Pastor Levi Lagaaia of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Afega denied speculations that were barred from donating to Leauvaa families who had been impacted by a land dispute.

The S.D.A Mission days before Easter, collected donations from several S.D.A churches across Samoa and overseas and donated food and other supplies to residents of Leauva'a who are facing eviction from the place they have called home for decades. 

As the court has ruled on the ownership of land, these residents have been deemed illegal settlers and served with notices to vacate the land by next week.  

In an interview with the Samoa Observer, Pastor Lagaaia explained that not all S.D.A churches donated to Leauvaa due to the timing of the donation but they will likely donate next time.

"That is not accurate," he said. "I don't know anything and there were also other S.D.A churches that were not able to contribute to the donation because of the time that the church wanted to donate which was too early for some.

"And as for me, I was at the meeting but it is based on what the families agree on and in terms of wanting to donate or not, it is not just Afega who did not want to donate there was also Tuanai and other churches which weren't to donate because of the time.

"But there will be another time when the church will donate as there will be more donations in the future but that's the thing that shocks me, I am very careful with accusations that point out to Afega S.D.A church and why we did not donate when it's not just us.

" I understand there will be another donations and Australia also contributed but that's my answer, I confirm that those accusations are not true in case other people connect it to the land dispute but that's not the case."

Queried about the speculations, Member of Parliament for Sagaga No.2, Maulolo Tavita Amosa said "it's news to him".

He said there was no such thing that happened in Afega and if there was, he would have known or be informed about it by the mayor of Afega.

Meanwhile, Director Pastor Olive Dean in a previous interview stated that the Tokelau and Samoa Adventist Mission coordinated this act as a part of their church's outreach programme, which aims to help and give back to society, the community, and especially those in need.

“This has been made possible by the contributions of all SDA-Mission outlets in Savaii and Upolu, and we will continue to do so going forward,” he said.

"We are concerned about every Leauvaa resident, as seen with the food we have given them after the ravaging effects of their lands and plantations.

"We had planned to visit every home, but one of the high chiefs in Leauvaa reached out to us and asked to meet at one of the council’s meeting place, and everyone would gather to await our arrival."

A variety of things such as sacks of rice, boxes or noodles, local produce and other items were donated and distributed to all the afflicted families.