Education
New Report Sheds Light on Vaimea Prison
By Lagi Keresoma/
Apia, Samoa – 16 July 2024 – The Vaimea Historic and Heritage Report just launched by a team of researchers of the National University of Samoa, sheds light into what actually happened at the Vaimea Prison during the colonial administrations of Samoa.
One such interpretation is the number of prisoners who were convicted to death by hanging during the time. One notion states that only one prisoner was hung during the New Zealand administration and almost 100 during the German administration.
However, the new research report found the record that only 6 were convicted to death by hanging at the Vaimea Prison.
Of the 6 hanged, 4 were Chinese citizens and 2 were Samoans.
In 1913, three (3) Chinese labourers were condemned to death by hanging for murder and in 1914, a Samoan man was also hung following a crime spree.
Another Chinese labourer was hanged after murdering 2 women in 1928. The last death by hanging was in 1952 of a Samoan man for murder. There was no other hanging outside of prison as alluded to by some in the past.
The history of Vaimea prison started with the alienation of Samoan lands that began in 1877 according to records of the Samoa Land Commission (SLC).
“During the research, we found some interesting documentation that represents the Ministry of Natural Resources & Environment (MNRE) which refers to how the lands were first bought by German settlers and changed hands a couple of times later,” said Samoa Centre Studies researcher Dr. Dionne Fonoti.
In 1903 after the German administration took over Samoa, Vaimea was set aside as the headquarters for the fitafita which was the original Samoan police force.
This group of 30 men were handpicked by Mataafa.
“This is the second interaction of the fiatafita which was established a couple of years earlier by Malietoa, but in 1900 things started to change so the fitafita became part of the German administration of all men selected from the elite Samoan families,” said Fonoti.
So when the German administration took over, they chose Vaimea because already there was a presence of fitafita and the kind of organisation already happening at Vaimea.
NUS Pro Chancellor Prof Lealaimanu’a Emma Kruse Vaai, Samoa Centre Studies researcher Dr. Dionne Fonoti & NUS Vice Chancellor Professor Tuifuisa’a Patila Amosa.
Open-house prison
The original prison at Vaimea were a couple of Samoan opened –houses and a few wooden houses for the German warden.
The report cited a few comical events of prisoners walking casually out of the open house prisons and went home with one famous case involving someone named Sitivi of Laulii village.
“There were many escapes recorded and the administration noted the prison was not secured enough to hold the prisoners,” said the report.
In 1906, the German administration decided to build a new concrete block with 6 cells and in 1910, added 3 more concrete cells.
Records noted the contribution of the Samoan people in assisting with the building of the new prison and the development of the system.
When the New Zealand administration took over administration of Samoa, new changes started to materialise like the rebirth of the Mau Movement which was part of Samoa’s pre-history.
The research was funded by the Government of New Zealand and the New Zealand High Commissioner to Samoa, Si’alei Van Toor commended the researchers and NUS for the initiative.
NUS Vice Chancellor, Professor Tuifuisa’a Patila Malua Amosa acknowledged the research team and the New Zealand Governments’ support.
The prison as it is today is being used as storage for used Government assets.
“The report, provides a detailed historical assessment of the Vaimea Prison, showcasing its profound significance as a cultural heritage site, tracing its connection to Samoa’s indigenous resistance movements, including the Mau a Pule and the Mau Movement, highlighting the struggles and sacrifices of Samoan leaders and people who fought for our land, culture and sovereignty,” said Professor Tuifuisa’a.
She said the study also explores the prison’s role in documenting the first instances of land alienation in Samoa’s history and the impact of settler machinations on Samoa’s physical and social landscape.
“Additionally, the study pays tribute to the Fitafita Native Guard, the first all-Samoan constabulary, that played a crucial role in shaping Samoa’s policing history and charts the evolution of the Samoan Police Force overtime,” she said.
The Vaimea prison still exists to date and is being used as a storehouse for Government assets.
According to the report, the Vaimea Prison has the potential to become a multipurpose educational space, such as a museum or heritage house, dedicated to the history of resistance in Samoa, and a key site of cultural and historical heritage that Samoans, and visitors to Samoa, can all enjoy.