IFJ Calls for Respect for Media as Reporters Attacked in Samoa

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) calls for an immediate renewal of public respect for journalists and press freedom in the Pacific island state of Samoa after a spate of attacks on court reporters.

According to the Journalists’ Association of Western Samoa (JAWS), a camera operator and a news reporter were attacked while reporting on a high-profile trial of a church leader at Samoa’s Supreme Court in the capital, Apia, on March 24.

The media workers were reportedly chased away from the court entrance by members of the public attending the trial.

Two newspaper reporters were physically threatened at the court the following day, JAWS reported.

“JAWS calls upon the public to be mindful that a journalist reports not for his or her own sake but for the sake of our readers, listeners and audiences,” JAWS Secretary Cherelle Jackson said in a statement.

“By hindering the work of journalists, members of the public are inadvertently infringing upon the people’s right to know and be informed.”

The IFJ joins JAWS in calling for authorities in Samoa to provide additional protection to any media worker reporting on the remaining proceedings of the trial and on any matter of public interest.

“Court reporting is a necessary part of ensuring transparency in governance and justice in a democratic state,” IFJ Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park said.

“It is the responsibility of the Samoan authorities to send a clear message to any person who attacks members of the media that their actions undermine this process and will not be tolerated.”

For further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +612 9333 0919

The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 120 countries worldwide
Samoa, Pacific, Press Releases, Asia and Pacific

Is culture a hindrance to progress?

By Cherelle Jackson

During a recent visit back to Samoa, one of the family elders, in his 80s and losing a grip on our reality, made some decisions about the extended family home.
“Cut down all the trees in the front of the house, I want to see the cars on the road,” he proclaimed.
One, worn out chain saw, two machetes and four tired cousins later, his wish was granted, the trees were gone.
“Uproot all the grass from around the house and replace it with pebbles from the river,” he said on another visit.
Twenty or so tired hands and feet later, this order was also done.
“Dismantle the outside kitchen and move it a meter from where it is,” he said on another visit.
The untitled men and women moved before he finished the sentence.
The elderly relative holds a Chiefly Title, he is the second last remaining of his generation in our family, so all respect is owed to his wishes, regardless of how insane they are.
This, in essence is the Fa’aSamoa.
Our elders are the higher authority and what they say goes, regardless.
Because of this respect for our elderly relative, the family cannot really develop or progress in terms of landscaping or infrastructure as long as he has the last say.
This is a hindrance to small scale progress.

Progress
But what is progress?
Sometimes we misinterpret progress as becoming something we are not, but progress is just improving and developing on the existing, the present so that the future, in a sense is made easier.
Perhaps better to explain this concept is Ronald Wright, the author of A Short History of Progress who argues that our modern predicament is as old as civilization itself: a 10,000 year old experiment we have participated in but seldom controlled.
According to him the twentieth century was a time of runaway growth in human population, consumption, and technology that placed an unsustainable burden on all natural systems.
Interestingly he suggests that the twenty first century represents our last opportunity to succeed where our forefathers almost without exception have not.
Wright wrote: “We still have differing cultures and political systems, but at the economic level there is now only one big civilization, feeding on the whole planet’s natural capital. We’re logging everywhere, building everywhere, and no corner of the biosphere escapes our haemorrhage of waste. The twentyfold growth in world trade since the 1970s has meant that hardly anywhere is self-sufficient. Every Eldorado has been looted, every Shangri-La equipped with a Holiday Inn. Joseph Tainter notes this interdependence, warning that "collapse, if and when it comes again, will this time be global. ... World civilization will disintegrate as a whole." ”
A somewhat dark prediction.
But perhaps it is important to note this holistic view of progress before looking at our local situation in regards to the Fa’aSamoa.

