Dear Editor,

The call by the Fa’atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi Party chairman, La’auli Leuatea Schmidt, for early elections is the long-awaited admission that the rift within the ruling party is irreparable and they no longer have control over the nation's affairs.

We can't blame him for wanting to start over again.

Unfortunately for La'auli, he can no longer hide the fact that under his leadership of the FAST Party, the Samoan economy is in shambles, our people are divided, drug and gun violence is rising, cost of living is sky high, the civil service is demoralized, electricity is rationed, hospitals and roads are in deplorable state, and our credibility on the international stage is virtually at zero.

Illegal activities, including the Togitogiga cattle and farm deal, establishment of the Hong Kong stock exchange and the Sasina special economic zone, improper importation of guns, and corruption in the $255 million village development projects are now the legacy of FAST’s leadership.

Unsurprisingly, his former ally and the leader of the minority government, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, insists that there is no crisis in Samoa, and that all is well in paradise.

The upcoming criminal court case is the final straw that will break the FAST government's back.

No matter how long and hard La’auli tries to talk his way out of any responsibility, his record speaks for itself.

He knows it, his party knows it, the whole country knows it.

It's time to let the people of Samoa decide the type of leaders they want.

Those who will serve or those who wish to be served.

As the saying goes, if serving is beneath you, then leadership is beyond you.

Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi

Leader of HRPP