9 Mar 2012

Demolition work has begun on Samoa's old fono building

10:19 am on 9 March 2012

Demolition work has begun on Samoa's old fono building.

The government, which says the 94-year old former parliament building is unsafe, has ordered it to be torn down despite much opposition.

Our correspondent in Apia Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia says some material will be recycled for a possible new fono building to be erected.

"The three mid posts donated by the two joint heads of state the late Tupua Tamasese Mea'ole and the late Malietoa Tanumafili II and our first prime minister the late Mata'afa Faumuina will be kept and hopefully when the new fono house will be rebuilt then those posts will be used again."

Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia says the government plans to level the land in time for celebrations of Samoa's 50th anniversary of independence in June.