Editorial

All

Members of the clergy in Court, measles and a call for prayers

It only takes a few rotten apples to spoil the bunch. That much is true. And while we cannot paint the clergy in Samoa with one paintbrush, it’s undeniable that a couple of incidents that have made the news during the past couple of weeks do not reflect well on the church. They are in fact shameful.In this country, church leaders are accorded the highest respect anywhere and everywhere. Their standing among the community ranks are right up there with the Head of State, Members of the Council of Deputies, Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers, Judges of the Court, Government leaders and senior public figures.Samoans know this very well. Men and women of the clergy in many cases are treated as gods and that’s because they are honoured as representatives of the Almighty here on earth.But this privilege, respect and standing come with tremendous responsibilities. Like all public figures, there are expectations with regards to their conduct and behaviour.A story titled “Former Pastor pleads guilty to sex charges” published on the front page of this newspaper last week is not the kind of behaviour people expect from people who have been accorded such a privilege.The story in question detailed the conduct of Tugia Tuliau, who committed sexual offences on three separate occasions, while he was pastoring the Methodist Church at Satalo, Falealili. The offenses were committed against a 16-year-old girl, who was under his care.To the credit of the Methodist Church, and in a move that reflected the denomination’s strong abhorrence of such behaviour, Tuliau was sacked before the Court proceedings had started.The General Secretary of the Methodist Church, Reverend Dr. Eteuati Epa Tuioti, said the Church conducted its own investigation and concluded that the termination of his services as a church Minister was necessary. Rev. Tuioti said the Methodist Church does not condone such behaviour. “Once there is a report filed in relation to any church Minister, [whoever] they are, we immediately conduct a thorough investigation. [The church] takes action immediately and we do not wait around because we are concerned about the spiritual lives of the people,” Rev. Tuioti said, adding that Church Ministers are called to save people’s souls.“We care about the people but the Church Ministers are there for a mission and a purpose, but if they fail then we do our job to replace them immediately," he said.But the case of Tuliau and the Methodist Church was not the only one. Last week, another story titled “Woman Pastor jailed for theft” turned heads. Naturally the immediate question was, what is going on in Samoa today with the churches?For the uninitiated, the second case concerned a 45-year-old woman, who pastored a small charismatic church at Vaitele. Matagofie Brown Laititi, of Alamagoto and Vaimoso, was jailed by Justice Leiataualesa Daryl Clarke, of the Supreme Court, for the theft of $118,991 from her former work place.The woman had pleaded guilty to 267 charges of theft as a servant and 267 charges of false accounting, during her time at Drake & Co Barristers, Solicitors and Notaries Company.Brown’s role as a Pastor was not lost on Justice Leiataualesa, who was astonished by the defendant’s actions “given your continued reference to God…” “In your pre-sentence report, you yourself referred to your sadness of your offending because it has affected you so-called calling from God,” said Justice Leiataualesa. “Despite your so-called calling from God, which you appeared to speak openly about at your former workplace, you were at the same time falsifying documents, stealing from your employers on a regular basis and lying and misleading Drakes & Co and its customers.”Justice Leiataualesa continued that if the mother of four truly had a calling from God, she would have realised the harm she was causing and how wrong it was to steal. “The tenth commandment of course says ‘thou shall not steal.’ You did so with 267 occasions.”Justice Leiataualesa couldn’t have said it better. His sentiments would be echoed by every member of the public, if they were given the opportunity.But let’s back up a bit here.Ladies and gentlemen, we accept that people make mistakes and even Church Ministers are vulnerable to sin. No one is perfect. Some of the greatest men in the Bible committed some of the worst sins, and yet God was still merciful and gracious to forgive them.Tuliau and Brown are not the first members of the clergy to fall to temptations and sin. They will not be the last. Why? We are imperfect people living in a sinful world where temptations abound.But are they beyond hope and salvation? Not if they truly repent. It is why God is a God of second, third and a hundredth chances. The same mercy and grace is extended to all of us who have fallen short of the glory of God.Aside from that, the point we want to make here is this – the incidents involving these members of the clergy – come at a time where we’ve seen a rise in vile crime like never before, involving all sorts of people.Grandfathers are in Court for raping their granddaughters, countless Government officials have been sacked for one reason or another. There are murders, robberies and sex attacks everywhere. Violence has become so commonplace. It has been relentless.Now if members of the clergy have fallen to the temptation of sex, crime and theft, what hope is there for anyone else?In times like this, we need to seriously stop and think about what is happening. These are tough times. They are also interesting times that require boldness, humility, honesty and some soul searching. What do all these things mean? Is there a message in all this for all of us?Interestingly, in light of the measles outbreak, the National Council of Churches has called for a day of prayer to seek divine intervention as Samoa battles what has already been a deadly epidemic. Maybe we need to do more than pray. What do you think? Have a safe Tuesday Samoa, God bless!     

Read Full Story

Street Talk

All

Newborns being abandoned: How do we stop it?

