O le a tufaina le tai $1,100 tala a le tagata e toatasi, mai le seleni $10 miliona lea ua tuuina mai i le Malo o Niu Sila, e fai lea ma se taui (compensation) e fesoasoani ai aiga ae maise o tagatanuu o Samoa ua aafia i le goto ai o le HMNZS Manawanui.
Residents of Samoa’s South West coastline whose livelihoods continue to be affected by the sinking of the HMNZs Manawanui in October 2024 are finally receiving some sort of compensation through the distribution of a $10 million tala payment from the Government of New Zealand.
Sa tuuina mai le mua’i faasalalauga, e ta’i $1,000 tala, ae peitai, o lea ua ta’i $1,100.
The initial announcement was for each individual in a household – man, woman and child – to receive $1,000 tala. However, with the confirmed number of residents, the Special Committee formed to distribute the funds found there was too much left over.
The Prime Minister Hon Laaulialemalietoa Polataivao Leuatea Fosi Schmidt, confirmed during his weekly press conference with local media. “Petai e fai atu o loo telē le tupe e totoe, lea la ua toe fetuunai ai, e faaopoopo le isi $100 tala ma maua ai le $1,100 a le tagata e toatasi.”
The distribution of $1,100 per person will leave just $100,000 tala left from the $10 million – which the Prime Minister says, will be distributed to small businesses in the area which were affected.
The compensation for the loss of livelihoods of fishermen and families from the Siumu-Safata coastline, as well small business owners who relied on visiting tourists and surfers to the area, was negotiated by the new Administration.
A Military Court of Inquiry concluded a series of human errors caused the New Zealand navy ship to plough into the reef off the coast of Siumu, Tafitoala and Safata.
It caught fire and sank to the bottom of the ocean, where it sits today.
Nearly 1000 tonnes of diesel fuel was on board HMNZS Manawanui when it sank, the Chief of Navy had said at the time.
Rear admiral Garin Golding said there were different types of fuel on board the Manawanui, with the largest being 950 tonnes of automotive gas oil.
All 75 crew and passengers were rescued and brought to safety with the assistance of Samoa’s Fire and Emergency Services Authority, Police Rescue Units and the National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC) – after the ship ran aground about 1.6 kilometres off the coast of Siumu on Sunday morning 6th October 2024.
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