Apolima Island village mayor Leala Afe Solo has lamented the Government's lack of action to allocate SAT$200,000 for the construction of a new wharf on the island.

In an interview with the Samoa Observer on Monday, Leala said they were promised $200,000 to build a wharf at Apolima Uta but the village has suggested that it should be built on the island given the current condition of the wharf.

"It's not part of the $1 million district project, just to be clear, we were promised $200,000 when the new Government just took office and it was announced in parliament by the new Government during the first parliament session after the general elections," he said. "We're still waiting for that allocation, we still haven't received any information yet on where that is heading."

Leala also said the Aiga i le Tai M.P. Auapaau Mulipola Aloitafua made reference to the promise in Parliament and emphasised that other village chiefs were witnesses of the undertaking. 

This newspaper contacted Auaopaau on Monday for comment and he denied making such a statement, adding that he will not speak to this newspaper about any project within his constituency.

He also made reference to an article published in the Samoa Observer on several incidents – which resulted in the Aiga ile Tai district office getting stoned, ahead of its official opening – but have been resolved with the constituency looking forward to the district's development. 

"I have told you before. I will not give you authorisation to publish anything any more about my constituency," he said. "If you go ahead and publish anything, then you will answer to the law."

The M.P. was contacted for comment by this newspaper as the elected member of the Aiga ile Tai district and as the Government's representative in the constituency. 

The poor state of the wharf on the island has made life difficult for Apolima Island residents who often risk injury in their attempts to travel to the Upolu mainland.