This is according to Chairman of the NEOC, Agafili Shem Leo in a statement following media queries regarding a certain family that allegedly travelled to Samoa to attend a funeral.
“If proven, passengers from Brisbane Australia alleged to have breached the COVID19 State of Emergency Orders by deliberately failing to declare and/or request Government for permission to come to Samoa for personal matters, (e.g. funeral) are liable to face criminal charges, pay a fine of not less than $2,000 tala or both,” said Agafili.
“The S.O.E. prohibits any person returning to Samoa for personal reasons and it is compulsory for them to file a formal request in writing with the appropriate local officials for authorization to do so.
But this was never the case for the flight from Brisbane Australia where 15 passengers remained in isolation after testing positive when they arrived last week.”
To date there are 20 COVID-19 cases in the Country. The latest are the
five registered nurses who provided health care for the positive cases while in isolation have also tested positive bringing the total to 20 positive cases.
“None of the 73 passengers on that flight had applied to N.E.O.C. or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for permission to travel to Samoa to attend a funeral or any other personal obligation.
“And if the allegations are proven, N.E.O.C. will file a formal criminal complaint with Police complemented by issuing the minimum fine of $2,000 tala prescribed by the S.O.E.
“This is the first time we have received information that some passengers on that flight had breached the SOE by travelling to Samoa to attend a funeral.
“It’s a blatant and deliberate violation of the SOE Orders.”
Agafili noted the N.E.O.C. under its due diligence and framework awaits the Incident Report to verify if there are sufficient grounds to refer the alleged S.O.E. breach to Police for the appropriate criminal action.
The NEOC Chairman further explained that Samoans with dual citizenship are also placed on notice.
He reiterated that while the Government respects their constitutional rights to use their Samoan citizenship to return home, there are also binding law requirements inked in the S.O.E. designed to protect the Government’s interests and well-being of local residents.
“The N.E.O.C. have documented cases implicating returning Samoans using their Dual Citizens to travel home as Samoan Citizens than departing for overseas a few weeks later using their New Zealand, Australia or U.S.A. citizenship.
"And yet local taxpayers are footing their repatriation expenses which include accommodation, meals and associated costs.”
