By Mataeliga Pio Sioa
So relieved to finally see real hope flickering at the end of our long plod through the COVID-19 restrictive tunnel with the vaccine roll out this week.
Coming also at a time when political tensions are strung tight, it is a very very welcoming relief break.
For so many months we have tried to adapt to a ‘new norm’ and we seem to have managed better than we expected.
What choices did we have? We were spurred along by seeing how we were spared any serious breach of our health defences by the deadly coronavirus while the global toll continues to add up.
We have stayed safe so far! Fa’afetai NEOC and our frontline workers.
Once we have done with our vaccine roll out we can start to breath better again while we adjust to our ‘normal norm.’
While the vaccine gives us some peace and relief we are still not out of our health confined travel passage yet.
There is no way of telling what lies ahead, not that we should be pessimistic, but it never hurts to tread carefully.
There is no point rushing headlong with arms raised in joyful relief only to be blindsided into running smack into something else.
Remember how we were still wobbling from our measles epidemic and then ran splat into COVID-19!
Better to err on the side of caution are the words of the wise. Why not! They could only come from the misfortune of someone stepping unsuspectingly into a ditch after ‘throwing caution to the winds.’
Pray what threatening ditch should we be wary of lest we are blindsided by our post-COVID-19 recovery euphoria?
The crystal ball reading appears to cloud up in sweat at the suggestion of a political ditch. Why would that be?
Is it anything to do with growing uncertainties over a 26-seat Parliament voting deadlock that could be decided in a Supreme Court ruling in a few days time?
Lets go with that. Ponder how it could pan out and its impact on our political spectrum.
Once the Supreme Court rules, we have a new Government. We know that it will either stay deadlocked or FAST wins with a one seat-winning margin.
End of story? No.
A new chapter opens up when the deadline for the filing of election petitions end with this working week.
We have already had an early taste of how that emotional roller coaster ride runs with FAST making the first court moves last week.
The one against the added woman MP stuck and the other against Fa’asaleleaga MP Peseta Vaifou Tevaga fell off.
Perhaps a 50% pass mark could easily turn into a victorious 100% full marks for FAST if the court ruling drops the added woman MP.
What if it goes the HRPP way? Whichever side wins it is only one battle won. More are lined up to fight in terms of election petitions before the war is won.
Does it matter if it is going to take months before there is any final end to the war?
If it means having a stable Government then of course it matters a damn lot.
With whatever Government hanging on to a one-seat winning margin, the majority could easily swing with every election petition court ruling.
Are we likely to see more than 3 Prime Ministers in one Parliament sitting as we did in 1982?
While our political stability rocks back and forth by a swinging balance of power with no end in sight, what harm could that possibly do?
Where should we start?
How about the international community not wanting to do anything worthwhile to benefit Samoa, unsure whether the Government in place is coming or going?
What if the flow of much needed assistance for our development is frozen up until the country is stable enough to be trusted with millions in donor support?
How will our national economy fare with all the uncertainties giving it a sound beating, like a boxer caught in a painful pummeling at the corner of the ring and at serious risk of being knocked out?
Would the drawn out tension of political rivalry wear down the resolve for the country to continue to remain calm and at peace?
Our emotions have been running on edge since the build up to our general elections so the tension has been gnawing at our resolve for some time now.
Lets not think that it is only human for something to eventually snap.
What we should be looking at very very seriously right now is whether we should shut down all this running around and call new general elections.
Bring that up in your prayers this Sunday in church and every day until we are politically stable again.
Lord it is Your rest day but hear our prayers.