PRIME MINISTER ORDERS IMMEDIATE DEMOLITION OF FORMER PRISON IN VAIMEA

Yesterday the Prime Minister, Hon. Fiame Naomi Mataáfa, along with other Ministers and government officials visited the former prison site at Vaimea.

According to a post on the Facebook page of the Minister, Hon. Olo Fiti Vaai who attended the inspection this is where sentences were served in the past years.

In the Minister's post he said it was a "heartbreaking" sight they saw and heard at the place where some of our people were sentenced to death.

Due to the precarious situation and insecurity of the remaining buildings and having regard to the history of the place, the Prime Minister ordered that the buildings be demolished immediately.

According to Olo Fiti Vaai, the last person to be sentenced to death by hanging in this building was in 1956.

Prisoners were moved to Tafaigata following the closure of the Vaimea prison.

VAIMEA PRISON:

According to Samoa Police Website, In the 1950s there were very few crimes committed in Samoa. Murder as a crime happened many years apart. Most other matters in the Magistrates Court and usually suspects were either fined or given a probation term.

In 1952 the two Police Prisons were situated at Vaimea and Tafaigata and one was closed shortly after. The single Prison was not overcrowded because there were few offences being committed due to strong village curfews and deep religious beliefs. During the late 1950s, Police had control of the immigration queries such as plane inspection, clearance, passports issuing and visas. Liquor licenses although licenses were only issued to business people of which a clear majority were half castes but not to the locals.

Less crimes were committed also because the population was low, and there was good control and respect in all the villages who were generally controlled by the Alii and the Faipule.

Chinese immigrants were also closely monitored by Police. They had special roll calls and daily check where they reside.