Reeling from the cost of living

By Ilia L. Likou 07 April 2017, 12:00AM

Fifty year old Samoa Samoa from Mulifanua does not hide it.

When approached by the Village Voice and asked how life is out in the village, he did not hold back.

“To be honest, life is great but the cost of living has become so expensive,” he said.

“I was born and raised in my village, Mulifanua. When I was young most of my families work ed hard on the plantation to earn a living.

“Yes, life was quite easy back then, when our people relied mostly on crops for living and for financial support.

“Many families lived peacefully and had so much fun.”

But times have changed, he said.

“Nowadays, I have to admit that the struggle you and me are experiencing in terms of money is worrying,” he told the Village Voice.

“Every day, this is the only issue I can think of – how am I suppose to feed my family, my children? Even though my son and I work to provide for our family, it’s still not enough.”

He says the problem is that what they earn still cannot accommodate the high cost of living.

“The money that we get from our pay is not enough to meet our daily needs and ongoing family obligations from time to time.

“Not only that but the low salary rate that we do get...take for example , a $100 nowadays feels  like 10sene.

“If you go to buy food or other goods for you and your family at any shop in town, that means, you get two items for $10. Then its all gone.

“That’s the reason why I was in and out from many jobs...hopping from one job to another,  because I had to look for a better income to help my family.”

Samoa understands there are other fathers that are in the same predicament. 

 “Yes, there are challenges, but we have to keep on going or your children will starve to death.

“Me and my son work at one of the companies in town. We put up with all sorts of conditions to ensure there is food on the table every day.

 “Personally, I have to keep on working with the hope that someday the government will decrease the cost of living.”

By Ilia L. Likou 07 April 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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