Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The American Samoa Power Authority continues to repair and/or replace non-working streetlights, with two more orders being placed, while many local residents complain about streetlights not working in their areas.

Following concerns from Tualauta residents, Rep. Larry Sanitoa on Monday wrote to ASPA acting chief executive officer, Wallon Young, with a long list of areas in his district, where street lights are not working.

“Many of these streetlights are on the Fagaima and Ottoville road which are used by residents and young people as a walk way or sidewalk at night,” Sanitoa wrote.

“Furthermore, with schools out for the summer, there are concerns with security and safety of the residents who frequently use these roads as walk way, etc.,” he said, adding that street lights are not working in certain areas of Faleniu/Mesepa where residents have reported break-ins. Sanitoa provided the specific locations.

Young responded that the crew would be dispatched to the listed areas. He also provided the “streetlight update” that ASPA has been working on.

According to him, “over 600 streetlights have been repaired/replaced in under 3 months and we are down to a few more lights. Two more orders for street lights, totaling 2,500 are underway.”

By Tuesday afternoon, ASPA crews had already repaired “several street lights” in Tafuna, Ottoville and Faleniu. And Sanitoa expressed appreciation — on behalf of residents and pedestrians — to ASPA and its field crew for “an awesome job” done.

On another ASPA issue — the Kokoland ditch — at the entrance to the road to Kokoland, next to the CCCAS Ierusalema Fou Church, the problem has been addressed. Late Wednesday afternoon, after visiting the troubled area, Sanitoa sent a thank you note to Wallon, saying the “compacted area looks good and hopefully it will sustain future water runoff.”

Sanitoa last Friday visited the site following complaints from residents of the deep-ditch. This is an area of the road that was dug by Paramount Builders Inc., which was contracted by the ASPA for underground power lines. (See yesterday’s Samoa News edition for details.)