What will be your reaction if many look to you as a mobile bank for emergency relief in times of personal obligations or ‘fa’alavelave’?
If you’re a sitting Member of Parliament, your option is often limited to one.
Resign to the role of bank teller and reach into your pocket for what you can afford to give.
Free handouts are bearable if for only one or two.
But when it’s a long lineup of pleading hands reaching out, your personal wellbeing is seriously at risk.
Sudden loss of sanity at the pressure is a real worry – a frightening one.
This is the fear many of the MPs are protesting in Parliament this week on new changes being proposed in the Electoral Act.
Among them is for all voters to register again.
Complaining MPs are arguing the total voters count is huge and registration costs will be a forbidden burden on them as election candidates to meet.
The experience of past elections holds overwhelming proof.
MPs asserted voters will not bother to register unless running candidates personally cover all the costs of transport and food including pocket money.
All true. For many of the hopefuls it is the secret to winning the elections.
“…..what if the ‘mobile bank’ is bankrupt before polling day, dear?”