Flag of Western Samoa

Samoa

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Head of State: Malietoa Tanumafili II.
Head of Government: Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi.
Capital: Apia (on Upolu).
Area: 2840 sq km (nine islands) -- Savai'i (1708); Upolu (1118).
Official languages: Samoan, English.
Literacy: 98 per cent (UNESCO 1990).
Population: 163 500 (1994 SPC est.). Mostly of Polynesian origin.
Main town: Apia (pop. 34 300 in 1994 SPC est.).
Currency: Tala (WS$) = 100 senes.
Exchange rate: WS$2.26 per US$ (Dec 1990).
Time: --1100 hours GMT.
Gross national product: US$115 million (1990).
GNP per capita: US$690 (1990).
Foreign debt: US$83m (1990).

Map of Western Samoa
Map: Gemini News Service

Political system: The head of state, now hereditary but to be elected in future, appoints an executive prime minister who must have majority support of the 47-member Legislative Assembly. Executive power rests with the Prime Minister and his appointed cabinet. The general election in April 1991 was the first election since independence from New Zealand in 1962 in which every citizen aged over 21 years was able to vote. This added some 36 000 voters to the electorate of 20 000 matai, or titleholders.

Tofilau Eti Alesana, who dominated Samoan politics for almost two decades, resigned in November 1998, suffering from liver cancer. He had been at the helm as prime minister for 16 years.

Political parties: Ruling party -- Human Rights Protection Party (27 seats in the Legislative Assembly following 1991 elections); Opposition -- Samoa National Development Party (17 seats); independents (3 seats).

News media:

Press:
  • Samoa Observer:Daily; 6000; English/Samoan language; Samoan-owned, Observer Ltd. Publisher: Savea Sano Malifa. PO Box 1572, Apia. Tel: (685) 21099; Fax: (685) 21195. National, regional and international news.

  • Samoa Weekly: Weekly; 4500; Samoan/English, 4500. PO Box 1462, Apia. Tel: (685) 20872.

  • Savali: Fortnightly; 3000 Samoan edition; 500 English edition; Public Relations Division, Prime Minister's Department. PO Box 193, Apia. Tel: (685) 21500. Government news and events.

  • Talamua Magazine: Monthly; English/Samoan language; Samoan-owned; Talamua Publications Ltd. Managing editor: Apulu Lance Polu; American Samoa editor: Monica Miller. 4 Corners, Togafu'afu'a. PO Box 1321, Apia. Tel/Fax: (685) 23827. National and regional news magazine.
    Other news services:

    Tala Nei News

    Samoan newspapers published in New Zealand:

  • Samoa Observer (NZ Edition): Weekly; English/Samoan. PO Box 23457, Hunters Corner, Papatoetoe, Auckland. Tel: (649) 277 7818; Fax: (649) 277 7818.

  • Samoana: Weekly; 4 000; English/ Samoan language. Samoana Newspapers Ltd. 11 Mason St, Otahuhu, Auckland. Tel: (649) 270 3265; Fax: (649) 270 0182. Largest-selling Samoan newspaper in New Zealand.

  • Samoa Star: Weekly; 3 000; English/ Samoan. Samoa Media (NZ) Ltd. 355 Onehunga Mall, PO Box 13-616, Onehunga, Auckland. Tel: (649) 641457; Fax: (649) 641457.

  • Samoa Sun: Weekly; Samoan/English. 47 St George St, PO Box OMNI PDC 11, Papatoetoe, Auckland. Tel: (649) 277 7044; Fax: (649) 277 6178.

Radio:

  • Radio 2AP: Western Samoa Broadcasting Service. PO Box 1868, Apia. Tel: (685) 21420.

Television:

  • Televise Samoa: Western Samoa Broadcasting Service. PO Box 1868, Apia. (Tel: 685) 26641; Fax: (685) 24789.

Internet News:

Copyright © 1996-9 David Robie. 16 February 1999

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