Eighty tala a fortnight is not a lot of money but that’s all Isa’ako Mekitaseko has to feed his family.

The Village Voice caught up with him yesterday. 

 “To tell you the truth, I am tired of struggling, but with my two children in school, [this] keeps me going everyday,” he said.

“I know it’s too hard to live with the struggle everyday, the little money I earn from my salary everyday for two weeks never makes it to the next day.

“We never meet our family’s basic needs because money is always tight, the only time I see money is when I get paid, then the next hour it’s all gone.” 

Isa’ako said he often goes to bed with a heavy heart. 

“Where am I going to get food for my children?” he often asks himself. 

Even with a job he is always worried.

“I don’t want to see my children and family go a day without food. No one can see my tears,” he said. 

 “We just can’t survive on $80 so we try to ration the use of rice everyday.

“Most days I have to walk all the way from Tanumapua to Vailima where I work as a grounds man.”

After work he walks back home. He is lucky if he gets help. When he does though he always feels grateful. 

“School is near and I’m thinking about that.”

Isa’ako swears God knows their family’s daily struggles.

“I’ve tried so hard to meet my family’s daily needs, God sees my tears everyday, no matter the heat of the sun everyday, the rain, my children keep me going.” 

Isaako also owns a plantation but that’s not enough.

“You can only do so much,” he said. “Sometimes I just break down and cry.”