Court orders Tuana’i village families to vacate Afega lands

By Lagi Keresoma/

Apia, Samoa – 15 December 2023: The Lands and Titles Court has ruled to remove more than 10 families of Tuana’i village currently residing on lands that belong to Afega village.

The decision was delivered yesterday giving the Tuana’i families affected 4 months to vacate the land and the countdown to 4 months started on the day the decision was delivered to April 2024.

The decision was against the families’ petition for a Court order to survey and draw the boundaries between Tuana’i and Afega villages.

In passing judgement, the Court says that it is not appropriate for another bench of judges to change the 1963 ruling.

“The decision of 1963 remains and is still recognised,” the decision said.

This is not the first time Tuana’i and Afega villages have resorted to court to settle a dispute and their legal battle goes back to 1963.

Afega won and the 1963 decision also included lands behind Leauvaa and Levi, Sale’imoa.

Levi did not appeal the 1963 then but an appeal petition is currently before the court.

Recently, Afega successfully argued against a stay of proceedings by Levi village then lodged an application to remove Levi and Leauva’a families residing on the disputed lands.