By Mataeliga Pio Sioa
The door to voting for citizens living outside Samoa is now opened.
New changes under the 2024 Electoral Amendments Act has unlocked it.
The FAST Government had the numbers so it was only a simple matter of the Parliament vote going through the motions to pass the amendments they tabled.
No surprises there!
Samoans overseas or the diaspora, can now cast their vote through an online balloting system.
No more having to make the long trip home to do that under the old Electoral Act.
This was what the Parliament debate last week was all about before the new changes won approval.
Many anxious concerns were raised though.
Will overseas Samoans end up dominating the running of Samoa while those living at home are pushed aside?
Is the security of this online system of voting secure?
These were just a few of the nervous issues, now basically left to dangle in doubt, despite assurances from Government.
But what is the worry? The new electoral changes are in place and the answers are forthcoming.
All will finally be revealed. Good or not good, it is just the way it is.
Whatever the deciding outcome our choice was decided by the democratic rule of the majority.
If the architects of the electoral changes were sincere about their intentions to open the door for the good of our fellow country folks overseas, and us at home for that matter, good on them.
If it works out for the best then they deserve to be heartily applauded.
If not then at least they tried – as long as the intentions were honest and noble.
If there are any doubts it lies therein. Are they or are they not – honest and noble.
What must be seriously condemned, is if the electoral changes were knowingly and politically motivated to win the upcoming 2026 general elections.
The sincerity of our diaspora are always prone to become highly agitated when issues of grave concerns are reported from home.
While that is understandable with the well-being of families in Samoa to worry about, to deliberately misled them by being fed untrue ‘stories’ of home is criminal.
If the intention is to win their political trust and support by twisting the facts or distorting the truth with blatant lies, then it is sickeningly cold hearted.
How would any normal, family loving human being react, when told about loved ones at home coming under politically designed threats to their safety, comfort and happiness?
One of the fears intentionally circulated to the diaspora leading up to the last general elections was about China going to take over Samoa.
The HRPP Government at the time struggled in vain to rubbish the claims sparked by FAST party inciters but the fears remained all the way to the polling booths.
The diaspora at the time asserted a telling sway to influence family voters at home to vote out the Government in power.
When the election dust finally settled the made up lies were confirmed, too late unfortunately, for the political victims intended for.
There was at least some relief for the worried Chinese expatriate community, forced to huddle for their protection and safety from any risks of physical retaliation during the election hype.
For our diaspora to do justice to the future political stability of Samoa, it is a must that they be kept fully informed of prevailing issues of national importance inside Samoa.
Be sceptical and cynical of every claim or account circulated from home especially with strong political undertones.
Take serious responsibility of the right given to vote for the sake of good leadership, based on God’s honest truth and not fabricated lies.
Remember! Samoa is founded on God. The honest-to-God truth is what your vote should be founded on.
Trust in our Lord’s righteousness and not the sweet promises of the slick smooth talking political manipulators.
When Jesus warned about wolves in sheep skin, it was about slick, honey-tongued, political con artists.
Keep that thought if you are voting online as a diaspora elector.
God’s honest truth. Ok?