The Government has plans to construct another building at the current site of the Savalalo flea market to accommodate the expanding civil service.

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sa'ilele Malielegaoi spoke of the plans on his weekly radio program on 2AP last week, when responding to concerns by vendors who currently use the market.

“The Government is well aware of the concerns by the [vendors] but this is the exact setting the Government anticipates to build another building to house government offices given the government has expanded,” he said on his program.

“And thinking back, the stalls were located all over the town area, making it an eye sore but the Government stepped in and built these temporary stalls with the plans of a permanent building to be built [in Sogi].”

Tuilaepa pointed out that efforts are being put into beautifying the heart of Apia. 

The Savalalo flea market was one of the most visited places in Samoa for visiting tourists, but the property was completely gutted by fire in January 2016.

And the plans to build a permanent building at Sogi for market vendors has not made any progress. 

The Tokuma family, who have called Sogi home for over 100 years, have refused to be relocated despite the Government offering cash incentives.

However, in January this year a number of families demolished their homes and moved to Tafaigata in line with the call from the Government to relocate. They included some of the Tokuma descendants, who say they have accepted the offer to start a new life and to rebuild on Government land.

The work on the new market for vendors at Sogi is being led by the Samoa Land Corporation [S.L.C.]. 

In February the police accompanied S.L.C. officers to survey the site of the proposed market after previous attempts failed when the Tokuma family prohibited people from entering the area.

In 2018 the Court of Appeal dismissed a lawsuit brought against the S.L.C. by the Tokuma family, who were then ordered to pay the respondent costs of $5,000 together with reasonable disbursements.