Did we need a regional airport, and is the $25 million spent building it a waste of taxpayers’ money that could have been employed elsewhere?

It is becoming more evident that some of the projects that the government has invested in were unnecessary. Questions continue to be raised about the regional terminal. The latest development in this saga is Samoa Airways pointing out that they were never given an option but were told to move operations to the regional terminal.

Since the regional airport opened at the start of this month, Samoa Airways shifted its operations to the new airport effective 7 December, a decision they had no say in.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Samoa Airways, Fauoo Fatu Tielu as usual has been a straight shooter with the media. He said the airline was asked to move to utilise the regional airport but had asked to extend its operation from Faleolo.

Samoa Airways has asked for a bigger space to operate from the regional airport—an area where the airline can store its cargo and serve customers.

There are also issues of not having a bank or money exchange agency stationed at the regional facility for travellers and there are concerns about the stench from the lavatories near the check-in area.

Fauoo said there is sufficient room for the airline to operate out of the main terminal and Fagalii and would be good if the same could be accommodated out of the regional airport. 

A valid point raised by Fauoo is the ability of passengers to connect to international flights. Do passengers have to find their way to the international airport or does the Airport Authority provide a shuttle service?

The smell from the toilets is also a concern. These issues cannot be moved aside as teething problems. A huge amount of money was spent and all the issues raised by Samoa Airways should not exist.

The government used $2 million to upgrade the Fagalii Airport and Samoa Airways was told to operate from there. Then the government went ahead and made a $25 million regional airport which is being used by just one airline for six days a week and only on Sundays, the two airlines use it.

It does not look like the broader vision to fly to other countries in the Pacific will become a reality from the regional terminal. They will only be possible if it is viable and profitable. 

What does it mean for the future of the Fagalii Airport? If the government moves to close the Fagalii Airport to further justify the use of the regional terminal, it would prove that these investments had not been very well thought through. There was no need for a regional terminal and the $25 million could have been directed elsewhere.

We urgently need a new hospital, we need medical equipment, there is a shortage of doctors and nurses and better pay is needed to entice them, teachers are leaving because of pay disparity and education should be made free. We need better roads and drainage.

The reluctance of the government especially the Airport Authority to explain the situation to the public also shows a lack of transparency.  This has been worsened by the alleged directive that the Samoa Observer is banned from the airport. This is a concern because, over the last few years, the government has become less transparent than ever before.

This is a worrying trend because now the government feels that they are not accountable to the people of this country. The attitude is becoming more dictatorial and less democratic.