Stop complaining about the cost of living.

Instead start a plantation and work the land.

That’s the opinion of Paletau Falealii, from Fasitoo-Uta. 

He says people will be surprised about how a plantation can earn them more money than they can imagine.

The 69-year-old is adamant that everyone can do much better if they just get on with life.

The father of six said there is money to be dug from the soil.

“It involves a lot of hard work,” he said.

“I don’t care about the cost of living. Of course it’s expensive, everyone knows that. But we have food in the land, that makes us rich.”

Paletau’s children have grown. Three of them are based overseas and they help out too.

“I only ask them for money when it comes to family fa’alavelave. For village and church donations, the money we use comes from the plantation.”

“I use my time on the plantation, weeding and cleaning every day.”

“My family tells me to stay home but it makes me stronger each day if I go to the plantation. I sell my own crops, taro, banana and yams I earn more than $400 sometimes when the market is good.”

Paletau said far too many Samoans have grown up to live a life of dependency. These are the people who complain about the cost of living.

“Everyone should work,” he said.

“Whatever you have to do, just work.”

“Life doesn’t have to be expensive, whatever we have we just be thankful for that. For me personally, the important thing is for my family to have food.”

He also explained the difference between the old days and today.

“People these days are getting lazy to work on plantations. The children disobey their parents and they would rather loaf around than working. It’s sad.”