Money doesn’t go far

By Sarafina Sanerivi 23 January 2017, 12:00AM

So’o Sevao, from the village of Vaitele-Fou, admits that poverty already exists in Samoa.

“In all honesty, life has gotten harder and harder over the years,” he told the Village Voice.

He says that after being paid only $100 a week, the money doesn’t go very far. 

“I work from Monday to Friday and that’s the money I make.” he told the Village Voice.

 “I am a father of two and when I look at the cost of living and my salary, I know that my family will surely suffer if I don’t go to work.

“The money I make isn’t enough to cover everything my family needs daily especially as children will be back in the next few weeks to school...I just don’t know how to stretch my pay.

So’o believes that the struggles Samoans go through to make ends meet is nothing new.

“We need to address those (issues) to the government.

“In my family we hardly survive on my pay and I think countless families in our country are facing the same problem.

 “But we need to stand together and let the government understand that behind their windows, people are suffering.

“That’s what happening now.

“What’s really sad is the fact that our people hardly talk about issues like poverty, hardships, the struggle, high costs of living everyday and so on.

So’o said the high cost of living forces people to buy on credit.

“I am sure many can agree with me that this is the reality of life and my family is no exception.

“That’s the only way that we can survive from day to day is to purchase on credit, to me, the government should decrease the prices of goods and services.

He urges the government to hear the voice of the voiceless.

“The government should look at us and the struggles we face every day and make a quick move.

“It’s better to let him (Tuilaepa) understand our situations while he’s still alive.

“We need to voice what we believe is good for this country especially our children.”

By Sarafina Sanerivi 23 January 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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