Culture
So is our culture a hindrance, and will our civilization as we know it, disintegrate with the introduction or the unco ordination of progress?
Well only time will tell.
According to Abidjanov Alisher, writer of the essay The Human Person as Object and Subject of Culture
the problems of human existence and culture are becoming very important, especially now, in times of socio-economic transformation and political reform.
“The modern period is characterized by the transformation of nature, society and human personality, the struggle for peace and mutual understanding between states and people, and the common movement of humankind toward democracy and real humanism.”
Alisher says that building a new society in such young states such as Samoa means rebuilding the economy and the complex of social relations and human consciousness.
“The deep transformation in economic, political and spiritual life is founded on common cultural values and ideals,” he wrote.
This is true for Samoa, but how can progress occur for our people in the face of some archaic cultural beliefs?

Compromise
During a UNAIDS press conference recently, regional experts spoke about the study of HIV/AIDS in the Pacific and its status in the region.
According to them there are challenges, the usual, especially in regards to surveillance, counselling and awareness involved in the study of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).
Asked if culture was a hindrance to their work, Warren Lindberg, a member of the Commission on AIDS in the Pacific said something very interesting.
“I don’t think that we should ever say that culture is a hindrance. It doesn’t matter what health issue you are trying to address, the way in we look after our health is part of our culture. Every culture has ways of looking after its health and what we are looking for is synergy between the issues we face in HIV/AIDs and the culture of each place,” Lindberg said.
The statement encompassed progress and cultural consideration that is overlooked in a bid for development.
Perhaps the answer lies in a compromise between culture and progress, that progress can occur perhaps with the assistance of cultural values.
For like anything, it is stronger and more effective when it comes from within, if the culture sees a value in progress, of any type, then surely it will occur.
Samoa however has done this well, just listen to the words of former Deputy New Zealand High Commissioner to Samoa Malcolm Millar who said: “I have never seen a place which manages a perfect blend traditional life with modernity and development.”
Perhaps we are doing it right after all.

Does Samoa need more women matai?

Written by Cherelle Jackson

Is it because men matais are making a fine mess of things?

Six pretty brave members of the Samoan community are debating on the issue: Samoa needs more women matais, today at the SamoaTel conference room.
So does Samoa need more women matais?
How about this, some men matais are making a grand mess of things, maybe we do need more women matais.
As a woman of course my answer would be yes.
When it comes to issues of gender, this writer will gladly flag objectivity for the right to speak freely on issues of our side, so to speak.
The only other Editorial writers in this country are all male, which leaves this lone writer to defend with a fierce pride the rights of women in this country.
The Samoan culture is not exactly kind to the rights of women, if anything women are second best, second part, behind part and all else second when it comes to the great Fa’aSamoa, without seeming critical however of our culture, there are reasons for such obvious discriminatory cultural norms.
But unfortunate for the terms faletua and itupa vaivai this is the day and age of equality, and placing one in the back room due to gender, is no longer the ways of the world.

Equality and Culture
The culture has consistently placed women in the lower face value as men, as a result some villages have banned women from assuming matai titles.
The ban itself is discrimination at the highest level, why just because someone was born with breasts does not make them any less than one born with a muscular chest.
Judgement based on such factors are shallow and reflect poorly on the men who make and adhere to such decisions.
Whatever happened to merit and judgement based on intelligence?
Currently there are registered 12031 male matais and 3016 female matais who are noted as ‘Active Matai’ according to the most recent Census survey.
That is a tremendous difference, the number itself indicates a wide gap that needs a bit more than the average gender filling.

Access to Leadership
Arguing for the rights of women to hold matai titles, is not just an argument on equality, yes of course its nice, but the underlying issue is the accessibility of women to leadership roles that can only be afforded with a matai title.
If a full blood Samoa woman who lives in a village that prohibits women matais, aspires to be a member of Parliament, she may as well invest in a sex change, because unless the village changes the rules, which is near impossible, and unless Samoa somehow revisits the prerequisites for Parliamentary entry, which if recent slow changes speak for anything is also impossible, then the woman will never stand a chance of becoming a Member of Parliament or a Cabinet Minister.
Currently the three women Cabinet Ministers are living proof that women can be leaders and darn good ones at that.
Hon. Safuneituuga Paaga Neri, Hon. Gatoloaifaana Amataga Gidlow and Hon. Fiame Naomi Mataafa thank you for being testament to the strength of women as leaders.

