Government’s priority should always be their people

By Pai Mulitalo Ale 21 November 2016, 12:00AM

According to Uati Saunoamali’i, from the village of Falelauniu-Tai, Samoa’s government should always put their people first, which include the poor as well as the rich.

The hardworking father claimed that the government is always giving much more attention to those people already doing well in life while they neglect the struggling folk.

Uati says that for struggling families like his, even trying to get a bit of land is tough.

“This land that we live on, hasn’t been paid for yet,” he told the Village Voice.

“We are paying it bit by bit but we are nowhere close to finishing it yet. It’s not easy to pay off these pieces of land and we are trying our best to make money every day.

“My family doesn’t have a lot but we do what we can to survive. Not all the money we make goes to paying off the land. We have school expenses for the children, and other basic needs for the family.

“Life is no longer simple for many people here in Samoa. If you don’t work very hard then your children will starve.”

He explained that even trying to pay off the land is very hard when you don’t earn much and there are too many expenses.

“As you can see, our house isn’t that great,” Uati said.

“Like I said before, a lot of our money goes to the children’s schooling, food for the family and paying off the land so we don’t have any left over to build a nice house.

“The government should look at ways to help the people out with land to live on. They are giving so much more attention to those who are doing well and we, who are struggling, are given nothing.

“The same goes for businesses, the government should try and assist our people who are struggling with business opportunities and that way we can all move forward together.”

All in all, Uati says that the government should start giving attention to all Samoans equally.

“The government’s first priority should always be their people and that includes those of us who don’t have much,” he said.

“They tell us to work the plantation yet it’s not easy to do so.  We have been living here ever since the earthquake in 2009.

“We moved here in search of a good life; we want to give our children good education. I earn money from my job and small food products like pork buns which I sell.

“We do what we can to make ends meet.”

By Pai Mulitalo Ale 21 November 2016, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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