It’s a new year and yet the same old problem remains in paradise. As a matter of fact, it appears to be getting worse.
Take a stroll down the streets of Apia on any week day and you are bound to be confronted by not just one but several beggars on the streets.
They come in all sizes and ages.
And their excuses generally range from for that “I need bus fare” to “food for my family” or “I just need money to survive.” One of many of them is Ne’emia Pulotulole, of Malaemalu.
He says this is his way of earning a living.
Speaking to the Sunday Samoan yesterday, Mr. Pulotulole, 28, says he has had a tough life.
A health condition means one of his hands is basically useless.
“I haven’t been able to find a job,” he says. “My parents divorced many years ago and I live with an aunty but I don't want to depend on her so this is what I do for a living.
<script async src="http://www.samoaobserver.ws///pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>
<!-- ads-articles(24.03.14) -->
<ins class="adsbygoogle"
style="display:inline-block;width:336px;height:280px"
data-ad-client="ca-pub-9419815128221199"
data-ad-slot="2395638412"></ins>
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>
“I do this to make money for myself.”
He confessed that it “embarrasses me to do what I do.”
“But I have no choice, I need to survive so this is why I come here every day.”
According to him, some parts of the money he earns sitting on the side of Eveni Carruthers in Apia goes towards his church tithing, some for his food, clothes and other necessities.
Asked if his family does not discourage him, he says no.
Pressed if he has any hopes of finding a proper job, he said: “I wasn’t good in school and I left at Year 10.”
So how much does he earn from begging?
“On a good week, I make between $200-$300,” he says. “It is embarrassing but it is the only way for me to make money. Our people are very caring and they always give.”
Tololi Siona from Tufulele is not a beggar. He despises people who beg.
Mr. Siona has a vegetable garden and a plantation.
He thinks that many beggars on the streets are lazy.
“I understand there are some beggars who have no other choice but to make a living this way but then there are others who are strong and able but lack any initiative or will to work and sweat for their money,” he said.
Instead they prefer to make up lies and feeding it to innocent people on the streets to “get free handouts”.
“This is dishonest scheming,” said Mr. Siona.
He agrees that walking round town with his coconut leaf baskets trying to get people to purchase his produce is a challenge but he strongly believes it does matter because he is earning money in an honest way.
Auvasa Fruean blames the lack care by parents and families. He strongly believes that these people beg because they have no other way of making a decent living in this life.
“Children are the apple of their parent’s eye instead because of their lack of proper discipline and decent rearing their children as adults are now begging for a living.”
Auvasa says parents need invest in their children through proper education so that they wouldn't have to resort to a life of begging when they grow up.
<ins class="adsbygoogle"
style="display:inline-block;width:336px;height:280px"
data-ad-client="ca-pub-2469982834957525"
data-ad-slot="1033882026"></ins>
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>{/googleAds}