The Samoa Land Corporation is holding an auction on three pieces of quarter-acre parcels of land at Vailele despite a policy change that allows them to only list properties for lease rather than sell them.

The CEO of SLC, Ulugia Petelo Kavesi, confirmed in an interview that the government-approved policy permits them to lease rather than sell land; however, the Vailele lands currently up for auction were previously sold and were subsequently seized by SLC due to unpaid arrears.

He said the properties in Vailele were repossessed because the previous owners had neglected to pay the full amount. He said the land had been listed for sale for some time.

“Previously sold instead for lease but because they were put on for sale and the non-payment led to arrears, we have to go with the same process by putting them up for auction instead of lease,” he said.

“These properties were seized while they were for sale, and we now have to follow the same procedure, which calls for an auction."

Ulugia said the government owns most of the land in Vailele under SLC. He said they were aware of these areas, and some of the land has already been placed up for residential lease.

He pointed out that a policy went into place in 2007 for Vailele, requiring people to sign leases to possess customary lands.

“This procedure was put in place to stop people from giving their land to businesses and other individuals, leaving nowhere for other people to live,” he added.