legislation

Western Samoa

Fire

NEW legislation by which the Western Samoan government is seeking to protect itself from lawsuits resulting from the negligence of its own fire brigade has met with strong criticism.

Opposition MP Leseisiuao Palemene said the government was deserting its duty.

The fire brigade, which falls under the responsibility of the prime min ister’s department, lacks money and resources and suffers from poor infrastructural support, including a lack of necessary water pressure in most parts of the capital, Apia, to put out fires.

The poor state of the fire brigade is potentially dangerous as many of the old buildings in the city are made of wood. Prime minister Tofilau Eti Alesena defended the legislation say-

ing the protection was needed against the possibility of major fire related payouts due to the action or inaction of firemen.

Tofilau said the government would be in difficulty if it ended up with multi-million tala claims. One of the country’s biggest damage awards was made in an out-of-court settlement which cost the government and Mobil Oil S320,000. □

Tofilau Eti Alesena