Is there really no poverty in Samoa?

Dear Editor,

Re: Poverty in Samoa

Let me reactivate this topic in the context of child vendors in Apia.

I know that the P.M. and at least two C.E.O’s (the Government Statistician and the C.E.O of the Ministry of Finance) have stated that there is no poverty in Samoa. 

I am now totally confused because I want to believe these two learned C.E.O’s but at the same time my observation, the story above and the child vendor story tell me that there is poverty in paradise.

Do these two learned and presumably smart people know more about poverty than the ordinary folk on the street? 

Surely not. 

My and your life experiences determine your world views.

I am not going to sit on the fence on this topic like the UN representative but strongly support the Daiz’s views. 

Rather than arguing whether there is or isn’t poverty in Samoa, shouldn’t the government concede that the social problems it is now facing are a direct result of hardships faced by the people (poverty by another name).

 

Vai Autu

Samoa Observer

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