The vital role
Women play a vital role in our society, said to be the peace makers, women tend to be that voice of reason, voice of peace when it comes to family affairs, village affairs and sometimes on the national scale.
But do not be fooled, only the right women do, no gender is perfect and ours will attest to that.
But here’s the deal, if men have full access to becoming matais, to becoming Members of Parliament, Cabinet Ministers and Leaders, then shouldn’t women have the same chances too?
Was not the first person who held four Paramount titles combined a woman?
Salamasina would probably turn in her grave and rip her beautiful hair if she knew that some centuries down the line her people were denying those of her gender access to matai titles.
But of course due respect goes to her grandmother Sooaemalelagi who was the true power behind the reign of Salamasina.
The truth remains, womens rights to leadership, education and health services should not be hindered by the fact that they are women!

International Womens Day
Today Samoa will celebrate International Womens Day, although it is marked on the 8th a group of local women have decided to honour it with the rest of the world today, on the 7th.
According to the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) International Women’s Day (8 March) is an occasion to acknowledge the contribution of women to the strengthening of international peace and security.
It is a day when people are encouraged to recognise that securing peace and social progress and the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms requires the active participation, equality and development of women.
It is also an occasion to review progress in women’s development as well as an opportunity to unite, network and mobilise for meaningful change.

Today
So today, wherever you are whoever you are and whatever gender you are, think about the women in your lives, the mothers, sisters, daughters, aunties and friends and how they have contributed to your life.
Have a great International Womens Day Samoa!

Manuia le Aso

What else is dropping?

Written by Cherelle Jackson

A close relative turned 65 recently, and the prospect of cashing out her miniscule $100.00 monthly pension, is not exactly appealing.
Frankly speaking, the amount is pathetic!
If she lived off only that amount she would either die of starvation, or drown in the floods because she wouldn’t afford a retirement home, better yet she would probably have a heart attack at the mere sight of the tiny little cheque.
So while the US pensioners may be temporarily suffering from the impacts of the sub prime crisis, our own pensioners have long suffered the pathetic-pension-crisis, as a result of the ignorance and arrogance of our superannuation scheme, or the dramatic lack thereof.
Can you imagine, working for more than forty, or even fifty years for your country you profess to adore, and then on your 65th birthday all you get for your sweat, blood and tears, is a $100.00 cheque and free ferry rides to Savaii.
Come on, if that is not injustice, then what is?
Ok, not the free ferry rides bit, because it’s actually a nice perk, and frankly, I think we should all get free ferry rides to Savaii, if the old folks that frequent the boats speak for anything, its that they use it to the max.
But, now one would have to understand why some families keep cashing out the pension cheque even after the pensioner had peacefully passed months, even years prior.
Perhaps its sweet revenge, but then again it’s simply fraud the Samoan style.
So while the state of pension scheme keeps dropping other economic features have but continued down that ever popular financial decline simply known as deficit.
Generally when economic statisticians use the term “drop”, it doesn’t mean much until the indicator is noted.
Now a drop in interest rates, fuel prices and controlled commodity prices may be nice to hear, and a welcome statistic, but a drop in the supply of an on demand commodity, tourism arrivals and exports, well that’s not exactly a desirable statistic.
The Economic Performance reports by the Central Bank of Samoa for the last few months bring Samoas latest economic “droppings” into perspective.
Samoas economy is predicted to slow down this year like the rest of the region according to the World Bank.
So while the business community is up in arms about the possible switch, the economy is taking a turn for the worse.
In the Economic Performance report released in January by CBS, tourism arrivals decreased, private remittances decreased, balance of payments recorded and overall deficit, and to top it of the merchandise deficit increased.
Charming picture of Samoa!
The regional ANZ Quarterly Report predicts a slowdown in the Samoan economy this year, but this is no surprise, the same trends were noted by the World Bank in the Global Economic Prospects 2008 (GEP 2008).
Agricultural food supplies, according to the Central Bank’s survey of the Fugalei Market in December 2007, recorded an 18 percent drop.
The reduction in the overall volume was due to decreased supplies of taro, banana, taro palagi, coconut, breadfruit, yam, chinese cabbage, cucumber and pumpkin. Farmers blamed wet weather conditions for the drop.
So while economic performance is at a slowdown, the prices of commodities are rising and to add salt to the wound, fuel prices are running high with the cost of electricity.
It’s not an easy time for us on the islands.
So while each working Samoan is faithfully paying their taxes and contributing to the Samoan economy, they neither have too much of a say in Government spending nor do they directly benefit from their own hard earned cash at the later days of their lives.
One can only hope for a recovering economy which will in turn make the lives of Samoans easier even if just through the decrease in the price of taro, rice or even tinned fish.
In moments like these, subsistence economy is looking pretty appealing.

