Nelly Purcell, 58, Aleipata

"For me, when I first started my business, when I go to buy the goods for my shop, the prices were very good, and when I come back and sell them in my store, the prices were good too. But as time went by the price for everything increased so much and I don't support this new price hike. I don't support this, we should look after and care for the public because of how expensive everything is nowadays, especially now because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some families don't have a lot of money to get by with the current costs of things. I know the cost of milk, cooking oil and chicken which are the main goods that families buy and consume, but now the price for these products have increased so much. At least with the previous prime minister, the cost wasn't as expensive compared to the present with the new Government. My complaint is to the Government to please reduce some of the prices to help out with the cost of living, especially with our children's school feels so that it reduces the burden on the customers and for us who have businesses."

Tapuono Sivaa Talimalie, 54, Afega

"Thank God for life and that we are able to work today, even though we face a lot of difficulties in our everyday life, but we are still thankful that life is still good here in Samoa. Some advice from my humble self is for the Government, in regards to the price of goods and the rise in fuel prices. The cost of living is very expensive now, especially with the increase in the fuel prices. This is my appeal to the Government to help reduce the financial burden on our country and people because living expenses are very expensive now and we could do with some financial assistance from the Government."

Lealofisa Potini Tonise, 62, Saleimoa

"With what I know about the difference between the present time and the olden days, we can look at the different governments that we had and now have. My belief is that the reason why everything is expensive is due to the our country's debt. All this is because of the previous government. We hear of the parliament meetings that the government have and how they are trying to pay off the country's loan to the World Bank. It is true that the cost of living has increased a lot, it is very expensive because of the debt that our country has so I think that the cost of everything right now is fair. But we see here that the burden of paying off the debt is forced onto the country but as time goes by there will be a time when the prices will fall back down. We are still fortunate that our price for fuel isn't as bad as that of other countries overseas, so everything right now is bearable."

Faapaia Misa, 45, Matautu

"For me, everything about life has gone up, nothing is cheap now everything is really expensive now. There is nothing we can do about it, all depends on the money and the produce imported from overseas. The Government should still look for ways to help the people out with their financial burdens. The school fees for children are really expensive plus the cost for food. They should increase the rate of wages to balance out the increase in the cost of living."

Salevi Telea, 46, Lotofaga

"The truth is, the cost of living is very expensive now, I do not know what the reason behind it is but all we can do is to wait it out. Our country is still okay, wherever the cost of living goes then that is where we will go. The Government should now address the problem at hand and have ways to resolve everything because it really is expensive right now. But we cant do much, this is the cost right now and we just have to accept it and when there are other changes made we should be ready to accept them too."

Jeremiah Ilalio, 39, Vaitele

"Nowadays, living cost is expensive, the price of many things have increased so much. For instance fuel prices, so there is big issue then with the cost of things now. If we take a look at a taxi driver's point of view, there is a big problem for them especially, not like how it was before where I could earn a lot of money during the week to look after my family and to help out with the church and village programs so everything is reliant on money. If we add the cost of goods from the shop to that of fuel prices, it has a big effect on all of us. I would like the Government to assist us in finding ways to help because life is expensive now and some financial help and long term assistance for us taxi drivers, whether to increase the prices for passengers to accommodate the increase in prices."