In an effort to address claims made by Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt to justify banning the Samoa Observer from his press conferences, the newspaper sought further clarification from the Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet this week.

An email sent on Wednesday to Chief Executive Officer Agafili Shem Leo and Press Secretary Nanai Lave Tuiletufuga outlined questions on each of the five reasons initially cited for the ban.

The Samoa Observer also invited the Government to identify any corrections it believed were necessary, saying it would take appropriate action in line with the masthead’s editorial standards.

Despite this, no response was received.

On Thursday afternoon, the Prime Minister issued an updated statement on social media acknowledging the reaction the ban had caused, describing the move not as a ban but a “temporary suspension.”

The PM’s statement says the suspension was intended to hold the Samoa Observer accountable and to encourage reporting that is “factual, accurate and impartial… with integrity and professionalism.”

He added that he hoped the suspension would lead to “a fruitful way forward” for the newspaper and other media outlets.

The revised statement also reduced the five original justifications for the ban to two.