The Government plans to evict remaining families from the area in Sogi which was initially earmarked for the relocation of the Savalalo Flea Market before it can be developed.

The area is also overgrown with grass.

The change of Government in 2021 led to abandoning of plans by the former administration to relocate the Savalalo Flea Market behind the Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi building.

At the time, of the majority of families that resided in Sogi, more than thirty have resettled in Falelauniu and Tafaigata while a few members of the Tokuma family remained to fight their eviction.

Although the new Government abandoned plans to relocate the Savalalo Market and decided to rebuild at the old location it still has other plans for the Sogi land that has already been cleared.

The Samoa Land Corporation (S.L.C.) Chief Executive Officer, Ulugia Petelo Kavesi said an application to evacuate the remainder of the families in Sogi is pending in Court.

Ulugia revealed there were government entities interested in developing the area to construct their buildings but have since pulled out.

“At the moment we are trying to remove and relocate those that remain in Sogi,” the C.E.O. said in an interview with the Samoa Observer. 

“We are preparing a business plan for that area to lease…but we have a matter before the Court, application through the Attorney General’s Office.” 

Meanwhile demolition work is underway to dismantle what remains of the old Savalalo flea market to make way for the new building. 

In February 2020 the Supreme Court issued an order to evict the Tokuma family and instructed the Sogi residents to refrain from trespassing on the S.L.C. land. 

The matter escalated with Police called in to assist with the clearance work carried out by a construction company when Sogi residents intervened to stop the work. 

One of the family members was eventually charged in 2021 for allegedly disrupting Government work to clear the land.