Keresoma speaks of family’s plight

By Nefertiti Matatia 15 March 2018, 12:00AM

A family of ten at Faleasiu is in dire need of financial support.

And a job for one of the family members will do. 

Sharing his family’s plight to the Village Voice team, Keresoma Apulu said they live off the land.

“We rely on our plantation very much and every time when there is drought, our crops suffer.”

“There are times when we panic because we have to save our plantation, so we go and ask for water from our neighbours just so we could water the plantation,” said the 28-year-old.

He has six siblings and only his sister works, but they do not live together because she has her own family.

Keresoma believes his younger cousin, Faatiga, could work to help their family and he continues to work the land.  

“Having one person to work the land and another to work in an organisation will benefit our family.”

“He used to work, but he has stopped working ever since Yazaki closed down. He is basically good in anything. He has experience in a restaurant because he worked at Sunrise before. He was a security guard too.”

Mr. Apulu is not married yet because his family relies on him and Faatiga to work the land.

“This land is important to us and we take care of it because my father’s sister who passed away last year, was Faatiga’s mother.”

“It is mostly me and my cousin who live in this house and we are the ones who look after the land as well. There are no mattresses to sleep on, just mats.”

Their house was partially destroyed by the Tropical Cyclone Gita.

“The strong winds ruined the roof of our house because we don’t use the iron roofing. We use the coconut leaves and we weave it together.” 

“As you can see, we are still in the process of fixing this. It is so hard and the roof is unsafe. The rain just comes straight into the house.” 

Keresoma explained: “Where we make the food is not good, it is below the house. The foundation of our house is not cemented but made of wood.”

Mr. Apulu is also in need of a water tank because there is no water supply available in her area.

By Nefertiti Matatia 15 March 2018, 12:00AM

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