The Government is considering purchasing another ferry to cater for the increasing number of people travelling between Upolu and Savai’i.

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi revealed his Government’s plans during his weekly programme with the media.

“I have already told the Chief Executive Officer of the Samoa Shipping Corporation to look for another ferry. Find a ferry that has a shelter and has a lot of spaces for vehicles as well so at the moment the C.E.O. as well as the Minister is working on it."

“We have already given a letter to the Government of Japan to assist with a new ferry as we all remember we have a lot of assistance from them,” he said.

Talking about a recent trip that he took to Savai’i, the Prime Minister said it was good for him and his Cabinet to get out off the office to see the progress of development. 

“We cannot possibly know what is happening in the country if we just sit on our chairs in our office, we should go and have a look around and not just sit inside the air condition room and ask for reports."

“Last week, I had the chance to have a look at two of the biggest plantations in our country, one that is owned by Taimalie Charlie Ah Liki and another one that is owned by Ututaaloga Charlie Ulia. I have never seen such big plantations before and they have their own machines that they use to work around their plantations,” he said.

Tuilaepa said the plantation owners had a different way of looking after their plantations, which in the end provided Samoans with employment opportunities. 

“But they also have a different style of how they do their plantation. These are the developments that we have to look at because it also helps our people in terms of job opportunities. But in terms of a new ferry that plan is already in the pipeline so once we have a new ferry there won’t be any more problems with people travelling between Upolu and Savaii or having to sleep at the wharf just so they could take their vehicles, especially during special occasions when we see this problem arises.”