A ground breaking ceremony took place yesterday at the site where the Samoa Motors Ford and Pago Motors Hyundai auto dealerships will build showrooms, offices and auto shops.
The companies, owned by the late Lealaifuaneva Peter E. Reid Jr., one of American Samoa’s most successful and famous businessmen, are leasing three acres of government land directly across from the tennis courts at Lions Park. The property is situated between Tolu and Fa Street.
Also at the same ceremony, a new street sign was unveiled for the road from the Nu’uuli intersection going through Lions Park to the roundabout near ASPA revealing that the street is now named after Lealaifuaneva.
The Board Chair for Samoa Motors and Pago Motors Ms. Olivia C. Reid promised to fully use the government land to provide the best experience possible to the Ford and Hyundai customers. She also pledged to continue contributing to the success and the growth of the local economy by creating more jobs and adding to the Amercian Samoa Governments’s coffers through payroll and corporate taxes.
Ms. Reid recounted her late father’s journey of starting Samoa Motors in 1974 with business partners who later sold him their shares of Samoa Motors. Lealaifuaneva later acquired the Ford franchise and then the Hyundai franchise through Pago Motors. In 1998, he retired charging his five children to run the business.
Ms. Reid said for three years they’ve been looking for land to expand their operation. She gave thanks to Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga, Executive Assistant Iulogologo Joseph Periera, Director of Commerce Fuiavailili Keniseli Lafaele and the Fono for the lease.
Construction for the new facilities will begin in early 2021. There will be separate showrooms for Hyundai and Ford, a huge space for the spare parts departments and an expanded shop to service a variety of vehicles.
Ms. Reid was emotional when she talked about the street being named after her late father.
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In his remarks, Governor Lolo acknowledged Lealaifualeva’s public and community service, his success in business and his generosity to the government, church and youth of American Samoa. As a token of appreciation, he dedicated the street sign to honor him.
Governor Lolo credited DOC Director Lafaele‘s foresight in reducing the lease rate from 50 cents/ft to 25 cents.
He quoted the DOC Director saying that the government doesn’t make money from the land rather it gains from the creation of jobs through the success of businesses.
Father Kolio Etuale gave the prayer and blessed the ground before Ms. Reid, Peter Reid III, Governor Lolo, Bishop Peter Brown, Secretary of Samoan Affairs Mauga, DOC Director Lafaele, Pulu Ae Ae Jr. of Congresswoman Uifaatali’s office, Samoa Motors GM David Yakim and others performed the ceremonial breaking of ground.
