The caretaker Minister of Police and Prisons has confirmed that the Government is yet to decide a new date for the opening of the $600,000 Vaia'ata Prison project in Savai'i. 

Last month, prior to the dissolution of the XVI Parliamentary term, Ti'alavea Tionisio Hunt promised the House that the project was scheduled to be officially opened on 19 March and vowed that there would be no delays. 

"This project has really dismantled me but I thank God that it is complete. It is done," Ti'alavea told the Parliament last month.

“So our Government will be preparing to come to Savaii on March 19 for the opening of our prison in Savaii; [the date] will not be changed.”

But the official opening did not go according to plan last Friday, despite the caretaker Minister and Cabinet colleagues along with members of the Human Rights Protection Party [H.R.P.P.] being in Savai'i, for the launching of their party's manifesto. 

When approached for a comment, Ti'alavea said: "We don't know yet; it hasn't been discussed."

The caretaker Minister also did not say what caused the delay of the project’s opening.

In a speech to the Parliament last month, the caretaker Minister said he challenged the Police Commissioner Fuiavaili'ili Egon Keil and prison official Sagaga Galu Frost to ensure the controversial prison is opened by 19 March.

“In terms of the development at Vaia’ata, my challenge to you is to commission this project by March 19 next month and open it,” said Tialavea.

“What is good for Upolu is also good for Savaii. This project has really dismantled me but I thank God that it is complete. It is done.”

Tialavea said the prison project in Savai’i, which was undertaken by prison inmates, led to him coming under a lot of criticism and he is glad the project is complete.

Justifying his decision to upgrade the prison facility, he said Vaia'ata prison is saving the Government money as the supplier of food to the bigger Tanumalala Prison.

“Even though I am not a Savai’i, I am a Minister for both Upolu and Savai’i. I cannot make a grand prison in Upolu while prisoners in Savai’i are sleeping in poor conditions,” he said.

“Because this prison is where a large portion of the food provided at Tanumalala Prison is sourced from, this is currently assisting the budget of the Ministry of Finance in terms of expenses on food.”

He said prison inmates at Vaia’ata prison work on a large 417-acre plantation under the supervision of Sagaga.

“If we could export the produce, we would, but the food supply of the prisons is a priority,” said Tialavea.

“So our Government will be preparing to come to Savai’i on March 19 for the opening of our prison in Savaii; [the date] will not be changed.”

The project which is funded by public funds will house 100 prisoners and include a new administration building.

The project is part of the national initiative by the Samoa Prisons Authority to upgrade and improve prison conditions in the country.