Ads by Google Ads by Google

JUST ASKING… What’s going on with Fagaitua boat ramp?

Fagaitua boat ramp
reporters@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council helped fund two boat ramps on the west side of Tutuila: one in Fagaalu and one in the Pala Lagoon area. Both ramps are open to the public, supporting commercial and non-commercial fishing and general boating activities, allowing easy access in and out of the water. There is also a boat ramp on Ofu Island in Manu’a. All three ramps were funded through the Sustainable Fisheries Fund.

The east side has a boat ramp too — in Fagaitua, at the turn off going up the road to Masefau, allegedly built by the government. It’s a bit steep but usable, says a boat owner.

However, recently, a “Private Property/ No Trespassing” sign appeared next to the Fagaitua boat ramp, restricting access by the public — including tourists — wanting to get the ramps. And, when someone tried to use the boat ramp recently, a member of the family living across from the ramp area told them that they owned the beach area, and they (the family) were not allowing anyone to use the boat ramp, as it’s on “their” land — “private property”.

When did ‘sami-side’ land become privately owned property? Why is cutting off access to the sami a doable idea in Fagaitua? So much for tourism and sustainable fisheries. I’m just asking, says a boat owner…

Samoa News responds:

It’s part of the problem the government is currently facing — and they are in the middle of a project to  research their records to find what properties actually belong to them, including what agreements such ownership or ‘usage’ entails.

For sami-side property, the government does claim such property, according to the American Samoa Bar Association website “Real Property” — generally holding that “land below high-water mark belongs to the Government… land between sea and Pago Pago highway … is government land…” These are generalities that have been upheld through cases in the local court.

There are of course, exceptions to the rule — where families have communal rights to such land, and ownership can be proven by recognition of property rights according to Samoan custom.

So is the Fagaitua boat ramp on ‘private property’? Samoa News doesn’t know, but it sounds like the government should have an answer to the question, which hopefully won’t end up in court being contested.