FAST supporters arrive to hold political rally in the villages
By Staff Writer
The holding of election rallies in villages is unsettlingly to the normal peace and quiet in the community.
This was the grumbling reaction the opposition HRPP found from chiefs and orators in their recent promotional travels to the villages.
The vote lobbying trend originated with the ruling FAST political party in the lead up to the 2021 general elections.
The ruling HRPP party at the time did not follow the opposition lead and later blamed the damaging misinformation made against them during the rallies for their eventual fall from power.
The most damaging at the time was putting the fear in the villages of the Chinese buying up Samoan customary land.
The HRPP, however, were not making the same mistakes of sitting back with the ruling party plans to again hold village rallies for the upcoming general elections.
In the end, however, the village reaction was in quiet protest at the disruptions by the rallies to the normal everyday living they are used to.
Opposition leader Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi agrees fully with the complaints when it was quietly raised with them after their visits.
“These election village rallies are alien to our own Samoan culture of rule by the chiefs and orators as the decision makers,” Tuilaepa deferred.
“We are trying to imitate foreign cultures that only creates dissent in families, villages and churches,” he added.
The HRPP leader is concerned at the pressure of political influence on family harmony that dates back to when the FAST political rallies started up.
The deadline for all political rallies is this weekend but the issue going forward is certain to be a concern for the new Parliament to debate.
The HRPP leader promised they will do so if in power.