Dear Editor,

It seems that the political landscape of Samoa has become less about governance and more about spectacle. Trials unfold like courtroom dramas, public feuds resemble a K-drama, and parties break apart like ula ma le atigi, pretty and colourful on the outside, but empty where it matters. As those in power spar over positions, there is a far more pressing question that remains unanswered: What are we building for the next generation?

The youth of Samoa, whether sitting in classrooms, standing in church pews, or gathering in any fa’alapotopotoga, are most certainly watching. They see how politicians, one day quoting Scripture and the next, sling insults. They witness elders who once embodied fa’aaloalo now spewing bile behind the anonymity of their keyboards. They overhear their parents quarrelling over political allegiances rather than instilling values that matter,  tautua, lotonuu, fa’atuatua ile Atua and alofa ile atunu’u.

It’s time we faced the truth that is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. What we are witnessing is not leadership, it is spectacle. Where once Parliament commanded respect, now Facebook Live has taken its place. A viral rant or a catchy slogan now holds more weight than meaningful service to the people. Is this the legacy we wish to leave behind for our children?

But perhaps the most troubling aspect is the absence of true leadership in our midst. When corruption rises, when justice falters, when the name of God is invoked for political gain, where are the voices that once stood firm, speaking not for the party, but for the people? Has leadership become so entwined with political favours and power struggles that the truth is buried under a veil of self-interest?

In Samoa, true leadership has never been about the loudest voice or the most followers. It is about bearing the weight of one’s people. In the church, leadership is not about popularity, it is about faithfulness. And in Parliament, leadership should never be about self-preservation; it should always be about service to the nation.

We are facing a crisis, not just within political parties, but within the very system of leadership itself. When wrongdoing is protected, when loyalty to individuals outweighs the pursuit of truth, when leaders become celebrities rather than servants, we are no longer witnessing leadership; we are witnessing a performance. Power is simply being recycled in more polished packaging.

To the leaders reading this, beware. Our youth may not speak out today, but they are watching. They are learning what is normal, what is tolerated, and what is rewarded. If we do not change course, they will grow up believing that leadership means shouting matches, shady deals, and the manipulation of faith. Is this the Samoa we wish to cultivate?

To our beloved diaspora, those who demand, “Vote for this party or we won’t send money!”, please, leave your wallet at the door if it comes with such strings attached. I know many may find it hard to say this, but for me personally, “E le fa’akaua la’u ekisi i se kalā”. Respect our right to think, to decide, and to choose our own path.

This is not about FAST or HRPP. This is about the entire system of leadership. The way we elevate the powerful. The way we silence dissent. The way politics has become a family business, rather than a sacred trust. I do not “hate” any of our current leaders, but I do want them to change for us, the people, the nation they once swore to serve. Our children deserve more than this.

If we are to protect Samoa’s future, we must raise the standard, not just for our politicians, but for ourselves. In the villages, in the churches, in every home, and every aiga.

Let us not leave behind a generation defined by slogans and scandal. Let us leave behind a culture of service, truth, and dignity, so that when our youth rise to lead, they do so with wisdom, not wounded pride.

Samoa is watching. And so, too, are our children.

Le Masina Fasia