Cost of living a ‘silent killer’

By Ilia L Likou 02 January 2018, 12:00AM

The high cost of living in Samoa is the silent killer.

This is the opinion of 42-year-old father of Vaitele-Fou, Fale Tu’ipala, who shared this opinion with the Village Voice team yesterday.  

“It’s expensive and I know everyone else would agree,” Fale said.

“With the high cost of living, I’m telling you there are so many things that we need but cannot afford.”

“Our people end up asking other people for help because we hardly live with the high cost of goods.”

“I mean even if we could, we have other things to prioritize first like the welfare of our families, children and then other obligations.”

“I thank God because Samoan people always help others when we are in need and that’s the good thing about this village, they cater to people’s needs because we always have that love in our heart.”

Fale believes the high cost of living is unbearable these days.

“Honestly, a $1,000 doesn’t necessarily cover all of your expenses and it doesn’t really last long because it is used up with just a blink of an eye,” he said. 

“I know that a lot of us complain about the Chinese setting up businesses here, but they are actually people who make things easier and cheaper for us Samoans.”

“But we also have to be careful sometimes and take time to really look in to what they sell, not just buy and use them.”

“But then the good thing about Chinese shops, I mean, if we go to our locals, we all know that we cannot afford most of their products and that’s not good because it is our own people who make things hard for us.”

“But we have to work together for the good of others, especially our own people.”

“That’s the reality in Samoa, but personally, the cost of living should be reasonable because we are already struggling trying to survive on what we have.”

By Ilia L Likou 02 January 2018, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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