Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sa'ilele Malielegaoi says Cabinet has given the green light for the Government to go ahead with the naming and numbering of streets in Samoa. He said the process will start in the Apia Township and it will take some time to implement.

“We will start from the town area, from Mulinu’u and the street signs will identify the names of the villages,” he said during his weekly media programme.

Currently only parts of Vaitele — which is widely regarded as the commercial hub of the capital Apia — have street names. 

Last month, local businessman and Real Estate Agent, Failo Crichton, called for Samoa to have proper street addresses.

 He said he doesn’t understand what is getting between Samoa and having proper street addresses.

“The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment lists all the lots, and it’s not that hard to put a number to it, it takes a bit of common sense. It’s about identifying the person, and it’s the same all over the world, where there could be another John Smith who lives next door," said.

The Electoral Commissioner, Faimalomatumua Matthew Lemisio, supported the call and told the Samoa Observer that if the country introduced street addresses, it would make the work of his Office easier, in-terms of voter registration and information. 

“Especially now that we have compulsory voting, to track non-voters down I think it’s very important to have that in place,” Faimalo said.

Prime Minister Tuilaepa said priority will be given to the roads in Aleisa, and added that looking for someone in Vaitele or Falelauniu can be a hassle.

“There are roads that had street signs and we need to put up those signs and this means it will be costly to the Government.

“And some of the street signs have been removed by stupid people and used it in their cooking shed. Yet this is the one ways to make it easier to track down addresses."

Tuilaepa added that the Government will take up the issue with the village mayors.

“However it appears the village mayor is only keen to pick up his paycheck and is not doing anything about the issue at hand."

The Prime Minister said a committee has been appointed under the leadership of the C.E.O. of the Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Agafili Shem Leo.

“This new measure will also be implemented in Salelologa and the committee has been given two weeks to submit a report to Cabinet for consideration and implementation. This is long overdue.

"At the time, Falealili is also being numbered to Siumu while others are working in Salelologa." 

But Tuilaepa said the exercise would be costly.

he said this is why it's important for "all members of the public to pay their taxes."