Some parents of child street vendors have expressed full support for the enforcement of the Education Act 2009 which prevents compulsory school-aged kids from vending during and after school hours.

Samoa Observer took a quick trip across the township area and spoke to a few parents who are selling their items in Apia with the help of their children.

In an interview with the Samoa Observer, Salome Paulo, 42, of Leone who has been a street vendor since she was a child, said the police's initiative should have been implemented a long time ago although it would go against some of the decisions she made in the past as a street vendor.

She is a mother of 15 and a familiar face in Apia where she is a street vendor. She believes Samoa is a land of opportunity where no one should go hungry or be stricken by poverty despite their daily challenges.  

"I fully support the police on that one because my husband ands I stopped our kids from selling our items or ula (lei) in town because we fear for their safety and their future," she said.

Last week, two parents were warned and this was documented for police records following an initial verbal warning to all parents of child street vendors. Deputy Police Commissioner, Papalii Monalisa Tiai-Keti said there is a concerning number of young child street vendors of compulsory school age selling items on the road during and after school hours despite the law.

Asked whether she was ever warned by police, Mrs. Paulo said she was warned countless times by the police even before the new operation took place.

"My face should be familiar to the police by now because they always see me selling my items and they have warned me before on this and they warned me before the new operation," she said.

"We are all parents despite that some of us are street vendors and we want what's best for our children, that's why we stopped our children from selling on the streets.

"I'm the one who is selling items on the streets or in Apia now especially our ula mosooi instead of my children because of the same worry or concern, their exposure to risks on the streets especially at night time."

Mrs. Paulo and her two siblings as well as all their children live together in Leone and they all work together to sew mosooi (flower) leis to sell from Wednesday to Saturdays at the clubs.

After several warnings from police, Mrs. Paulo said their children are now focused on their education while they (adults) only sell leis during opening times for clubs, bars, and restaurants in Apia.

The concerned mother's views were echoed by other parents whose children also stroll around Apia to sell different items and products.

Faasina Toogamala from Satapuala also expressed her fears for her 16-year-old son's life who has been for years living the same life. Just like routine, he takes the early morning bus to Apia to sell his items from a Chinese shop then comes home late in the evenings.

"I can't blame him because we should have stopped him when he first started but we have been trying to put him to school but he always ends up either not passing his exams or getting expelled from the schools we enroll him in," she said.

"Hence, we just let him live like that for now while we figure our our other plans for him whether take him overseas to any of our relatives.

"But with regards to the police's new operation, I totally agree with police because this can be an effective way to stop kids from causing fights and trouble on the streets and also keep them away from dangers on the streets especially at night time.

"We don't know the many challenges and risks that they are exposed to when most parents think they are selling items but instead learning bad behaviour."

Another 51-year-old street vendor parent, Saufoi Mataese who takes the bus from their home in Tuanai every morning to Apia with his son to sell their items also supported the police's initiative.

"It's a really good and useful initiative because I am always here in Apia every day unless something happens but I always take the bus every morning with my son to sell our items at the bus terminal and I always see the kids behaving badly, and it is getting worse," he said.

"My son is okay because he completed college and because we can't afford his school fee for university yet, we thought we would take a break from school for a bit before we can continue."

Meanwhile, the Police's Community Engagement Unit started patrolling the town area three weeks ago to keep an eye on child street vendors whose parents keep sending them despite being warned.

Under the Education Act 2009, it is compulsory for all children aged between five years and 16 years to be in school and Papalii explained that the patrol will take place during and after school hours on Fridays and Saturdays. 

Meanwhile, the Education Act 2009 Part 2 (Division 4), stresses on the employment of compulsory school-aged children and the offences for a person arranging for their employment.

Employment of compulsory school-aged child – (1) Subject to subsection (3), it is an offence for a person to arrange for a compulsory school-aged child to engage in street trading or to carry out other work of any kind, whether for reward or not: (a) at any time during school hours; or (b) at any other time if the work would prevent or interfere with the child’s attendance at school, active participation in school activities or the child’s educational development.