SPEECH by Hon. Toelupe Maoiautele Poumulinuku Onesemo Deputy Prime Minister / Minister of Works, Transport & Infrastructure

Lau Susuga Reverend Ieremia Saufo'i,

Hon. Speaker of the House - Lau Afioga Auu'apa'au Mulipola Aloitafua Mulipola,

Your Excellency Mr Ryotaro Suzuki - Ambassador of Japan,

Ms. Aliona Niculita - UNDP Resident Representative in Samoa,

Distinguished Members of the Diplomatic Corps,

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen.

Talofa lava and warm greetings to you all.

It is my great honor to welcome you to this historic occasion - the official launch of five electric boats, or e-alias, under the Climate Action Pathways for Island Transport (CAP-IT) Project.

First and foremost, I wish to acknowledge the Government of Japan for their generous funding and unwavering support for this initiative. Your commitment to climate resilience and sustainable development in Samoa is deeply appreciated.

I also extend special recognition to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), which has played a pivotal role as the Project Manager in implementing this project. Your leadership and technical expertise have ensured that this project moves from vision to reality.

To the Ministry of Works, Transport & Infrastructure (MWTI), thank you for enforcing safety compliance and conducting rigorous inspections and sea trials to guarantee the safe operation of these vessels.

To the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development (MWCSD), we appreciate your engagement with the five villages of Faleῡ, Apai, Lepuia'i, Salua, and Namu'a in ensuring community ownership and smooth integration of these vessels.

Finally, I greet and thank all village representatives, stakeholders, and partners present today for your collaboration and support.

The CAP-IT Project is a cornerstone of Samoa's efforts to build climate resilience and sustainable transport systems.

The introduction of electric alias marks a significant step toward:

• Reducing carbon emissions,

• Protecting our marine environment, and

• Promoting clean energy solutions.

This initiative aligns with Samoa's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and our commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is a clear demonstration of how innovation can drive climate action in Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

This achievement reflects the strength of partnerships - between the Samoa Government, development partners, and our communities. It shows that international cooperation can deliver practical solutions for the unique challenges faced by island nations like ours.

These e-alias will:

• Support local livelihoods,

• Improve safe transportation, and

• Enhance resilience in coastal communities.

This initiative serves as a model for future green transport projects in Samoa and across the Pacific region. It strengthens our resolve to reduce dependency on fossil fuels and protect marine ecosystems for generations to come.

In closing, I express my deepest gratitude to all partners and stakeholders for your collaboration and dedication. Let us continue working together to advance sustainable maritime transport and climate adaptation initiatives.

It is now my honor to officially declare the launch of the five electric boats - our e-alias - under the CAP IT Project.

Faafetai tele lava. Soifua ma ia manuia.

TATALAINA O VAA ELETISE E LIMA MO MANONO [12 Tesema 2025]

SAUNOAGA AUTU afioga ia Toelupe Maoiautele Poumulinuku Onesemo, Sui Palemia ma le Minisita o le Matagaluega o Galeuga, Felauaiga ma Atinae Tetele.

Lau Susuga i le Faafeagaiga Ieremia Saufo'i,

Lau Afioga i le Fofoga Fetalai - Auu'apa'au Mulipola Aloitafua Mulipola,

Lau Afioga i le Ambassador o Iapani - Mr. Ryotaro Suzuki,

Ms. Aliona Niculita - Sui o le UNDP i Samoa,

Sui mamalu o le Vaega o Sui Fa'alemalo,

Mamalu i Malo Faaaloalogia, ma i latou uma o loo auai i lenei aso,

Talofa lava ma faafeiloa'i atu i le agaga fa'aaloalo.

O se fiafiaga sili ia te a'u le fa'afeiloa'i atu i lo outou paia ma le mamalu ua aofia i lenei aso tāua - le faalauiloaina aloa'ia o va'a eletise e lima, poo e-alias, i lalo o le poloketi Climate Action Pathways for Island Transport (CAP-IT).

