The Government was praised on Monday, for the courage to push through with the Vaiusu Wharf project, by incumbent Faleata West M.P. Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi.

During his last speech in Parliament for this Parliamentary term, Leala thanked the Government for choosing his constituency to be the location of the $250 million development.

“There has been so much said about this project, just as the candidate running from (Fa’atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi) is saying they will put a stop to the project should they win election,” he said.

“Firstly, I thank the Government for this long term vision and bravery to implement this development for Samoa.

“The utmost appreciation for choosing our constituency for this development, whilst it is a blessing for Samoa; it will especially benefit our constituency as it has for other villages that have wharves, Matautu, Apia, Salelologa.

“Now we will be able to reap the same benefits, and not only this, this is our contribution to the development of Samoa.”

Leala also highlighted that like every other country, Samoa does not make development projects without a valid reason.

“We direly need this wharf, according to information provided by the Samoa Port Authority Chief,” he said.

This wharf is no different from the market; how many times have we shifted the marketplace? From Apia, to Fugalei and relocated to where it is now. 

“Our hospital, we have already made new; the airport, we just launched the multi-million project; these are large projects carried out because it is needed.” 

The Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi, interjected assuring that there is no need to pay attention to the naysayers. 

“In case the Member gets too worried about the matter, the Government does not heed the irrelevant voices from a Member of Parliament who is ignorant of these matters,” he said. 

Last month, M.P. for Urban West, Faumuina Wayne Fong claimed that he doesn’t support the project and neither do the villagers. This was countered by Leala at the time saying the claims were untrue. 

“Secondly, he is not a chief from Vaiusu; so he has no business to speak about Vaiusu, when he is not a matai from Vaiusu. He also does not have any say about lands that belong to the Government as outlined in the Constitution,” said the Prime Minister. 

Article 104 of the Constitution stipulates that land below the high water-mark is deemed public land. 

“The provisions were laid by our forefathers and in this convention were Vaiusu forefathers as well, and this little one does not know anything about it, he just got here yesterday,” said Tuilaepa.  

The Independent M.P., Faumuina, has endorsed the F.A.S.T. Party manifesto that strives to stop the Vaiusu wharf development project if they succeed in taking over government after Elections. 

In April’s General Election, the villages of Vaiusu and Vaigaga will not be included in the constituency that Leala represents.  

M.P. Faumuina has expressed suspicions about the project, not only because it would displace local villagers who depend upon Vaiusu Bay but because it would expand Samoa’s harbour capacity to an unnecessary degree. 

He said its increase to Samoa's shipping capacity only makes sense for a “military wharf”. The Chinese Embassy in Apia has since labelled comments about military motives pertaining to the Vaiusu wharf as "groundless".