Mother and daughter donate 400 Bibles for prison inmates

By Talaia Mika

APIA, SAMOA – 18 AUGUST 2022: The long-time service of Tofilau Fiti Leung Wai, owner of SSAB Megastore and her 80-year-old mother Manino Stanley Fuimaono to the prison inmates, took a step further through the donation of 400 Bibles today for the inmates rehabilitation programs at the Tanumalala prison.

Tofilau with her mother officially handed over the bibles “to boost and enhance the spiritual growth of over five hundred inmates.”

Attending the ceremony were Senior Judge Vui Clarence Nelson, Pastor John, Police Commissioner Auapaau Logoitino Filipo, SSAB CEO, Tofilau Fiti Leung Wai, Manino Stanley Fuimaono, Samoa International Finance Authority CEO, Tuifaasisina Sieni Tualega and the British Chargé d’affaires to Samoa, Robert Owell.

Tofilau made special acknowledgement of her motivation, her mother whom for years, had donated from scratch to the inmates at the old prison at Tafaigata to its’ current location at Tanumalala.

“My mother’s heart has always been for the inmates. She has been sewing on this place ever since I was in high school and she would always ask for money to buy diapers for babies of the inmates, toothbrush, anything you name it but the most important thing for her is the souls of the inmates,” she said.

“That’s why she’s here this morning with us, very excited about donating these Bibles.”

Manino Stanley Fuimaono was also part of a Christian Ministry called the “Fortress of Faith” that had been donating and visiting the inmates every week.

She had stopped her prison visits when the Covid-19 struck and slowed down by age as she is turning 81 in two weeks.

Deputy Police Commissioner, Leiataua Samuelu Afamasaga told Talamua the rehabilitation programs play an important role in the lives of the inmates in preventing them from re-offending after they are released.

Only inmates who have been in prison for a year and a half can join the rehab programs.

“Some have started their businesses and with the rehab program, they learn new skills so they can make a change of life direction after jail time, find a career and so forth,” Leiataua said.

He added that the donation of Bibles by SSAB Company will greatly assist the Tanumalala officers and the rehab organizers in improving the program and boosting spirituality in prison.

In addition, Justice Vui Clarence Nelson and the British High Commission will be collaborating on an art exhibition to showcase the inmates’ artwork at the Taumeasina Island Resort in November. (See Story on Inmates artworks).