Faleata 1 MP supports plans for a new hospital at Tuanaimato

By Lagi Keresoma/

Apia, Samoa – 22 October 2025 – The Member of Parliament for Faleata 1, Faumuina Opapo Oeti Soana’i has publicly supported the Governments intention to build a new hospital at the rapidly growing residential area at Tuana’imato, in the Faleata district.

In his maiden speech in Parliament last night, Faumuina referred to the Faatuatua I le Atua Samoa ua Tasi Party roadshow where they presented in their manifesto the intention to build a hospital in one of Samoa’s fastest growing populated urban areas.

“Thank you for your vision, not being curtailed by my being an HRPP candidate, but your vision for the wider benefit for the constituency,” said Faumuina.

Faumuina is a former church minister for the Congregational Christian Church and a former judge of the Lands and Titles Court. He was bestowed the paramount chiefly title Faumuina of Lepea which covers a major part of the Faleata district where the new hospital is planned to be located.

In his maiden speech, he told Parliament that a hospital at Tuanaimato is ideal because the area is not only attracting businesses but hosts major sporting facilities and an area with a fast-growing population within the Faleata district.

He also urged the Minister of Health, Va’aaoao Salumalo Alofipo to ensure that the hospital is well equipped with the necessities needed in order to provide much needed health service.

The FAST Patry manifesto plan for a hospital in the area considered the already congested main road from the West Coast to the main hospital at Motootua and the need for a hospital at Tuanaimato to serve the area and patients being rushed on ambulances daily from the west coast and from Savaii.

Return Faleata’s lands
Faumuina, also urged the Government to return lands that belong to Faleata if they are not used. Returning such lands is also in the FAST manifestos in 2021 and 2025.

He said the lands were given under the Western Samoa Trust Estate Corporation (WSTEC) projects now known as Samoa Trust Estate Corporation (STEC).

He believes that some of the lands have not been used for some time and is calling on Government to return them as the Faleata district population is rapidly growing.

Offer to Lead the Million Tala District Development Project
On the $1 Million District Development Project, Faumuina urged the Government to give him the trust to lead the project in his district.

He said he can easily terminate anyone who is not honest in implementing the project.

During the August 2025 election campaign, HRPP made clear in its manifesto its plan to distribute money directly to the public through projects such as COLA and PELEGA and were to dismantle the District’s Advisory Committees – Fono Faavae that implements the District Development Project. The FAST Government is also increasing the annual funding from $1M to $2m tala per constituency per year for five years.

Several other HRPP MPs have told parliament they are now ready to lead the project.