An important part of my fieldwork research was to seek an opportunity to understand the views and vision for technology and digital transformation, from Samoa’s highest (top) leaders. It is part of exploring Samoa’s top-down approach historically and currently. Deepest gratitude to our dearest honourable Prime Minister/s both past and present for allowing me these opportunities. The knowledge sharing and wisdom given has been an invaluable priceless experience and immense contribution to my research.
Acknowledgement is given to Honourable Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi who might I dare say, has been the ‘Father of Technology’ for Samoa. His vision and direction ensured Samoa’s access to the internet during the 1990s and connectivity on your mobile phone; his decision to privatise the telecommunications industry allowed ICT skillsets and IT knowledge to be transferred to Samoa with two current competitive ICT / Telco providers in Samoa (side note: Samoa now has the 2nd cheapest internet services in the Pacific Region); he has paved the way for vital infrastructure implementation in Samoa both locally (SNBH) and internationally (Tui Cable); his decisions have been a game changer for Samoa and the tech and digital space including establishing a national ICT committee which reported directly to him.
Acknowledgement is also given to Honourable Fiame Naomi Mata’afa who during her first reign reduced Samoa’s debt from $1.2billion to only $700million, and helped Samoa’s economy grow by 9.4%. Her meticulous approach to matching budget and resources to key outcomes and projects has likely been a driver of overall debt reduction. Her persistent and consistent focus on the rule of law, policies, frameworks, systems, process and her incredible representation of Samoa on the global stage significantly increased donor funding into Samoa and its strategic projects.
Finally, warmest congratulations and acknowledgement to our current Prime Minister Honourable Laaulialemalieto’a Leuatea Polataivao Fosi Schmidt. His inspired $1million District Development Projects (DDPs) now on track to double to $2million every year has been a game changer for the 51 Districts in Samoa and grass roots communities. His relentless pursuit of social development for all of Samoa has been a clear indication of where Samoa’s needs and wants are currently positioned. His connection to Church communities, and cultural integration through village plus district priorities has attracted the confidence of the mass population. His utmost prioritisation of combating the widespread Drug issue in Samoa shows this commitment to social development. His clear communication with a focus on Health and Education for Samoa including election promises for free education, free school lunches and free university for all are a welcome boost for Samoa. And the direction to ensure nurses and doctor visits to every village weekly and monthly respectively, are included in increased funding for DDPs. In addition, the increases of minimum wages plus monthly pensions and disability support have been optimistically anticipated by Samoa’s grass roots communities. The FAST manifesto has a full overview of Honourable Laaulialemalieto’a direction and vision for Samoa.
Furthermore, when interviewing and running focus group research sessions, I always asked a final question as part of futures thinking and frame innovation: What does your ideal future Samoa look like? My own answer to this question, is to see all 3 of our most respected, influential, powerful leaders coming together, collaborating, knowledge sharing and partnering to achieve the greater good of our Beautiful Samoa.
This article is republished from a Facebook post by Ms Melinda Ah Chong (Designing Digital Transformation for Samoa) and is published by Samoa Newshub with permission.
