The Ministry of Education Sports and Culture (M.E.S.C.) joined the global community on Wednesday to mark International Archives Day.

The Ministry – through the National Archives and Records Authority – is celebrating the event from 9-11 June with the theme for this year’s celebrations revolving around the theme “empowering archives”.

M.E.S.C. Chief Executive Officer, Afamasaga Dr. Karoline Afamasaga, in a speech to mark the event acknowledged the support of the private sector before going on to emphasise the importance of archives in record keeping.

"The celebration today is the commemoration of National Archives Day by the Ministry and also acknowledge the support from private organisations as well as Government Ministries in the occasion we are in the process of finalizing policies in archives and policy in record keeping,” she said.

“It is very timely as we celebrate this significance on this day, this year emphasises three different ideas which mainly include everybody and everyone and also keeps the records of what you have done in the past.”

Afamasaga also acknowledged the support of Samoa’s development partners UNESCO, the Japan International Cooperation Agency, New Zealand and Australia as well as leadership and governance provided by the Pacific Regional Grant of the International Council of Archive.

“Also that it is very important according today's celebration having this selection of exhibition today and what we are doing today, what we have treasure today will benefit the future generation of Samoa as they will be coming back and ask and see for themselves what we have been keep for more than hundred years,” she said.

Giving the keynote address during the occasion on Wednesday, UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) Director and Residential Representative, Nisha, emphasised the importance of the National Archives Day in commemoration in Samoa.

"Samoa has lots of important methods and treasure that can be stored in archives, is for its people and students which is relevant for them and their studies in the near future, any kind of sources can be stored in so all of you no matter where you stay and lived wherever we go, we always find what we have been looking for when we look up and search archives,” she said.

"This message goes out to everyone who have participated in today's celebration, the work must be remembered to those who will be coming in the future so this long celebration we have seen exhibits we must acknowledge them and their work, the exhibition we have seen it today it picture us something that will expand our mind in the future.”

The National Archives and Records Authority was established in 1999 as part of the cultural preservation works of the Ministry and has opened as an official division since 2014. 

Its aim function is to collect and preserve records of importance to Samoa and strengthen record keeping across the country. 

And as noted, there are more than 20 materials within the archive and the collection continues to grow.

The celebration on Wednesday was attended by students of St Mary's College as well as teachers and government officials and sponsors.