DavidWardUK

British High Commissioner to Samoa, previously in Solomon Islands and Eritrea

[DavidWardUK @DavidWardUK2]

And a final present from Samoa as I leave for the airport - the skies have laid on the very same damp weather as when I arrived in January 2020. Acclimatizing me early to the weather back in the UK - only the rain here is still warmer!

[DavidWardUK @DavidWardUK2]

And farewell to my stalwart friend Brenda Heather-Latu, British Honorary Consul for ten years in Apia. Couldn’t have done anything without her advice and support. Thanks for everything.

[DavidWardUK @DavidWardUK2]

Farewell to my colleagues at the #BHCApia - a fantastic team that has done amazing work to get our new High Commission in Apia up and running. Good luck to my successor @GarethHoar who I know can rely on them!

[DavidWardUK @DavidWardUK2]

Final farewell call for me with PM Fiame. Hope that I am leaving UK-Samoa relations on firm ground for my successors. Been a privilege to be the first resident British High Commissioner in this beautiful country #Samoa. Thanks to everyone for your welcome here!

[DavidWardUK @DavidWardUK2]

One last ambition achieved before I leave Samoa - climbing Mt Vaivai, the highest mountain in Upolu under the expert leadership of James from the #SamoaConservationSociety, who told us all about the unique edemic flora and fauna. Here are the before and after pictures...

[DavidWardUK @DavidWardUK2]

Congratulations to Samoa on marking its Independence Day. PM Fiame raised the flag a few minutes ago, just as her father did as Samoa’s first PM in 1962.

[DavidWardUK @DavidWardUK2]

Congratulations to Samoa on the new 60 Tala banknote for the 60th anniversary of independence!Independent Samoa’s first PM on one side, and current PM on the other: father and daughter on one note! And all printed by UK firm De La Rue in (or at least near) my hometown, Newcastle!

[DavidWardUK @DavidWardUK2]

Sad to say fares to Samoan Agriculture Minister La’auli. Good luck with increasing Samoa’s exports. UK is already one of the biggest customers of Samoa’s organic coconut oil. I’m sure there’s demand for more of Samoa’s wonderful products.

[DavidWardUK @DavidWardUK2]

And farewell to Police Minister Harry Schuster - I will always remember his story of seeing the Magna Carta in London on its 800th anniversary : and also our shared memories of meeting Shiggy Konno, the Japanese former kamikaze pilot who led Japan Rugby Union for so many years!

[DavidWardUK @DavidWardUK2]

Taking my farewell from Acting PM Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio this morning at the Govenrment offices. My first farewell call, and a sadder moment than it might look! Thanks for everything!

[DavidWardUK @DavidWardUK2]

An honour to receive HH the Head of State and Masiofo and the Prime Minister of Samoa at BHC Apia's celebration of HM The King's Coronation last week. (Photos: Leota Marc Membrere an Eirenei Ariu - Savali Newspaper and Government of Samoa)

[DavidWardUK @DavidWardUK2]

Announcing a WS$33,000 grant agreement between the British High Commission and the Samoa Red Cross Association to help them construct a crisis relief supply post in Falealili. In disaster prone countries we might hope for the best, but should always prepare for the worst.

[DavidWardUK @DavidWardUK2]

Great that the UK can give this grant to Samoa Victim Support Group in their work to help support survivors of domestic and gender-based violence. SVSG will train twenty people to give psychological support for survivors, and produce new manuals for dealing with offenders.

[Samoa Observer @samoaobserver]

A friend in need is a friend indeed. The British High Commission has come to the aid of S.V.S.G. with a grant of over SAT$30,000. https://t.co/RBLuqTW20B

[DavidWardUK @DavidWardUK2]

Great to be back in Samoa after Christmas at home. And New Year means new fitness routine, so here’s the sunrise over Apia this morning from my first hike of the year up Mt Vaea. Still beautiful!

[DavidWardUK @DavidWardUK2]

Congratulations to the new class of Samoan police recruits, graduating this morning! Here they are celebrating with a traditional Siva Tao dance. And also some proud mothers storming the stage to join in! Samoa is in safe hands with such well brought-up police officers!

[DavidWardUK @DavidWardUK2]

Marking #WorldAIDSDay at a dawn candlelight service this morning with the Samoa Fa’afafine Association, Minister of Health and UN and international colleagues.

[DavidWardUK @DavidWardUK2]

Tackling gender-based and family violence is a priority for all. It costs Samoa 6% of GDP and 60% of women report having experienced GBV. Samoa is joining the #16DaysOfActivismAgainstGBV and yesterday celebrated receiving the Spotlight Award for its work so far. Keep it up!

[DavidWardUK @DavidWardUK2]

Samoa’s tourism industry continues to revive following the re-opening of the borders. Here’s the fourth cruise ship this month, and probably the biggest, in town today.

[DavidWardUK @DavidWardUK2]

Great to have you here @nigelshortchess . You trounced both of us in this picture! Hope you inspired a new generation of Samoan players to take up the baton.

[DavidWardUK @DavidWardUK2]

@nigelshortchess Alas, there were still two hours to our dinner reservation! And I suspect it might have taken a more substantial diversion for Nigel to succumb to a player of my modest level. Even having a former PM taking on one of the other tables was not enough of a distraction!

[DavidWardUK @DavidWardUK2]

Great to have had UK chess Grandmaster @nigelshortchess in Apia this weekend, playing many players at once. Here's how my game ended - I am black and took the white Queen! But a strange lapse of concentration allowed Nigel to checkmate me on the next move: a "smothered mate"!