Parents first for hardworking man

By Joyetter Luamanu 27 February 2018, 12:00AM

Providing for his parents is what Tevita Tupa’i lives for, even if it means putting his plans for life on hold. 

The 35-year-old of Nu’usuatia, Safata, tends the farm, cleans the house, does the laundry and cooks for his parents.

When the Village Voice team visited Mr. Tupa’i at his residence, he was doing the washing and hanging the clothes. 

“My parents are my main priority and although I have always wanted a regular job, obedience to my parents is a must, even at my age.” 

Mr. Tupa’i shared about the family’s struggles in their village. 

“We live off our farm, but ever since the tropical cyclone it’s been hard. 

“We don’t really need food, banana and taro with tea is like eating fried chicken. We are grateful for the food we grow on our farm,” he said. 

“The only problem we have is the lack of finances to build a proper home. 

“I live here along with my parents, my sister and her husband and also their newborn baby. 

“But as you can see, our house does not have any doors nor windows or even a bedroom. 

“There is no privacy,” he said. 

He made a proposition for anyone who needs a handyman. 

“I can work for any business person and they don’t have to pay me cash, I just need cement, nails, timber, some iron roofing to fix our house and a proper toilet for my family, especially for my parents. 

“Our toilet has no tank, we have working water supply, we also have a new toilet bowl, but I need cement. 

“The delay in building the toilet is the lack of finances to buy the materials. 

“I saved up for a toilet bowl, and I was able to purchase it last Christmas as a present for my parents, but never managed to install it because I don’t have cement to fix the toilet bowl.

“Yeah some people get things to wear for Christmas, perfume, maybe some shoes, but I know my family needs a proper toilet and I saved up for it and it took me seven months to save up for the bowl,” he said. 

According to Mr. Tupa’i, his mom has a lot of dishes but because they don’t have a proper kitchen, they eat and sleep at the same spot. 

“We eat, and then clean up and then we lay our pillows and mats at this exact spot and sleep the night away. 

“It’s been hard to see my parents cramping up in this small house, but I am trying,” said Mr. Tupa’i.

If you want to help Mr. Tupa’i, you can reach him at 7253348 or 7641084.

By Joyetter Luamanu 27 February 2018, 12:00AM

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