The Member of Parliament for Sagaga No. 3 made an impassioned plea to the Government in Parliament last week, to solve water supply woes for families residing in Aleisa. 

Speaking during deliberations of the Appropriation Budget 2023/2024, Salā Fata Pinati shared the devastating experience some of the families in Aleisa continue to face because they don't have access to a clean water supply. 

He said he has been blamed by the residents in Aleisa for not doing his duties as their representative in Parliament after failing to secure or stabilise the water supply to families. 

"Some even say I am useless and that they should not have voted for me," said Salā. "They don't know that I have been pushing for the issue for quite some time, even when I was a Cabinet Minister. 

"Unfortunately, there were other priorities areas the government is focused on, and the unavailability of funds to cater to all the projects. However, I plead with the Government to please help our people residing in these areas so they can have access to a clean water supply.

"Right now, if a family does not have a water supply they would find a truck to fill their water tanks that would cost them $100 to fill one tank so if a family owns three water tanks, it would cost them $300 tala to fill all three water tanks for one week. 

"It would cost them approximately $1,200 tala a month to get water and I feel for these families. Life is already tough and expensive yet they still suffer and don't have access to this life necessity.

"I'm sure the other M.P.s who are residing in Aleisa can agree with me. The Minister of Health also has land and a house in Aleisa and I am sure he is well aware of this issue. 

"Therefore, I humbly ask the Government to please consider our plea and help our people residing in Aleisa. We are one big family and we should help one another."

The Minister of Health, Valasi Tafito Selesele then took the floor after his name was mentioned by the M.P. for Sagaga No. 3 and said he echoed what the M.P. has raised as he sees the struggle the families go through on a daily basis. 

"Some of the families living closer to our house get water from our house," Valasi said. "I don't charge them because I also feel for them. But come to think about it, all the previous and current Members who have represented the people of Aleisa in parliament were all members of the former ruling Human Rights Protection Party. 

"Meaning they had the chance to deliver on that promise or push the agenda so the people residing in Aleisa can have access to the water supply. 

"I was also part of a consultation and negotiations between the village of Aleisa and the H.R.P.P.-led government one time where they promised that they would resolve the issue. 

"So I agree with what the M.P. has spoken about as I see it every day. However, the question is, what did the former administration do about it? Nothing was done. 

"But rest assured that I have already presented the cry from the people of Aleisa for water supply to Cabinet. I've also asked the Minister of Works, Transport and Infrastructure to help the families there in Aleisa so don't you worry, our prayers will be answered soon, hopefully, sometime before the end of this year."

This newspaper has published several stories since 2016 featuring families in Aleisa, raising concerns about water supply woes in Aleisa. These stories were part of the Samoa Observer Village Voice's section. 

In 2017 a mother-of-three Vaiaga Simi of Aleisa-uta, shared that the absence of water supply and electricity were part of their daily struggles. They did not have a water tank to store water and relied on rainwater most of the time. 

In 2018 another resident, Puniala Lupe from Falemauga Aleisa shared that his family was just one of those plagued by the unpleasant ordeal of having no access to water supply. The Village Voice team from this newspaper visited the area in 2018 and met the father of six doing his daily chores at home. He said they had lived in the area since 2010.

Another Village Voice story published in 2018 featured a 60-year-old man who told this newspaper that he never had a stable water supply in his 30 years of living in Aleisa. Simeone Viliamu said he was worried for his children’s health because, without a safe water supply, they could be exposed to various illnesses.