All we want is water

By Talimalie Uta 15 September 2017, 12:00AM

Water is life. 

You don’t need to remind Vilo Taimalie Frost, of Nofoai’i.

 He knows what it is like to live without water. 

The 30-year-old told the Village Voice that people who have water take it for granted, yet for them, they cannot wait to have the government’s water connected to their homes. 

 “We have electricity and everything, but the one issue we are facing right now is no water,” he said. 

“Lucky my mother lives on the outer-side of the village and she has access to water, but for me, living inland of Nofoali’i has always been a struggle, especially looking for water on a daily basis,” said Vilo. 

“I am not the only one experiencing this predicament, there are numerous people living along this area who are suffering from the same issue. 

“Well in fairness, I don’t care about having no access to the government water because I can still manage to fetch it from our family on the coastal areas. 

“But for families who are living here with their children and have no clean water, I fear for their health. 

“Even if they have water tanks, it is not enough to provide for their everyday needs,” said Vilo. 

He said they villagers have made numerous requests to the government for water connection.

“It has been three years now and we are still waiting for the government to respond to our requests for water connection.  

“It appears that our plea has fallen on deaf ears because we have not heard any word from the government. 

“Sometimes I wonder if they even care for the lives of the citizens of Samoa, I mean it’s 2017 and we still have no access to water system,” said Vilo. 

“Right now, we are still praying for a miracle to happen.”

Aside from the water issues, there are two main priorities in Vilo’s life: his mother and his plantation. 

“At the moment, I am not married as I am still focusing on caring for my mother because it’s just us. 

“My father passed away in 2012 My other siblings are living at my father’s village in Sa’anapu,”he said. 

Vilo is a hard worker.  

“I love to work the land every day, looking after our plantation, but I spend the weekends with my mother.”

Asked on how he is making a living to support his mother, he said, “I used to live and work in Tutuila but with the passing of my father, I have decided to move here and be with my mum.

“You know, there is nothing more precious than spending time and caring for your parents.”

“For me right now, I work on our plantation to provide whatever I can to support my mother and our little family.”

By Talimalie Uta 15 September 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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