Samoan Government

It is believed the human remains came from an archaeological dig that was conducted between 1957 to 1967 from the Faleasi'u area.

The Samoa Observer reported last April the Natural History Museum of Utah wrote to the government in August 2018, to request that Samoan human remains from an archaeological excavation in the 1960s be repatriated back to Samoa.

National University of Samoa's Centre for Samoan Studies director Ta'iao Dr. Matiu Matavai Tautunu said they are mindful of the cultural contextual issues that could arise.

The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour's Lemalu Nele Leila said the government is eager to see some of the nearly 3000 workers waiting to be deployed, leave for opportunities overseas.

Lemalu said she's hopeful a group of workers will head off before Christmas, most likely to Australia.

She told the Samoa Observer the government would like them to go from next week if possible.

Lemalu says workers and their families are continually asking when they can go back to New Zealand or Australia.