The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster slammed allegations of impropriety in the leasing of government land at Maalauli, Vailele, describing a recent Samoa Observer article on the issue as “gung-ho” and unbalanced.

The article, published over the weekend in the Sunday Samoan, raised concerns about Lot 206, 3,035 square metres of public land leased to Toeolesulusulu and his wife under a 20-year commercial agreement. It questioned the potential for conflict of interest, given the Minister’s oversight of MNRE and the Ministry of Lands and Survey (MLS), which manages government land.

In response, Toeolesulusulu addressed the matter via a public Facebook post, criticising the newspaper’s reporting.

“It is interesting to read an article over the weekend by the Samoa Observer, which alludes to misuse of power regarding leasing of land at Malauli,” he wrote. 

“SO should have mentioned that I directed them to the Ministry of Lands and Survey to get the correct information... the way the article is written tells me the journalist was gung-ho to make me look bad.”

Toeolesulusulu outlined several points defending the process: the land had been vacant for over 20 years; no other lease applications had been made; the lease is commercial, generating more revenue for the government; and he recused himself from the Land Board’s decision due to a declared conflict of interest.

“The application was submitted at the beginning of 2023, and the approval was granted, and payment for the lease started in 2024,” he added.

However, the Samoa Observer did attempt to seek clarification from the Ministry and included the response from the Minister’s Secretary stating, “Hon. Minister Toeolesulusulu respectfully requests that you route your enquiry through the Ministry of Lands and Survey in the first instance.”

Formal inquiries were submitted to both the Minister and Ulugia Petelo Kavesi, CEO of MLS. While the Minister’s office redirected questions to the Ministry, no response has been received from MLS as of publication time.

“All this information could have been obtained from MLS,” Toeolesulusulu wrote, “if the journalist actually knew what they wanted and asked the necessary questions rather than just fishing for something to make me into a corrupt politician.”

The Minister concluded by questioning whether media critics believe Ministers should be barred from applying for government land, calling on them to “justify why they believe this to be a concern.”