Raro community host Samoan leaders

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Raro community host Samoan leaders

Tags: Polynesian Leaders Group, Samoan community in the Cook Islands Posted date: August 29, 2012 | No comment

Samoan community in the Cook Islands hosted toonai for Governor Togiola Tulafono and Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi on Sunday

By Tupuola Terry Tavita

The Samoan community in the Cook Islands hosted Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and American Samoan governor Togiola Tulafono and their delegations to lunch this afternoon here in the heart of Rarotonga. They were accompanied by Cook Islands deputy prime minister Tom Marsters.

The two leaders were welcomed with a traditional Rarotongan turou at the St Joseph’s Cathedral at Avarua where they attended mass. Later, they were hosted to lunch by the community and given sua presentations.

Associate Minister Tafua Maluelue Tafua – who is accompanying the Prime Minister – thanked the community before an anecdotal address by Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi.

“Every year, some of our scholarship students go missing never to be seen again in Samoa. I see some of those faces around this hall this morning. I do not blame you as the Cook Islands are full of beautiful young men and young women who managed to lure you over.

“Mr Marsters, I guess Samoa’s loss is Cook Islands gain.�?

Tuilaepa provided the community with a brief update of the economic situation back home and reflected on the close ties between Samoa and the Cooks.

“On Friday, we were hosted to dinner by the Maoate family, a paramount family here in Rarotonga. That family I was told originated from their patriarch Lafala, the sister of the late Mata’afa Iosefo. She was just 17 when she brought over to avoid the bloody civil wars of the mid-18^th century. She ended up marrying a paramount chief here at Takitimu. That is why there is a lot of Mata’afa lineage here in Rarotnga. And before that, the people of Takitimu, I was told by late Prime Minister Tofilau Eti Alesana, originally came from the village of Patamea in Savaii.�?

Cook Islands businessman and community spokesman Luatua Navy Epati, thanked the Prime Minister and Governor for taking time out to visit them.

“Having Tuilaepa and Togiola here is a big occasion for us. Many of the Samoans and part-Samoans here in Raroronga have never been to Samoa or haven’t been there for years.�?

Vaaipu Tutangata – who has left here for over 20 years – said the community has been preparing for the lunch all week.

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