OPINION DAY 1 : POST-LOCKDOWN ARE ALL OF US IN THIS TOGETHER?
30 January 2022 :After 3 months...or was it just 10 days?....most of Samoa returned to work on Monday. And what fun day it was. With great fanfare, the government announced that parliament would resume sitting for 2022.
In spite of the entire country (churches, businesses, weddings, funerals or gatherings of any kind) being limited to a maximum of 30 people, the government conveniently exempted themselves and some 80 - 100 people gathered together under the big dome at Mulinuu. The justification by the Speaker was that it was "important" for the workings of government to proceed.
Hang on! Last year neither political party cared very much about the economy, social welfare, education, the environment, the voters or anything else while it conveniently engaged in a legal and political stouch to see who had the biggest numbers.
At the time Samoans simply got on with life as best they could until the winner was decided, appointed and the new regime set in place. Slowly businesses regained some confidence and life resumed with some sense of certainty in spite of ongoing spats, name calling, court cases and a general feeling of a slightly divided country.
In the meantime and inevitably, the Corona virus has made its way to our shores. Not only with returning citizens, but in spite of all we had learnt and practiced, with front-liners as well. How is that possible, but it did. A new cloud hangs over us while we wear our masks, carry our vax certificates (or not), socially distance, wash, santise and try to keep up with the belated and changing orders issued under the State of Emergency.
Personally I have no problem with protecting myself and my family whatever it takes. All I ask is for timely, accurate and informed responses which are based on sound knowledge and overseas experience. However, getting back to parliament. The "important" business of our elected representatives was to consider the Supplementary Appropriation Bill. It is therefore quite surprising that the Secretary of the HRPP chose this opportunity to raise the issue of the swearing in of women candidates (a matter before the court) as well as criticising the investigation into the conflicting versions of the Land and Titles legislation (a matter yet to be considered by parliament and specifically excluded from discussion until debated). This follows his recent public pronouncements on these issues. What is not surprising is that the Speaker removed the MP for Faleata No3 for 24 hours. It would appear that with the resumption of parliament for 2022, Leala was on a mission to grab the headlines on Day 1.
The government deemed it's business more important than anyone elses and could therefore gather in large numbers under one roof. Such decisions while perhaps justified to themselves creates a further divide between those of us following the rules and others who are exempted. Many private sector businesses are closed and workers are not being paid because of the covid response. At best they are struggling. The hospitality industry remains in tatters having not seen an overseas tourist in 2 years. Yet it is dealt another blow by being allowed only to serve take out food only and limiting people (guests plus staff) to 30 max.
Meanwhile the public sector hasn't skipped a beat - as long as you have been vaccinated. This government, the health and the public sectors will be judged by how it handles this crisis. They have had 2 years and many millions of tala to be prepared yet we appear to be seeing ad-hoc decisions being made, selective exemptions given and a poor (if not insulting) relationship with the media. The vaccination campaign has to date been unsuccessful and failed to achieve effective results. This inertia has resulted in vaccines being let to expire while people seeking a booster shot are being denied outright. We are all in this together but it requires a consistent, compassionate and collective response.
This is not a time for division, favouritism and least of all, political grandstanding.