Young man calls for Village Councils in urban areas

By Vatapuia Maiava 14 December 2016, 12:00AM

Faupega Mania, from the village of Falelauniu, believes that it is time to start having village leaders in urban villages.

Aged 24, being a youth himself, Faupega has noticed how the young are starting to get out of hand and says that things need to change.

He says that he envies the youth from rural villages with great village leaders keeping everyone in line.

“To be honest with you, I think the youth from villages that have village councils are luckier than we are,” Faupega told the Village Voice.

“The duty of the village leaders is to keep order and peace in a village and that’s why I feel that the youth living in those areas are lucky.”

“Here in the urban areas, it’s as if it’s Christmas every day. The youth have parties from Monday right up to the next Monday and I don’t think that’s the way it should be.”

With the population of the urban villages increasing, he says that having a village council to run things is well overdue.

“There are many people living in these urban areas so we should really consider coming up with village councils,” he said.

“If we don’t then the youth will only get worse. Their behaviour is getting out of hand and there’s no controlling them unless we get the whole village in on it.”

“One benefit of creating village councils in urban villages is the ability they have of rallying the entire village. They can rally everyone against those who love to break rules.”

Living without rules is what birthed the uncontrollable youths and Faupega says it’s time to get rules to guide people in the village.

“We really need proper rules and guidelines in these villages,” he said.

“With rules and a proper village council enforcing them, then it won’t just take pressure off of the police, but it will also keep everyone in the village in line.”

“I don’t just say this because the youth needs it; everyone in the village needs it. That includes adults too.”

And in a way, having village council’s lead the urban villages will help sustain some of the culture we are losing to western influences.

“This will also help us keep parts of our culture alive,” Faupega said.

“The youth are easily influenced by the western way of life and that’s why they act the way they do. With a village council upholding what we believe in as Samoans, then it will help stop the western influence.

“It will be so helpful for everyone. My message for the youth of Samoa is to stop wasting time and messing around. We need to go back to the way of the Samoan.

“Stop abusing alcohol and other types of narcotics.”

By Vatapuia Maiava 14 December 2016, 12:00AM
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