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ponents are interfering with God’s will and that their behav- not well, we just continue to go on to a downward spiral and I
iour is “not Samoan”, as the constitution framed on indepen- think we’re at critical points where if we really want to be [a
dence in 1962 was “palagi thinking”. successful society] we really do have to get back to those ba-
“Anyone that does not support [these bills] is not Samoan sic building blocks of really bringing the population to a situ-
and does not understand our tradition and culture and cer- ation where we have opportunities for education and all that
tainly does not want to be Samoan,” local media has reported can flow from that, but that they are also well,” she says.
the Prime Minister as stating. More than 80 Samoan children died from measles last
year, with more than 1800 admitted to hospital. Prior to the
The 2021 poll measles epidemic, a WHO and UNICEF survey estimated just
After so many years with the ruling party, Fiame’s deci- 31% of Samoan children were immunised. Prime Minister
sion to contest next April’s election without the resources Tuila’epa has dismissed calls for an inquiry, and Fiame agrees
of the HRPP is a calculated risk. She was described as being that the timing for the call for an inquiry has “probably come
“one step away” from the Prime Ministership by Tuilaepa, a and gone” but says she is concerned about the “red flags that
description she disputes. were essentially ignored by us.”
“I don’t completely agree with that. I mean it would appear “There were two major regional health consultations last
to be the normal thing … but I don’t think it’s necessarily cor- year and the message was brought strongly about the measles
rect. Because it’s not for the Prime Minister to determine who epidemic globally, and then the cases came up in New Zea-
goes up there, it’s really for the party to determine that.” land and of course New Zealand being much closer in proxim-
“The only clear way to make a stand on these particu- ity to us and the travel between the two countries. I think
lar bills was to step out. So currently I am an independent those were very serious omissions on our part and led me to
member, I’m speaking independently and taking as many op- question the capabilities and awareness of people should have
portunities as I can to speak to these bills. We anticipate the around those red flags when they do come up and whether we
bill will come back either [at the] end of November or maybe should have prepared for them and all that sort of thing...I
December. The best outcome really would be for government think it’s one of the things that will come up in the election.”
to withdraw the bills or to let them lapse because they’re Fiame says the measles experience has coloured Samoa’s
such huge gaps in the [application] of law that it’s going to response to COVID-19. “Although thank goodness we are still
be such a mess to even implement, not to mention that there COVID-free … they’ve come down very hard on the ability of
will be challenges on the constitutionality of these bills should people to move freely and to participate in economic activi-
they be passed.” ties to ensure their livelihood.”
In a hastily passed bill last month, sitting MPs running for Samoa’s government has just extended its State of Emer-
public office under a different political party in next April’s gency into its eighth month and borders remain closed except
election had their seats declared vacant. This meant Fiame to repatriation flights. A United Nations report on Samoa’s
had to remain independent during the registration period and Socio-Economic COVID response plan stated that most Samoan
until Samoa’s parliament finishes its January session. livelihoods have been affected by the lockdowns and border
“Once the house rises next year, I can make my choice, closures associated with the pandemic, with two-thirds of
whether to remain independent or whether to move to a new surveyed households admitting their main income has de-
party. At the moment I have endorsed the FAST party, it would clined and close to 50% experiencing at least one job loss due
be most likely that I would move to that party next year,” she to the pandemic-related restrictions. Pre-pandemic formal
says. employment rates were already low in Samoa, and the UN
When registration for candidates closed in October, Fiame states: “With no tourists coming to Samoa anymore and most
was one of three unopposed candidates. The ruling Human of the regional and global value chains that Samoa’s busi-
Rights Protection Party (HRPP) had 114 candidate nomina- nesses could access being now disrupted, the joblessness and
tions for 51 constitutencies. The Fa’atuatua i le Atua Samoa income insecurity have most likely created new poverty, up
ua Tasi (FAST) party registered 50 candidates, Tautua Samoa from the 22% rate prior to the crisis.”
Party had 14, Samoa First Political Party six, and Sovereign Fiame says the impact on businesses and livelihoods has
Independent Samoa just one. 15 independent candidates also been exacerbated by restrictions on trade and movement on
registered. Sundays.
Fiame says going into next year’s election uncontested “We’ve also introduced the Sunday ban, the observance of
“gives me a lot more leeway”. the Sabbath and that is having an extra impact, especially
She says while the contentious land and title bills have the on the hotel sector, [and] an impact on the travel between
potential to be a real national issue going into the next elec- islands, especially the two main islands Upolu and Savaii.
tion, there are a number of other key issues. They are dependent on government shipping to get between
“It’s not rocket science, it’s about the basic development the two islands, and they are not able to return on Sundays,
pillars, it’s about people’s education. I think we’ve regressed so the Monday loading is very heavy now and it gets a bit
a lot on people’s educational outcomes, and of course health. heated with people trying to get on the boat to get to Upolu
The concern is if people are not well educated and they’re for work or school after the weekends. These are some of the

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