The Government is yet to indicate what will become of the land that currently hosts the Tafaigata Prison.

The Ministry of Police says the site will accommodate the Samoa Police Academy, with discussions with Chinese government officials and project financiers already at an advance stage. 

But Tupa'i Bruno Loyale, CEO of The Magic Circus of Samoa, has told the Samoa Observer that the Government has agreed to give his company the land to build Samoa’s first amusement park.

The proposed Police Academy’s design plan was unveiled in September last year in Shanghai, China with the construction scheduled for mid-2019 and completion two years later. 

But Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sa'ilele Malielegaoi is yet to advise who will get the land. 

When he was last asked to comment on the issue, he said: “A Police Academy is a Government project.  The proposed zoo is a private project – when these projects finally take off, a release will be issued.” 

In October last year the Ministry of Police hosted a delegation from the Agency for International Economic Cooperation of China, who were in Samoa to discuss plans for the construction of the Police Academy. They also went on a site visit to Tafa’igata Prison. 

According to Tupa'i, the amusementA park will cater for families and offer a number of services. 

“It will have a small zoo with zebras, camels, beautiful birds from around the world. The small amusement park will be where families on the weekends can have barbecues or picnics, and at the same time enjoy riding the Ferris wheels, different kinds of rides, opened on weekends and holidays,” he added. 

The Minister of Prisons and Correction Services, Tialavea Tionisio Hunt, has announced that work on the new prison will be completed this year when the inmates from Tafaigata Prison will be transferred.