The Vailoa VIllage Council is proceeding with a petition to remove long term Reverend Faletoi Uso from the CCCAS in Vailoatai, and this has been confirmed by Satele Galu Teutusi Satele, the leading matai of Vailoa, a paramount chief, in an interview with Samoa News.

Last week Samoa News reported the Vailoa CCCAS held a ‘special church service’ Monday evening, after Rev Faletoi was allegedly ousted from Vailoa, per orders from Satele.

The service was called by Rev Faletoi to keep the peace between the villagers and Satele. Before the service, Faletoi had attended a dinner hosted by Satele and other Chiefs at a restaurant, on Monday, where “Satele ousted the faifeau and the faifeau turned around and ousted Satele.”

The reverend told Satele “ that he does not own the village nor does he own the church— and that everything belongs to God,” Mrs. Uso told Samoa News. Samoa News sought comments from Satele, however our efforts were unsuccessful until yesterday morning.

Satele declined to comment on anything pertaining to the dinner but stated that the time will come when the truth will come out. During the interview, Satele was asked to confirm if everything in the village has been sorted and if the Village of Vailoa is one again. Satele said “no, whoever said that… it is wrong.”

Samoa News had spoken to Rev Faletoi prior to the interview with Satele, where the Reverend said that everything in Vailoa had been sorted out, and the village is one again, a statement that Satele vehemently denied.

He further explained that the Vailoa Village Council held a meeting, however they’ve yet to come to a conclusion. Satele said that he attended church on Sunday and he made a request for another Reverend Elder to conduct the sermon and especially the sacrament service, which is what happened.

Samoa News asked Satele to comment if he agrees with the move by Rev Faletoi to draw a line between what is church business and what is village business. In response, Satele said, he has nothing to say about that matter, let the Reverend decide on his own what he wants to do and say.

“If I talk, then a lot of problems will come out. However, I am trying to protect the integrity of the village council along with my church. Let them talk bad about Satele (referring to himself) but I will not comment on this.”

Others in Vailoa have told Samoa News that the whole debacle flared up because of money. “Money was taken out or misplaced and the church officers can't seem to give a clear report of where all the church money went. Instructions were given by the paramount chief not to elect the same person as the Church Treasurer, yet, the faifeau took it upon himself to go against those simple instructions and re-elected the same person.” As noted, Satele was unwilling to speak of exactly what the problem is with the faifeau, and why he wants him removed.