Contrary to State of Emergency orders about public gatherings, the Chief Executive Officers of the Ministry of Women Community and Social Development (M.W.C.S.D.), Afamasaga Faaiuga Mulitalo, says Village Councils have been given the green light to hold their monthly meetings. 

Afamasaga told the Samoa Observer the announcement “for the opening of village fono” was initially made on television “sometime last week…on Wednesday or Thursday.”

“It was already announced on TV that the village councils are able to do their usual meetings but to make sure they maintain social distancing,” Afamasaga said.

Social distancing requires two metres of distance between one person and the next.

A number of Village councils across Samoa met on Monday during the Mother's Day public holiday.

Many village councils clearly failed the social distancing rule as matai crammed into the meeting places.

It is not clear why the latest amendments to the state of emergency (S.O.E.) orders dated 8 May, 2020, do not reflect the opening of village council meetings which bring together more than five people.