The heavens opened up over the weekend and there was this massive downpour of rain filling up dry creek beds and swelling existing streams and river systems.

No weather is bad weather, it is just weather. Unlike 2020, we were lucky that the drainage system was able to take massive amounts of rainfall, 153mm in Upolu and 300mm in Savaii. Apia did not get flooded but certain streets did show signs of blocked drains. Fugalei Street was covered in water before the bridge at Farmer Joe.

Apia is growing, there are constructions that are taking place within the town and in its vicinity. What is needed now is a proper town plan that will take into consideration the growth of the township for at least the next 40 to 50 years.

That is why it is so important to have resilient infrastructure. A plan that will allow for development and at the same time ensure that there is ample protection for Samoa’s environment.

The word resilience means the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties and when applied to infrastructure, it means the ability of infrastructure such roads, drains, electricity and water networks to be able to survive natural as well as man-made calamities.

According to the International Monetary Fund, increased infrastructure investment is critical to driving sustainable development and economic growth in the Pacific. Over the next ten years, annual infrastructure investment needs in the Pacific region are estimated to be US$3.1 billion per year.

However, this is against a backdrop of constrained fiscal space and increasing government debt as governments grapple with the response to the COVID-19 pandemic aftermath. Other challenges include geographic remoteness and dispersed populations that increase the cost of infrastructure in a region with significant vulnerability to natural disasters and climate change.

Overcoming these challenges will require smarter investments in infrastructure and improve infrastructure governance as well as the overall efficiency of government. Countries will need to spend better - not just spend more – with an emphasis on getting the most benefits for every dollar spent on public investment.

There is much to be done in Samoa in terms of infrastructure. Proper drainage is just one part of the conversation. There are zero drainage systems outside of the main township, it is just water flowing off the road into someone’s compound or onto the side of the road.

We also need better and wider roads. In some places the bigger vehicles literally push the smaller vehicles off the road. And then there is the pothole dilemma. There is also much that needs to be done about vehicle crossings where rivers run over the roads. Bridges are needed in some places to ensure transport connectivity for the residents of the locality.

There was a road accident last Wednesday where a utility pole snapped as a vehicle hit it, along Vaitele Road. Climate change has brought about severe storm systems and some of these carry winds up to 200 kilometres per hour. Imagine such a storm hitting the country and think what will become of the power grid. Step outside your homes and take a look at the poles made from pine. Most are not even standing straight.

Infrastructure development has to be multi-faceted. While we make new roads, we should also be making drainage and changing the power poles at the same time.

Such capital developments must be done with a little bit more thought into it. Not that we make the road, then after two years we dig up the road again to lay underground cables either for electricity or telecommunications.

 There is so much to be done and we are hoping that the Government is working with international partners to draw up a masterplan for such infrastructure developments which will also come with aid. The masterplan is needed because the principles for resilient infrastructure describe a set of principles, key actions, and guidelines to create national scale net resilience gain and improve the continuity of critical services such as energy, transport, water, wastewater, waste, and digital communications, which enable health, education, etc. to function effectively.

Let’s plan better and make things better for all Samoans.