Show some pride, keep Samoa clean

By Vatapuia Maiava 20 September 2016, 12:00AM

There’s nothing more infuriating than when you spend so much time cleaning something only for others to come and make it ugly again.

That’s exactly the case for Saua Leaupepetele, 42, from the village of Faleasiu.

With the village being one of many tourists pass when they first arrive in Samoa, Saua and the rest of the villagers spend much time keeping everything beautiful, in an effort to give visitors the best first impression.

The only problem is other Samoans don’t share the same pride.

“One of the biggest issues here in our village is drivers without common sense,” Saua told the Village Voice.

“Samoan people would drive past our village and throw rubbish out of their car. They litter and it affects us, the people who have to clean up to keep our village clean.

“We have had so many projects to try and keep our village clean for people who drive by but there are so many who just throw their rubbish out of their car window and ruin everything.”

Pointing out some litter from the night before, Saua says the village has done its best to enforce rules against littering but nothing seems to work

“If you look to the side there you will see coffee cups and other plastics,” he said.

“Our village has enforced rules against littering because we want everything to look beautiful and clean. We want help with those who can do posters.

“We want people to see how ugly they are making Samoa and that they should use the rubbish stands that we’ve built. They need to use their brains that rubbish belongs in the bins and not on the ground.

“The Lord gave us a brain and common sense to use in situations like this. We work hard to clean up and they just make our job even harder for us.”

Saua also requests for the Government’s assistance in keeping our villages beautiful.

“There should be more partnerships between villages and the government in situations like this,” he said.

“We Samoan’s should unite against littering because it is making our country look ugly. It’s not like a westerner comes here and litters because they are accustomed to littering laws in their own countries.

“It’s we Samoans that are littering our own country. Our Government really needs to help us because we can’t enforce rules against cars.

“We can’t chase down a car to get their names and other information to fine them. We need more awareness for our people and after a while people will become accustomed to it.”

Saua is simply baffled by the lack of common sense shown by our people.

“I mean it’s taught in school,” he said.

“They teach us at a young age that after we eat then we should put our rubbish into the rubbish bins and then wash our hands. I just don’t know where some people put their common sense.”

By Vatapuia Maiava 20 September 2016, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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