Samoa Airport Authority (SAA) CEO Tumanuvao Evile Falefatu has responded to the Sunday Samoan,  article on 2 February 2025, "Whose Tent?" in a Letter to the Editor stating that the tent at Faleolo International Airport belonged to him and was provided at no cost for a staff church service.

The church service took place on 24 January.

The Samoa Observer wrote that the tent, which was dismantled on Friday 31 January at the Faleolo International Airport, belonged to Tumanuvao. The article raised questions about the tent’s ownership, its removal from the airport using an SAA vehicle, and whether proper procurement procedures were followed. No response was received from Tumanuvao or Olo before publication.

Tumanuvao, in his letter, stated that the tent was used for a single day and was not linked to any minister’s vehicle at the VIP terminal. He has demanded a public apology from the Samoa Observer for what he stated as misleading and speculative reporting, which he wrote has caused reputational harm to himself and Minister of Works, Transport, and Infrastructure Olo Fiti Vaai.

Samoa Observer had published pictures of the tent being dismantled and then being taken to Tumanuvao's residence in a vehicle belonging to the Airport Authority.

Read the full letter on Page 12.