By Martha Taumata-Fa’avae
Media reports of a family being ordered to uproot their home from inside the central setting of Lepea village, is being blamed for stirring unnecessary conflict for the close knit community.
The media report pointed an accusing finger at Faumuina Opapo Oeti, whose authority holds supreme in the village in keeping with customs and traditions.
A surprised Faumuina claims he is taking a lot of flak from public reactions after the local media published the wrong home photo of the family told to leave the village.
“I’m getting the brunt of angry reactions and verbal abuse on my good name because people were misinformed by the photo they saw on the media report,” Faumuina complained.
“I wished they had asked for my side of the story because the family they reported on is being asked to re-locate out of the village for health reasons.
“Close to 20 people, adults and children, are living in the family home and they have been asked to shift to Se’ese’e village where there is more space on Faumuina customary land where they can be more comfortable.”
Faumuina rejected as nonsense, claims circulated widely that the uprooted family home is going to be used as the site for a museum.
Included amongst the misleading accounts blamed on the media are claims last May by New Zealand based reporter, Michael Field, that the historical residence of the Faumuina title is being torn down.
The residence is the centre piece in the village layout and is of historical significance dating back to the colonial times of the Germans in Samoa.
“The building is old and has become a safety risk so it is being restored but its original design is being maintained.”
Faumuina made it clear that the authority of the title rules above all else in Lepea and adjacent villages at Se’ese’e, Tuanaimato, Tapatapao, Tanumapua and beyond.
He said the authority of the Faumuina title is legitimized by several rulings in the Lands and Titles Court.
“But I am not using that power vested in me on the clan families but it appears to have misled some into believing they can assert their own authority in the village.
“The overall authority of the Faumuina title oversees the wellbeing of families, land ownership and the running of the village under the rule of the chiefs and orators of Lepea.”
Faumuina Opapo was bestowed the title after it was left vacant for 14 years. The Lands and Titles Court, ruled in his favour as the new title holder to legally end ongoing family disputes on the rightful heir to hold the title.
But he has found, however, that the long passage of time when the title was vacant has created more problems with others asserting their authority as if to overrule the vested powers on the Faumuina title.
“The family who is being evicted from the village was told to leave for going on 3 months now but instead of doing so they have opted to argue their rights in court to challenge the authority of the title holder.”
Faumuina is adamant that the family has ‘no legs to stand on’ from previous court rulings that have already established the overriding rule of the title holder.
“The decision for this family to move out of the central village is for their own good.”
A member of the family who did not want to be identified denied comment on the issue while it is being brought before the court.
Meanwhile the renovations of the Faumuina residential home are timed for completion later this month of November, 4 months since the work started last July.
In an earlier interview with Faumuina, the estimated cost of the renovations was put at $200,000 tala.