Vaisigano Bridge during 2012’s Cyclone Evan. (insert) Samoa’s Prime Minister and Japan’s Ambassador to Samoa, Tuimaugaoalii Kazumasa Shibuta

By Nanai Laveitiga Tuiletufuga

Japan is receptive to Government’s request for assistance to design and build a new Vaisigano Bridge.

Confirming the government’s request for assistance from his country, Japan’s Ambassador to Samoa, Tuimaugaoalii Kazumasa Shibuta told this publication that “the response from Tokyo is positive.”

“Tentatively, a study team will be dispatched from Tokyo to be in the country sometime in May or June to start the ground work.

“But until then, the request is being processed through the normal channels.”

On the local front, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi hasn’t minced words when it comes to building a new Vaisigano Bridge.

“One way or the other, the Vaisigano Bridge will have to go,” said the Prime Minister in the wake of Cyclone Evan.

“For the new Vaisigano Bridge, government is looking at a suspension structure to avoid clogging of the underflow when the river floods, as we have all seen during Cyclone Evan.

“The pillars under the bridge were in the way with logs blocking the flow of water, which worsened the damage to nearby Aggie Grey’s Hotel, businesses and homes.”

The proposed new bridge is part of a multi-million tala undertaking by government to minimise the vulnerabilities posed by the floods in low lying areas in the Vaimauga West constituency, said Tuilaepa.

“Initially,” added the Prime Minister, “Government has approved $2million tala in the current budget to improve the river flow from Leone to Vaisigano.

“The project will include deepening the water streams and new water walls.”

One crucial component of the project is to relocate families living in the river banks to higher ground.

Said the Prime Minister;

“We are targeting funding from the global Green Climate Fund approved by the Climate Change World Conference in Paris last year.  The funds will help convince families in Vaimauga West to relocate to higher grounds.

“In Paris, the global community came together and endorsed a framework to fight climate change.

“For Samoa this opens a window of opportunity to draw on global funds being made available under the Paris Agreement.”

Share This

About the author