The Government of Samoa’s newest Ministry was officially opened this morning (Friday 06 September, 2024) at the old premises of the Samoa Land Corporation (SLC) at Tuanaimato.
The Ministry is made up of the former SLC, Samoa Trust Estates (STEC), and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) and has been long in the planning to be established.
The event was well attended by the Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa, Ministers, CEO’s and employees of the ministry.
Prime Minister Fiame in her keynote address said the new ministry will manage all Government lands that were previously under the three (3) different Government Entities.
This was also the main purpose behind the establishment of this ministry because, government had noticed there were various challenges that arose of having matters pertaining to land managed under 3 different entities.
These include:
- Different conditions of leases and fees provided to the members of the community from each of the three entities (MNRE, SLC & STEC).
- Increase in the number of people that want government lands to reside on and develop but finances are not adequate.
- Unequal distribution of land.
- Unclear legislations for land use.
- Large debts in unpaid land leases.
“In 2015 the Government indicated its intent to bring all government lands under one entity,” said Prime Minister Fiame.
It required ‘a stock take of all government lands, the review of the legislation governing said lands, the recording/registrations of lands and the use of these assets’.
The newly launched Ministry, says the Prime Minister, “will deliver an updated and comprehensive policy framework to the holding, management, and usage of lands in Samoa inclusive of Government, private and customary.”
The Ministry of Lands and Survey came into effect on 1 July 2024 following Parliament passing $8.5 million tala for operations in the fiscal year July 2024 – June 2025.
There are plans to request for further additional funds, said Prime Minister Fiame, in the Supplementary Budget in December 2024 for the Ministry.
“I wish to thank the Hon. Minister of MNRE, SLC, and STEC, Hon. Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster for spearheading this crucial and new development that we have witnessed today.”
The Prime Minister also acknowledged the active participation of the Public Service Commission in planning and formulating the new organisational structure enabling the Ministry of Lands and Survey to operate.
She also commended the SLC and STEC Boards, the Ministry of Public Enterprise, as well as the Ministry of Finance and the Offices of the Auditor General and Attorney General for their support to the work needed by our Government for this initiative to become a reality.
“Last but not least, to our employees or staff formerly under MNRE, SLC, and STEC who have cooperated, supported and will be or are now part of the new Ministry, many thanks to you all.”
She said that they are all instrumental in delivering the stated objectives for the new Ministry of Lands and Survey.
The Minister of the Ministry of Lands and Survey officially unveiled the new logo of the Ministry.
The new logo will help people searching for the whereabouts of the new Ministry to locate it for its services.
The newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry is Ulugia Petelo Kavesi, who was previously General Manager of the Samoa Land Corporation (SLC).
He served in that capacity for 8 years.
Authored by Jasmine Netzler-Iose
