Election gets ugly

By Lanuola Tusani Tupufia 09 February 2016, 12:00AM

The battle for the Urban West Constituency seat has gotten ugly.

And candidate, Faumuina Asi Wayne Fong, is offering a reward of $1,000 for information on who vandalised his campaign billboard at Sinamoga.

But that’s not all. 

An additional $1,000 has also  been offered once the person is identified and prosecuted. 

Speaking to the Samoa Observer yesterday, Faumuina said the vandalised billboard at Sinamoga is one of two that belongs to him. 

He said for each one of the billboards, it had cost him $4,000 to install. 

The other billboard is in front of his house at Vaigaga.  

“That billboard was put up there (in Sinamoga) for reasons that there are a lot of registered voters in Moamoa and Sinamoga area for the Urban Seat,” said Faumuina. 

AT VAIGAGA: Faumuina's second billboard at Vaigaga 
with his wife, Tuiloma Ramona Fong.

“Unfortunately it was damaged five days after it was put up. It’s just a photo and I had sought approval from the pulenu’u, the M.P for Faleata East and the family that owns the land. 

“I have no intention of bringing it down; I will leave it as it is.”

The candidate suspects that youths are responsible for the damages. 

Looking at the billboard, Faumuina said the act was deliberate. He suspects that someone had scaled the billboard with a knife and ripped it.

“It’s not going to affect the electorates and the strong support I have,” he added. 

In fact, Faumuina sees the positive side.

“I’ve taken it to my advantage with the media asking me about it,” he said. 

He joked that at least they did not vandalise the picture of his wife, Tuiloma Ramona Pota Fong.

 According to Faumuina, the billboard was damaged around Saturday night. 

He recalled he was on his way to the fish market on Sunday morning when he saw the damages. 

Although the billboard will not affect his campaign and election results, Faumuina said it does not mean that the damage should be ignored.

He has lodged a complaint with the Police.

The reward, he said, is an incentive to help the Police with their work.

By Lanuola Tusani Tupufia 09 February 2016, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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