Samoa's Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi is adamant that families from the village of Satapuala refusing to move from near the international airport are trespassing on what is now government land.
Samoa Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi conducting his weekly radio address. Photo: RNZI/Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia
In his news conference Tuilaepa said the time has now come for the law to take over.
He said an agreement was reached in 1983 between families in the path of the airport runway and government to relocate inland for their safety.
The government agreed to offer 44 acres in return for the families vacating 22 acres they were living on at the time.
He says instead of the 44 acres the government gave a total of 67 acres which all the families have been using and benefiting from.
