Island Rock supports village curfew

By Deidre Tautua-Fanene 19 October 2018, 12:00AM

A business house has stepped in to support a village council restore order amongst its youth through a daily curfew.

The owner of local electronics company Island Rock, Tuaopepe Jerry Wallwork, presented 50 vests to Tanugamanono village representatives yesterday after they approached his company for assistance.

Tuaopepe said the vests cost an estimated $2000 tala and his company was happy to support the curfew that the village decided to re-impose on their community after it was uplifted last December.

“We are happy to support Tanugamanono village with sponsoring their vests for their daily curfew. I think this is a great initiative to control and maintain order within the young people in the village and furthermore I support them because Tanugamanono is also my village,” he said.

Representative of the village of Tanugamanono, Siligatusa Pa’ipa’i, told Samoa Observer that they put in the request for the uniforms to the company. 

“Our village had a meeting in July this year and decided that it’s time to bring back the vavao (village curfew).

“The village started the curfew in the year 2016 then continued to 2017. However, we put it on hold during the festive season. But after the festive season we did not bring it back, but then we had some problems with the young ones not respecting the privacy of families at night.

“Most especially, when they are drunk they either make a lot of noise or they behave inappropriately, so the matai of Tanugamanono called a meeting again in July this year,” he said.

It was agreed at the meeting that the village should restore the curfew to ensure families are not disturbed by unruly youth. 

Speaking of the uniforms, Siligatusa said the vests will assist them, as the villagers and other members of the public passing through, will be able to identify the “curfew guardians”.

It was agreed at the meeting convened by the matai that villagers who police the curfew will wear a uniform when standing next to the road, he added. The villagers will be notified of the impending start of the curfew when the first bell is rung at three intervals between 7.25 pm, 7.30 pm and 7.45 pm and 11.00 pm every night when all activities should cease until the next morning.

By Deidre Tautua-Fanene 19 October 2018, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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