By Martha Taumata Faavae
The pre-census and national Identity card survey is flowing popular thanks largely to the $50 tala stimulus give away for every person.
Government statistician, Ali’imuamua Malaefono Taua, is a happy organizer of the survey, when her tired enumerators trudge back to the office with encouraging tales of the day’s work.
“The teams encountered resistance from families who at first didn’t want to be surveyed so they continued on to the next family,” Ali’imuamua was told back at the office where she co-ordinates everything.
“But as soon as these families learned they are missing out on the money they’re entitled to, they would chase down the teams to plead they have changed their minds and are ready to co-operate.”
The survey is on to its second week with one more left to complete the work in the whole country, timed for the end of next week.
The work over the first two weeks in Upolu is concentrated in the surrounding urban areas of Apia where there is a high population density.
The teams move to the rural villages in the last week while the survey work on Savaii plods along as well.
Ali’imuamua said her teams have little to worry about moving around the communities carting large amounts of actual cash on them.
“The teams walk between homes that are less than 10 meters apart but travel by car if beyond or in some cases the home gates are closed.”
The surveyors are finding that most of the people missing from homes when they visit are mostly at work, in school or on personal commitments.
Families are being encouraged to keep watch of the working teams when they come around again. People who missed out in the first visit are to try and meet them on the side of the road to have their photos taken and handed their $50.
Last Saturday, many of those who missed out, filled up the EFKS Youth Hall at Sogi to collect on their money and have their photos taken.
Working hours used to end at 3.00pm in the afternoon at the start but it has since been extended to 6.00pm in the evening to complete the work within the three weeks schedule.
Ali’imuamua is urging families to please have passports, birth certificates and other identity documents handy for the working teams to speed up the information gathering process when they come around.