Samoa’s Prime Minister, La’auialemalietoa Leuatea Polāta’ivao Fosi Schmidt, has reaffirmed his unwavering position on the ban of the Samoa Observer newspaper from attending press conferences. This extends not only to the Prime Minister but also includes Cabinet Ministers. During his weekly press conference, when questioned about the possibility of revisiting this decision, the Prime Minister responded firmly, stating, “If there is no change, we will continue as we are, and the ban will remain.”
The Samoa Observer has faced restrictions since November 2025, following reports that the Prime Minister deemed as inaccurate and damaging. The catalyst for the suspension was a report that outlined a supposed trip by the newly appointed Attorney General Mauga Precious Chang to Fiji for a meeting, which was subsequently found to be untrue. The Prime Minister expressed his concerns regarding the sourcing of such information.
In a previous statement, he explained that the suspension aims to hold the Samoa Observer accountable to the standards of factual, accurate, impartial journalism, emphasizing the importance of ethical reporting. He cited specific incidents that fueled the ban, including:
1. An editorial postulating discord between him and the Deputy Prime Minister during his absence in New Zealand.
2. A piece discussing a chair used during a meeting that was flagged as false, without supporting evidence provided by the Observer.
3. An article claiming that he was advised not to meet foreign officials during his medical leave, which he characterized as an attempt to undermine his authority.
4. A report about a supposed meeting involving the Deputy Prime Minister and officials that never occurred, further highlighted as a “phantom meeting” by a government official.
5. An invasion of privacy incident where journalists trespassed into his private residence despite police interventions.
The Prime Minister criticized the Observer for not seeking comments from the implicated officials prior to publication, leading to the decision to maintain the ban until a change in conduct is observed. The ongoing situation underscores the delicate balance between press freedom and the integrity of information, reminding all involved of the significant impact media has on public perception and governance.
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