Thank you Tuilaepa, happy street sellers back on the streets of Apia this morning    

By Tupuola Terry Tavita

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has publicly told the Police to back off from cracking down on Apia’s street sellers.

Police earlier this week ordered all street peddlers to pay a $50 tala fee to the ministry and a $250 business license before they can operate. Police on Tuesday were seen apprehending street peddlers and confiscating their ware.

Following an appeal to the Prime Minister on public television and newspaper by some street sellers, the Prime Minister yesterday, on his weekly interview on state radio 2AP, told the Police to “go do something more useful with their time�?.

“There are numerous road blocks and traffic congestion on the streets, their (Police) time is better spent directing traffic and relieving these bottlenecks than chasing down the harmless street sellers.

“These street hawkers only make $5 or $10 tala profit a day to feed their families, I’m baffled as to why they are being hunted down by the Police when they are trying to make money like everybody else.

“They are no different from villagers who sell fish and vegetables on the side of the road.�?

The street hawkers were back again on the streets this morning taking full business advantage of the 1000-plus tourists from the Queen Victoria cruise ship in port today.

 

 

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