Samoa’s new Minister of Health says a planned travel bubble with New Zealand will not happen until the country’s eligible population are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
The former leader of the Samoa National Development Party (SNDP), Valasi Tafito Selesele, told the Samoa Observer that the latest amendments to the State of Emergency Orders was only to start the conversation.
“The only priority now is to push for our vaccine but it’s not to say that [travel bubble to New Zealand] will kick off next week,” he said.
“That [S.O.E. orders] is to start looking into the possibility of that conversation and negotiations for the long run but there are certain things that need to be in place like our vaccination drive.”
The new Faatuatua I le Atua Samoa ua Tasi Party government has targeted American Samoa and New Zealand to be the first borders to be opened through travel bubbles.
It is already in discussions to look at allowing one weekly return flight between the two Samoas as well as opening up passengers to travel on the inter-island ferry service which currently only carries freight each fortnight.
Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has voiced concern at what he says are FAST plans to dismantle the so far successful plans to combat coronavirus in Samoa.
“The recent travel bubble between New Zealand and Australia has had to be cancelled because of increased infections and particularly the discovery of the Delta variant which is causing real problems for our neighbours Fiji,” he said.
He warned not to risk people’s lives for the sake of making a profit for some business people.
Tuilaepa said there is also no need to rush into opening the borders with American Samoa who plans to restart commercial flights from COVID-19 infected Hawai’i soon.
Photo: Talamua Media
