Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga has dismissed as “untrue” reports received by Samoa News late Friday afternoon that Samoan Affairs Secretary, Satele Galu Satele Sr. has been removed from his post.

According to the reports, Satele was allegedly cleaning up his office around 2p.m. last Friday following a memo issued by the governor appointing a new acting secretary. The memo also came after the governor, along with Lt. Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga met with Satele on Friday morning.

“Who said those rumors? Those are not true, they are untrue,” Lolo told Samoa News during a brief phone interview Friday evening. “The Secretary of Samoan Affairs is taking leave, paid leave, since he has paid leave available.”

The governor explained that he and Lemanu want Satele to take time off to resolve and address any pressing and important matters dealing with his village of Vailoa. There is no specific time for the length of Satele’s leave.

Samoa News receive reports Friday morning of an alleged rock-throwing incident at Vailoa village on Thursday.

According to the reports, there was also some swearing, during what one letter-to-the-editor writer calls a “melee”, that happened while students were preparing for the Leone High School Mr. & Miss Taumafai pageant, which was set for Friday night at the Vailoa CCCAS church hall, and was reportedly forced to be canceled.

See details of the Letter to the Editor published on Samoa News online www.samoanews.com on Jan. 16.

The high school had wanted to hold their pageant at the Vailoa CCCAS hall, which offered the facility free of charge, because Leone High gymnasium is currently under construction.

At least one commenter on the website about the LTE claimed that no such “melee” occurred in Vailoa and accused Samoa News of inaccurate information. 

However, Samoa News has obtained a video clip of the Thursday incident where people are seen rushing to the Vailoa malae, others throwing rocks towards Satele’s Guest Fale and people pulling plants around the malae area. The Samoa News editorial team has opted at this time not to post the video online.

The reports received by Samoa News also state that while many police officers arrived on the scene in Vailoa, no arrests were made and the alleged melee was reported to the Governor’s Office some time late Thursday afternoon.

This latest incident in Vailoa comes amid previous problems in the village last year, which are alleged to involve several different clans that live there. Police were said to have also arrived on the scene, stopping people from entering or leaving the village via road blocks, but made no arrests either.

While Satele is on paid leave, Lolo has appointed Western District Governor Lualemaga Faoa as acting secretary until deputy secretary Tuiagamoa Tavai returns to the territory from an off island trip.

Under local law and the Constitution, the Secretary of Samoan Affairs “serves at the pleasure of the governor.”  While the Secretary of Samoan Affairs is considered a cabinet post, overseeing the Department of Local Government, it does not require Fono confirmation.