The Nafanua II patrol boat ran aground on reef on the outskirt of Savai'i after it transported police reinforcement to the big island on Wednesday.

Members of the public told the Samoa Observer that the Ministry of Police Prisons and Correction Service-operated vessel ran aground on Wednesday, when it transported more police officers ahead of Thursday’s vehicle convoy protest by members of the Human Rights Protection Party.

The reef that the ship ran aground on on Wednesday is within the vicinity of the Salelologa wharf and the vessel was still spotted in the same location on Thursday evening.

Attempts to get a comment from Police Commissioner, Fuiavailiili Egon Keil were unsuccessful.

According to police officers – who are not authorised to speak to the media – due to the vessel's mishap more officers were flown to Savai’i on Thursday morning to assist maintain the peace at locations where villagers had set up roadblocks when the protest got underway.

Some 30-plus officers from Upolu were dispatched to Savai’i to beef up police presence on the big island in anticipation of trouble triggered by the H.R.P.P. vehicle convoy protest.

Video footage from Savai’i showed police officers at the forefront standing in between the villagers and H.R.P.P. supporters to keep the peace.

A heavy presence of police were also seen at the Salelologa wharf trying to keep angry villagers away from disrupting the flow of traffic heading back to board the ferry to Upolu.

The vehicle convoy that was initially scheduled to start from Salelologa had to re-route and was cut short after encountering roadblocks in Salelologa, Samalaeulu and Sasina. 

More than hundred cars and close to 200 supporters took a detour from Patamea to Vaiaata as they could not get past Samalaeulu.

The H.R.P.P. in a statement issued on Thursday said its rally in Savai’i which highlighted concerns over the judiciary, was cut short due to “unlawful roadblocks at villages loyal to the Fa’atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (F.A.S.T.) Government”. 

Party leader and former Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sa'ilele Malielegaoi said it is unfortunate the roadblocks did not allow his party to complete its plan of honouring past party leaders Va’ai Kolone and Tofilau Eti Alesana.