Dear Editor,

It is with great sadness and frustration I voice out how mistreated the people from the Alataua District feel with how poor our roads are. I for one cannot remember the last time our roads were truly and fully constructed. From the village of Leone heading towards the far west until the end side of the island – there are potholes from over the years that have only been covered with dirt or rocks only to have our vehicle tires run over them opening up the pothole again. In other instances, the potholes will only be covered until the rain comes along and just washes the dirt away or rocks back onto the surface of the road causing more problems or more potholes again. Potholes are not the only problem with our roads – the roads are so narrow without any sidewalks or streetlights for pedestrian safety and car safety as well.

The question at hand is this – “When will we matter?” I have been to almost every single village or district on this island and the ugly truth is that the roads down the Alataua District are the worst and unsafe roads on this island!

We have been told so many times from our Faipule Mr. Savali Ale, who also is the Speaker of the House, that our roads will be next to be fixed —and yet years later — we’re still being told the same old story. The responsibility of putting the safety of the people first is not only his (Mr. Ale) to carry out, but for the leaders of this government as well.

I know complaints have been pouring in to our local newspaper, on the radio stations, and on the media about the roads on the west and has anything been done? No! So when will something be done?!

One of the main and foremost priorities of transportation/highway safety – is to make sure the roads are SAFE in the first place to travel on. The road going up from Amanave to Poloa is the worst because on the right side of the road – there are no rails just the cliff; and to the left side is the mountain with boulders hanging by a thread LITERALLY ready to just rumble onto the road — not to mention cracked and narrow roads all the way uphill!

Unless you live down to the west and try to commute back and forth every day on these roads – you will never understand what a frustration this is to us who do come from this side.

Bottom line — please get our roads fixed! The worst outcome to this situation could be injuries, car accidents or someone losing a life from such an unsafe infrastructure! 

Fa’afetai,

Tiffany Taumua

(Editor’s Note: Yes, the roads especially after Leone Village are legendary for their pot holes, ocean and valley cliff dangling, as well as narrowness. At night, there are no street lights, except from the village houses themselves and hitting a pot hole is a given! I’ve always wondered — since the Speaker of the House comes from one the villages back there — if he actually lives there? ra)