Matairatu, 66, cares for husband with less than $20 income a week
UShe has been looking after her husband for the past three years with an income less than $20 a week at times. Most women her age would consider this a time to rest but this is not the case for the Cakaudrove native. “I have not been to Savusavu town for almost three years, because I just cannot afford to,” Mrs Matairatu said. Holding a coconut in her arm and a bag of firewood on her back, she said: “I have eight children. They are all married and have their own families. My husband is sickly and he stays at home so I look for our food and attend to our family needs.” She had just returned from the beach when the Fiji Sun team met up with her. She was with a friend to collect whatever they could find that was swept ashore by the flood the previous night.
“I collect coconut and give it to people who go to Savusavu so we can earn some money but other than that we live off the earth and whatever God provides us each day.” Edited by Paula Tuvuki