The Departments of Health and Parks and Recreation have been told to close down public restrooms and public beaches and parks if they have to in order to clean up the unsanitary conditions of these facilities.
House representatives were like a chorus in unison about the urgent need to clean up public restrooms like the ones at Lions Park and Utulei Beach.
Rep. Atalina Asifoa chaired a hearing that discussed the conditions of public restrooms which had Director of Health Motusa Tuileama Nua, Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation, Ken Tupua and Chief of Compliance at DOH, Papali Marion Fitisemanu as witnesses.
Acting Speaker Fetu Fetui and Rep. Tuumolimoli Moliga said matter of factly, the only way to get results was to close down the restrooms and the public parks along with them.
Nearly all of the faipule who were present talked about the unsanitary conditions of public bathrooms, including the one at Auasi wharf which was the subject of a recent letter to the editor, and lack of inspection and maintenance of the facilities.
It was also brought out that the new public courts and children’s playground in Fagatogo and Onesosopo Park don’t have bathrooms.
Rep. Tuumolimoli told the ASG officials they should also consider outsourcing janitorial services for public restrooms.
He said before the janitorial services at the airport were taken over by Nana’s company, the condition of the bathrooms were terrible and so as the general appearance of the airport.
But since Nana’s Company took over the bathrooms are in tip top condition and the terminal building is clean and beautiful.
He said this can also be done for the public bathrooms.
At the end of the hearing, Director of Health Motusa promised that health inspectors will check the
public restrooms and will close any that are not fit for public use.
He said they would also consider closing down the public parks if the restrooms are unsanitary.
Tupua admitted that Parks & Rec may have been lax in maintenance of public restrooms and assured lawmakers they will try their best to make improvements with available resources.
