‘Bad things under the coconut trees’

SAMOA – Samoa’s Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, blames what he calls uneducated parents for the growing number of children hawking goods in Apia at night.

Tuilaepa said the government formulates policies, monitors the laws while parents have a responsibility to protect their children.

“The government has its own role but parents too have their own part to play,” Tuilaepa said.

He added that the government is mindful of the disturbing trend.

“The government is trying to help them but the parents are at fault. They are only looking at the money but not the safety of their children. These parents are uneducated,” he said.

Tuilaepa called on parents to value their roles in protecting their children.

“If children continue to walk around after dark they will come across drunks and bad people who are rapists,” he said.

“The police should enforce this in their patrols because it’s not just children it includes other people who are doing bad things under the coconut trees.” - Samoa Observer