Tumua raises concern on rubbish collection

By Nefertiti Matatia 17 January 2018, 12:00AM

Tumua Laufasa, from Vaitele-Uta, has raised his concerns on rubbish collection in his area. 

The 46-year-old said he was not aware that he had to pay to have his rubbish taken to the dump.

Mr. Laufasa says that upon contacting the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, he was told that they were not responsible for collecting rubbish anymore.  

“They have renewed the contract in July, 2017, I found this all out because I went to M.N.R.E. and I asked them what to do with it (rubbish) if I can’t burn it and they would not take it."

 “It does not make sense why they did the contract knowing that in freehold lands you cannot burn trash,” he said.

According to Mr. Laufasa, the contract expires in three years and he says such moves leave people like him vulnerable to diseases such as dengue fever.

“Cost of living is expensive and now they are just giving the people of Samoa another bill to pay. I do not want to throw it (rubbish) anywhere or burn it because I might get caught like my neighbor who was reported because they burnt their rubbish."

“They have taxed the Samoan people enough and now I have to pay somebody to take the rubbish to the land field.”

He says it will be helpful if M.N.R.E. notified people of any changes.

“Since they always publish a public notice when it comes to collecting electronic materials, why can’t they do the same for our rubbish once every three or four months? Work with the people and they would work with you."

“They said that they wanted to do compost, but there are different people and different lands. Some have two acres with two houses built on it and some live on a half-acre land which is why they should’ve done a survey. In July the contract was renewed and now we are stuck with it for the next two and a half years.”

Efforts to get comments from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment were unsuccessful as of press time.

By Nefertiti Matatia 17 January 2018, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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