Everything is good but we need water

By Aruna Lolani 19 September 2017, 12:00AM

Access to water continues to be an issue for several people in Samoa.

Tupu Ioasa of Leulumoega knows this.

The 57-year-old was working at his plantation when he was approached by Village Voice for an interview.

“I’ve grown up in this place,” Tupu said. “And these lands never once had access to the water system.”

Tupu resides inland with his five children.

He told Village Voice that he always checks on his plantation every day as it is one of the ways that they earn money.

“There’s a lot of water in the inner area but not here and that’s because the water does not reach over the hills that some of these people are staying on.

“Now you see in this area; there’s plenty of plantations and there’s even families who have settled here and I feel for them because I can’t even imagine myself to live in a struggling life of having to worry about where to fetch water from.

“Some families have water tanks now but what’s the use of having water tanks when there’s barely water to fill it up?

“I mean unless you bring your own bottles of water from the inner area when you come over to your plantation then that’s the only water you’ll ever have.”

Tupu has 3 sons and 2 daughters. While one of his daughters is working to financially support the family, the other is finishing her education.

“All my sons are strong men but unfortunately none of them love the plantation life as much as I do.

“That’s why I value what I do so much and that part is okay with me except for the water situation because we also need water for these lands to grow and become developed.

This land is important to me and all these families here are affected by the situation.

“If there was water access; I believe there would be an even bigger sub-village here.”

By Aruna Lolani 19 September 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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