Please have mercy and hear us out – Asueru

By Ilia L. Likou 26 July 2017, 12:00AM

A resident of Fagali’i is calling members of Parliament to spend a day with them so they understand how the cost of living is having a detrimental impact on their daily struggles.

Asueru Asueru says the cost of living has become so expensive it’s nearly unaffordable for folks like him. 

This is making life miserable for families where no one works and even people on the minimum wage.

But it doesn’t stop there.

The growing number of taxes is also a concern for Asueru. 

“I know this is not a new issue to many of our readers in the Samoa Observer but I’m so thankful that I have this opportunity to raise my concerns,” he said.

“The fact is; most of our people don’t understand the reality that we’re living now.”

“As a father this is really depressing news. We all know that many families are relying on the plantation for food, yet taro is rotten everywhere because we don’t have enough overseas markets (to export to).”

“Yes, we hardly buy any two items for ten tala.”

“When we look at the high number of unemployment in Samoa, that’s another story.”

Asueru said jobs are hard to come by.

“People are everywhere looking for jobs, and the government with their ministers just sit there not worrying about what people are going through.”

He also raised concerns about the decision to tax pastors.

“What is so funny, are the changes that the government has made after the general election this year.”

“First they taxed pastors, and the Prime Minister’s view is because overseas countries are doing this as well. But that’s not right; they’re desperately looking for money to pay millions of dollars we owe for our massive buildings.”

“Another big change is the Head of State.”

Asueru believes what would win over the country is the government coming up with a very good solution to the many employees of Yazaki who will no longer be employed when that company closes next month.

 “Nowadays, we all need money to survive. That means we need jobs to survive – money talks.”

This is why Asueru believes that government should refocus and reprioritize.

 “Put people first,” he said. “It should be about the people instead of wasting too much time on material developments such as infrastructure.”

 “This is a call to the government especially the Prime Minister, please have mercy and hear us.”

“This is not just for the Prime Minister also but ministers, members of parliament and  government ministries…set a time aside to visit us one day, and experience with us what many of us are going through.”

By Ilia L. Likou 26 July 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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