How blissful is ignorance?

Written by Cherelle Jackson

Ignorance is a very strong word, when one thinks of this word, it’s easy to misinterpret it as lacking intelligence, but the real meaning is lacking proper knowledge, it is essentially not a bad thing.
‘Ignoring’ however, well it’s a whole different concept altogether, it is when proper knowledge is deliberately disregarded for the benefit of the ‘ignorer.’
To understand that, is to truly appreciate the saying: “Ignorance is bliss” because if you will yourself enough to believe that a problem does not exist, then you really don’t have to worry about it, therefore you could be much happier.
That furthermore explains the saying that: “what you don’t know won’t necessarily hurt you.”
Now that this writer has successfully bored you enough with an attempt at deciphering these clichés here is the real point of the ramble.
About five years ago, some New Zealand researchers came up with some tremendous statistics which suggested that Samoan women were not really affected by post natal depression.
Simply put, Samoan women did not suffer from emotional issues after the birth of a baby.
In the words of one hilarious English fellow, “it’s all bollocks.” This is simply not true.
It’s not that the condition did not exist, it’s that the women who were interviewed did not know what post natal depression was.
The same goes for Sexually Transmitted Diseases and teen aged pregnancies in Samoa.
As long as some parents refuse to accept that their sons and daughters may be engaging in sexual activity, their children are refused access to contraceptive methods.
So as long as they ignore the situation, it might just go away.
News flash, it won’t.
So when the representative of WHO expressed his sheer discontent at the way in which Samoa is approaching the typhoid issue, well, one can’t help but empathize with his position.
But the Ministry of Health has ensured Newsline that they are not ignoring the problem but rather approaching if from the basics.
One (as in ‘me’) can’t help but note that the problem has persisted for months, if not years, without much change in the consistency of cases.
So it is then fair to say that although admittedly there are actions to curb it, the problem is possibly being ignored on a larger scale.
Come on, when the World Health Organization representative is worried, shouldn’t we?
It’s like ignoring depression in the midst of recession, but let’s not get into that.
The fact is, there is a problem and something needs to be done about it, because leaving the situation as is, as history has only proven, will not make the problem go away.
Perhaps the strategy taken here is less then admirable.
The strategy being, if the people don’t know then the people will not complain, and well, the problem will not be obvious.
Noam Chomsky, a 21st century Philosopher argued in his book Media Control that if people were deliberately kept in the dark, they would be easier to control, which naturally meant that those in the know inadvertently impose ‘ignorance’ on those they were meant to inform.
This theory is too easy to implement in Samoa especially when it comes to issues that require a bit more than the village hut gossip or even the sweet nothings of evening rendezvous.
To influence Samoans, far more sophisticated avenues of influence are necessary, through mass media campaign, grassroots consultation, high level discussions and ultimately the mobilization of all relevant stakeholders to actually make an impact, especially the local and the church communities.
So in the end its not the concept itself that harms but those who impose it.
And yes Socrates was right: “There is only one good, knowledge, and one evil, ignorance.”

Please, not the bread!

