Govt. fee increases add weight to load, Te’o says

By Ulimasao Fata 11 October 2017, 12:00AM

Life is great for Te’o Sio from Levi Sale’imoa.

But he has a bone to pick with the government in light of the recent increase to a number of fees for government services.

Te’o says this is another blow on top the expensive cost of living and dwindling incomes.

“The cost of living is already expensive and some families, like mine, are just depending on the plantation because we can’t afford that much from the shop,” Te’o told the Village Voice yesterday morning.

“The price of food and groceries are all high and now the government has increased their fees regarding their services to the Samoan people.”

And this increase, he believes, drastically impacts the lives of people. 

“I believe that I am not the only one who is not supportive of these increased fees by the government because I know most families in Samoa don’t have that much income per week.

“Most families in Samoa depend on their plantation and the sea for a living, and this is way too much for us.”

Apart from the expensive cost of living, Te’o acknowledges his village council’s responsibility.

“Our Village Council has stepped up their work of getting youths out of problems and to serve the villages and families,” he said.  He said law and order is being maintained and that is great for him.

His only concern, as he shared, is that more and more people struggling to come to terms with the cost of life.

And now with the government’s recent increases, they will have more burdens to shoulder.

By Ulimasao Fata 11 October 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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