FILE PHOTO : Police Patrol NAFANUA before damages forced out of service keeping border watch around Samoa ( inset) Tuilaepa taken on an inspection tour of the patrol boat as PM and Minister of Police at the time.
The publication this week of the report of the American Samoa Department of Homeland Security Investigation into the illegal departure from American Samoa of the cruiser Kite Runner to Apia on 25 April 2023 and its illegal re-entry into American Samoa on 27 April 2023 is of interest to us all here in Samoa.
There is a recommendation in the report for the American Samoan Attorney General to prosecute three American Samoa people involved.
Some of our Cabinet Ministers were also implicated in the entry of this illegal vessel into Apia and Salelologa for which Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa had already apologized for the oversight.
Unfortunately, she said the Kite Runner had already left our shores and nothing more can be done.
This is an amazing reaction to a serious breach of our border security controls which, Samoa is obligated to observe within the purview of the Pacific Forum Regional Border Security agreement, to protect members against the illegal entry of criminals and prohibited imports of dangerous weapons and drugs into their countries.
Samoa will no longer be a safe place for visitors.
Perhaps our Cabinet should learn from American Samoa’s greater experience on how to observe the Good Governance Principles of Transparency and Accountability.
This can be achieved by requesting the Governor to agree to more regular inter Government meetings a year for the remaining years of the current term of Parliament!
We can understand the numerous problems Samoa is facing today after 12 whole months of celebrations!
Meanwhile we can still sing “enough is enough”.
As the Parliamentary opposition leader of this country, I urge the PM not to bow to internal pressure and do the right thing.
A Commission of Inquiry into the Kite Runner saga is, the most transparent and accountable, not to mention the honourable and the right, thing to do.
Sadly, based on the actions, or inactions, of the FAST government since it took office, we can only hope for a miracle!
And we all know we need Prayers and Sacrifices to create a miracle!
Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi
Leader of HRPP