The Edge Marina View was slapped with a $500 tala fine and put on warning by the Liquor Board this week following a violation of its food and beverage licence. 

The fine – which was in response to the violation of the conditions and new limits on the establishment's operating hours – was confirmed by the Minister for Customs and Revenue, Tialavea Tionisio Hunt in an interview with the Samoa Observer. 

The Liquor Board had served the Edge Marina View with a notice of intention to suspend their food and beverage licence entirely.

However, following a hearing the board opted not to proceed with the suspension. 

“After thorough consideration and weighing in all the factors the board agreed not to proceed with the suspension,” explained the Minister. 

There was also consideration over the fact this was their first offence for their food and beverage license. 

“The fine is stipulated under the Liquor Act and it is the maximum fine which of course is $500," he said. 

He said the Edge Marina View was operating like a nightclub. That's despite a nightclub licence being revoked for the NXT nightclub, inside the Marina compound, following an incident which led to the death of Malaki Tauili’ili. 

The Minister said the board voted on this decision. 

Tialavea denied the Prime Minister intervened with the board’s decision. 

“The Prime Minister wrote to the board to consider revenues, employees and the fact that this is a popular tourist eatery and the board did factor that in prior to making our final decision,” he said. 

Tialavea said everyone seeks the Prime Minister’s help when it comes to these issues and the board considered his concerns. But it will not change the board's decision.

The Minister also warned that with new operating hours for food and beverage license, the Marina’s will be closed by 11pm. 

“It is no longer 1am; the board has opted to limit the hours for the restaurants to operate up to 11pm and this is a fair decision,” said the Minister. 

He explained this was the decision made by the board three weeks ago and that restaurants have been put on notice. 

The Marina is owned and operated by Savili and Darryl Scott, who could not be reached for comment on the decision of the board.