Samoa
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| National motto: Faavae i le Atua Samoa (Samoa is founded on God) | |||||
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| Official languages | Samoan, English | ||||
| Capital |
Apia 13°35′S 172°20′W |
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| Head of State | Malietoa Tanumafili II | ||||
| Prime Minister | Tuila'epa Sailele Malielegaoi | ||||
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Area - Total - % water |
Ranked
165th 2944 km² 0.3% |
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Population - Total (Jul 2004 Est.) - Density |
Ranked
174th 177,714 60/km² |
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| HDI ( 2003) | 0.776 ( 74th) – medium | ||||
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Independence - Date |
From New
Zealand January 1, 1962 |
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| Currency | Tala (WST) | ||||
| Time zone | UTC -11 | ||||
| National anthem | The Banner of Freedom | ||||
| Internet TLD | .ws | ||||
| Calling Code | 685 | ||||
The Independent State of Samoa (conventional long form) or Samoa (conventional short form) is a country comprising a group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean. Previous names were German Samoa from 1900 to 1914 and Western Samoa from 1914 to 1997. It was recognized by the UN only on 15 December 1976 ( UN members) as Samoa. The entire group was known as Navigators' Islands before the 20th century due to the Samoans' excellent seafaring skills.
History
The first polynesians to have arrived in the Samoan islands either came from Southeast Asia, or South America more than 4000 years ago and from there settled the rest of Polynesia further to the east. Samoa enjoys a rich history, of which is preserved in folklore, and myth, of voyages across the ocean, conquests of different islands, and inter-island war with the other polynesian empires of Fiji, and Tonga. It is believed that a temple found in the island of Manono has a record of a system of stones, that commemerates over 150 cases of war. Robert Louis Stevenson, the famed Scottish author who would spend the remainder of his life in Samoa would later make the statement, "War is Samoa's favorite pastime." Contact with Europeans began in the early 1700s but did not intensify until the arrival of English missionaries and traders in the 1830s. During this time period the Samoans were given a reputation of being savage and warlike, as they clashed with the French, German, British, and American soldiers who valued Samoa as a refueling station in the pacific. With increased interest of Germany, who viewed the island as the "jewel of its new empire", America quickly capitalized, laying it's own claim to the territory. British forces would also send troops to express Britains interest. What insued was an 8 year civil war, in which both sides would get involved on behalf of who would benefit their interest. Supplying arms, training, and in some cases getting personaly involved. With all three sending warships into Apia harbour, war seemed imminent, until a massive storm destroyed all three ships, ending the millitary conflict. At the turn of the 20th century, the Samoa Islands were split into two parts. The eastern group became territories of the United States, the Tutuila islands in 1900, and officialy Manua in 1905 and today are known as American Samoa. The western islands became known as German Samoa, then Western Samoa after passing from German control to New Zealand in 1914. British gave up claims to the islands in return for Tonga and Fiji. From then on New Zealand controlled Samoa under Trusteeship through the League of Nations until the 1960's, after the Samoans during a "peaceful" protest known as the Mau movement expelled the foreign occupation for its mistreatment of the Samoan people, and the killing of 1/3 of its population during the Spanish Flu pandemic that ravaged the islands in 1918. In 1962 Western Samoa became the first Pacific Island state to regain its independence.
In July 1997, the Constitution was amended to change the country's name from Western Samoa to Samoa. Samoa had been known simply as Samoa in the United Nations since joining the organization in 1976. The neighboring U.S. territory of American Samoa protested at the move, feeling that the change diminished its own Samoan identity. American Samoans still use the terms Western Samoa and Western Samoans to describe the Independent State of Samoa (aka Samoa as written above).
Politics
System of Government
The 1960 Constitution, which formally came into force with independence, is based on the British pattern of parliamentary democracy, modified to take account of Samoan customs. Two of Samoa's paramount chiefs (Tama Aiga) at the time of independence were given lifetime appointments to jointly hold the office of head of state while a third became its first Prime Minister. Malietoa Tanumafili II has held this post alone since the death of his colleague in 1963. His eventual successor will be selected by the legislature for a 5-year term. At the time the Constitution was adopted it was anticipated that future Heads of State would be chosen from among the high chiefs. However, this is not required by the Constitution and for this reason Samoa is considered a republic rather than a monarchy.
