By Tupuola Terry Tavita

Real poverty is not having any food, no water, no clothes, no access to medical treatment and no home.

This is Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Maliegaoi’s definition of poverty, that has become somewhat of an issue raised by several media outlets.

“When I was in America – supposedly the wealthiest country in the world – I saw many people on the streets walking around with all their belongings tied in a sheet and strung on the shoulder like a knapsack. They sleep on park benches or under bridges when it rains. That is real poverty you don’t find in Samoa. 

“Every Samoan has claim to land. There are plenty of mangoes, pawpaws, bananas and breadfruit falling off and rotting on the ground. Plenty of fish in the sea.

“The problem is too many people are coming into town and loathing around. They are lazy and do not want to go back to their village to work the land. They should stay in their village where their lands are and develop it.�?

Tuilaepa says that some Samoans think that not having car, a tv or a European house is poverty.

“Those are luxuries. Having none of those is certainly not poverty.�?

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