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Priorities of the People: Hardship in Tuvalu

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Is Hardship Really a Problem in Tuvalu?

Most of the people in the communities consulted said they believe poverty does not exist in Tuvalu since people have access to land and food, and they do not see beggars on the street; however, they believe hardship does exist in the country. These hardships include the poor quality, limited reach, and high cost of basic services, particularly power, water, education, transport, and telecommunications.

Overall, the assessment showed that people throughout the country see the need for more jobs and ways to earn income as a critical issue, and are quite concerned about the poor quality of basic services such as safe water supply. Water is very critical for an atoll country like Tuvalu that has very limited freshwater resources.

These conditions of hardship are leading to social tensions, including the breakdown of families, conflict over different religions, rising crime, and an overall reduction in the quality of life for rich and poor alike.

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