Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, has rejected criticism of the plan to build a beach area with shops and restaurants as “old men” making noise “as usual”.
Tuilaepa says the beautifying of Apia with a beach is part of government’s plan to attract tourists to Samoa.
But the idea has received objections from the Tautua Party leader, Palusalue Fa’apo II, Shadow Minister of Environment, Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster as well as residents near the area.
Tuilaepa, in rejecting the criticism, said the development will include shops and restaurants as well as street lighting.
The decision to go ahead with the project was made by Cabinet, he said. It is a project that is necessary to attract tourists to Samoa. He said Europeans enjoy bathing in the sun so that their skin can turn brown.
“When white people see us black people with brown colours it’s like looking at angels.”
But it is nothing to be proud of, he said.
“Because I have also seen Samoans bathing on the beach and it’s not because they want to be brown, but black.”
Tuilaepa claims that “Apia is not as beautiful as it was long ago”. In fact many years ago there was a beach in Apia.
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But the sand at Vaisigano was stolen by road contractors and eventually there was no more beach, he said. The project will return Apia to what it once was.
The people opposing it are unhappy because they are slowly seeing the formation of the beach and it’s looking beautiful.
“Remember this sand comes from the rivers of Vaisigano - the sand is taken to the sea and then the sea pushes it back and creates a beach.
“If you see the mounds of sands in the area – after cyclone Evan, there was so much of it.” It resulted with Cbinet deciding it was time to beautify Apia by creating a beach there, he said.
“The importance of that - is that there are big plans to develop the town, this means the areas on the beach from Matautu to Mulinuu.”
The development does not only involve the beautification of the beach but building shops and restaurants and lights that will illuminate the place like daytime at night.
“Then Apia will be a beautiful place to see.”
Tuilaepa said “these are good plans and government is trying to make happen”.
This would be a signature site from Samoa to the outside world, he claims.
“Those who are not happy and that make noises, you all know that they make noises and then it dies away.
“Let the old men make noises - but many people have offered their congratulations for the beach.”
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