Dear Editor,

Re: Lelata residents seawall 

You cannot have a seawall at Lelata or Maagiagi for that matter. 

The government will not build you one either. 

Why, because no sea climbs all the way up to Lelata. 

What you should have asked for is a river containment wall. It may sound funny but there is a difference between a seawall and a river containment wall. 

The government can use that technicality to sit on their hands and still get away with it. You see, they can always say “Oh! sorry Mr. Bartley, your request for a seawall is a bit complicated because seawalls are only for containing the sea and you live uphill and miles away from the nearest coastline.” 

Forget about what they promise because a promise is like an unpaid debt. 

I would put my request in writing and this time, steer clear from using seawall because in your case, it’s the wrong term. 

It’s just another poker game. If they raise the bridge, you should go all in if you think you have a royal Lelata flush; otherwise you fold and be sure to be washed away in the next flood downriver.

Haych