On 19 September the Sagaga Secondary School celebrated its 50th Anniversary. During that celebration, the government promised to donate $1.5million to relocate the school from Tuana’i to Afega, next door.
The occasion was attended by Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, the Minister of Education, Sports and Culture, Magele Mauiliu Magele and the Chief Executive Officer, Matafeo Falana’ipupu Aiafi.
In his address, Tuilaepa emphasized the importance of education saying wisdom and understanding were the most important things in life.
“If they have the wisdom, that is the key to open all the doors and the beauty of life and the world that God has built for us to live and be happy,” said Tuilaepa.
He also said there was no limit to what a wise child could achieve. He said every child had the potential to go on and do great things for his family, his village and his country.
“We have come a long way,” he said. “We work so hard, we sweat for the sake of our children; God has answered our work and prayers.”
Tuilaepa said the Government has attracted plenty of support from developing partners and donor countries to improve education in Samoa.
As for Sagaga Secondary School, Tuilaepa said yesterday’s birthday was a milestone achievement.
He then announced a new beginning for the school. “This is the last time Sagaga will be a Secondary School,” Tuilaepa revealed.
“It will become a College next year. With this new college, the government will have 25 colleges in the country.”
Later when he spoke, the Chief Executive Officer (C.E.O.) of the Education Department, Matafeo Falana’ipupu T. Aiafi, revealed that the Government had agreed to grant $1.5million to relocate the school from its present location at Tuana’i to Afega at the beginning of next year.
Matafeo explained that the school needed to relocate because it was too close to the sea.
The school has a roll of about 300 students.
The Minister of Education, Sports and Culture, Magele Mauiliu Magele gifted $2,000 to the school.
Last month though, problems emerged.
Owners of the land on which the school would be built, have objected saying they were opposed to the deal.
It is understood that one of the deal’s principal negotiators is a matai of Afega, Maulolo Tavita Amosa.
Those who object are the heirs of Fata Pouvi Lei’ataua Soava’a Pouvi, Maria Pouvi Vaotuua and Marieta Pouvi Falana’i.
They have written to the C.E.O. of the Education Department, Matafeo, raising their displeasure saying Maulolo Tavita had no right to the land in question, and asked to “suspend any further plans of Maulolo Tavita and others as well as (those by) the Ministry of Education … to be carried out on our land.”
The letter was copied to the Minister of Education Magele Mauiliu Magele, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, Minister of Environment, Dr Faamoetauloa Tailo and the Senior Registrar of the Lands and Titles Court, Masinalupe Tusipa Masinalupe.
The heirs also wrote to the President of the Land and Titles Court, Tagaloa Sale Kerslake, asking for help in ensuring that “Susuga Maulolo Tavita and his Committee (are refrained) from trespassing and doing anything on our land; and to) refrain our village by telling them that the heirs concerned have not agreed ….”
The two letters in question are published below.
22 November 2013
Afioga Matafeo Falana’ipupu T. Aiafi
Chief Executive Officer
Ministry o Education Culture & Sports,
Malifa
Sir,
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As heirs of the title Manuaifua and the title Mata’afa in Afega, we are the owners of the land Mauti’eti’e in Afega.
There is no agreement by the heirs of our family pertinent to the proposals of your Ministry inclusive of Maulolo Tavita and his Committee to erect the Sagaga School Building on our land.
Asked for a comment Maulolo Tavita Amosa said he was busy.
He said he would call back.
He did not call at press time yesterday.
In addition, the chief titleholder of our family resides overseas.
As such, we therefore respectfully implore the Minisitry to now suspend any further plans of Maulolo Tavita and others as well as the Ministry of Education proposed to be carried out on our land.
Please refer to the attached copy of our letter to the Land and Titles Court at Mulinuu advising about our concern over our land being taken without our consent.
With respect
Lei’ataua Soava’a Pouvi
Maria Pouvi Vaotuua
Marieta Pouvi Falana’i
Cc: Afioga Hon. Magele Mauiliu Magele (Minister for Education, Sports & Culture) Afioga Hon. Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi (Prime Minister of Samoa) Afioga Hon. Dr Faamoetauloa Tailo (Minister of Environment) Afioga Masinalupe Tusipa Masinalupe (Senior Registrar)
21/11/2013
His Honour the President
Land and Titles Court
Mulinuu.
Gentlemen,
With respect we sincerely write this letter to request your opinion regarding our petition.
We are deeply concerned to have seen our land being cultivated with trees being felled in our land Mauti’eti’e in Afega as a result of what has been described as a plan of the Sagaga College PTA involving Maulolo Tavita Le’aula and others of their School Committee. It has also been rumoured that some of the matais of our village have agreed to the proposal as the matai of our family namely Afioga Manuaifua Vitale was not in the country at the time and that even our own family comprising of all heirs of the title Manuaifua who are the rightful owners of the said land had not had time to discuss the issue.
We are true heirs of the titles Manuaifua and Mataafa who are currently occupying other lands pertinent to the title Manuaifua of our family at the moment. We are the only heirs occupying the lands of our family and we therefore request Your Honour for an Interim Order to:
(1) Refrain Susuga Maulolo Tavita and his Committee from trespassing and doing anything on our land:
(2) Refrain our village by telling them that the heirs concerned have not agreed and that the issue is yet to be discussed as the Chief matai of our family is currently absent overseas.
That is our letter to Your Honour the President trusting that right may be done in this matter to be in line with the laws and esteemed customs of Samoa.
May God be gracious unto you through wisdom and far sightedness that is required for the performance of your duties for the welfare of Samoa.
Once again – thank you,
Prepared and Signed:
Lei’ataua Soava’a
Maria Pouvi
Vaotuua Luteru.
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