Agafili Shem Leo, Chief Executive Officer for the Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, clarified on Thursday that media restrictions for October’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) are based on the Commonwealth Bluebook guidelines.
Speaking at a CHOGM sub-committee press conference, Agafili explained that the Bluebook has been used for over 20 previous CHOGM events as a preparation guide. He emphasized that the media conditions in place are not imposed by the Samoan government but come from the Commonwealth itself.
“These are not conditions from the government of Samoa,” Agafili said, noting that all preparations follow the Bluebook’s terms.
The guidelines, which include media accreditation and workspace setups, also govern other committees, such as transportation, venues, and security.
Contradicting the earlier statement from Media Sub-Committee Chair Lefaoalii Unutoa Auelua-Fonoti, who said media must follow government directions, Agafili stressed the importance of collaboration.
A media pool system will be used, with journalists sharing information and content provided by official photographers and broadcasters, including Radio 2AP, TV9, and MMG Communications, which were awarded the host broadcast rights through a tender process.
Source: PACNEWS