Rift within the Victoria Samoa Advisory Council (VicSac).

We spoke to the Senior Advisor and father figure of the Victoria Samoa Advisory Council, Muli'agatele Muagututi'a Lemau Faatau, on the rift that has occurred within the Council.

Ma'afala breadfruit. Source: SBS/Samoan Program

According to Muli'agatele, the rift started when members of the previous executive committee refused to acknowledge the result of a ballot held last November at the Council's AGM, whereby a new president and new treasurer were elected. There was also an allegation that members of the previous executive withdrew funds from the Council's bank account without the approval of the new executive.