I don’t lead, I don’t follow, I make my own path.

This from 29 year old Iuni Iuni from Fasito’o tai and Aleipata, Saleimua.

He is a farmer who is living proof that working on your own makes life easier.

“I prefer working on my own because this is my way of making a living for my family especially my kids,” Iuni said.

“I have two children and the plantation is what I do. I sell it to earn money and get food from it.

“It’s there for the taking so might as well work hard to develop it because it is my own.”

According to Iuni, he used to work for a few companies but it’s now been two years since he left his former life as an employee.

“The difference now is that I can do whatever I want. I can use the whole day to work the plantation and no one is there to tell me how to do my work, you know what I mean?

“Having no one to order me around is a good thing and that’s what I like.

“It has taken me two years to develop my plantation and I’ve grown to love it so I don’t think I can imagine myself working anywhere else but here. 

“My life now is about baskets of taro, cucumbers, taamu and it’s all for my children and family. 

“It’s stress free and in my spare time I go fishing, and when I come back, I sell whatever I get.”

Iuni said he only has one issue that he needs to deal with.

“We don’t have water anymore because the Samoa Water Authorities cut our water but that’s not the problem.

“The problem is that they cut our water; leaving the water pipe in front of our house running.

“So not only has it ruined our plants and caused a mess in front of our home but it’s wasting water. 

“I mean to me I don’t mind getting water from far away places but I don’t like the fact that water is wasted like this because a lot of families need water.

“When we asked the Authority why they didn’t turn this off, they said it’s not their job.

“So I don’t know whose job it is it but the point is they should do something about it because it doesn’t feel right to waste water.”

When Village Voice team asked the Water Authority for a comment, they said they are not responsible for that matter. 

“We only deal with cutting the water and the meter system,” she said. 

“With what’s going on I shall say that’s the family’s responsibility.