Faleolo truly is the land of the free. Free tents, free empty planes, free security clearance for certain individuals, and soon, free common sense may also be up for grabs.

The latest chapter in the ever-generous saga of the Samoa Airport Authority (SAA) brings us to a tent. But not just any tent. A large, event-sized tent owned by CEO Tumanuvao Evile Falefatu, casually at his disposal and provided for free to the SAA, the very organisation he leads.

Let’s take a moment to appreciate the remarkable generosity of Tumanuvao. 

Instead of requiring the SAA to follow its own procurement processes, he has, according to him, selflessly provided his own tent for use at no cost.

The people of Samoa should count themselves lucky that the SAA is led by such a charitable soul, willing to fork out at any cost to provide for staff occasions. 

Surely, tent suppliers around the country are breathing a sigh of relief that they no longer have to compete for airport business. The SAA now has its very own in-house tent provider.

But the generosity doesn’t stop there. Tumanuvao has graciously informed the public that this enormous tent was only used for a single day on January 24th for a church mass. And what a blessing that was.

Over a week later, the tent was seen being dismantled and, in an even more touching gesture, transported to his home in an SAA vehicle. 

One could almost say that, considering the manpower, fuel, and resources used to facilitate this move, the tent was practically free for everyone involved. What a gift. Truly, the kind of philanthropy that warms the heart at no cost to Tumanuvao whatsoever.

With columns and poles large enough to host major events, Tumanuvao’s tent operation is nothing short of impressive, practically an enterprise in waiting. If only he were the type to capitalise on such opportunities—after all, tent rentals seem to be quite the booming business.

And let’s not forget the greater head-scratching question at play here. What does “free” actually mean? Does anything in government magically appear without cost, or is there always some poor taxpayer unknowingly footing the bill?

Everyone loves a grand “free” gesture. It may seem generous, but when it comes to public officials, where does duty end and personal interest begin? Perhaps the next CEO will offer free catering, free cleaning, or even free construction. The possibilities are endless.

But the real question isn’t what comes next. It’s that, according to Tumanuvao, it was free. And who gets to decide if it’s truly free or not? Well, naturally, Tumanuvao himself. And who gets to accept or determine whether a tent should be free in the first place? Apparently, also Tumanuvao.

Perhaps this is the start of a new era at Faleolo, an era of unparalleled generosity. Will passengers soon enjoy free flights? Will duty-free actually be free? Maybe government officials will even start personally funding infrastructure projects, no procurement necessary.

One thing is certain. The public will be watching. Because, as the old saying goes, nothing in life is truly free.

Every grand gesture, every so-called “gift,” comes with a cost, whether paid in tala, influence, or favours. And in the case of the SAA, the real price might not be measured in currency, but in trust.