Samoa Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa has labelled as “fake news” reports that Samoa has given 400 acres of land to the American Samoa Government to raise cattle.
The issue was raised yesterday by Opposition leader Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi during discussions in Parliament of reports from select committees.
Tuilaepa said he has heard discussions in the American Samoa Senate of 400 acres being given to the territory without any explanation by the Samoa government.
He told Parliament, land issues have been delicate matters he has dealt with as PM—where he has even threatened with firearms.
“This is why it’s important for us to know about these matters,” he said.
Fiame rose to say she knows nothing about the 400 acres given to American Samoa.
She later discussed the matter in replying to members questions.
“Mr. Speaker, I guess on the matter raised about land for American Samoa we can say it’s fake news,” she said.
However, the former prime minister said it is not fake news and he heard it from the American Samoa Senate.
“If that’s the case then the Senate must be discussing fake news,” said Tuilaepa.
Fiame continued saying the only land dealings between her government and American Samoa she was aware of is her government’s request for land to build a warehouse close to the inter-island wharf area to help with cargo storage.
Director of Agriculture Solia Mutini has said in hearings, in both the House and Senate, that the Samoa Government has gifted 400 acres of land in Togitogiga, for a cattle farm. He said the project was to ensure food security for American Samoa.
Mutini said employees of Samoa’s Ministry of Agriculture are looking after the farm which he told the House has 20 cows, and then later in the Senate he said there were 11. Six were gifted by the Samoa Government while five were a gift from the Deputy Prime Minister.
The Director said there’s no lease or agreement for the land, but he expects that in the next Samoa talks in May, an agreement for the 400 acres will be signed.
Photo: Parliament of Samoa
