Village accepts $100,000 payment

By Lanuola Tusani Tupufia 23 March 2016, 12:00AM

The village of Falealupo has accepted a $100,000 lump sum from the Apia Deep Fishing Company over an incident where a boat belonging to the company ran aground on the village’s reef last year.

In doing so, the village has withdrawn its threat of legal action against the Matautu-based Chinese company. 

Speaking to the Samoa Observer, the Member of Parliament for Falealupo, Aeau Peniamina Leavaiseeta, confirmed that the company made a presentation to the village last week.

The delegation was led by the former Minister of Agriculture and now member of the Council of Deputies, Le Mamea Ropati. 

Aeau said they came to “thank the villagers for their assistance” when a boat from Apia Deep Fishing ran aground nearby Falealupo last year. 

“Some of their staff had stayed in the village during that process of dismantling the boat,” said Aeau. “They came to say thank you to the village for their help, presenting $100,000.

“Everything went smoothly,” he said, adding that the money was distributed among the villagers.

Aeau added that during a village meeting it was agreed that there would be no further actions against Apia Deep Fishing. 

When the incident happened last year, a staff member of the company said the captain on the ship had misjudged the weather.

By Lanuola Tusani Tupufia 23 March 2016, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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