Chinese shop owners are making life cheaper

By Aruna Lolani 28 April 2017, 12:00AM

There is no such thing as an easy life. Life is hard and expensive but Chinese people are helping out Samoan people.

This is what Ioane Sui Fa’atau of Siumu and Afega believes.

When we met the 53 year-old yesterday, he was spending quality time with his wife and their 3-year-old son in Siumu.  

“I admit that I’m one of those people who worried about the many Chinese people setting up businesses in our country,” he said to the Village Voice.

“Because I’m a parent and I still have children growing up so what worries me is when I’m gone and they are going to grow up in a world just filled with these people.

“I’m sure everyone shares this way of thinking but the existence of Chinese people here in Samoa has benefited us in so many ways especially with the cost of living which is so expensive.

“I mean where can you go to buy a chicken leg that’s about a dollar something? The Chinese stores, right?

“Nowadays you walk into a shop and you come back out with nothing because most of the goods are so expensive.

“It is the Chinese people whoare lowering the prices for products that we need.

“I think this is just their way of helping out our people and that’s why we can afford to eat good food sometimes. 

“Chinese people are making the cost of living cheaper.”

Mr. Fa’atau is a father of two children and not only that, he is a farmer and his wife helps him out on the land.

“My family relies on the plantation. We get our food from here and sometimes when we need money, we sell the crops here in our village or at the market at Afega.

“Our water and electricity supplies are good. 

“I know some people are complaining about their tap water being cut off, but that’s their own fault.

“They should have paid the water bill when they first got it, but you know the thing with Samoans is that they wait until it becomes a huge amount.

“I say this because we were like this but we’ve learnt our lesson to always put aside the money for expenses like these. 

“I’m just thankful my children are still young so school obligations are not in the way yet.”

By Aruna Lolani 28 April 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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