Last week, I was asked to respond to La’auli Leuatea Schmidt’s remarks mocking the achievements and contributions of Samoans who have earned academic scholarships to study abroad.
This is just another way that La’auli has found to divide the nation.
He has done it with the diaspora, churches, villages, civil service, families, and now he is targeting our scholars.
I was surprised by the question, as we have always understood academic scholarships to be merit-based and a source of great pride for Samoan families.
They are the recognition of both students’ hard work and the sacrifice and support of their families.
Scholarships have long been a pathway to greater economic and social opportunities for our people.
Successive Human Rights Protection Party administrations have prioritised undergraduate, postgraduate, in-service, and continuous learning programmes.
Our investment in human resource development allowed Samoa to lift itself out of economic ruin and graduate from least-developed-country status.
That is how Samoa is able to participate in and lead global discussions without embarrassing itself.
Many Samoans without higher academic qualifications have nonetheless made valuable contributions to our nation’s development through great practical experience gained over many years as decision makers and leaders in village governance.
More importantly, they had the humility and confidence not to attack or diminish the academic achievements of their fellow citizens.
La’auli belittles the value of education in an attempt to lower the bar to his own mediocre standards.
By mocking academic scholarships, he is covering up his insecurity as someone who never completed college.
That is the simple fact.
These limitations are now becoming even more obvious, as he shows no understanding of the rule of law or basic economic policies.
La’auli needs to stop talking about carbon credits, stock exchanges, and special economic zones.
The whole world can see he has no real understanding of these concepts and views them only as quick money-making schemes.
Ironically, some of La’auli’s own supporters have benefited from Samoa’s investment in education and human development.
They know that his complete disregard for accountability and transparency poses a serious threat to our nation’s peace and stability.
La’auli’s attempt to embarrass scholarship holders and graduates is like the fox in Aesop’s fable who loses his tail in a trap and then tells the other foxes to cut off theirs so they will be like him.
Let us not be swayed by such small minds.
Samoa, be proud of your academic achievements.
Do not let the mediocre set the standards for our progress.
Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi
Leader of HRPP