“Samoans are poor and in tears” says MP Olo Fiti Va’ai

The Independent Opposition Member of Parliament, Olo Fiti Va’ai.

By Lagi Keresoma

“I la’u va’ai, na matitiva fa’afesaga’i ae leai se popole ona sa matitiva fiafia. Ae ua a nei? Ua tatou matitiva ma loimata ile tulaga lea ua iai” – Olo Fiti Vaai, Faipule of Salega i Sasae.

APIA, SAMOA – 18 JUNE 2020: Independent Member of Parliament, Olo Fiti Vaai has summed up the ruling Human Rights Protection Party achievements since being in power as pushing Samoans into poverty and in tears.

He was speaking on the 2020/2021 Budget in Parliament yesterday drew comparisons between the early Governments budgets to when HRPP came to power from1985 onwards and the economic progress and impact on the people.

“Samoa, when it became independent in 1962 was known as a third world country and referred to as “a poor country” in the eyes of the (developed) world,” said the MP.

“They relied on agriculture, copra, bananas…..without relying on loans. Or if they did loan, they borrowed (internally) from WSTEC and Copra Board. The focus was on agriculture.”

He said only a small number of MP’s then had the privilege to a good education compared to the academic minds of today, “but the way they used to control the economy as they developed the country then was amazing.”

He said before the HRPP came into power, the Budget in 1979-1980 was $14m for a population of 115,000. There was no goods and services tax, VAGST, government services and water were free.

“When HRPP came to power in 1985, the budget jumped to $75m as well as loans,” he said.

“Now we have a nice town, but the loans have jumped high. We pay VAGST, government services, and at the same time, we lost our national assets such as the Bank (of Western Samoa), Samoatel, Vailima Breweries,” which were sold through privatization.

“In my comparison, before HRPP, Samoa was referred to as a poor nation. But we were happy. Now, we are (still) poor and in tears,” he told Parliament.

Ositaulaga – The HRPP Call for National Sacrifice

Olo also referred to the HRPP Government call in 1994 for “national sacrifice” where the Government placed the country under harsh economic policies in return for a promise of better rewards in the end.

“Now we are still waiting for those rewards. Looks like we were sacrificing to the wrong god, perhaps Baal,” he told a quiet House.

“Now we are facing the pandemic, the economy is at strife as HRPP core economic policy all centred around tourism. We are better off going back to agriculture,” he emphasized.

By then, the mention of Baal had caught up and steered discussion on the MPs reference as blasphemous in the face of a Christian nation.

Prime Minister Tuilaepa said the Government had been listening closely to the MPs address and “they have been listening to someone who does not appreciate the good things we are seeing.”

The impact of technology to young Samoan children

Telecomm Companies double benefiting

Olo then moved on to technology and telecommunications. He claimed that the two major mobile phone companies are double benefiting from their services.

He said before Samoa sold its Gateway through the sale of Samoatel, there was only one gateway for incoming and outgoing telecommunication service.

“Now there are two gateways with each company operating its’ own,” he said.

He asked the Minister of Communications to look at the advice given the day before, to buy back Samoa’s gateway if possible in the future.

He said the internet services are slow and expensive and the companies are benefitting twice because they not only sell mobile phone services, but are also owners as shareholders of the Tui Cable that provide the connectivity.

“So they drink the juice and eat the meat and Samoa gets very little,”Olo said. “O lea e inu e latou le sua toe ai ma le aano ae laititi le pasene lea e maua e Samoa.”

The Prime Minister said the Government will answer the issues raised come their time to respond. The Budget session continues.