The unicameral legislature, named the Fono Aoao Faitulafono, (National Legislative Assebly)contains 49 members serving 5-year terms. Forty-seven are elected from territorial districts by ethnic Samoan districts; the other two are chosen by the nation's non-Samoans on separate electoral rolls. Universal suffrage was extended in 1990, but only chiefs (matai) may stand for election to the Samoan seats. There are more than 25,000 matais in the country, about 5% of whom are women. The prime minister is chosen by a majority in the Fono and is appointed by the chief of state to form a government. The prime minister's choices for the 12 cabinet positions are appointed by the chief of state, subject to the continuing confidence of the Fono.
The judicial system is based on English common law and local customs. The Supreme Court is the court of highest jurisdiction. Its chief justice is appointed by the chief of state upon the recommendation of the prime minister.
Politics
Since 1982, the majority party in the Fono has been the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP). HRPP leader Tofilau Eti Alesana served as prime minister for nearly all of the period between 1982 and 1998, when he resigned due to health reasons. Tofilau Eti was replaced by his deputy, Tuila'epa Sailele Malielegaoi.
Parliamentary elections were held in March 2001. The Human Rights Protection Party, led by Tuila'epa Sailele Malielegaoi, won 30 of the 49 seats in the current Fono. The Samoa National Development Party, led by Le Mamea Ropati, is the main opposition. Other political parties are the Samoan Progressive Conservative Party, the Samoa All Peoples Party, and the Samoa Liberal Party.
Districts
- A'ana
- Aiga-i-le-Tai
- Atua
- Fa'asaleleaga
- Gaga'emauga
- Gagaifomauga
- Palauli
- Satupa'itea
- Tuamasaga
- Va'a-o-Fonoti
- Vaisigano
Geography
Samoa is located east of the international dateline and south of the equator, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand in the Polynesian region of the South Pacific. The Samoas are of volcanic origin and the total land area is 2934 sq km, consisting of the two large islands of Upolu and Savai'i which account for 96% of the total land area, and eight small islets: Manono, Apolima, Nuutele, Nuulua, Namua, Fanuatapu, Nuusafee and Nuulopa. The main island of Upolu is home to nearly three-quarters of Samoa's population and its capital city is Apia. The climate is tropical with the average annual temperature of 26.5°C, and a rainy season from November to April.
Economy
The economy of Samoa has traditionally been dependent on development aid, private family remittances from overseas, and agricultural exports. The country is vulnerable to devastating storms. Agriculture employs two-thirds of the labor force, and furnishes 90% of exports, featuring coconut cream, coconut oil, noni, and copra. Outside of a large automotive wire harness factory, the manufacturing sector mainly processes agricultural products. Tourism is an expanding sector; more than 70,000 tourists visited the islands in 1996. The Samoan Government has called for deregulation of the financial sector, encouragement of investment, and continued fiscal discipline. Observers point to the flexibility of the labour market as a basic strength for future economic advances.
Demographics
The Fa'a Samoa, or traditional Samoan way, remains a strong force in Samoan life and politics. Despite centuries of European influence, Samoa maintains its historical customs, social systems, and language, which is believed to be the oldest form of Polynesian speech still in existence. Only the Māori of New Zealand outnumber the Samoans among Polynesian groups (though virtually no full-blooded Māori still exist).
98% of Samoans are Christians, divided among many different churches, among them: Congregationalist (34.8%), Roman Catholic (19.6%), Methodist (15%), Latter-Day Saints (12.7%), Assembly of God (6.6%), Seventh-day Adventist (3.5%), and other Christian (4.5%). Hardly any other religious group exists in Samoa, except for the Bahá'ís, which make up 2% of the population. In addition to the Head of State, His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili II being a Bahá'í, Samoa hosts one of only seven Bahá'í Houses of Worship in the world. Completed in 1984 and dedicated by the Head of State, it is located in Tiapapata, eight km from Apia.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Samoa has a large sex imbalance, apparently caused by the large-scale emigration of women. [1] The cause of this is not apparent.