The above-mentioned words were attributed to a preacher to end his homily at a service he conducted one Sunday morning when he became suspicious that his parishioners have known of his secret affairs.
The great message delivered is one of love of one’s neighbor by walking the talk and to do to others as you want others to do to you.
The same message ought to be heeded by our Government leaders to deliver their promises to the very people who elected them.
For instance, right now the $1million tālā grant per district every year, for 5 years is yet to be fulfilled.
Those districts who already got their $200,000 tālā, $150,000 tālā, and $425,000 tālā transfers to date are mostly FAST districts.
We are well into the 3rd year of the current Parliament Term of 5 years and no district has yet to receive their first full $1million tālā.
The Social Media has occasionally replayed the video of the promises made by Laauli about the $1million tālā grant per district per annum, “which every district will spend on whatever project they want on their own accord without asking Government for permission”.
Now every request for funding from the $1million tālā grant must be approved by a special political committee of four Cabinet Ministers.
New harsh restrictive conditions are imposed continually on Districts under HRPP MPs to ensure that only those districts with FAST Party MPs have easier access to, whilst HRPP Districts are deliberately disadvantaged.
This is broad daylight misuse of budget support funds from Donor Partners.
The intention is clear.
It is to fund perpetual political campaigning by the FAST Government in preparation for the next General Elections in 2 years-time.
These abuses of power at the district level is done openly, eg; the distribution of moneys and agricultural equipment for agricultural shows displaying farm produce presumably grown by the villages benefitting when everyone knows the produce displayed were bought from neighboring villages.
Proof of these abuses of power is now quite evident with the current shortage of our home-grown basic food items like taro etc.
If the recent public apology made by the PM in Parliament were to be recalled for the criminal activities committed by Cabinet Ministers, the case with rural development and the $1million tālā grant is worse.
Our Lords message is hereby again invoked for Government leaders to remember.
Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi
Leader of HRPP