A major hotel has welcomed the building of cement walls on the banks of the Vaisigano River, saying it will protect them during the rainy season.

In previous years, heavy rain often resulted in the river breaking its banks and affecting nearby residents and businesses including the Sheraton Samoa Aggie Grey’s Hotel & Bungalows.

But one of the hotel’s managers, who did not want to be identified, said they did not expect flooding to be a problem this year, following the completion of the Vaisigano Catchment Area Project.

“The wall that is built behind our hotel is preventing the river from coming inside our hotel,” he said.

“The Sheraton closed down in one of the years due to the river coming inside and was all over the back of our hotel.”

He said they are grateful that the wall built on the riverbanks will now protect them from any future flooding threats. 

“This year Sheraton Hotel is not having any impacts from the Vaisigano River rising.”

Prior to the building of the cement wall, the hotel had to close for safety reasons as the company could not guarantee the safety of staff and guests.

But the manager said: “Sheraton is safe and are having no problems at all with the rainy seasons.”

Some of the residents who live within the vicinity of the Vaisigano River refused to comment when approached by this newspaper.