New factory for Samoa

The Tautua Samoa Party has blasted the government’s decision to issue a license for the establishment of a new cigarette factory at Falelauniu, according to a Samoa Observer story.

The Member of Parliament for Falealupo, Aeau Peniamina Leavaise’eta, said the government would regret its decision.

“It’s a sad story,” Aeau told the Samoa Observer. The government had recently been promoting the fight against tobacco use, but now it had agreed to set up a factory to manufacture cigarettes locally.

“It’s really sad if this is the kind of development that the government is looking at when these things affect the lives of our people in the long run,” he said.

Aeau said that the government wasn’t leading by example and was totally ignoring what was good for the Samoan people.

“My disappointment is the government eyeing revenue and neglecting healthy lifestyles,” he added.

Last week, the Minister of Public Enterprises, Lautafi Fio Purcell, dismissed claims that the factory contradicted the government’s push for healthier lifestyles.

“In any country where there is a tobacco company, there is always this argument about the risks of smoking,” he said.

“The reality is that anyone who smokes a cigarette whether it’s manufactured here or not, they will go out to find it and buy it. It comes down to a personal choice.”

According to Lautafi, the decision to approve the license for a second cigarette company was made on the basis of revenue.

“The government is also looking at generating revenues to develop the country,” he said.

The new tobacco factory is being set up by a Chinese businessman who plans to use locally grown tobacco, known as tapa’a plant, to make his products.