Poutoa Polutele , 41, TufuleleThe solution is within families. The parents should have a connection with their children and they should also teach their child what to do. For the parents, if the girl gets pregnant they should not beat the girl. They should understand and talk with her, because the girl thinks that her parents might beat her and then she makes the wrong decision. It goes back to good relations.Siloi Reopoamo, 53, Saleia Savai’iI think it's very important that parents communicate with their children everyday. One of the biggest issues today is cellphones because too many children spend time on it.  For my family I talk to my kids every time and day, ever since my kids were young. That's my solution.Lina Leiataua, 64, Fa’atoiaI think the whole country should be involved in a programme to encourage girls to speak out when these things happen. We know we cannot stop so we have to be accomodating when it happens. There are also a lot of parents who cannot have children and I think there should be a programme where these children could be adopted. It's just an idea.Api Tuilo’a, 34, Safotu Savai’iOur country needs to repent and ask God for help. I cannot see any other solution unless God is involved. If girls and boys fear God, they wouldn't do what God wouldn't want them to do - and that includes abandoning babies born outside of marriage. We need to be a prayerful nation. Vaisuigi Malio, 52, Vavaai LotofagaThe issue is not new to Samoa. My solution involves families, the relationship between parents and daughter. The kids also need to understand where the parents stand on issues and why they don't want them to get pregnant. But if they do get pregnant, then the parents need to be patient and still work with their children. That's how we solve this.Le’ale’a  Mataia, 39, FalefaGirls who don't have a relationship with their parents would do this. I think that's the first part of the problem. I also think mothers need to read their daughters body language and find out what is going on. Surely there must be signs so they should not be passive. I think we need to tackle this issue as a community rather than individuals. 

Read Full Story

Letter to Editor

All

China and developments at Mulifanua

Kevin Hart’s letter of 03 September complained about the Chinese being a likely buyer of Government’s shareholding in the Sheraton Samoa Resort at Mulifanua. Which raises the question; what is wrong with Chinese investors getting involved in tourism development in Samoa anyway especially when there isn’t much interest from elsewhere? Virtually every other country in the Pacific and the world including the US and Australia, China’s foremost critics have been enjoying the benefits of Chinese trade, investment, and tourism. So why not Samoa?Whether people like it or not, China will be a major player in the region, and it will only get worse with time for those who wish it otherwise. And in any case, one can’t do business with China as China’s critics do, and then seek to deny the Pacific Islands the same privilege by engaging in fearmongering about China’s intentions.  Samoa’s deputy prime minister called this bahaviour recently, patronizing and offensive. It is also dishonest. One would have thought that with colonialism still fresh in people’s minds, China’s detractors might have tried some more subtle way to make their case about China being a threat to Island nations. After all, these are nations that have only recently won back their own sovereignty from countries that are accusing China, a victim of colonialism itself, of malevolent intent in the Pacific.  Samoa’s prime minister made the point at the Pacific Island Forum that China is not an enemy of Samoa, which adheres to a “friend to all and enemy to none” approach to old and new comers alike to the region. The Pacific islands have legitimate economic needs and environmental interests that the former colonial powers in the Pacific have been unable to meet or in some cases totally ignored. Over the years, the Pacific Island nations have even been blamed for supposedly lagging in economic growth behind other parts of the world that receive similar levels of aid. But more recent work on the subject has confirmed what the Pacific Islands have known all along. And that is when you are small, highly fragmented and horribly isolated, your costs of attempting any form of economic activity are always going to be high no matter what you do.  China’s willingness and ability to help bridge this aid gap is welcomed therefore. It also helps that China has a different approach in its relations with the tiny and insignificant Pacific Island states and peoples. And it happens it’s an approach that the Pacific peoples themselves understand all too well and appreciate. Its an approach that recognizes the inherent dignity of peoples irrespective of colour, money and level of development. The result is that in spite of the fear mongering about China’s supposedly hidden agenda even in the face of evidence to the contrary, the Pacific Islands have seen no reason to believe this crude and offensive propaganda.  There appears to have been a notable increase lately in the number of visits by navy vessels and personnel from the US and Australia doing the usual public relations soft sell with various groups including school children. The visit on board these war machines and the helicopter rides for the children will have been the thrill of a lifetime for many. One suspects that we will be seeing more of these as the West sets out to contain the rise of Chinese influence in the region. The visits bring back to mind the colonial days of gun boat diplomacy in the Pacific when control of native populations was exercised mainly through the firepower of visiting warships when turned on native communities that failed to toe the line   Samoa’s prime minister is reported to have said recently in relation to the stepped-up competition that Samoa’s main interest and focus of diplomacy is to raise standards of living and provide for its people’s needs. In the circumstances, public relations and making friends with young people will only go so far in winning influence especially in the face of China’s hard cash. Airy catch phrases such as Step Up, (Australia), Pacific Uplift, (UK), something about Family? (US), can easily backfire. A meeting between Chinese leaders and Pacific Island leaders being hosted by Samoa in October this year should be quite an event especially at this time. It will most likely see among other things the unveiling of some new aid and trade initiative by China.   And as for Chinese interests possibly helping to bring more air services to Samoa, that too would be a welcome relief from the monopolistic practices of Air New Zealand, Virgin Airways and Fiji Airways, the three carriers that operate services in Samoa today. After being badly burnt in yet another one-sided partnership with an Australian carrier, the Samoan government did the right thing for Samoa in starting up Samoa Airways in spite of the risks and poor timing. When Polynesian Airlines started international services to New Zealand in the late 1970s, it did so mainly on the strength of Samoa’s own ethnic traffic between the two countries. The airline did well even then, until gross mismanagement grounded it with heavy losses. In spite of its inauspicious beginnings, Samoa Airways if properly managed and run, (by professionals preferably), has every chance of being the catalyst for Samoa to have the airline services it so badly needs. But it is helpful as government embarks on this to be reminded that we have been down this very road before. The lessons of history are there and must be learnt and heeded, if their repetition is to be avoided. Incidentally, as for a possible flooding of the To-Sua with tourists from China if direct charter flights were to start between China and Samoa, I have a suggestion. Make the climb down to the water even more challenging than it is now. That should encourage only the young and the brave to take the plunge. Afamasaga F ToleafoaLetava

Read Full Story