Probably the most important question for all Samoans, is their decision on who’s most suitable to lead our nation during these testing times in our history.
Out of Fiame Dr Naomi Mataafa, Tuila’epa Dr Sailele Malielegaoi and La’auli Leuatea Schmidt:
“Who personifies a dignified Samoan leader? Who epitomises the etiquettes of how a Samoan leader should behave? Who possesses the intellect and maturity to handle challenges facing Samoa?”
La’auli has skilfully utilised social media to spin rhetoric. It has been described as nonsensical diarrhoea and baseless assertions on issues, which had been credibly dismantled by media personalities like UTAGA ATAMAI, CTV Media & HARD TALK, ET LIVE and others.
- He gets carried away with his egotistical belief that anything he says will not be fact-checked by ‘truth scrutineers’, and has been caught with his proverbial ‘pants down’, on many occasions.
- His temperament has been confrontational, a war cry inciting the lowly-educated audiences that he targets, and sadly, it’s worked.
- What kind of leader don’t acknowledge the fruits of studying hard to earn a University Degree, courtesy of a government scholarship? If a leader fails to recognise that, is he willing to run a country of damn fools and imbeciles, not unlike himself? You decide.
Papa Stui (Tuila’epa) has been in the game for too long and he’s got the bug. He’s part of a team that had transformed Samoa over the last 40+ years of which 23 of those as Prime Minister, and it’s hard not to admire his wisdom, humour and commitment. There have been wonderful achievements in infrastructure, mainly with the support of donor countries. A small percentage of those developments would have been funded from their own initiatives.
But the HRPP’s reign was not without blemish.
- An Auditor’s report implicated several Cabinet Ministers of corruption but no consequences were recorded except the dismissal of the report’s author.
- The Samoa Land Corporation (SLC) and the missing $$$millions, with the shady involvements of the late Minister of Finance.
- And the assassination of a Minister and the consequent conviction of two Cabinet Ministers, were some of the notable events that happened under their watch.
Today, Tuila’epa is constantly sparring with La’auli which continues to raise the blood pressure of the nation and bring our daily bread of chaos! The Fatheads! 😅
Fiame came to power against a backdrop of a devastating global pandemic. Covid19 had wrecked havoc in the world economy and Samoa being a small nation without natural resources, suffered a great deal. It impacted heavily on government revenue earnings, with businesses in lockdown, zero tourists arriving and hospitality industry in free fall. Thousands without jobs so no tax for govt coffers, and Samoa was in a sad fiscal predicament.
- However, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, with the class support of her Deputy, Tuala Tevaga Iosefo Ponifasio, rallied the team and asked for their professional capabilities to the fore, salvage what’s left, and rebuild.
- According to Finance Minister, Lautimu’ia Uelese Va’ai, it took the Government three years in the red before bouncing back. “We had more than 50% of GDP in debt but we’ve managed to bring it down to 23% today. Our failed Budget was around $1.2 billion, a new record, which proves how strong our financial situation is today.”
- Fiame Naomi Mata’afa had been on the receiving end of vitriol and disgusting commentary when Fast govt broke up. She took it all on the chin like the true leader she is. She asked her team to be steadfast and hold the fort, while they get on with the job of running the country.
- She had consistently explained that the Fast government’s collapse stemmed from criminal charges against La’auli, something she asserts, had nothing to do with the party.
- La’auli had wanted Fiame to use her Prime Ministerial powers to stop the charges and that was asking her to break the law. She declined and La’auli twisted the narrative to make him the victim and her the villain.
It was a profound test of characters and Fiame showed the strengths of a strong woman, a leader who cared for her country over a dear colleague, a Cabinet Minister, who’d been charged by the Law.
She kept her cool, the noble traits of a patient leader, with outstanding courage and ability to take the shots, accept responsibility of her decision as the leader of this country. She never flinched nor responded with a hiss and a roar, never shouted in anger. She displayed courage under fire.
That’s the type of leader Samoa need, one who retains the dignity of the fa’aSamoa, the Spirituality of our people, supported by a team of respectful, compassionate and intelligent people.
