Flea Market Stall Owners Unhappy With Relocation to Sogi

By Lagi Keresoma

APIA, SAMOA – 21 JUNE 2021: Several stall owners at the Savalalo flea market are not happy with Governments plan to relocate the flea market behind the Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi  (TATTE) building at Sogi.

This follows the closing of the flea market at Savalalo for a Government project and shifting the flea market stall owners to a temporary location opposite the bus terminal at Fugalei.

A week ago, all stall and restaurant owners at the Savalalo market were told to move. However, last week, they were told they had a month but most of the vendors had already moved.

The Principal Officer for the Samoa Land Corporation, Alo Neti Tupai who looks after the flea market said the temporary market that opens at Fugalei today is a temporary arrangement.

“This is just a temporary place until the Sogi project is finished,” said Alo.

Temporary Flea Market at Fugalei
But the temporary site can only cater for 24 restaurants and 36 stalls and is already booked out.

Alo Neti Tupai said there are many reasons why the Government decided to relocate the flea market so there could be a permanent place for stall owners as the market at Savalalo is susceptible to flooding.

Samoa Land Corporation’s Principal Officer, Alo Neti Tupa’i.

However, the temporary location at Fugalei is just as vulnerable to flooding during heavy rains.

Meanwhile, reclamation is progressing at the Sogi mangrove swamp as the flea market stalls future permanent location.

The Sogi location remains the battle ground for the Tokuma family who are still fighting against the Government to remain there “as they have occupied and reclaimed the swamp since the 1920s during the New Zealand administration.”

Most of the Sogi residents had been relocated inland to Falelauniu as government was concerned about the impact of “climate change and sea level rise on the residents.”

Much of the area previously occupied by the Sogi residents is now flattened. But being a swamp, there is more work to reclaim the land.

Reclamation at the Sogi mangrove swamp as the Tokuma Family fight on to remain on the land.

According to Alo Neti Tupai, the reclamation is planned to be finished next month (July) before the actual contract is tendered for the construction.

He did confirm that the temporary flea market is small but said that priority for spaces is given to those who have paid off their arrears.

But long-time vendors at the Savalalo flea market are warry of the future plan to move behind the TATTE building.

Saumamao Ioane of Satuimalufilufi and Ului Lalomilo of Vailele said it will be hard for their kind of business to survive at the new location.

Ului Lalomilo of Vailele said it will be hard for their kind of business to survive at the new location.

“No customers will come to the back when there are other shops they can easily access in town,” said Ului.

She said since the COVID-19 lock down, business had been badly affected “and to suddenly be told to back our stuff and move, it’s not helping us especially at this time,” she said.

Uluia has operated a stall at the Savalalo flea market for 22 years, yet, she suddenly feels insecure because of the decision by the Government.

“It seems the only thing to do is to go home and try and sell from there,” she said.

Saumamao has 8 grandchildren that rely on her for school, but since restaurants have been removed, she hardly gets a customer.

Both women believe a flea market should remain in the centre of town where it is easily accessible by bus and foot traffic with attractions such as restaurants.

Flea Market vendor Saumamao Ioane of Satuimalufilufi.

“Unless the Government moves the bus terminal to Sogi where the flea market will be located, then perhaps we can get customers,” said Saumamao.

When the government built the current produce market at Vaitele, it faced a huge challenge to entice vendors and farmers there because they did not allow the buses there. Now its being turned into a shopping centre.