By Nanai T. Laveitiga Tuiletufuga

250 Samoan criminal deportees from overseas have been given a second chance to reintegrate into the local community and move on with their lives.

The numbers are as follows;

·         134 from New Zealand

·         110 from the United States, and,

·         six from Australia

And to become good law abiding citizens, the deportees are now the benefactors of the Returnees Charitable Trust Fund, (RCTF), which is part of the Samoa Law and Justice Sector.

The Trust’s Executive Director, Vernon McKenzie said that there have been a lot of positive results since the RCTF opened its doors in 2010.

According to McKenzie, all of the 250 deportees have now resettled with local relatives and families.

He said that the Chamber of Commerce and  Samoa Red Cross are providing employment for some while he has requested the Australia Pacific Technical College (APTC) at Le Papaigalagala to provide some skills training.

Added McKenzie;

“Some are keen to learn about their culture, others have volunteered their time at Red Cross while looking for work and some have even enrolled in the RHEMA Bible College. Many of them appear to have found their calling to spread the word.�?

And there are plans for a community service program to provide a “volunteer work crew�? of deportees to clean and landscape properties at Mapuifagalele, SENESE, Loto Taumafai and the Samoa Victim’s-House of Hope.

Non-government-organizations such as the Fortress of Faith, Alcoholics Anonymous, Coral Reef Academy-Family therapists, Tausi Soifua Agency, Goshen Trust are providing counseling.

And there is a new “meet and greet�? at the airport service to introduce the deportees to their local relatives upon arrival. In the past, criminal deportees were abandoned at the airport without knowing where to from there.

The Returnees new Office at the Samoa Ecumenical Centre, Mulinu’u is the venue of forums hosted by senior returnees who act as mentors to the new arrivals. Many of whom find it difficult to adapt to their new environment.

And perhaps, the best news for Executive Director Aumua Ming Leung Wai is that only two criminal deportees have reoffended. The Trust is also Aumua’s idea.

“We all deserve a second chance. The Trust Fund is all about giving these Samoan citizens a chance to become assets and not liabilities to our society,�? said Aumua.

“The Trust aims to integrate returnees into Samoan society to ensure they do not resort to crime to survive, resulting in a safer Samoa.�?

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