The Samoan Government is moving forward with plans to utilize its land in Tafuna to construct residence and chancellery.
This was confirmed by the new Counsel General, Fata Brian Kaio in an interview with Samoa News.
“At the moment we have completed the planning and tentative drawings and constructions should be underway by the end of the year.
“It’s a symbol of close ties and our commitment to the relationship with American Samoa by having a physical presence and not just on paper; with the building of a chancellery and official residency.”
The complex will be constructed on the nearly one-acre American Samoa Government (ASG) land in Tafuna — next to the Tafuna Health Center which was gifted by ASG.
Adding upon completion, the services currently provided at the Samoa Counsel office will relocate to Tafuna.
The consulate general of Samoa in Pago Pago provides a range of consular services such as visa and passport processing as well as document legalization.
The Samoan consulate general is the only foreign representation in American Samoa. The Samoan consulate general in Pago Pago is one of 29 Samoan diplomatic and consular representations abroad.
The land in Tafuna was initially used by the nonprofit Goodwill Industries, which had a building that was being renovated by Taxi Owners Association in 2017.
The parcel in question is part of the land exchange between the two Samoas that was initiated about 10 years ago — during the Togiola Administration — through a memorandum of understanding for use of the lands and the language of the MOU was revamped in 2014 during the Lolo Administration.
American Samoa’s land in Apia is located at Vailima.
