A concerned Samoan has expressed concern at the misusing of a public car park at Moto'otua which has become a drinking spot for drunks who recklessly leave behind their rubbish.

In an interview with the Samoa Observer, Toafitu Petaia said the place has become an eyesore and every time he passes it almost every morning it is an ugly sight adjacent to the Tupua Tamasese Meaole National Hospital. 

His concern is particularly about the public car park opposite the Eye Care clinic building at Moto'otua next to the building that houses the World Health Organisation (WHO) office in Samoa. 

"I've noticed that people are partying on government or public roads. They drink and party there and then leave their rubbish or empty beer cans and bottles there together with many other various kinds of rubbish which has become a norm and an eyesore," Mr. Petaia said. "People can lose businesses on the opposite side because if that's the look from the opposite side, there's a chance that they can lose their customers too or they will want to move somewhere else.

"And it's going to look like the slums of San Francisco, slum areas of South Auckland and other countries where misbehaving people are usually found almost to the point that they live there.

"My other concern is, this can lead to them committing other crimes such as rape, drugs, robbery and burglary because it's becoming a norm there for some people when they want to drink."

Samoa Observer understands there is a janitor who cleans up the rubbish every morning, which Mr. Petaia confirmed as he normally drives by the area.

According to the concerned citizen, he contacted the police about the issue but his attempts were in vain as nothing has been done in response to his concern.

Mr. Petaia believes the best solution is for the Government to add weight to the punishments under the law for such people to learn their lesson.

"Nothing else can stop these people other than adding more to the punishments for such crimes like more years in prison or something like that to scare them off from doing it," he added.

Mr. Petaia is a former police officer and had been working with the Police's Transnational Crime Unit for many years.

Under the law, Samoan Police have the authority to apprehend people drinking in public however the enforcement of litter laws comes under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.