#OPINION - SAMOA: A SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC SNAPSHOT
By Va'ai Nah Folasa
This article presents an opinion and commentary on recent events affecting the community in Samoa. It is based on the facts and in some cases corrects the "facts" reported by others.
The front page of the Samoa Observer on Tuesday 28th June gave a very telling snapshot of the state of the nation.
The lead article "Court Orders End to Impasse" detailed the most recent ruling by the Supreme Court. On the one hand it found that the impromptu swearing in of the FAST parliament on 24 May was unlawful and void. On the other hand it set forth a very clear and unequivocal path to the establishment of the XVII parliament which must occur within 7 days of the decision (by Monday 5 July). Most importantly the court made it very clear that any obstruction to this would find the perpetrator(s) in contempt and face the full wrath of the Court.
The decision was a neat legal solution to the current political crisis.
As if to completely snub the Court's ruling and to jostle for prominence, the front page also reported the "Parliament cannot sit : Tuilaepa". The "caretaker" PM has already rejected the decision of the Court believing that the parliament cannot sit until all 52 seats are occupied.
Hold up! There are only 51 electorates and only 51 members were elected. Several of these (all HRPP members) have either been found guilty of bribery or have struck a deal not to proceed with their petitions fearing that a judgement against them would see them not only loose their seat (and not be eligible to stand for another 3 election cycles) but also lose their right to practice law. This has triggered the first of what is likely to be many by elections.
The PM appears also to remain adamant that a 52nd seat for the elusive 6th woman will be essential for him to attend any swearing in of parliament. He makes this claim even though the Court on Friday 25 June explicitly stated that the appointment of the 6th woman should not prevent parliament being convened. Given the number of by elections which have yet to be held it would appear that there are ample opportunities for the full quota of 6 women politicians to be filled. This may (or nay not) necessitate the creation of a 52nd seat at the table.
The third indicator of the state of the nation was an article headed "Former MP admits to corruption". As a party to a petition before the Court one cannot fathom the timing of this statement. The petitioner goes on to say that the electors have "certain expectations" of their wannabe elected representatives inferring that bribery/ gifting/ treating are just a few of those expectations. This is quite disturbing coming from a seasoned politician who would be well aware of the legal obligations and consequences of such action.
In a separate story the PM uses his skills as an economist to lay claim to a HRPP win of 50% of the popular vote which is "nearly double" the FAST vote of just 30%. Again let us be clear that the parliament is made up of elected representatives from individual seats NOT a popular vote. Secondly and numerically 50 % is not nearly double 30%. Economical with the truth as well as arithmetic.
The decision of the Supreme Court on Monday makes it very clear that parliament will sit - one way or another - within 7 days.
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Va'ai Nah Folasa is a journalist for EyeSpy Radio in Samoa
