Time to get creative

Dear Editor,

Re: A timely letter from the past 

Spot on Mata’afa! If nothing changes then I fear there is going to be hard times ahead for Samoa!

If Stui is genuine about a plan to stabilize the country’s economy from the impact of Yazaki’s departure, then it has to start from the top with cuts to politician’s wages and perks all the way down to department heads.

Probably won’t happen until this older generation pass on or lose their seat in the next election which is another five years away but that’s a long term solution, however we need something to happen now. 

A country with over 99% literacy rate from 15 years up who can read and write is impressive, but not utilized to it’s full potential. Has the government ever looked at call centers for big businesses in the foreign telecom, insurance and banking sector? 

We have a fluent English speaking generation waiting to be trained as call center operators. What ever happened to that submarine cable connecting us to the world? 

May sound like a far-fetched idea but I reckon it’s worth a feasibility study paid for by Stui’s friends at the World Bank and the Official Development Assistance from Australian government D.F.A.T. 

Yazaki and Foreign aid to pay for retraining of those employees wishing to seek employment overseas with basic computer skills, warehousing and forklift license, but of course it would have to be a number drawn lottery and literacy assessed system to maximise chance of employment.

 Government contracts for tender should include a minimum of 30% local labour force. Incentives to encourage more foreign investment (less tax and tariffs, less political redtape). 

What about the demand for our Ava and Koko? Pharmaceutical companies use kava to make anxiety medications. They can’t get enough of our organic Koko. 

A fair Government agriculture subsidy program. Of course the government will sell on products for a nice profit. Anyway just tossing my two cents into the conversation and hopefully inspire some creative thinking.

Don U.

Samoa Observer

Upgrade to Premium

Subscribe to
Samoa Observer Online

Enjoy unlimited access to all our articles on any device + free trial to e-Edition. You can cancel anytime.

>