22 Aug 2016

Samoa PM threatens to move Sogi families off site

2:40 pm on 22 August 2016

The Samoan Prime Minister says he will not change his mind on relocating the residents of a village to make way for a development.

The Samoa Observer reports that some residents of Sogi refused to move on well after the deadline had passed.

However the general manager of the Samoa Land Corporation Ulugia Petelo Kavesi said they would not be moved on by force.

He said many residents had accepted the offer to relocate to Falelauniu but a few families at Sogi were still rejecting the offer.

The residents said they had always lived in Sogi and would not buckle to the government's demands.

However the Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, said he had told the SLC to deal with the issue as soon as possible.

Samoa PM, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi

Samoa PM, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi Photo: RNZ Pacific / Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia