WELLINGTON, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Samoa's Prime Minister TuilaepaSailele Malielegaoi has responded to criticism that the government has been slow in rebuilding hundreds of devastated homes by calling on tsunami victims to be more patient.
Several families in the Aleipata area badly affected by last September's tsunami are still living in temporary shelters.
They have raised concerns, with some suggesting the government should have given them the 7,500-U.S.-dollar home aid instead of letting them wait.
However, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said it would be good if the government had 200 builders to do the job, Radio New Zealand International reported on Thursday.
But he said they rely on the help of unpaid carpenters and builders from overseas who are currently on holiday and due to return soon.
Tuilaepa said the shortage of building supplies in local shops and companies is another contributing factor in the slow process.