The Government is yet to respond to an appeal by Apolima Island residents for a new wharf as they risk their lives swimming to boats anchored offshore to travel to Upolu.

Following the collapse of the island's old cement wharf close to 10 years ago, boats now opt to wait offshore for passengers, to avoid getting thrown against the rocks that tinge the island's coast.

In April this year the island's residents, in separate interviews with Samoa Observer, lamented the failure of successive governments to build them a new wharf which has led to travellers risking their lives to travel into or get off the island. 

A month later, around mid-May, the island's residents for the first time experienced a destructive flood from a natural spring on their island which also destroyed what was left of the old wharf. Torrential rain led to heavy flooding.

Attempts by the Samoa Observer on Tuesday to get a comment from the M.P. for Aiga i le Tai and current Deputy Speaker, Auapaau Mulipola Aloitafua, on how he intends to respond to the appeal of the island's residents were not successful. 

However, in a previous interview with this newspaper, the island's mayor, Leala Afe Solo said the flooding in mid-May was the first time it happened which is why they had to appeal for help to the authorities. 

"We asked someone already for assistance after we experienced, for the first time, some flooding on our island," he said. "We're worried because most of the houses were flooded because they are situated right on the path of the spring's water flow.

"That's why we urge the government or anyone to lend a hand by at least building some water drains from the spring to the sea or something like that because now that this has happened, it's going to happen again."

Leala said the island community has asked both the previous and current governments to no avail, despite the dangers that the island's population faces every day when travelling, especially during bad weather. 

The island’s cement wharf was built by the former government in 2008 but strong ocean currents and bad weather in early 2014 led to its damage and its total destruction in May this year. 

According to the village mayor, there are only two options at this stage for the islanders, build a new wharf and remove what is left of the old cement wharf.

Apolima Island is located 44 kilometres west of Apia between the big islands of Upolu and Savai’i. There are about 15 families living on the island, who have over the years learned to live within their means, maintained their traditional way of living, and protected themselves from outside influence. Only about a quarter of the island is inhabited by families with the rest covered by tropical forest and rocky terrain.