A new boom gate has been installed at Mulifanua Wharf, raising questions about whether an overnight parking fee is being enforced for travellers leaving their vehicles at the terminal before boarding the ferry to Savai'i.

According to staff from the Samoa Ports Authority (SPA) and Samoa Shipping Corporation (SSC), the gate—equipped with barriers to control vehicle access—was installed last week. While some SPA employees maintained that no charges had been implemented, an SSC representative confirmed over the phone that vehicle owners were required to pay a $10 fee per night for parking.

A SPA staff member who identified herself as “Penina” declined to provide further details and insisted the matter was not of public concern. She also attempted to prevent photographs of the gate, stating, “This is our property; you cannot take a photo.”

“People are being charged yet. That is not the reason we built [the gate]; we built it to control vehicles entering the wharf,” Penina said.

However, another SPA employee contradicted this, stating that charges for overnight parking had already begun.

“Passengers who want to park their car overnight just have to write their name down on our piece of paper, park their car here, and take their receipt—we charge for every night they park their car here,” the employee said.

Attempts to reach SPA Chief Executive Officer So’oalo Falelima Kuresa So’oalo for clarification via phone and email were unsuccessful. Acting CEO Vavaemuitiiti Samasoni-Fepuleai acknowledged receipt of an email inquiry but did not respond in time for publication.