There’s some help on the horizon for Manu’a.
Representative Vesi Fautanu reports that a part for the MV Sili which has been down for more than a month, is arriving on the cargo flight this afternoon.
Vesi says he has been assured by the shipyard that repairs will start right away.
The Manu’a faipule says he received a report on the status of the MV Sili when he met with Acting Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga and the Port Director yesterday.
He was informed that the needed part had been sitting in Honolulu awaiting a check to pay for air freighting it here.
Vesi said he was assured that the payment has been made and the part will be on this afternoon’s cargo flight.
According to the representative the shipyard will be working today, tomorrow and Sunday to install the part and make repairs, and he hopes that by Monday or Tuesday , the MV Sili will be ready to undergo sea trials.
In the meantime, there have been two deliveries to Manu’a on private boats and a third trip is set for later today or this weekend.
These are using the small ASG boat Segaula and the private vessel Adventure nd the Tool Shop boat.
There were plans to charter the Samoa Government vessel Fotuosamoa however that boat is also down needing repairs.
Because the MV Sili has been out of commission for more than a month, residents of Manu’a report that gas stations are out of gasoline, and nearly all stores are out of basic food items such as rice, sugar, and frozen goods.
Only stores which paid money to fishing boats to deliver their store goods haven’t run out.
