13 Apr 2018

Samoa village payments for customary land lease queried

From , 5:04 am on 13 April 2018

Concerns are being raised about the lack of transparency over how land lease payments to the Samoan village of Sasina were divided up.

200 hectares of the village's customary land is being rented out at US$125,000 a year for nonu tree farming and the export of the fruit and juice and two payments have so far been made..

The village's MP announced that the village's families and church ministers have now been paid their portion of the lease money for land rented to Hong Kong based investors.

But Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia says there's been a lack of transparency around exactly how much money people got and if everyone got a cut.

Sasina village has another lease agreement with South Pacific Development Group in Hawaii.

Sasina village council with church ministers and MP Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt.

Sasina village council with church ministers and MP Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt. Photo: RNZ Pacific/Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia