Cherelle, You failed to ask why these new notes are even being printed at all. For such a fragile economy,rolling out new notes makes about as much difference to the cost of living, inflation, and job creation as RHD. In fact this appears to be nothing less than another expensive example of Govt. window dressing. Real issues take compassion, courage and vision to resolve; characteristics the HRPP has proven time and again to know little about.

I think this is a really good move as there still an increasing number of counterfeit notes..Hey Veta, have you thought about that? Maybe not as I'm sure you're one of those living overseas and trying to voice out your concerns about the country you have long abandon...You may seem to comment about our economy but are you even contributing in? I don't think so! So please just keep your concerns to yourself but just comment about the article whether it is a good move or not and you don't need to justify.
Well done peepz!

I still can't see how new notes are going to improve the lives of even one person; for example in your village Siula. Will it get them jobs, or provide education opportunities? Perhaps the new money will bring more export opportunities for your village overseas. No. The new money will brings nothing of benefit to you Siula, or your village. The new money will continue to lose face value, just like the old money. Your assinine comments are worth about as much.

1. There is counterfeit Samoan money?...why?...it’s a stupid undertaking....it’s like someone counterfeiting a painting by Siaula versus a Picasso.... lol! And if it’s that big of a problem, then why encourage it by printing “counterfeit-able” bills - $50 & $100 esp?

2. Siaula e, living overseas does not mean the sojourners have abandoned Samoa. Have you heard of the word “REMITTANCES”? You need to go down to the MOF and they’ll give you a nice lecture on remittances. Right now, I am sitting in front of the Western Union office (typing this with my laptop) to receive some wired funds from ex wife (Samoan) for alimony and child support. Se se’i fink faalelei kakou ma le kele o mea fufulu ...lol ...so e le o se good move le post a ‘oe.

3. I wouldn’t be surprised if the new design has a picture of a Chinese govt leader ....hahahahaa....who knows, China may have funded the whole project too...lol

Veta wins the award for completely and utterly missing the point. The new notes are much more secure than the old ones which prevents counterfeit crime and corruption. The aim of the new notes was never meant to get people jobs or improve their education and the Central Bank never said they were supposed to do this.

My point Geoff is that counterfeiting on such a infintisemal level hardly warrants a complete, expensive revamp of our paper currency. This was my tacit premise. Treasury may have decided that to promote more spending in a slow economic cycle, lets put out nice new notes as a p.r measure. While the correaltion between spending on new notes and proper economic opportunities may appear spurious, the rationale is still glaringly valid. Money spent on real initiatives e.g. job creation, healthcare to improve Samoans daily lives is a sound investment. Is this current administration achieving that? Visit a primary school, visit the hospital. Talk to the staff. In such a low trust politicial climate, it would not be unthinkable to imagine that the Central Bank, the Audit Office etc are merely passengers in a bigger, more odious game of fiscal hide and seek. One of us is being naive.

About this whole counterfeiting thing it is true that the new notes will be secured and hence prevent people from printing them because they're using the plastic for the new ones just like NZD.However it's sad to see people making a big fuss out of this.You should all be happy that this has nothing to do with the economy or health and education. They are also using our late Head of State's image to honour him and that's something to be proud of.The new notes will be a remarkable change too as I'm sure people are still trying to adapt to their new right-hand drive cars but it's pretty amazing how I've seen these cars from NZ roaming around in Apia and Savaii.And these cars are not bad looking at all they look brand new to me.Se soia le taufaaleaga ae tatou pulupululima faatasi ma alofagia si o tatou faigamalo ma le atunuu.Samoa mo Samoa!

I guess it's jus the wrong time for new bank notes. It just seems like a waste of money especially in the current climate. Prices are skyrocketing here in Samoa - basic foodstuffs are going up every month, fuel has been going up by nearly 30sene a month, electricity is getting ridiculous and on top of all that is the costly move to change the side of the road we drive on.

Veta, the plan to introduce new more secure notes has been in the pipeline for 4 years. It is not something the govt just thought of over a couple of vailimas two weeks ago. The introduction of the new notes is in conjunction with recent Anti-Money Laundering legislation is part of the ongoing Samoa Development Strategy 2008-2012 in relation to strengthening financial security measures to support the growth of investor confidence in the economy.

Regional aid partners, New Zealand and especially Australia are very keen on this area of Samoan development. They are very keen on Samoa not becoming a "back-door" entry point into NZ and Australia for international terrorist networks who could funnel funds through third world countries with lax financial security infrastructure in place. If you think the pigs are flying, you would do good to remember that only a few years ago, Tongan "ships of convenience" were used by Al Qaeda cells to ferry material around the globe. The CIA wasn't too happy with that.

In short, it isn't a waste of money. The cost of the introduction of these new notes is dwarfed by the budget allocations given to education and health in the budget every year - see the budget allocations at www.mof.gov.ws

The new notes are part of a much wider strategy of policy initiatives aimed at strengthening Samoa's financial security infrastructure. These directly meet Samoa's foreign policy objectives in the region and its obligations under international agreements.

