Dear Editor,

I couldn’t agree more with the government’s vision behind the new strategy for development.

“We do not want anyone left behind,” the government promises in the Strategy. “As we progress, we need to ensure vulnerable groups can equally share in our progress.”

It’s a vision Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, holds dear to his heart. Speaking during the launch, he said key to progress is generating employment opportunities for Samoans.

Above is the government’s vision for the country from the Prime Minister himself.

Below is the answer to this vision from the Minister of Finance Sili Epa Tuioti.

“He referred to the Samoa Observer’s Village Voice Section through which people in villages say they are coping despite the struggles.”

 “I read the Village Voice and to me people who are saying they are poor should be reading that,” “he said. “

 “We need to take that information from the newspaper with people who are positive young youths that do not go to school but are doing extremely well out there.”

 “We need to use that to mentor and talk to families whose are children are running around and pestering people. There are a lot of lessons we can learn from our people to deal with our own social problems we are facing.”

Learn to cope with struggles since the government can’t help you with it. The sole purpose of publishing this plan is to garner support from the country, but they’ll never hear your voice or see your struggles. Only when they want something from you then they stand up and tell you the plan is to help you. Afterwards they don’t know you, or its your own fault.

Sinamanu Gale