The ongoing controversy surrounding the Fiji Airways charter flight, with Olo Fiti Vaai's reluctance to answer questions, has raised critical concerns about transparency within government dealings. 

When Olo eventually claimed the flight was "sponsored," it triggered a wave of skepticism that needs to be addressed.

In politics and governance, there is a crucial lesson: nothing is truly free. A chartered flight, sponsored by a contractor connected to the government, sets the stage for potential kickbacks, favours, and ultimately, corruption.

It often works through informal channels. A contractor may offer services now, with the expectation that compensation will come later—disguised as future contracts or favours. 

When public officials are not held accountable, trust erodes, and corruption takes root. 

Samoa's history of public projects and contracts has shown that without proper oversight, these small "favours" can snowball into larger issues of collusion.

The issue goes beyond just Olo’s statements. The treatment of the local media during this saga is equally concerning. 

From the general manager of the Samoa Airport Authority hanging up on a reporter to the dismissive attitude toward valid questions, it’s clear that respect for the press is lacking. 

With the Commonwealth descending on Samoa, it is more important than ever for our government to uphold the principles of transparency and freedom of speech.

These are the same values that make the Commonwealth of Nations a pillar of democracy and governance around the world. 

As we welcome King Charles III, we must take pride in the Commonwealth's legacy but also reflect critically on our own actions as a nation.

It is also worth remembering that this newspaper’s founder, Savea Sano Malifa, was the recipient of the Commonwealth’s most prestigious press freedom honour, the Astor Award. Malifa remains the only Pacific Islander to have received that distinction. During the award ceremony 24 years ago in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, this is what he said:

“Press freedom is even more needed in small countries in the Pacific where I come from. This is because our governments are young and our economies very fragile. Because some of them are run by unprincipled men with one-track visions, and to many of them, the temptation to get rich quickly at the expense of others is overpowering. ... This is why their dominating desire is to smother press freedom, so that it is kept out of the way, completely.”

Today, that message remains just as relevant. In our small slice of heaven, press freedom must be safeguarded more fiercely than ever. The press is the sustenance of democracy, and when it thrives, our nation does too.

*Members of the Editorial Board are published daily on page 12 of the Samoa Observer print edition.