Malo Charlie's angels,se kiga le aulelei o keige ga e sau i lou aka kifaga, ae le kaikai maua le makaga o lou mafaufau.Ae aua eke popole, o kaavale RHD la e ke fai mai ai,e le o koe umi ae kofu uma Migisika ma lakou sui ma kaavale fou RHD i le kausaga fou, ma totogi uma lava ga taavale i tupe iila fou lena ete fiafia iai.Ia e nofo ma e malamalama, pau lava le taimi e pai ai tatou tagata i ga taavale fou a le malo,o le taimi e sui ai le pau nei tei ua palapala o latou aao pe maosiosia a ea? Ia faapea la oe e kea le malo ma ga mau mea iila i a kakou.You r da man with da plan.Knock yourself out.

For a war on terrorism that Samoa that we had no interest in (R.I.P Am.soldier uso's) all these security measures are the result of an absurd $354m a month war sponsored by the U.S. The CIA (a la WMD) and Texas George have irresponsibly ignited this global paranoia. This is now a part of Samoans lvies and we want nothing to do with it this insanity. We all know about Tonga flags of convenience, but what of it. The question is why the five permanent nations on the UN Security Council (Fr, UK, US, Chna and Russia) are the biggest arms manufacturers, and distirbtuors on the planet. One mans terrorist is another mans freedom fighter and so on, but your position borders on fallacy.

Because Samoa is a hard up for cashflow, our foreign policy that you mention is not really our own when it comes to things money.This gives our regional aid partners N.Z, but mainly Aussie, the franchise to that political favourite the "Carrot and Stick Show". Your dogma is a further reflection of this. Four long years of allowing even more counterfeiting implies that this was not as serious a matter as you pretend. Niether is investor confidence (in what?) a good reason. One ray of light though is if Aust/NZ stop being so economically selfish towards Samoa. That they put their sizable mouths around redressing the massive trade inbalance they have enjoyed since Day One in our region.

I recommend you check the ministry of finance's report before you comment again.Pei uma la o oe leisi keige laga kuku mai ma Koailoa aea. Sau lava ou kala pei no a tomorrow ia lol. Well dude you really ought to think of the long run. I was one of those who went against but it took me months to try and sink everything in and finally understood the government's point about this whole situation.With the cost of oil increasing we don't need American cars to make our contry look expensive when we are struggling financially with these costs.I'm pretty sure you're one of those high paid people who ignore people like us with low incomes.Think of others and not just yourself.Yeah ministers may ride on those expensive and shining looking cars but why don't you try out for an MP position, you'll probably be like them as well but never the less those MP's are doing a great job and they deserve to go on those cars unlike you, just sit and complain about everything.Soifua and i look forward on seeing your name up here and reply anymore negative comments by you!

Every nation on the planet has to be assured that the integrity of the printed paper is neither hijacked or destabalized by fraud and counterfeits. From the design to the value of the tala. These things have to be accounted, for it does drastic cause and effects on the banking systems of nations.

The hope is that you are a step ahead of the color copiers and thieves. Besides the new notes look great. Proud to be Samoan when we have the ability to print our own money in this world, let me tell you!

Ia fa Soifua

Uso, my concern is not that you are illogical, but how willing you are to share your illogical thoughts with us.

So it was you that was drinking Vailima with Geoff about two weeks ago.

Veta, let me simply matters for you.

1. It is good for our foreign relations with countries such as Australia in the region, and territories closely related to the United States, like American Samoa. In the case of Australia and NZ, political confidence in Samoa provides a greater platform to improve economic relations. It adds greater confidence in Samoa's development efforts and gives Samoa credibility at the IMF, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and aid partners who are interested that development funds are managed well.

In the case of Australia and to a lesser extent, the United States, political confidence gives Samoa a greater platform to push its case in the UN and also on issues such as the Kyoto Protocol which Samoa wholeheartedly supports. This is an unstable region - tribal fighting in the Solomons, riots in Tonga, military coups in Fiji. Samoa's interest is to stand out in this region as a politically and economically stable country.

2. It is good for improving investor confidence in the economy. Secure currency (amongst other measures) improves the integrity of the financial sector in Samoa to do business. That is not just foreign investment from palagis, that is also domestic investment from locals living in Samoa and Samoans living abroad.

3. Compared to the budget allocations given to Health and Education every year, the cost of this initiative is small.

Hey Veta, who is Geoff? Oh well it's nice of you to share your views but let's all unite as one...We are all Samoan aren't we? Soifua

3. Compared to the budget allocations given to Health and Education every year, the cost of this initiative is small.

Bad reasoning. If you can justify the costing of any policy by comparing it to the Health and Education allocations, then you approve anything and worse, it trivializes the importance of Heath and Education.

Pau a ga.

Well, I wasn't the one who brought up the health and education argument was I? Veta originally said that the money that was spent on this would be better off being spent elsewhere... like Health and Education. I responded to that.

Pau a ga.