Why was an elderly mother from Manu’a stopped from boarding the Samoa Airways plane to accompany the body of her son who died of a sudden illness?
That was the question Vice Speaker Fetu Fetui asked yesterday on the House floor.
He informed the chamber that the son who died Monday was the caregiver for his elderly mother in Ta’u, Manu’a.
He said the poor woman was grief stricken not only from the loss of her son but also from being denied passage on the plane to accompany his body.
The Vice Speaker was emotional when he asked the Speaker, “Why are the people of Manu’a being treated like this? Are we not part of Tutuila?”
He said, “ Here’s a mother who just lost the only son who has cared for her all these years, wanting to bring her son and the government tells her no.”
He asked, “Why is the government stopping people from traveling on this plane? I have no idea.”
Fetu said, “Mr Speaker is Manu’a separate or different from Tutuila?”
He said anyone would have sympathy for a mother who had just lost a child but what happened was unconscionable.
Speaker Savali Talavou Ale expressed his sympathy and said that it was best that they ask the appropriate government officials for answers. With that, the Vice Speaker ended his comments.
The Samoa Airways flights to and from Manu’a are coordinated by and under the oversight of the Governor’s Office.
KHJ News asked for a comment yesterday from the Governor’s Office but as of this morning we had not received a response.
