Has the Government forgotten the people of Apolima and Manono? The people living on these islands seem to think so and they may have good reasons to do so.

The wharf in Apolima was damaged in 2014 and it has been nine years and there is still no word if anything will be done about the wharf. We do realise that the new administration has been in control for almost two years and a large part of that responsibility was the former government’s.

However, the time it has taken to repair an important infrastructure is a laughing matter. There is no wharf in Apolima as we discuss the matter, there are only pieces of cement slabs which formed the destroyed wharf.

The villagers of Apolima have described these cement slabs as dangerous. Currently, the boats can only navigate the passage when the tide is high and the risks of accidents are higher during bad weather, as boats and their passengers can be thrown against the cement pieces of the old wharf.

Villagers have tried removing the cement and the other parts of the wharf but this task requires machinery.

The people of Apolima have also highlighted that people are swimming to the boat and back as means of boarding and disembarking. Now imagine if there’s an emergency situation which needs the boat to travel to the mainland during bad weather.

The wharf is not the only infrastructure issue faced by people living on Apolima and Manono. Recently both villages were helped by the Government of Japan however no help to develop infrastructure on these two islands have come from the Government.

Obviously, it looks as if no such plans have been made yet because for the Government to execute such a plan would require donor funding. These islands need proper wharfs, road works, better houses, better water supply and energy.

These two islands are the perfect choice to start solar energy projects. An underground grid can be set up and all houses connected to green energy with zero emissions. These islands are also in need of better schools and better health care services.

There is also a need to set up better communication systems and allow people to have access to better internet.

Samoans on these islands are having to transport their sick on small boats to the bigger islands.

A good way to help Apolima and Manono is perhaps through the constituency grants but bigger projects need more funds. Even if the islands were neglected by the previous administration, the current one should take the step to address these problems.

Infrastructure enables trade, powers businesses, connects workers to their jobs, creates opportunities for struggling communities and protects the nation from an increasingly unpredictable natural environment.

From private investment in telecommunication systems, broadband networks, energy projects and pipelines, to publicly spending on transportation, water, buildings and parks, infrastructure is the backbone of a healthy economy.

It also supports workers, providing jobs each year in building and maintenance. Important national goals also depend on it. The economy needs reliable infrastructure to connect supply chains and efficiently move goods and services across borders.

Infrastructure connects households across metropolitan areas to higher quality opportunities for employment, healthcare and education. Clean energy and public transit can reduce greenhouse gases. This same economic logic applies to broadband networks, water systems and energy production and distribution.

The world we live in, including our small part of the Pacific, is being constantly challenged by climate change. This means that infrastructure development that we should be doing has to be resilient and sustainable as well.

The effects of stronger storms and cyclones also need to be mitigated when planning for infrastructure.

These two islands are not that big yet a lot is still desired in terms of infrastructure which its inhabitants need urgently. Right now millions of dollars are also being poured to host the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting but nothing for these islands.

A situation should not be created where people living on these islands are forced to leave their home because commitments which should be fulfilled by the people they have voted for, are not being fulfilled.

Remember there are more than two islands in Samoa which are inhabited.