All seawall projects on hold until land use permits are issued

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — All government seawall projects are on hold until they obtain “land use permits” in order to proceed.

This is according to a statement made in the Senate recently by Sen. Satele Aliitai Lili’o, chairman of the Senate Public Works Committee.

He made the comments following concerns raised that sea wall projects have been put on hold.

Satele noted the director for Public Works, Faleosina Voigt was set to appear before the Senate last week, however she was off island on official travel and the hearing had to be cancelled.

 “And I inquired about the seawall project whether it’s been put on hold and the director confirmed that it is true.

The director confirmed that the governor is well aware of this decision due to the lack of land use permits, and therefore departments and companies are now working to rectify the situation and once the process is completed only then the projects will proceed,” explained Senator Satele.

The move by the government follows concerns raised by the public over the excavation for a new trade school behind the ASCC beginning without a land use permit.

The excavation work stated in July, yet a land use permit application was not before the Project Notification and Review System Board until September.

Last month the governor’s chief of staff, Loa Tauapa’i Tuimavave Mulipola expressed “disappointment” in government departments that are not “abiding by laws and policies” when it comes to steps taken before implementing any government project.

 “This concern is also shared by Governor Lemanu P. S Mauga. Bypassing laws and policies is not an option. The responsible Directors should be vigilant to ensure” that projects are following procedures when it comes to obtaining permits for projects before they start, said Loa in an interview with Samoa News.

It was members of the public that pointed to the project in light of construction companies and families having to go through a stringent and lengthy process to obtain a Land Use Permit prior to the construction of their projects, yet for government projects, the policies are not being upheld.

On Sept 21, 2022 the Project Notification and Review System Board met and the proposal for demolition and excavation, Mapusaga; 22-9219-ASG was on the agenda. However, the project had started back in July.

Loa told Samoa News at the time that the government should strive to follow its own policies; saying, “The Directors all need to understand that they need to get the permits in place before any project [begins], it’s not that hard.”