Faipule concerned over gov’t turning blind eye to high cost of living

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Concerns over the high cost of living in the territory have been voiced by the Saole Faipule, Titiali’i Kitara Vaiau.

According to Titiali’i, it is a serious problem and the government is turning a blind eye on it. He said it appears that the price of some of the items in many retail stores rise every week and low income families are suffering the most.

He requested that Speaker Savali conduct a committee hearing to find a solution to this problem.

Titialii said there must be price controls for all goods and products sold in every store and the government must enforce the law to prevent business owners from raising prices every day.

People are voicing their own concerns about the cost of living and how a family can survive; and Samoa News asked several employees of StarKist Samoa, who have worked as fish cleaners for over five years, about their thoughts on the issue.

And while the cost of living is pointed out as the culprit, the employees also note that a rise in the minimum wage or wages in general is necessary to cope with the high costs.

For example, a 45-year-old father of five said the cost of living is way too high. If you look around American Samoa, you will notice lots of new development and the price of everything is increasing, however, salaries remain the same.

He told Samoa News that too many of the products sold in this country are from overseas so it’s more expensive. We need to go back to focusing on our own cultural products and rely less on overseas products to help with the cost of living.

Another worker, Filipo Semisi, who has worked as a security guard for 6 years said, “To be honest, life is definitely not easy thanks to the high cost of living.

“People in this country are suffering because as prices for goods go up, our wages remain the same and that just makes life a whole lot harder for us.

“People who work minimum wage jobs are paid just enough to afford some salt or sugar but there are so many things they cannot afford.

“$100 back in the day could last people three weeks but right now, $100 is like $10 back in the day.

“Maybe the government could help match the pay people get and the cost of living,” Semisi said.