Even hard work doesn’t cut it

By Sarafina Sanerivi 19 January 2017, 12:00AM

There have been many claims that there is no poverty in Samoa but our eyes will always tell a different story to what our ears hear. 

A father of two from the village of Letogo tells of how he is finding the standard of living just a little bit too difficult to handle. Barely getting by every day, Finau Emosi depends on his small plantation to provide for his family and children.

Aged 23, Finau admits that life is difficult for them.

“To tell you the truth, we struggle trying to find money to provide for our family. A lot of people in our country say that there is poverty in Samoa, and I agree with them.

“This is because most of our families depend on our plantations for a living. But it’s not like we plant them today and then get the fruits we want tomorrow.

“Yes we can get food from the land, but it is enough for food and not enough to earn money for families and children.

“I know a lot of people can agree with me on this. We struggle just to get by day to day. It’s hard depending on the land because there isn’t enough to sell to earn extra money.”

He went on to say that he truly believes that there is poverty in Samoa.

“That’s what I know; I can see it with my own eyes and I am experiencing it as well.

“I know other people think that it doesn’t exists in Samoa but to me, I know that it does exist.

“Take a look at the cost of living in Samoa nowadays; it’s just not right for us to have expensive things when we don’t earn a lot of money for most families.

“Most of us struggle to stretch the money that we get every week.

“I know a lot of people don’t agree with me on this, but we all have different views and this is my own opinion based on what I see and experience.

“If you hold a $100 on Monday, it won’t reach Friday.”

Finau says the only thing they are doing now for money is  working on the plantations.

“To tell you the truth, we work very hard on our plantation, but we still know that it is not enough.

“It’s hard to go to the shops these days with just  $10 expecting it to be enough to feed your family.

“To me, our government should consider decreasing the prices of goods so that it will be easier for us, the less fortunate.”

By Sarafina Sanerivi 19 January 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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