Washington, D.C. — On Tuesday, Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata congratulated Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa on her historic leadership role as the first female Prime Minister of the Independent State of Samoa, which has been publicly recognized by statements from the U.S. Department of State along with New Zealand and Australia.

“I congratulate the Prime Minister, and wish her and her Government and the people of Samoa all the best,” Amata said. “Aside from being a source of pride for all of Samoa, Prime Minister Fiame also furthers her family’s already distinguished history of service to the people of independent Samoa, as her father was the nation’s first Prime Minister upon independence. She will oversee Parliament, including serving in a building named for her father. I’ve known her for years, we’ve spoken by telephone, and I know her father and my father were friends and respected each other.”

“I look forward to working with the Prime Minister on important issues that affect the United States, American Samoa, and Independent Samoa. I would also like to thank former Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition Tuila’epa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi for his many years of dedicated service to Independent Samoa and friendship to the U.S.

“We appreciate the longstanding friendship between American Samoa and Independent Samoa which has flourished throughout the years and will continue as we move forward.”