The government has maintained that national developments are progressing smoothly across the country, including in districts whose representatives are in the opposition or against the state. 

The Minister of Works, Transport and Infrastructure, Olo Fiti Vaai gave the assurance when he delivered the keynote address to open multiple water projects in Falealupo on Friday. 

The $261,000 water project is funded by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints under their Humanitarian Assistance Program.

Olo told the guests in Falealupo that the government, despite having only 15 cabinet ministers, is steadfast in its commitment to supply and deliver clean water to all regardless of their location. 

He added that developments are progressing well and haven’t been on standstill to date, and continues to press forward even after the district representative left to oppose those in government. 

The MP for Falealupo is Fuiono Tenina Crichton and is aligned with the Fa’atuatua ile Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party chairman, La’auli Leuatea Schmidt, following party division. 

Olo continued to say that he will continue to embrace the representative of Falealupo and continue similar projects launched in neighbouring villages of Papa, Sataua and Aopo.

La’auli had recently called for the early dissolution of parliament, triggering a snap election, claiming the minority government can no longer make the right decisions and neglecting the welfare of the country. 

The opening of the water project earmarks the government’s obligation to ensure equal opportunities and accessibility for all villages. 

The Minister also assured the district that a proposal for access roads in Falealupo is in the pipeline and going through the tender process. 

The water project in Falealupo includes the supply and installation of four 10,000-litre water tanks to capture and store water from the existing borehole in Falealupo, which will then be distributed to households in the project area.

In addition is the shelter constructed to protect the new water tanks from exposure and debris, and the installation of a wire fence around the tank area to secure it from unauthorised access.

Supply and installation of pumps and a solar panel array, and an integration into a fully operational solar-powered system, was implemented by the consulting firm Vision Engineering Consultants.

Other works cover the laying of approximately 2,400 meters of main pipeline, including the installation of 13 household water meters.