Samoa Attends the Launch of the Commonwealth Digital Roadshow Held in Vanuatu

2026-03-24 - 02:13

Pastor Carlos, Honorable Jotham Napat – Prime Minister, Government of Vanuatu, Your Excellency Nicolette Brent – British High Commissioner, Ms Bernadette Lewis – Secretary General for the Commonwealth Telecommunication Organization, Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, Warm Pacific Greetings, Talofa lava from Samoa! It is both a privilege and a pleasure to stand before you today to extend our sincere gratitude to the Government and people of Vanuatu for your warm hospitality and your gracious gesture in hosting this important forum of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organization. Your generosity of spirit reflects our Pacific family welcoming, inclusive, and deeply rooted in community. I acknowledge with appreciation the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organization timely and meaningful initiative. The launch of the Commonwealth Digital Roadshow in the Pacific as one of its 125 th Anniversary activity is a powerful demonstration of inclusion in action. It signals a clear recognition that the Pacific is not on the margins, but at the heart of global digital transformation conversations. It highlights how ICT are no longer optional but an essential tool to solve challenges we face today. Across the vast Blue Pacific, where distance and remoteness once defined our limitations, technology has become a bridge. It has brought us closer, connected our people, and opened pathways that were once unimaginable. Today, we are witnessing real progress on access to quality education and healthcare services where it is increasingly being realized through digital transformation. For small island developing states like Vanuatu and Samoa, these advancements are not abstract concepts they are tangible improvements in the lives of our people. Our nations share similar experiences and challenges, shaped by geography, vulnerability, and limited resources. Yet these very challenges have inspired us to develop solutions that are uniquely our own. Solutions grounded not only in innovation, but in our cultural and religious values. We believe in nurturing good digital citizens, who are guided by respect, responsibility, and integrity. In our villages, we teach humility, the importance of sharing what little we have to uplift others, and the strength of community obligation. We are guided by faith, that God provides, that He never fails, and that hope to sustain us even in times of uncertainty. As Chair, I am very supportive of the work being done across our region by CTO. I firmly believe that bringing the voices of our small villages into these discussions enrich the way we shape the future. While we have made progress, we must also acknowledge the work that remains. Connectivity, although improved, is no longer the only challenge. The quality of service is now critical, especially as demand grows for seamless and reliable access. Cybersecurity is an area that requires urgent attention. As we become more connected, we must also become more resilient. Strengthening our approaches to understand Artificial Intelligence, data management and enhancing digital literacy will ensure that our people can safely and effectively harness the benefits of technology. The programme for Vanuatu’s Commonwealth Digital Roadshow has been developed in response to the challenges that were identified by citizens and stakeholders in Vanuatu. The goal of the programme is to raise awareness and educate on the issues and to provide you with the insight and digital tools to advance progress on your digital journey. Samoa encourages all our Pacific neighbors to continue investing in these key areas. We cannot afford to be left behind. The digital future is here, and it must include us fully and meaningfully. God Bless, Soifua ma ia manuia.