Written by Cherelle Jackson

My brother was sourly disappointed when he discovered that the price of bread has increased by 30sene.
“Anything but the bread,” he said in a resigned and dissatisfied tone.
With three children, his wife and two student boarders, every sene counts in his weekly budget.
So this editorial will once again focus on the issue of basic economics with a slight twist on the ironies of societal attitudes towards this issue.
Coincidentally a Newsline potential columnist confessed that there’s too much serious writing in this country.
“It’s all heavy, and very serious,” the writer said.
Good point, perhaps we are.
We have indeed focused on the heavy as of late, but who wouldn’t, with the current sorry state of affairs, who can help but write profusely if not angrily on hard hitting issues of today.
So instead of defying what the potential columnist has said, this writer will merely affirm it.
Something smells utterly rotten in the State of Samoa, and as one American cousin would say: “There ain’t nothin’ we can do about it.”
As the economy slides into a state of unrelenting failure our leaders are bickering over who should stay and who should go, the business community are not going down the Right Hand Drive debate without a fight, the bankers are not exactly reveling in profits meanwhile the Samoan people are paying for it, one sene at a time.
Samoas economy is falling flat on its face, and the only obvious attempts so far have been but to stamp it further to the ground.
In a report by the Central Bank of Samoa, the update of November 2007, a month after the RHD switch was announced, the report saw the graceful decline of economic indicators to figures avoided by many an economically healthy nations.
In that month, trade deficit increased, export earnings declined, imports rose, crude oil prices soared and tourism earnings dropped.
This is what college students learn in “what not to do to ones developing economy.”
So it is no surprise that the price of bread, the one food product that has for the longest time remained the fallback feed for low income families, has taken a hit from economic misdemeanors at the national level.
The economy is stagnant, while we await the end result to the debate of the century, the RHD.
If the cost of basic food products has increased, and the wages remain unchanged, naturally the people will have to turn elsewhere to feed their families and to survive the next day.
Samoa has gone back to the basics, we have reinvented the “survival of the fittest” debate, unwillingly so.
Samoas reliance on remittances have dropped, which means that in the last few years Samoans have harnessed a sense of self reliance that does not mirror our national efforts at being truly independent.
The Police last week indicated dismay at the growing number of drugs on the streets of Samoa, the sale, distribution and use of marijuana is rife, meanwhile theft is also progressively climbing especially around the town area, and prostitution is no longer a hidden profession while young street vendors continue to crowd the streets of Apia at nightfall.
All of these habits are fast and easy money for the low to no income families.
Some are willing to forsake morality to feed their families.
Are they to be blamed?
What systems are there in place in this country to ensure that everyone has the right to education, to an income and to quality of life?
Are we to turn to the state?
All these factors play in a much wider, much bigger picture of where Samoa is heading.
If nothing is done soon, prices will keep rising, the quality of living will decline, crimes will rise and the people who are suffering will keep suffering.
The gap between the financially rich and poor will only expand.
The increase in the price of bread is a pretty accurate indicator of this trend.
But knowing the recent responses by the Government this writer is certain that if asked about the price of bread, the answer will probably be similar to that offered by France’s iconic but ill-fated queen, Marie Antoinette: “If they have no bread, then let them eat cake.”
Manuia le Aso Sa Samoa

virtual christmas card

image courtesy of STA.

this is who i work for now

impending departure of print journalism

of course we print journos may all fear the demise of our industry what with the growing urge and practice of online journalism taking the focus away from print, it is an inevitable truth that we must all come to face. print journalism is quick fading.
its now the day an age of blackberry, ipods and cam corders, no more notepads or inky pens in pockets for old-skool journos as we are now called.
the fairfax fuckwit redundancies in aussie last week is a kind reminder of this fact, as the online journalism takes over, our print generation will face an impending doom which will probably only be preserved in computer chips as scanned copies of the once well read and passed around newspaper.
but it is not such a bad thing, the mere existence of this blog is a suggestion that i too have betrayed my original commitment and loyalty to pure print journalism. we are after all in a day and age of virtual reality where even the average citizen can become a journalist from the comfort or discomfort of their own homes.
perhaps the hope of journalism lies in the essence of the practice, that of verification and the observance of j-ethics!

word up!

cj

should i marry a speller?