Muamua lava, ou te fia faailoa le agaga faafetai i le Malo o Iapani mo le fesoasoani tau seleni ma le lagolago tumau i lenei poloketi. O lo outou naunau e fesoasoani i le tete'e atu i suiga o le tau ma le atina'e gafataulimaina i Samoa e matuā tāua tele.

Ou te fia faailoa fo'i le faafetai tele i le United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), i la outou pitolaau o le Puleaina o le Poloketi aemaise ole faatinoina o lenei galuega. O la outou ta'ita'iga ma le tomai fa'apitoa ua mautinoa ai le faataunu'uina o lenei va'aiga mamao.

I le Matagaluega o Galuega, Felauaiga & Atina'e Tetele (MWTI), fa'afetai mo le faamautῡina o le tausisia o Tulafono mo le saogalemu o vaa, faapea le faia o su'esu'ega ma faata'ita'iga ile sami ina ia mautinoa le saogalemu o nei va'a eletise.

I le Matagaluega o Tina ma Tamaitai, Atina'e o Nuu ma Afio'aga ma Agafesootai (MWCSD), faafetai i lo outou sao aua le logologopuialii o Afioaga o Faleū, Apai, Lepuia'i, Salua, ma Namu'a - ina ia mautinoa le umia e afioaga taitasi ma le faaogaina lelei o nei aseta.

Ou te faafeiloa'i atu foi male agaga faafetai i Sui o Afioaga uma o Manono ma Namu'a, Pa'aga tau Atina'e, ma i latou uma o loo lagolagoina lenei galuega tāua.

O le Poloketi CAP-IT o se vaega autū i taumafaiga a Samoa e fausia le gafataulimaina ma le malosi e tete'e atu i suiga o le tau i auala o fela'ua'iga.

O le faauluina mai o vaa eletise e faailoa ai se laasaga tāua i le:

• Fa'aitiitia o kasa oona e faaaogaina e vaa,

• Puipuia o le si'osi'omaga o le sami, ma

• Fa'alauiloa le fa'aaogaina o le malosiaga mama.

O lenei poloketi e ogatasi ma sini autu o Sao Fuafuaina a Samoa (NDCs) aemaise o le Sini Tau-atina'e Gafataulimaina (SDGs). O se faamaoniga manino lea o le mafai ona fa'aaogaina ma una'ia taumafaiga e tetee atu i suiga o le tau i Atunu'u Laiti Tau-atia'e (SIDS).

O le ausia o lenei sini taua e fa'aalia ai le malosi o le galulue fa'atasi - i le va o le Malo o Samoa, Pa'aga Tau-atina'e, ma le mamalu lautele o le atunuu. E faaalia ai fo'i le tāua o le galulue fa'ava-o-Malo e fo'ia ai lu'itau e feagai ma atunu'u laiti e pei o Samoa.

O nei va'a eletise o le a:

• Fesoasoani mo auala o fela'ua'iga i afioaga taitasi,

• Fa'aleleia le saogalemu o fela'uaiga, ma

• Fa'amalosia le gafatia ona tetee atu i suiga ole tau

O lenei poloketi, o le a avea foi ma fa'ata'ita'iga mo isi galuega gafataulimaina o fela'uaiga i Samoa ma le Pasefika. E fa'amalosia ai lo tatou naunau e fa'aitiitia le faalagolago i suau'u ma puipuia le si'osi'omaga o le sami mo tupulaga o le lumana'i.

Upu Faaiu - ou te fa'ailoa le agaga fa'afetai i pa'aga uma ma i latou sa galulue ma lagolagosua i lenei galuega tāua. Tau ina ia o tatou fa'aauau pea le galulue fa'atasi e una'ia fela'ua'iga gafataulimaina ma poloketi e tete'e atu i suiga o le tau.

Ua ou fa'ailoa nei le faalauiloaina aloa'ia o va'a eletise e lima - poo tatou e-alias - i lalo o le Poloketi CAP-IT.

Fa'afetai tele lava. Soifua ma ia manuia.