Samoa’s Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi says there is no contradiction in the construction of a cigarette manufacturing factory in Falelauniu and a campaign by the Ministry of Health to curb smoking.
“There is nothing wrong with building a tobacco factory, because we can’t stop people from wanting to consume tobacco or smoking. So if we stop ourselves from putting up a tobacco factory, we will still have tobacco coming in from overseas,” he said.
“Even if we put up the taxes on these productions there are still people, who will still buy and consume tobacco. So the important part of that is the government can make money to move its plans as well provide our people with jobs,” he added.
Taxes on cigarettes were recently raised in Samoa and there are plans awaiting approval to make cigarette packaging plain and simple to lessen the attraction to smokers.
“There’s no difference from beer. There were so many who said no to beer (production) because of its effects, but it still cannot stop a person’s right from consuming beer,” he said.
“If we don’t take the license to this company then we will still be buying from overseas for tobacco,” said the PM.
As of now, there is no policy in Samoa banning or prohibiting the manufacture or importation of cigarettes.
There has been criticism about the government's decision to issue a cigarette manufacturing licence to a company to set up business in Apia.