Someone whom I consider my mentor told me recently that I should consider marrying a speller. What he was indicating of course, without seeming too offensive was that absolutely sucked at spelling, I'm certain he meant it in the nicest possible way :)

Fact is, he is not the first person to suggest if not blatantly point out this weakness is my literary abilities (or inabilities:) but the question is, if I marry a speller, would that make me a good one? According to him, at least then theres someone who can read through my final copy before its sent to the Editor :) .. good point! So while I go out to look for a speller to marry, I am goign to cotninue to mipsell a tol of waht i wirte frm hree on :) hehehe... that felt good!

All in a days work

Today I woke up to a phone call from a Diplomatic representative to Samoa, no names mentioned here, but the person wanted to clarify a comment made yesterday during an interview. I wonder if they sleapt well just thinking of the comment, thankfully I did not take note and therefore did not use it in the article I wrote, phew, that saved me some stress.

Two days ago I woke up to a well known business man on the phone, he said there were no pests in his house, apparantly one of my reporters wrote a story indicating there was a certain invasive species in his home. Poor man called and said that the Quarantine was searching his premises because of the article written by our reporter... oops, but in our defence, his name was brought forward by quarantine, so I explained it nicely to him, that we didn't make any of the shit up :)
About two weeks ago I received a call from a close relative, she was pissed off that we had published the name of her son who was charged for posession of narcotics. I felt like saying, dude, its not like a I put the freaking joint in his bag, he knowingly put it there himself. But such is the love of a mother, it sees no boundaries at times, I tottally understood why she scolded me the Editor instead of her son :)

A car pulled up outside and a young gentleman walked into the building, he wanted to buy a copy of Newsline today. I told our reporter to give him a copy for free as I was certain it cost him more to drive here than to buy the actual paper, but as the car pulled out, I noticed that it belonged to a Government body that received bad reviews in our Service Reviewer. Chances are the CEO sent the special vehicle to hunt down the paper so they could see what rave reviews they received, ah well, its all in the name of transparency, I hope in some way it does improve the service in this country.

I went to get some information from the owner of the new lingerie store in town, and while I was at it I enquired about a few other things .The owner said, well, as opposed to popular belief, Samoan women do like to wear G-strings. "Really theres a few women who come in, of all sizes requesting Gs," the owner said. I felt like asking if men come in for male Gs as well... chooo hooo.. that would have been something.

