Working the land solution for the cost of living

By Aruna Lolani 05 October 2017, 12:00AM

We can complain all we want about the expensive cost of living but it won’t change anything.

This is the opinion of 46-year-old Kolio Penitito from Nofoali’i.

“That is the truth about the cost of living these days,” he tells the Village Voice. 

“There’s really nothing we can do about it because it’s out of our hands. This is between the businesses and the government. We have no right to change how they’re setting their prices.”

“I can understand though because we also have to think about the fact that it’s not an easy process or cheap for any business to import goods from overseas.”

“I guess that’s why most of the things we can’t afford are some of the things were too expensive for these business owners to buy but they did it anyways to have things that they think are needed by the people.”

Kolio said there’s nothing much that could be done except relying on the land, starting a cattle farm or a herd of pigs to support yourself.

“We will always be paying for things that we need to survive, especially for electricity and water supply.”

“These are the necessities associated with our daily needs so it is a must to always pay for them.” 

Kolio stays with a family of 10 including his father. His mother has passed on.

He has two siblings working to financially support the family.

“The rest of us, myself included; we work the lands and take care of our flock of sheep. Sometimes we bring it here to the forest to protect them from dogs and wild boars in the inner village.” 

“This is the way to survive through the expensive cost of living. Complaining doesn’t do us any good because we always end up going to the shops and buy what we were complaining about.” 

“Another thing is; I don’t blame people for going to the Chinese shops because I know it’s affordable.”

“Not only that; we have come to know about the fact that Chinese people are the ones donating huge amount of money into our businesses and education system so I guess it’s only fair that some of our people buy from them to support them as they have supported us.”

By Aruna Lolani 05 October 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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