The Village Water tank project designed to help vulnerable families in Samoa who have limited access to water supply remains suspended. 

The project funded by the Civil Society Support Programme (C.S.S.P.) was suspended more than three months ago following complaints about the scheme. 

Attempts to get a comment from the Chairman of the C.S.S.P. Steering Committee, Leasiosiofa’asisina Oscar Malielegaoi, were unsuccessful. 

When the Chairman was asked for a comment through email last week, he said he was away attending the Forum Economic Ministers meeting in Fiji. 

“I will revert back to you with further details next week,” Leasiosio said in his email. 

He did not respond to follow-up emails when he was contacted again this week. 

Meanwhile, families in rural villages of Upolu and Savai’i who applied for water tanks under the project are still waiting for the much needed assistance. 

Similarly with the water tank companies, their businesses have been gravely affected due to the investigation into the project. 

In April this year when Leasiosio responded to earlier queries from the Samoa Observer, he confirmed the investigation. 

“I wish to confirm we have suspended temporarily our C.S.S.P. water tank projects,” he said. “We have received complaints and are now investigating these complaints. We will issue a press release in due course.”

The project has helped many families and villages through their Village Council in Upolu and Savai’i.

Some of the villages that have received the assistance under the project include Matafa’a, Gagaifo Lefaga, Falelatai, Faleasiu and other villages.

Last year, the project raised concerns over families who took advantage of the project by selling water tanks that was given to them under the programme.

In March 2018, a family that received the assistance had posted a water tank on social media seeking people to buy it.

The management at the time warned members of the public from selling the water tanks from the project to make profit.