Ta’elefaga’s hydro protest gains political backing

The fight by the village of Taelefaga to get the government to address a foul odour they have had to put up with for years has received some help.

It comes in the form of the Tautua Samoa Party’s Shadow Minister of Works, Transport and Infrastructure, Levaopolo Talatonu Vaai, who has called on the government to prioritise the needs of the village.

As a result of the materials from the hydro station in the village leaking into the river, the village has for years had to put up with the smell. On Monday, angry villagers turned off the generators running the station. They were switched back on momentarily after an emergency meeting between the government and Taelefaga on Tuesday.

At Parliament, Levaopolo told the Samoa Observer it is imperative for the government to address Taelefaga’s long-standing concerns. “The truth is that the Ta’elefaga Hydro Station has saved millions and millions of dollars for the Corporation and the government as well,” said Levao.

“Personally, it doesn’t matter how much money it will cost to rectify the problem.

What’s important is the lives of people living in the area. “I feel for them. No one can stand and breathe that stinky air for twenty four hours, seven days a week.”

Levaopolo backed the village over claims that the government has ignored their concerns for far too long.

“If pipelines are needed to solve the problem, the government must look at it and do it now,” he said.

“Spending money to fix the Ta’elefaga Hydro stink is much better rather than spending money on wasted projects like the wharf at Satitoa and others.

“The government must take action because if the power station continues to be turned off, it will cost this country a lot more.

“So I don't think they should be worried about spending millions of tala on Ta’elefaga when you have a look at the other projects they have also spent millions on and have failed.” Asked for a comment, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (M.N.R.E), Suluimalo Amataga Penaia, said they are looking at the issue from an environment perspective.

He did not elaborate.

Ta’elefaga’s Member of Parliament, Tialavea Fea Seigafo, said the issue has been resolved and that “the electricity is already switched on again.” The Minister of Works, Transport and Infrastructure, Manua’alesagalala Enokati Posala said “I’ve already told E.P.C. to meet with the village.”

On Tuesday, a government delegation met with the Village Council of Taelefaga.

The government delegation was led by Electric Power Corporation (E.P.C) Board member, Ale Vena Ale. He was joined by E.P.C’s Acting General Manager, Faumuina Iese Toimoana, Deputy General Manager, Taule’ale’a Aumalaga Tiotio, Manager Finance & Commerce Sofia Silipa and Manager Internal Audit Luatuanu’u Salafai Ah Tong. Speaking on behalf of the E.P.C and the government, Ale apologised to Taelefaga for the delay. He promised that the government is working to secure funding for a multimillion- tala project whereby pipelines will be laid from station to the ocean for the water causing the smell to flow through.

But the revelation about pipelines angered the village. “Now you have just informed us about those pipelines when you should have sought our permission first,” he told the delegation.

“Our forefathers agreed to have this project because they thought our village will be treated the same as Alaoa and Lalomauga where the other power stations are. But that’s not the image we are getting.”

He told Ale and the delegation that Taelefaga is tired of broken promises from E.P.C. Another village chief, Tulima Loto supported Leuta. He accused the government of treating them like little kids.

“How can you lay those pipelines without a consultation first?” he said. “Shouldn't you ask us for our permission first since it's our land? Were you going to just bulldoze through with your plans without our understanding?”