Incest on the rise in Samoa?

03 July 2017, 12:00AM

Incest has become one of the most common subjects the Police are investigating and so far there have been three cases in three weeks. It is such a shame for us, because our country is one that is founded on God, after all Samoa has recently been declared a Christian State. Samoa Observer’s reporters Aruna Lolani and Fetalai Tuilulu’u have asked people on the street, what they think about this? Do they agree or disagree?

Nu’u Smith, 24, Vailele

I don’t know what’s wrong with Samoan people lately. If it’s not rape, it’s incest. I mean this is not how we were brought up, yet suddenly every week there’s always a case like this that I read about on the newspaper. I don’t blame the government for putting family members in prison for this kind of behavior. It’s not right and it’s something that we need to put a stop to before it gets worse.

Pulaau Faumui, 24, Lefaga

Incest is not appropriate in Samoa, or anywhere else for that matter. It’s hard to believe it’s actually happened in Samoa. But I think why this has become an issue in Samoa is because our generation have seen so many movies and films that gives them wrong ideas and mindsets. Movies don’t define our culture and yet most of us are following the exact same behavior. Another thing is, we consider ourselves Christians and we lack religious beliefs right? We always tend to think that we are always right and that you can create your own beliefs.

Junior Leuga, 35, Fasito’o uta, Lalomalava-Savaii

This kind of behavior is unacceptable in our culture. This is what people get from not socializing with other people, or attending village meetings. If you don’t go to church that’s another reason why. I seriously don’t know what to say about this issue, it’s just disgusting and I feel sick just by talking about it.

Salesa Peleti, 36, Fasito’o

When I think about the incest issue, it doesn’t sound right at all. If it has already happened, we can’t undo what has been done, but what we can do is to pray about it. Pray that these incest cases does not repeat. We should ask God to put an end to these inappropriate and wrongful manners. Family will always be family, so we should be respecting each other in every way, that’s the only relationship we should have with each other. Nothing more, nothing less.

Imelda Afuie, 19, Lefaga

For me, I guess, the way things have come to happen is because of our very first parents Adam and Eve. So I’m saying let’s not judge but leave it to God. He’s the only one who has the answer to this and the only one who can make it right. Let’s all together pray for the sake of our people and our country. Let God be the center of every problem we’re facing. Incest cases are forbidden in Samoa