APIA, Samoa — The two Samoas have agreed to two new leases for a land swap yesterday where Lt Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga, Samoa’s Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Lupesoliai Malielegaoi and Samoa’s Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Faamoetauloa Dr Falae Tumaali’i signed off on the leases at the Ninth Inter Samoa Talks Summit which are being hosted by Samoa.

The one-day meeting was held at the Tui Atuta Tupua Tamasese Efi (TATTE) building in Sogi, in the heart of Samoa.

As per usual, the media has only been allowed for the opening statements and then discussions are held behind closed doors, however yesterday, Samoa Government Media was the only media allowed during the meeting and Samoa’s other media members were not happy with what they termed as unfair treatment by the Samoa Government.

There are two leases, which are between the American Samoa Government and the Samoa Government and vice versa. Samoa News understands that the leases are equal—an acre for an acre.

American Samoa’s land is located in Vailima in Upolu, while the land for Samoa is supposedly located in Petesa, Tutuila, where the Goodwill store had been located.

The leases between the two Samoas are for 9 years, 11 months and 29 days. Samoa News notes that any land lease for ASG property is subject to Fono approval if it is for ten years or more.

OTHER ISSUES

 Immigration fees were among the issues discussed, where American Samoa proposed to waive the $10 fee for 14 day entry permits for citizens of Samoa if the Samoa government will agree to waive the US$10 entry permit for US Nationals and the WST$50  transit fee.  Samoa News understands that these were among the many issues discussed during the closed-door meeting.

A copy of the agreement between the two Samoas has been put together as Samoa News is writing this article and will be signed during a dinner in the evening between Tuilaepa and Lt Governor Lemanu and will be distributed to the media at a later date.

TUILAEPA’S OPENING STATEMENT

During the opening of the two Samoas Summit, Tuilaepa thanked the Lolo and Lemanu Administration for the commitment of the American Samoa government to the purpose and objective of the two Samoa talks.

He said, as originally intended for the Two Samoas Summit “and holds still true till today the periodic talks with the leadership provide a summary snap shot of the many different elements that make up the arrangements between American Samoa and Samoa.”

“While our political jurisdictions are separate, we are one people with strong family ties and constant contact over family events and occasions and therefore, the institution of the Samoa Talks is therefore a very natural progression of our family ties— and it would have been strange indeed if, for some reason, it had not been conceived and established.”

“Quite clearly there are ongoing contacts of cooperation between government agencies and between the private sector,” said Tuilaepa.  

He said these inter-Samoa talks update the leadership and the wide spectrum of the officials for the respective agencies of both countries. “Most importantly it is the opportunity for the talks to make decisions, and where required to address difficult and sensitive issues in a systematic way to avoid misunderstanding and to reach mutually acceptable and beneficial solutions for the developments that are taking place.”

He said the cooperative arrangements between the agencies of both governments work together to improve the livelihood of the people of two Samoas.

Tuilaepa pointed out that very clearly the small size of the islands and populations there are distinct benefits to be achieved, in pulling the resources of Samoa and American Samoa to respond to the needs of the people and economy.

He concluded with the importance of transportation for both Samoas. “… I consider that an airstrip in Leone with a matching one in Aleipata for short flights between Tutuila and Upolu could benefit both countries, as well as providing critical rapid responses in case of emergencies.”