Family of woman allegedly murdered finally able to lay her to rest

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A woman who was allegedly tragically murdered in Pago Pago last October was finally laid to rest this week. Fuatino Sua was laid to rest this past Monday on a piece of land offered by a good Samaritan, Pago Pago High Chief, Pulu Ae Ae Jr.

Her family members, along with other families who held funeral services for their loved ones last week, are praising the COVID-19 Task Force for allowing them to hold funerals while the territory is in the midst of a Coronavirus outbreak, which started 3 weeks ago.

When asked for a comment, Pulu confirmed to Samoa News that he offered a piece on his land to bury the woman after he was contacted by members of her family.

According to Pulu, this is not the first time he has offered part of his land to bury an individual whose family didn’t have land where they could bury their loved ones. Some of these people were Asian and others were from Samoa.

Pulu believes that true love is not about words but when you put words into action and do something good for those who need help.

A member of Sua’s family told Samoa News that they were happy that her funeral service was able to take place and it adhered to Code Red restrictions. “It was a very simple service with only ten people attending,” the family member said.

“As a member of Sua’s family and on behalf of our family and friends around the island, I would like to thank our government leaders especially the Task Force for giving us the opportunity to hold this funeral service and to say farewell to someone that was very dear and special to our hearts, before she was laid to her final place.”

A close friend described her as a loving person who always answered with a smile.

“When I received the tragic news about her death, I didn’t breath for a minute. I was like ‘oh my God’. It’s a devastating blow to all of us, her friends and co-workers at the cannery,” Fofoga Lalomilo said, recalling what happened last year.

“Fuatino [Sua] was one amazing woman. She was a loving friend, sister and mother. She always greeted us with a big smile every morning when she came.”

Ms. Sua was found dead inside the apartment she shared with her girlfriend — Silei Sakalia — in Pago Pago, after her girlfriend, who is the defendant in Sua’s murder case, reported to police that she had killed Sua on the morning of Oct. 11, 2021 and left her body inside their apartment. Officers then went to the apartment and discovered the body on the floor covered with a blanket from the neck down. The victim was taken to LBJ where a doctor pronounced Ms. Sua dead on arrival.

Sakalia, who is charged with one count of 1st-degree murder and is being held without bail, told police that she strangled the victim but did not reveal a reason.

TASK FORCE ALLOWING FUNERALS WITH RESTRICTIONS

Members of two families who were able to hold funeral services for their loved ones last week shared their feelings of thanksgiving and appreciation to the government and especially to the Task Force for responding to their request.

A family member from Leone said that once they received the okay from the government and the Task Force, they went forward with their funeral plans.

“It was just a simple service and the program was short. We followed the restrictions and everything went according to the plan,” one family member said.

Despite positive responses from members of families who recently held funeral services for their loved ones, some members of the public don’t agreed with the Task Force decision allowing families to hold funeral services.

Tautua Taulagi, a 53-year-old father from Pago Pago suggested that funeral services should still be put on hold until the number of positive cases from the community spread of COVID is reduced.

“If that is not the case, then stop funeral services from villages with the high numbers of positive cases in an effort to control the spread of the virus,” Taulagi said.

He continued, “Let us learn to follow rules our leaders have put in place for our safety and peace of mind. The whole community is suffering and everyday we’re learning how to live with the virus that has brought panic and fear to our shores.”

A health worker said, “Our people need to learn how to work with us — not against us.”

Another concerned citizen voiced his disappointment with the Task Force for allowing families to hold funeral services for their loved ones.

David Matts said the Task Force announced during their many press conferences that they’re doing everything to stop the virus from spreading, and yet, they’re still allowing flights into the territory and some restrictions are now lifted.

“A lot of people don’t seem to care by not following safety protocols and the government obviously had no idea where to start. All their meetings and press conferences were all just formalities,” said Matts.

The Task Force announced last week during a press update on the Coronavirus community spread that they’re considering allowing families to hold funerals for their loved ones, however, the restrictions imposed include having no more than 10 people present, maintaining a distance of 6 feet apart for social distancing and wearing a face mask at all times.

The Task Force also announced that on the day of the funeral the hearse would go straight from the LBJ morgue to the grave site where a service may be held and attended by only 10 people.

It was clear during the press conference that it’s the wish of the Task Force chair, Lt. Gov. Talauega E.V. Ale that families be allowed to hold funerals for their loved ones while at the same time the public is protected from the community spread of the virus.

BACKGROUND

Two weeks ago, families were voicing their frustrations and disappointment with government delays by agencies that should be providing services for families who have lost a loved one.

Families said they had been unable to pick up death certificates to begin their funeral plans for the deceased because government offices that deal with these services are closed during the Code Red shutdown.

The government offices according to one concerned family member include the division of the Department of Public Safety (DPS) that deals with findings of the cause of death (criminal, suicide, accident or natural death); the Office of the Attorney General with the signature of authority to release the body, and the physician’s signature to officially release the death certificates at the LBJ Medical Center.