Debating th stupid hand drive

By Cherelle Jackson

APIA- The debate on the Right Hand Drive (RHD) was yesterday renamed by the Prime Minister of Samoa, Hon. Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi as the Correct Hand Drive.
During a Press Conference on the issue, Tuilaepa referred to the current left hand drive that Samoans are using as stupid hand drive.
“If you think about it, we refer to the right hand as the smart hand, and the left as the stupid one, currently Samoans are changing gears with the smart hand, the right and driving with their stupid hand, the left,” he said.
According to the Prime Minister, switching from left to right is therefore the logical choice.
“Things would finally be put right if we switch to using the right hand, or the correct one,” he said.
His explanation comes after criticisms from various respectable members of the community accusing the current Government of dictatorial leadership by imposing changes that are not necessarily endorsed by members of the public.
The debate which has been raging in the past few weeks is intriguing to say the least.
For the first time, some who previously supported the Government are standing up and voicing their objections to the possible change in legislation.
“The world is moving forward and we are looking way ahead of us,” Tuilaepa said yesterday.
But the community thinks otherwise, and as the Chamber of Commerce and NGO submission made clear last month, it would cost Samoa to change then to remain in the left hand drive.
Six leaders of local organizations who represent more then fifty associations, professional bodies, civil societies, non governmental organizations and businesses, with a collective membership of more then 10,000 people drafted a submission to Government expressing their dismay at the sudden change.
“On behalf of our members, we write to formally record that we do not support Governments proposal to change from left hand drive to right hand drive and respectfully seek your reconsideration of the Government decision,” the submission stated.
“Government’s decision is likely to have substantially negative effects through the underlying message it sends to people. At a time when Samoa has been independent for 45 years, and will be graduating from its least developed country status in three years time, the policy signals Governments continuing dependency on aid handouts from donors and promotes continuing dependency by our own people on families overseas.”
The projected write off value for vehicles if the change goes through amounts to close to $300million tala, but that is the minimum estimation according to the submission committee.
Tuilaepa however insists that this is the best decision for Samoa.
“The switch to RHD will make vehicles more accessible to the people in the rural areas, it means their relatives can buy them cars and send them back to Samoa from New Zealand,” he said.
Tuilaepa said the comparative import outlined in the submission by the Chamber and NGOs are merely for the sake of business owners.
The submission clearly indicated that the importation of vehicles from New Zealand or Australia will by far be more expensive then the current importation from America, Japan and other further destinations.
By the end of the Press Conference yesterday, Tuilaepa had linked the switch from left hand drive to climate change.
According to him, if more people in the rural areas have vehicles, it makes it easier for them to move inland therefore saving them from the rising sea levels and ultimately from the impacts of climate change.
Far fetched perhaps, but an intriguing link nonetheless.
Asked as to the difference between driving up the hill in a left hand drive or a right hand drive he said: “Well more people in the rural areas can get access to right hand drive because of their relatives in New Zealand.”
This Friday will see members of the public gather to express their views on the issue, it will make for a fascinating debate.
This will be an interesting test for the Samoan people, how vocal will they be, and how passionate are Samoans to impose the changes they wish to see?
According to Asiata Saleimoa Vaai, current Member of Parliament and Leader of Samoa Democratic United Party, Samoans need to make their voices heard.
“The apathy of our people has lead the Government to make decisions without their approval,” Asiata said.
If the right hand drive goes forward without the approval of the people, what does this mean for Samoa?
We are currently being hailed internationally as the shining star of the Pacific in terms of stability and good governance.
Indeed this issue will put the shining star to the test, what will prevail in the end will determine the fate of our good governance status.
Tuilaepa reminded the media yesterday that he has won an award for his efforts in transparency, accountability and good governance.
This will be a good test for that award.

Samoans to take to the streets

APIA - More than 10,000 Samoans are expected to take to the streets of Apia in a protest march against the proposed switch to right hand drive (RHD) by the Government of Samoa.
The march will be the climax of a massive anti RHD campaign by members of the public since Government proposed the changer in October.
International media are expected to attend the event which some say will shake the nation.
Spearheading the protests against RHD is prominent Samoan Lawyer Toailoa Toleafoa Toailoa.
The mass campaign visibly started two weeks ago, when Toailoa called a public meeting, urging every Samoan opposed to the switch to make their voices heard.
Hundreds of community leaders, business owners, former politicians and car owners attended the gathering which sounded more and more like angry mob after a few passionate arguments by local elders.
Since then hundreds of stickers branded ‘No to RHD’ have been distributed and are plastered on vehicles all over Samoa.
T-shirts with the same slogan are also being worn by members of the public on a daily basis.
Petitions are being signed by hundreds on the streets also opposing the switch.
A media campaign on television, radio and newsprint sponsored by the peoples committee against the switch is also well underway.
The protest march on Monday is expected to start at 8:30am, from the Government building in the center of Apia, to the Parliament building at Tiafau.
The notion to march was put forth at the public meeting after exhausting all other methods to be heard by the Government.
One disgruntled chief from Savaii stood up and said: “Lets stop Parliament from meeting on this issue.”
The protest will march to the Parliament building where Members of Parliament including Cabinet members will be meeting at 9:00am on the same morning.
Those opposed to RHD have been called on to wear white tops or shirts as a sign of peace on the day of the protest march.
Bus drivers, taxi drivers and private vehicle owners are also being urged by the committed against RHD to give priority to members of the public who will attend the march.
The protest march will be the first sign of social unrest in Samoa, signaling an official end to the “pin up star” image we previously held in the region.