A few activities launched thus far have been described as people-centered development.
This label fits well with the donor narrative that their aid money is being well invested in helping the poor people in need of assistance in recipient nations.
But questions are also being asked as to which people are really at the center of these development schemes?
The Pacific Engagement Visa scheme for migrant workers has now excluded skilled Samoans and their families to apply for Australian permanent residence.
And the RSE is being reviewed resulting in lost opportunities for Samoans to work in New Zealand farms and other special skills employment in New Zealand.
A favorable jet aircraft lease arrangement for Samoa Airways that would have been profitable and offer our people a cheaper option through competition has also been cancelled for no valid reason.
The list goes on.
What is most disturbing is another breach of border security recently of a plane from American Samoa that has no license to fly internationally outside of the Territory but allowed to land in Samoa with little to no information of what it brought in and why it came.
With the Government’s recent announcement of its anti-corruption drive, which we all support, the public cannot be blamed for wondering who is at the center of this people-centered development or being extra vigilant against any lapses whether deliberate or intentional.
Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi
Leader of HRPP