Police officers are keeping a close watch on the construction of a road in Afega which cuts through Levi Saleimoa following disputes between the two villages over land boundaries.

This followed a confrontation between the villages that occurred last Thursday at Levi Saleimoa where firearms were discharged, stones were thrown and some villagers got injured. 

The village of Levi Saleimoa has made it clear that it does not accept the Land and Titles Court (L.T.C.) decision passed down in 1963 that ruled in favour of Afega over its boundaries.  

However, the Land and Titles Court President on Monday refused a stay of execution application filed by Levi Saleimoa which attempted to cease work by Afega on the disputed land. 

Samoa Observer visited the land boundary area on Wednesday where the construction work is being carried out and confirmed that the construction of the road which ceased on Thursday has expanded to the other side of the main road which cuts through Saleimoa.

Cocoa trees and other plants and trees which were located a few feet away from residential homes in Saleimoa were taken down by the excavators and bulldozers.

Attempts to get a comment from the Saleimoa residents living near the newly constructed Afega road were unsuccessful as they chose not to comment.

Youths and teenage boys of Saleimoa were also seen patrolling around the disputed land boundary.

Meanwhile, the Police Commissioner, Auapaau Logoitino Filipo confirmed in an interview with this newspaper that since the L.T.C delivered a decision on Monday, police officers were kept busy at the resumption of the construction work on Tuesday.

"We're busy today at the construction work at Saleimoa and Afega," he said.

Another queue of police vehicles were also seen heading towards Saleimoa side on Wednesday morning.

Meanwhile, witnessing the proceeding in the courtroom was Auapaau, who responded to the allegations targeting police officers.

He made it clear that they had not received payments and that their presence at the incident last week was to calm the situation, enforce the law and decision of the court. 

He expressed his disappointment at the allegations and reminded the villagers that their duty is to enforce the decision of the court and Afega had called for help when villagers intervened in their work. 

He added that the fact is the villagers who intervened in Afega’s work were breaking the law.