There has been a mixed reaction amongst farmers to the new Government’s decision to relax state of emergency orders and reopen early morning Sunday markets.

Early morning Sunday markets generated handsome profits for fish and vegetable sellers prior to the enforcing of a nationwide S.O.E. in March last year to mitigate risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Over a year later and with the Fa’atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (F.A.S.T.) Government taking over the Human Rights Protection Party (H.R.P.P.) administration, the S.O.E. orders have been relaxed in a bid to assist the private sector.

The change sees the return of early morning markets with business hours now running from 4am to 9am.

However, three local farmers interviewed by the Samoa Observer are unsure about the need to return to the early morning Sunday market hours, saying they now go to church and don’t feel comfortable selling on Sundays.

A 57-year-old farmer who sells yams, taros, bananas and firewood at the Fugalei market – and didn’t want to identify herself – said she first struggled with S.O.E. restrictions imposed on Sunday markets.

“It was so hard for me to accept restrictions of Sunday markets after so many years of selling goods at the market on Sundays,” she said.

“With Sunday restrictions we get to attend church and to worship God for all he has done for us.

“But now with the new weekend hours I will not sell my crops on Sundays but will be at church.”

Another farmer, Lauano Ah Chong, told the Samoa Observer that with restrictions on Sundays people tend to keep the Sabbath day.

“The restrictions on Sundays had a huge impact on us, we spare our time to attend church rather than being found at the market selling crops,” he said. 

“We have six days to sell our crops and spare Sunday to give thanks to God.”

With Sunday restrictions, it has changed how people are nowhere to be found at market sites and supermarkets while they are away from church. 

The closing of markets got the sellers and buyers to realise how they should have kept the Sabbath day holy ages ago.

Sauni Niumata, a 50-year-old farmer from Aleisa who’s selling crops at Fugalei market, said the push to keep Sunday holy should be maintained.

“With the new changes of state of emergency orders, markets will open on Sunday at 4am and close at 9am,” he said. 

“I just hope that by 9am, both sellers and buyers return home by that time and to attend church on Sundays.

“Our country has been Covid free for more than a year now so we must spare our Sunday to thank God for his love and protection.”