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Chaos in Samoa on final day of voter registration

Samoa Police, Fire and Emergency Services treating people during voter registration in Samoa
Source: Samoa Global News

Apia, SAMOA — The scene was chaotic as thousands of people flocked to the EFKS Youth Hall at Mulinuu in the hope to process last-minute voter registrations before the official closure of electoral rolls, six months out from next year’s April 2021 general elections. Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Dr. Sa'ilele Malielegaoi announced  that Thursday was the final day to escape a $2,000 tala fine for anybody who fails to register for the elections.

The Samoa Police, Fire and Emergency Services and Red Cross Society all responded in efforts to control the crowds and treat people injured from broken glass doors, and others unconscious from being squashed up against each other as they desperately tried to enter the building.

Inside the hall at about 12 p.m in the afternoon, Samoa Global News spoke with a man, seen holding his 2-week old baby boy.

Junior Lavatai from Vaigaga said his wife had not yet registered, and was standing in the crowd while he looked after their baby. He said she was hoping to register because they would not afford the $2,000 tala being announced as the fine for anybody who fails to register for the elections.

“It was like a scene from a movie; women unconscious, injured people bleeding, people in the crowds panicking from not being able to breath, lucky the Police and FESA are there,” he said.

Mr Lavatai says he had witnessed a woman with blood gushing from her forehead, caused by a cut when the glass door of the building had shattered. He said he had also seen a man with a big cut on his hand, also caused by broken glass.

Another woman, Evelina Pereira from Vaiusu told Samoa Global News that she and her aunty had been queuing outside the EFKS Youth Hall since 3 a.m in the morning.

She said they were amongst more than a hundred people who arrived at Mulinu’u at 3 a.m this morning, many had been there when they arrived.

Asked why they did not register earlier, when the team at the Electoral Commissioner’s Office had gone out to the community, Evelina claimed that they did put out white ribbons as requested, but did not get a visit from the Office.

Thousands packed into the EFKS Youth Hall in Apia on the final day of voter registration in Samoa, while hundreds crowded outside the doors waiting to get in. The Samoa Police, Fire and Emergency Services and Red Cross Society all responded in efforts to control the crowds and treat people injured from broken glass doors, and others unconscious from being squashed up against each other as they desperately tried to enter the building. Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Dr. Sa'ilele Malielegaoi had announced that Thursday was the final day to escape a $2,000 tala fine for anybody who failed to register for the elections. [screenshot from Samoa Global News website]

As the registration continued, three toddlers who looked to have been between 1-3 years old age became separated from their mothers as children were seen being carried over the crowds to be taken to safety inside the hall.

Unable to speak or tell authorities who their parents names, the distraught babies were taken up to the stage of the EFKS hall for people to see, however, it was feared their mothers may have been amongst women who had been taken away unconscious, or in the crowds outside the hall unable to see the stage, nor hear the announcements.

Authorities took two of the three babies to Police Headquarters in Apia.