Senator Setu V. Malepeai is looking for answers. In a recent visit to Samoa News, the senator, who represents Sua District # 5, has strongly voiced his opinions regarding the proposed Tsunami Victims Memorial being built in the village of Vaitogi.

The senator stated, “I have received word that the Director of DPW has been told to begin construction on the memorial in Vaitogi, and I am here to object.”

Bringing with him a copy of the letter he submitted to the governor, dated December 29, 2009, the senator reiterated his opposition to a memorial being built in a village where “no one was harmed, no one died…” which is also“out of the way, and far from the places affected.”

Just as importantly, Malepeai believes that the location for such an important memorial should be easily accessible to the entire population. After all, he stated, “the monument is for everyone.”

The letter, which has gone unanswered by the Governor’s office according to Malepeai, states in part, “ Although I appreciated your recent moving speech at the Tsunami Victims Memorial Christmas church service... I was instantly alerted to the mention of your 9/29 Memorial Park location in Vaitogi.”

The letter continues, “I strongly oppose the location you have chosen for the monument, as the designated location doesn’t do the victims, nor their families justice. Vaitogi village, although uniquely beautiful, is remote, and wasn’t affected by the recent tsunami.”

The Sua senator proposed two locations he felt would be more appropriate: the town area, or an area near Veterans Memorial Stadium, where “the majority of the population… congregate for public and government celebrations, and are easily accessible.”

 The tsunami of September 29, 2009 was one of the worst natural disasters in the territory’s history, and 34 residents perished in the great waves that inundated the coastline that day.

Said Malepeai, “I just don’t understand. When I talk to the people, they don’t agree with this. They don’t understand why the monument should be built there —so far from the main population and far from the villages most affected by the tsunami.”

The villages of Pago Pago, Satala, and Tula in the Eastern District, and the villages of Leone, Amaluia, Asili, and Poloa in the Western District along with Vatia, Fagasa and Afono “over the mountain” were all left in various states of devastation from the tsunami, which followed immediately on the heels of a great quake registering close to 8.0 on the Richter scale.

The unexpected waves of that fateful day dragged cars into rooftops, left trucks in trees, and moved all manner of business equipment, household goods and family treasures out to sea.

In a close knit community such as American Samoa, no one was untouched. Some families who lost loved ones never recovered the bodies; others did, and each funeral was a reminder of the power of the natural world, the brevity of life, and the strength and love of family ties.

The Sua senator believes that if the governor proceeds with the proposed location for the tsunami memorial, “it will confirm” by his doing so, that the governor is “without true empathy” for the people of the territory.

DPW staff have confirmed that “debris clearance” at the Vaitogi site is underway, although attempts to speak to the Director went unanswered.

Samoa News, in its June 26, 2010 issue, ran a photo of Gov. Togiola Tulafono with Public Works Director Taeaotui Punaofo Tilei and DPW staffer Joe Pereira at the site, which first began to be cleared last month.

At the time, Samoa News also received a phone call from a member of the family whose land she says the memorial is to use —saying that “permission from the family” has not been given. The site, according to ASG, is government owned.