A resident from Satitoa village in Aleipata has praised the reopening of the Satitoa slipway, now operating under the new name of Henry Silva Shipyard, saying it offers employment opportunities for the community. 

Following the grand opening on Thursday, Pale Pepa, a 72-year-old man from Satitoa expressed his joy in an interview with the Samoa Observer. 

He enthusiastically shared that he has secured a position as a security guard at the shipyard.

Pale acknowledged that in past years, the entities and individuals managing the operations of the Satitoa slipway did not acknowledge or seek assistance from the village. 

This lack of recognition and involvement meant that the village community was not engaged in providing security for the slipway during that time.

"But we are happy and honoured for the recognition and also now that they offer employment opportunities for people of the village," Pale said. 

"Something that was never done in the past. So we are very happy and we will continue to assist and monitor the operations of the slipway from now on and be of any assistance to the Silva Group who are now managing the shipyard."

He also expressed enthusiasm about the availability of such a crucial service now being accessible in Satitoa.

The owner and director of the Henry Silva Shipyard, Salā Leslie Silva was grateful that they got to honour his father, Lauano Henry Silva's memory through the opening of the shipyard at Satitoa Aleipata. 

He said it was a dream come true for him and his family to continue his father's legacy. 

"We are thrilled, grateful and humbled at the same time," Salā said. 

"This is an important infrastructural service and we are happy to be able to offer that for our country. 

"This is dedicated to our father who worked and started the original slipway in Samoa and he provided for our family through that work and so we had to honour his memory through this project."

According to Salā, there are still a lot of things that need to be improved concerning the shipyard but confirmed that the company has spent over half a million tala on the work that has been done so far. 

The company has a 10 to 20-year lease with the Government and confirmed that the shipyard can hold boats that are 1,000 tonnes. 

Any boats over 1,000 tonnes will not be allowed and he is confident that they have the expertise to manage and service the boats. 

Salā acknowledged the support of the government, his extended family and especially his wife Jacinta Scanlan-Silva, his children and their employees.