Samoa’s Prime Minister, Fiamē Naomi Mata’afa, has announced a two-month gun amnesty aimed at ensuring the safety and security of world leaders attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in October.
The amnesty, which began on 1 August and runs until 30 September, is the third of its kind since 2015 and seeks to reduce illegal firearms and ammunition within the community.
“The intention is for individuals in possession of unlawful firearms and ammunitions to surrender them without prosecution during the amnesty period,” Fiamē stated during the launch of Gun Amnesty 2024. She emphasized the critical importance of safety for the upcoming CHOGM, where Samoa will serve as the incoming Chair.
Residents who participate in the amnesty are being offered food vouchers worth $100 tala. Past amnesties have seen significant success, with 596 firearms and 725 pieces of ammunition surrendered since 2015.
The gun amnesty comes as Samoa prepares to host CHOGM, marking the first time a Pacific nation has hosted the biennial event.
To ensure security, almost 200 officers from Tonga, Fiji, New Zealand, and Australia will assist Samoa during the meeting, according to Police Commissioner Auapa’au Logoitino Filipo.
