Letters To Editor: Samoa Cancels ANZAC Day

Friday, 25 April 2008, 10:09 am
Opinion: Scoop Feedback

What Did They Die For?

An age old tradition and observance has been finally put to rest. Anzac Day has been cancelled in the small island nation of W. Samoa. Having been observed and commemorated since the events of 1915, Anzac Day has always been observed in Samoa probably since the islands were annexed to New Zealand.

Now, thanks to somebody in high authority, the observance of Anzac Day has been cancelled. The main consensus being that there are too many public holidays in Samoa.

This comes from a country that held the South Pacific games last year and closed all education and government institutions to Facilitate the games and the housing of the athletes.

So far there has been no comment forthcoming from the Australian High Commission or the New Zealand High Commission in W. Samoa. An official notification or explanation has not been forthcoming from the government either, no notices in local newspapers or official explanation on the annually released list of public holidays and proclamations.

For a country who has benefited from the assistance of both neighboring governments and continues to do so, it is basically a slap in the face for those who perished and their ancestors and offspring and one question needs to be asked, “Where would the people of Samoa be today if it were not for the sacrifices that others have made to give and allow the nations of all the Pacific Islands the freedom that they enjoy today.

(Name Withheld) Samoa

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