A total 15 Samoans were awarded and honoured for their hard work, dedication, and outstanding service to the country and people in the Samoa Honours and Awards ceremony on Wednesday evening. 

The prestigious ceremony which was incepted in 1993 made a comeback this year after a six-year hiatus and was one of the finales for the country's year-long 60th Independence anniversary celebrations. 

Held on the Parliament grounds in Tiafau, Mulinu'u, the event was attended by Leaders of the government, churches, members of the diplomatic corps, leaders of neighboring island countries, the recipients, their families and friends. 

Samoa's Head of State, His Highness Tuimaleali'ifano Va'aletoa Sualauvi II was given the honor of presenting the awards to the recipients of the Honors and Awards Investitures for this year. 

The recipients include the Former Head of State, Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Tupuola Efi. The 85-year-old was Samoa's head of state from 2007 to 2017. He was Prime Minister of Samoa from 1976 to 1982 and again later in 1982. 

2) Gatoloaifa’aana Tilianamua Afamasaga: She has been active in teaching and teacher training for over 40 years. In 2016 she was awarded the Krishna Datt Award for Excellence in Trade Unionism and Leadership in the Pacific. She was educated at Samoa College, Hamilton Girls' High School, and Christchurch Teachers' College. She later studied at Victoria University and Macquarie University.

3) Palanitina Tupuimatagi Toelupe: Palanitina is a highly qualified, experienced, and respected senior Samoan public service leader with significant experience in health governance and health system strengthening. public health services in general, public health education, health promotion, disease prevention, and high-level public health leadership, management, and administration. She had held senior executive positions in the Samoan Government, including the Director General of Health (DGoH) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ministry of Health for 9 years (Feb 2005 – Feb 2014) and Assistant CEO of the Division for Women in the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development (MWCSD) from Sept 1998 – Jan 2005. 

4) Tusani Iosefatu Reti: For more than 40 years, Tusani has contributed to, and played an instrumental role in progressing the environment and conservation agenda in the Pacific. He has worked in the environment and resource management fields in Samoa and the Pacific. Through his dedication and commitment, he successfully accomplished key notable achievements such as the establishment of the Environment and Conservation Agency of the Government of Samoa and was appointed as the first Head of the Environment Agency in 1989. In 2000, he was the manager of the first GEF US $10 million funded regional project which spearheaded the establishment of 17 community-owned conservation areas in the Pacific islands region.

5) Asi Tuiataga James Fa'afili Blakelock: Former Samoa Police Commissioner from 1997-2003. He was also Samoa's High Commissioner to New Zealand.

6) Tuatagaloa Joe Annandale: Founder of the Poutasi Development Trust (P.D.T), and owner of Sinalei Resort, Tuatagaloa has been sending a lot of Samoans overseas for temporary employment opportunities and contributing back to the development of their families and country. 

7) Retired Reverend Tupu Folasa II: Former President of the Methodist church in Samoa and abroad and a well-known musician. 

8) Retired Reverend Tautiaga Senara: Former Chairman of the Congregational Christian Church Samoa (C.C.C.S.) now a mentor and teacher for the Malua Bible School in New Zealand. 

9) Sister Emanuela Betham: An educator, a former principal, and Sister of the Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary (S.M.S.M.). For almost 70 years – she has been making a difference in the lives of hundreds of Samoans – serving as a teacher, principal and a Sister of the S.M.S.M. Sister Emanuela has shaped the lives of many Samoans, some of them going on to become leaders in the Government, private corporations, multinational companies, churches, and villages and around the world. She hails from Leagiagi Aleipata and Leone and is the daughter of the late Gus Victor Betham and Sesilia Betham. From her humble beginnings at Saleaumua Primary School, Sr. Emanuela’s life has been one well lived.  Serving her God, she has spent time in Rome, many European countries, as well as the United States of America.

10) Brother Kevin O'Malley: He returned to Samoa in 2020 after twenty years, after he was appointed President of St. Joseph`s College, as well as the CEO of the College`s Governance Board. Brother Kevin has a long-time connection with St. Joseph`s College as a teacher and Principal, being in the latter role in the early 1970s and again through most of the 1990s. He was Director of Catholic Education for Samoa and American Samoa from 1979 through 1983. Brother Kevin left Samoa at the end of 2000, the Golden Jubilee Year of the College. His recent service was in Marist Schools in New Zealand and Kiribati.

11) Asuao Ta'alili Williams: Former Commissioner for the Fire and Emergency Service Authority (F.E.S.A.) 

12) Luaipou Sally Betham: A volunteer who has been involved with working the betterment of Samoans especially women

13) Sapa'u Lilomaiava Lolesio Vitale: Former Police Officer and Member of Parliament, and was a sports enthusiast.

14) Solialofi Papali'i Pisimaka: President of the Samoa Nursing Association.

15) Tuaopepe Asiata Jerry Wallwork: President of Samoa Weightlifting Association. 

Beginning in 1993, this prestigious government event is conducted on a biennial basis. The Honours and Awards ceremony is the Government’s most esteemed event and is governed under the Honours and Awards Act 1999 and the Honours and Awards Amendment Act 2018 which clearly prescribe 13 orders of merit and the corresponding criteria for eligibility and selection of awardees. The event also covers Samoa’s diaspora who have contributed significantly to the development of Samoa.