After a three-year delay, the Journalists Association of Samoa will hold its annual general meeting in December following growing concerns from its members.

The issue was brought up by media practitioners at a debriefing for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) held this week.

President of the Journalist Association of [Western] Samoa (JAWS), Lagi Keresoma and her executive fronted members of the industry who are losing patience with the lack of action and answers.

Senior journalist Galumalemana Tipi Autagavaia hammered the executive for neglecting internal issues of the media association that should be addressed and settled.

A member of the Media Council that somehow no longer operates citing the executives' failure to provide support, Galumalemana urged the President and her executive to prioritise its in-house matters.

He also called out the executive for being dormant and lack of activities for its members saying he was fed up with the excuses.

Other members who attended the meeting agreed with the concerns raised and in support of holding an AGM soon.

Another member also suggested the AGM would be the right medium to discuss issues about the organisation's name and whether it should be renamed to cover broadcasters and other technical areas of the media and amend laws accordingly.

President Keresoma was apologetic and accepted the grievances raised against the executive.

She said the executives were not sitting idle and had been working in the background to find solutions to outstanding matters.

Keresoma told members the AGM will be held on 6 December this year and the venue will be confirmed later.

The last time the JAWS had its AGM was in 2021 during the tenure of former president Rudy Bartley when the incumbent executive was elected into office.

The executive had continuously delayed the convening of the meeting claiming they were yet to receive audited financial reports essential for discussion with members and for transparency.

JAWS was founded in 1991 and in 2013 was deregistered as an incorporated society after failing to complete its paperwork.

It is now a statutory body and reports directly to Parliament.