By Staff Writer
Plans for the Vaiusu Port is a done deal as far as the Minister of Works, Papali’i Niko Lee Hang, is concerned.
The Minister assured Parliament session during the week that a construction date will be decided once the final feasibility study report on the project is completed.
His only concerned are the wild objections by the Urban West MP Faumuina Wayne Fong that the wharf will be turned into a military base for China.
The claims were reportedly made in the local media.
“The claim is unfounded and the Chinese Ambassador in Samoa has complained about the offending reports as false,” Papali’i told the House.
“The ambassador assured Samoa of the goodwill intentions of his country to help with our national developments.”
MP Faumuina is also continuing to protest the damages to the rich fishing grounds that are the livelihoods of his constituents at Vaiusu and other surrounding villages.
Environment damages to the mangroves along the Fugalei area is another cause for concern.
The Vaiusu harbour holds too many benefits and advantages as a second international commercial port for Apia, it has virtually drowned out the protests by the opposition MP.
The Matautu Wharf has basically reached its full capacity for docking and storage space for cargo containers.
“ It is also vulnerable to open ocean swells that not only puts the ships at risk by hitting against the wharf but the docking structure as well,” Papali’i explained.
“The rough conditions grounded our Forum Samoa at the mouth of the Matautu Harbour as well to delay shipping schedules.”
Vaiusu Harbour is a bigger and better harbour that will open up Samoa as a hub for sea trading for the region by taking over the workload from Matautu and expanding on it as well.
The Apia Township will be expanded as well through with the ideal location of the Vaitele Industrial Zone to take advantage of the new port.
Faleata West MP Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi is putting his full weight behind the Vaiusu Port for the benefits to his constituency of Faleata West that includes Vaitele.
“Most of the port area will be towards the Vaitele side and other neighbouring villages so maybe it will it should be renamed Vaitele Wharf,” he offered.
Works Minister Papali’i puzzled over MP Faumuina’s protests when his own constituents are in full support of the new port.
“ Many of them are coming up and offering their full support of the project so I don’t know why the MP is complaining.”
“This is a major development project that will bring a lot of benefits to Samoa and all this misinformation about China has to be corrected.
“We have warm ties with China that goes back 50 years and benefitted from their assistance to our national development, we don’t want to damage all that.”
The location of the new wharf will not pose any legal contest for Government to worry about assured the Prime Minister.
He was referring to legal ownership from the sea all the way to highest point the sea reaches on dry land at high tide.
Environment concerns about the damages to the mangroves were dispelled as well with the location of the wharf further out into the harbour.