Airport land

Samoa insists on airport land deal

In his news conference Tuilaepa said the time has now come for the law to take over.

He said an agreement was reached in 1983 between families in the path of the airport runway and government to relocate inland for their safety.

The government agreed to offer 44 acres in return for the families vacating 22 acres they were living on at the time.

He says instead of the 44 acres the government gave a total of 67 acres which all the families have been using and benefiting from.

     

Trespass likely if families don't move from Samoa airport site

The Samoa Observer reported Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi saying his government would not bow to demands by families from Satapuala village for more compensation to relocate.

The families were given till the end of last month to leave but have not done so.

In an apparent agreement Tuilaepa claimed was signed more than 20 years ago with the village of Satapuala, government swapped 64 acres of land for the 22 acres needed for the airport extension.

Samoan family refuses to move from land earmarked for airport expansion

Tuaato Tauvala'u Salausa of Satapuala told the Samoa Observer that the government had only paid her daughter just over $US13,000 to relocate to land that the village had allocated for the move.

The family are reluctant to move as they have loved ones buried on the land.

The Satapuala village mayor said if the families are still there after the February 28 deadline, the government will step in.

The Samoa Observer reported the Tauvala'au family is one of four families that are being relocated to allow for the airport extension.