The government will no longer take family lands for public projects but will lease them instead.
This was announced by Governor Lolo Moliga in his remarks at the breaking of ground for the Leapaga/Fonoti road on Friday.
From the Nu’uuli/Malaeimi highway, the road connects to the intersection of Kokoland/Fagaima road.
According to the governor never has a project been on the drawing board for so long as this road project and when he became governor he took the time to find out the reason why it hasn’t been built.
Lolo was thankful and happy that landowners have reached agreement with the government for the use of their lands to build new roads that will benefit the people traveling to Fagatogo and also the western end of the island, the most populated part of the territory.
He said this new arrangement whereby family lands are leased instead of being condemned by the government started with Nu’uuli when he sat down with leaders of the village, including High Chief Soliai.
According to Lolo, the agreement with landowners signals a new beginning in the way family lands are used for government projects.
The government will no longer take family or communal lands for public projects by force but will lease them so that future family members would continue to receive the benefits from the use of what rightfully belongs to them.
Lolo said the Director of Public Works and The Attorney General will work on a similar lease with the sa’o or head matai of the Fonoti family for the use of their lands for the Leapaga/Fonoti road project.
Addressing his remarks to Senator Fonoti Tafaifa the governor said he understands the wish of her late father to donate their family lands for the government to use for projects that would be beneficial for the territory’s future.
But he said times have changed and as leaders that have to act in the interests of family members and future generations.
Lolo indicated that the payments for the Leapaga land lease have been advanced up to the end of the lease term and he told Leapaga that he can approach the new governor and ask to advance future lease payments.
The governor acknowledged the work of Congresswoman Aumua Amata who was present, in acquiring funds from the FAA and Federal Highway Administration for the territory and asked that she also push for funding to compensate families whose lands were taken by the federal government.
He suggested that the congresswoman work with PC Mauga Tasi Asuega to seek compensation from the US Government for communal lands in Fagatogo, Utulei, Fagaalu, Pago Pago and going eastward that were condemned by the federal government.
The governor pointed out that the US Government is now having to pay compensation for American Indian lands that it took by force.
He added that it’s his dream that one day the same will happen in the case of American Samoa, that the federal government will repay family lands that it took by force, or our forefathers gave for the government to use for the territory’s future.
