head of state was born on the 4th of January 1912 and not 1913.

The Prime Minister, Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, in his address at the government state luncheon today confirmed that his highness is 95 years old but did not explain why the change has been made in this year's celebration.

No overseas guests were invited to the celebrations this year.