Constitution of the Independent
State of Samoa
55
Parliament under clause (3)(a), until a final decision for removal
is made.
PART IX
LAND AND TITLES
100. Matai titles - A Matai title shall be held in accordance
with Samoan custom and usage and with the law relating to
Samoan custom and usage.
101. Land in Samoa - (1) All land in Samoa is customary
land, freehold land or public land.
(2) Customary land means land held from Samoa in
accordance with Samoan custom and usage and with the law
relating to Samoan custom and usage.
(3) Freehold land means land held from Samoa for an estate
in fee simple.
(4) Public land means land vested in Samoa being land that
is free from customary title and from any estate in fee simple.
102. No alienation of customary land - It shall not be lawful
or competent for any person to make any alienation or disposition
of customary land or of any interest in customary land, whether
by way of sale, mortgage or otherwise howsoever, nor shall
customary land or any interest therein be capable of being taken
in execution or be assets for the payment of the debts of any
person on his or her decease or insolvency:
PROVIDED THAT an Act of Parliament may authorise:
(a) the granting of a lease or licence of any customary
land or of any interest therein;
(b) the taking of any customary land or any interest
therein for public purposes.
103. Land below high-water mark – (1) Subject to the
provision of any Act, all land lying below the line of high-water
mark shall be public land.
(2) For the purposes of this Article, the term “high-water
mark” means the line of median high tide between the spring and
neap tides.