By Staff Writer
PM GOES HARDLINE : PM Fiame in House debate last Friday goes hardline on opposition MP Leaana on Samoa Stock Market in Hong Kong
An opposition MP’s inquiry into the Samoa Stock Exchange Market in Hong Kong, met with a short, abrupt brush off from the Government leader, in the House last Friday.
Safata MP Leaana, started off with fears at the loss in land ownership from playing the exchange market before PM Fiame shot out at him and his inquiry.
“Can you confirm any signed agreement for a Samoa Stock Market,” PM Fiame blasted.
The outburst revealed a surprisingly sensitive turn for Government on the issue it was forced to deny in a media statement.
Social media had by then already circulated widely the set up of a Samoa Stock Exchange Market in Hong Kong.
The reports were verified by photos of the establishment ceremony attended by Finance Minister Mulipola Anarosa and a Mr. Chen Gen, alongside other Chinese officials in Hong Kong.
The photos large poster board background also confirmed in large prints the occasion as, ‘The Establishment Ceremony of Samoa Digital Asset Exchange, Samoa Stock Exchange and Oceania Special Economic Zone.”
All were rejected by the Government media statement of denial except that it was aware of a lunch in Hong Kong.
“ Despite what has been circulating on social media, the Government of Samoa confirms that it has not given any endorsement or approval of such an initiative,” Government denied.
The statement tried to tone down the accuracy and any hint of controversy with the claim that ‘Government has received applications’ from interested investors.
No mention, however, was made of who the investors were and if there were any local interests.
The Hong Kong Stock Exchange initiative for Samoa was not included in the PM’s ministerial statement earlier in the week.
Fiame spoke in Parliament in defence of the angry local public reactions linked to the recent Chinese chartered flights.
The Ministerial statement named senior Cabinet Minister, La’auli Polataivao Schmidt’s involvement in a family travel business with the flights.
It also noted a condemning 4-hour wait for the general traveling public on a scheduled inter-island sailings from Salelologa to Mulifanua to accommodate the sightseeing Chinese travellers in Savaii.
The angry uproar from local passengers caught in the delay forced public apologies from the Minister of Tourism and the Minister of Shipping.
Yet to be revealed is who gave the instructions for the sailing to be delayed. There is a general belief all will come out when the House debates the PM’s Ministerial statement.
The chartered Chinese trips were organised by the Hong Kong based agent Travel Focus.
It was working in liaison with Samoa Royal, the newly formed local travel agent owned by Cabinet Minister La’auli and his family.
It is likely the ministerial statement will come under members debate once the 2023/2024 national budget is passed.
House members carried the motion by the Parliament opposition leader, Lauofo Fonotoe Meti, for the statement to be tabled for debate.
Lauofo is also calling for a response from the PM whether Government did or did not sign up for a Samoa Stock Exchange Market.