The construction of a new Samoa International Finance Authority (S.I.F.A.) building has been postponed. 

The delay to the works was revealed in the H.R.P.P Manifesto, announced on Thursday, with no future date for the building’s final construction provided. 

An email was sent to the Chief Executive Officer of S.I.F.A., Tuifaasisina Sieni Voorwinden seeking comment on the delay. 

The location for the new S.I.F.A. headquarters is where the old Apia courthouse once stood. The old building was dismantled in May 2020. 

S.I.F.A. requested for tenders for the dismantling of the old Court House two years ago, which eventually went to sole-bidder Schwarz Construction. 

The Authority had set a previous deadline of April 2019 for proposals for consulting services for the design and construction supervision of the new building.

Their notice calling for proposals said the winning bid would be selected under open competitive bidding and procedures, in accordance with Treasury Instructions and the Tenders Board guidelines for procurement and contracting.

Efforts by a community group Samoa Tofia Mai le Atua to save the old Court House as a national monument were unsuccessful, despite awareness campaigns and a petition of 1800 signatures. 

The group was recently featured in this newspaper when they called for a national holiday to commemorate the pre-independence Mau movement. 

"Samoa  Tofia Inc. would also present a new proposal to the next Government with ideas for a date in the year for this national day and the kind of monument," said Taloto Obed Unasa, President of Samoa Tofia Mai le Atua.

"Our people are wanting to see a national day for the Mau movement, that automatically comes with a monument." 

The Mau movement was a non-violent campaign that started almost 100 years ago, in resistance to colonial administration in Samoa. 

S.I.F.A. was established in 1988 and aims to advance Samoa’s status in the world of international finance.