Police Will Escort Toa Samoa Parade, Issues Rules For Flags
Toa Samoa
Photo: Toa Samoa Facebook page
The Samoa Police will escort Toa Samoa supporters during a motorcade on Saturday afternoon that begins in Tuanaimato and concludes at the bus depot in Apia.
Annie Mana Smith, Event Organiser for the Samoa Outreach Community Centre (S.O.C.C.), the group that has been coordinating local Toa Samoa parades, told EyeSpy Radio News their permit has been approved by the police.
Motorcade organisers met with Acting Police Commissioner Leiataua Samuelu Afamasaga, police from the Traffic Division and other police officials on Friday.
“We did meet with the Acting Commissioner today and our permit for the parade has been approved,” Ms. Smith said on Friday afternoon.
“The police will escort the parade and they will be tailing us during the parade.”
The V8 Car Club and Fresh Off the Va’a have joined with Samoa Outreach to lead the autocade ahead of the Toa Samoa versus England match.
Police have issued a list of rules for participants, a few of them having to do with the National Flag of Samoa, said Ms. Smith.
Parade participants are erect their flags upright on vehicles. Participants are not allowed to wear the flag as an ie lavalava. Participants are also prohibited from wearing the flag as a cape.
The road will be blocked off in several places.
“This parade will be different from last week’s parade. The police will be in charge of this parade. They will escort our vehicles and lead from the front,” said Ms. Smith.
“They will also be tailing us at the back and stationed in several locations to maintain order and make sure the parade flows smoothly and the road will be blocked off in some areas.”
All vehicles that wish to join the parade in support of Toa Samoa must meet at 2 p.m. in Tuanaimato at the area behind the soccer field.
The parade will hit the road promptly at 4 p.m.
“The police will put up a post that will inform the public of the road blocks,” Ms. Smith said.
Vehicles that do not make the 4 p.m. departure time from Tunaimato will not be allowed to participate, she noted.
The parade will leave Tuanaimato at 4 p.m., travel through Lepea and Pesega, into Apia township, to Matautu and onward to Vaiala.
In Vaiala, the parade will make a u-turn and head back through Apia. It will conclude at the bus depot in Apia.
The area at the bus depot will be cordoned off and guarded by police for parade goers to chat, unwind, take photos and videos and just “make memories,” said Ms. Smith.
A DJ will provide music at the bus depot.
Unlicensed motorists and vehicles that are not registered are advised not to join the parade, she said.
“Drivers without a license and vehicles that have not passed inspection cannot join the parade or they might get caught,” said Ms. Smith.
“There will be no drinking alcohol.”
Police will publish a statement on the Samoa Police, Prisons and Corrections Services Facebook page that details rules and procedures for the motorcade, she said.