House sets hearing to discuss 200 acre “land grab” of virgin bush

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — One of the issues that will be discussed during a House Homeland Security hearing this Thursday is the issue regarding a large acreage of land, regarded as virgin bush in the hills of Fagasa and Pago Pago to Malaeimi and Aoloau and Aasu.

This was confirmed by Vice Speaker of the House, Fetui Fetu Jr during yesterday’s house session.

Fetui asked the chair of the House Homeland Security committee to include this issue in the hearing with the director of the Homeland Security.

Information shared on social media stated that it involves about 200 acres of untouched bush which a group of government leaders, businessmen and lawyers are claiming and registering as their own.

A House member had alerted other faipule about the land claim. Samoa News was sent a copy of the email that was sent out to members of the House of Representatives regarding this issue.

“I am writing to share these screenshots of a Facebook post by Dawnie Nua regarding land belonging to A’asu, Malaeimi, and Fagasa villages that are being claimed by certain individuals of the current administration. The attached survey photos reference these areas as Nu’u Fou,” said the Faipule.

“This troubling revelation seems to coincide with the fact that ASPA plans to move forward with the installation of wind turbines in the contested area of Manunu. I am not quite sure what to make of this shocking news, but because these lands fall within your district boundaries, I thought it best to share this with you all.”

“I am hoping your respective districts and landowners are aware of these efforts. If not, then someone needs to reach out to the Territorial Registrar and the DPW Surveyor’s Office for more information.”

(Editor’s Note: Samoa News should point out that a copy of the land survey map it has seen actually encompasses about 400 acres of land, not just 200 acres.)