By Staff Writer
Protests are mounting against the Government inserting FAST political party supporters into constituency select committees to manage the disbursement of money handouts for village developments.
Government is giving away $200,000 to each of the 51 electoral constituencies, trimmed from $1m as promised during election campaigning.
Opposition leader Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi is protesting the loudest.
The Minister of Women and Community Developments has circulated a letter setting out the formula for constituencies under the HRPP to follow in the appointment of members in their select committees.
The Minister, Leota Mr. Laki Sio, directed in his letter the example of the Vaimauga I committee membership set up for all to follow.
The sitting MP is chairman; deputy chairman must be a FAST supporter who will in turn endorse the appointment of another party member as secretary.
Members of the Committee are to be selected jointly by the chairman and vice chairman.
Tuilaepa strongly rejects the Minister’s strong-arm approach, fearful that it is muscling into village traditional authority.
His fears are it violates the sanctity of the rule of chiefs and orators always held sacred by Government.
The mediatory role of the village pulenu’u and the women representatives for Government was out of that respect.
“The ‘pulenu’u’ and the women representatives are there to voice and clarify the wishes of the Government but the decision is made by the chiefs and orators,” Tuilaepa explained.
He firmly reminded the constituencies have made their own appointments of committee members and it is an insult for one constituency to be directed to follow another.
“What this show of force does is open up the selection of untitled village members to sit in a traditional setting together with the chiefs and orators, which is against the culture,” Tuilaepa raised as one of the many areas of concerns.
“ What I understand from a meeting that was held to explain the arrangements for the handouts with the village representatives is that the Ministry officials were unclear and confused themselves.
“It reached the point where the Minister of Labour and Industry Leatinuu who attended stood up and declared that the village concerns were right.”
The opposition leader is also questioning the funding allocations based on their analysis of the proposed Government national budget to be debated in Parliament this week.
What their analysis showed is that developments for electricity, water, access roads and other village developments appear to be coming from the $200,000 handouts.
“Can’t fund an access road with this amount, the standard cost to build an access road is not under $2m tala.
“Be mindful as well that the increase in the cost of living has not been factored in as well.”
What Tuilaepa recommends that Government honour the promise by the party chairman and the Minister of Agriculture, La’auli Leuatea Schmidt, to simply hand the money to the village leaders.
“La’auli promised $1m tala that turned out to be $200,000, but that it is up to the villages what they want to do with the money, and not bother Government with what they want.
“Go with what was promised and treat all constituencies the same.”
What gives reason to be fearful from the opposition perspective is the Government dictating to constituencies what they should do.
The unspoken understanding where Government respects the rule of the traditional chiefs and orators are felt to be at risk is the stability of the two authorities.
Tuilaepa is of the firm belief that this is the foundation of harmony that should be held sacred if Samoa is to continue to maintain and enjoy stability.