Electricity and water matters

By Aruna Lolani 21 June 2017, 12:00AM

Leata Tusipepa is a 20-year-old from Faleasi’u and Vavau.

She may be young but she has already started building a family of her own inland Faleasi’u-uta.

Despite her joy in starting a family, the only problem that she wants a solution for; is having no access to water and electricity.

“It’s been two weeks now since we have moved here; as you can see we are still tidying things up,” she tells the Village Voice.

“It’s just me and my husband here, looking after this land.”

According to Leata, the decision to move was made when a request from her father came; for someone to look after his lands as he is not getting any younger.

“We’ve stayed at my husband’s family’s place but we moved here because my father needed help in looking after his land and because he has a plantation here.”

“We were the youngest couple in the family but we felt that we could do this.”

“But having no electricity and no water, it’s a lot harder than we thought.”

“We use a kerosene lamp and we can handle that but it’s the thought of having children in the future that scares me.”

“For water, well we have to walk all the way to the inner area to get water because we are here in the forestry area.”

“We don’t have jobs, no money and the only thing we have for money is the plantation.”

“So I don’t know how we’re going to make that happen sooner with that source of income.”

“Hopefully we can get some help for the betterment of our children in the future.”

“And we really need water for the future, because I know our family will grow and I want things to be settled by the time we are gone so that I’ll know that my children have everything they need.”

“We’re able to handle this life right now because it’s just the two of us but I know that once we have kids, it’s going to be a whole different level.”

If you want to help Leata with her situation, please contact her on 7238840.

By Aruna Lolani 21 June 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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