What to do about a 5 acre property that the Congregational Christian Church of American Samoa had purchased from the Otto and Dorothy Haleck family was one of the topics discussed at the church general assembly this week.
While the church now holds title to the property its prohibited under local and federal law from using the land, which is part of the last remaining low land forest in the territory, for any construction type work.
This is because according to researchers and scientists who have studied the area, it harbors bird and plant species that are rare or not found anywhere else in the territory.
The land issue was included in the report of the Miscellaneous Committee which has been chaired by Lualemaga Faoa for 16 years.
CCCAS legal counsel, Afoa Moega Lutu, informed the meeting that the land is still under the jurisdiction of the local and federal government because of the plant species that are growing in it.
He said he consulted with Director of Marine and Wildlife Resources, Dr. Ruth Matagi Tofiga and the area is a special one subject to preservation.
Afoa said the area is considered “a gold mine” by the federal government because they discovered that this is the only place and Territory where some plants and birds are found .
Afoa advised that the church consider leasing the land to local and federal agencies as no construction or any other project would be allowed in the acreage.
Delegates who spoke felt that if the lawyer has identified the land as a gold mine, then the church must keep the land as an income earner and find other property for construction development.
CCCAS Youth Director, Rev. Dr. Orekene Taofi asked that the land be preserved as a learning institution as part of the church’s education system.
After the long deliberation on this matter it was moved that the issue be returned back to the Miscellaneous Committee for more research on the best possible use of the land which will be beneficial for the church.
