Prosperity

A Road To

To build or not to build?

That is the question concern ing the construction of a pro posed vehicular connection between the islands of Ofu and Olosega, Manu’a Island group, American Samoa. At present, the 500-foot strait separating the two islands is crossed by wading, swimming or small boat. A bridge or road across would provide a safer and more efficient cross ing and could also serve as a catalyst for some long-range changes in the present way of life on these two islands.

A vehicular connection be tween the islands would reduce the relative isolation which surrounds Olosega, ex posing the village com munities more readily to Westernisation, This exposure will undoubtedly affect the islanders' lifestyle and customs as those on Tutuila, the main island of American Samoa, have been affected.

With the increased ease of importing goods to and from Olosega, the present sub sistence economy could gra dually change to a cash econ omy. It is speculated that the opportunity to export agricultural goods to Tutuila’s deficient Farmers’

Market would also open up.

As the government of American Samoa is placing more and more emphasis on developing tourism, the pro posed structure would be a starting point for a possible resort area on Olosega, which would also further a cash economy.

The past several years have brought a continuous decrease in the population of the Manu’a Islands, primarily due to increased migration to Tutuila. This has resulted in urban congestion and en

vironmental problems, partic

ularly in the heavily popu lated Pago Pago Bay area.

Linking isolated areas more closely to urban centres is seen as a way to lure former residents back to their villages, easing the congestion of the urban centres, while at the same time making the at tractions of the “city” availa ble to the villagers, i.e., cash paying jobs, modern conve niences and better medical and educational facilities.

Aside from the cultural effects, any structure built be tween the islands will destroy portions of the existing reef, increase vehicular traffic (whereas there are currently only 10 vehicles on both is lands), and provide a visual impact of a sort now unknown to these islands.

In short, in linking together the islands of Olosega and Ofu, the Manu’as could take a giant step forward in time, with all the shortcomings and advantages that have sprung from the 20th century. Or, the Manu’as could remain as they are, preserving traditional Sa moan customs and lifestyle, allowing the old and new to co-exist within the islands of American Samoa.

Robin Pierson in Pago Pago