United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has relayed his best wishes to Samoa as the country marked 58 years of Independence on Monday.

Secretary Pompeo thanked the Government of Samoa for helping them to repatriate about 300 Americans who were based in Samoa when Covid-19 was declared a pandemic.

In a 28 May statement published on the official U.S. Department of State website, Pompeo said: “On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, I send my best wishes to the people of Samoa as you celebrate your Independence Day on June 1.”

The United States and Samoa are close partners in the Pacific, he added.

“The United States and the Independent State of Samoa remain close and enduring partners in the Pacific.  Our two countries support shared values of democracy, freedom, rule of law, and prosperity,” he states.

“Samoa has endured a difficult year marked by the deadly measles epidemic, and now the COVID-19 pandemic. The United States and Samoa worked together to successfully defeat the measles outbreak, and we reaffirm our steadfast support to Samoa as you grapple with COVID-19, along with the rest of the world.”

He noted that when the U.S. Government was trying to bring its citizens home, the Government of Samoa extended a helping hand. 

“As the United States was trying to bring its citizens home in the face of COVID-19, I thank your government for helping us repatriate nearly three hundred Americans based in Samoa,” Secretary Pompeo said.

“Independence Day is a day to reflect upon and celebrate the freedoms we enjoy in democratic societies.  I wish the people of Samoa a Happy Independence Day!”