Dear Editor,

I write in response to Liva Seiuli’s latest letter. Perhaps the discomfort he expresses stems not from the volume of my previous remarks, but from their content, because truth, when spoken plainly and persistently, tends to rattle those who’ve grown comfortable in echo chambers of selective memory.

Let’s be clear, theatrical repetition is not truth and nostalgia no matter how passionately delivered does not rewrite fact. Liva, the era you so passionately defend was not a golden age. It was a time marked by centralised power, weakened institutions, and a steady erosion of democratic norms. Since you’ve raised several points in your letter, allow me to respond factually and yes with just a touch of humour.

Let’s begin with a basic civics refresher. Samoa, like any constitutional democracy, operates under the principle of separation of powers. Parliament may pass laws, but it is the judiciary that interprets them. That’s why we have three branches of government, not one overinflated arm waving all the power. In 2021, during our constitutional crisis, it was the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, not the Cabinet nor any politician, that upheld the Constitution. That wasn’t partisanship, it was jurisprudence. To suggest otherwise is to throw shade at the very institutions that prevented political chaos.

The LTC Bills, which included the Constitution Amendment Bill, the Land and Titles Court Bill, and the Judicature Bill sparked substantial national debate. I concur that public consultations did take place. However, the quality, scope, and sincerity of those consultations were widely criticised, not only by members of the public but also by the Samoa Law Society, former judges, legal experts, and international observers. These were not baseless slander campaigns, as you mentioned, but informed objections, voiced in forums, village consultations, public statements, and parliamentary submissions. Civic engagement isn’t always polite, but it is necessary. People spoke because they understood the long-term risks.

Regarding EPC, I say no, the power outages didn’t begin with the Government. EPC has publicly confirmed that underground cables were buried directly into the soil without protective piping under HRPP’s watch. That wasn’t innovation, that was negligence wearing a hi-vis vest. And now, taxpayers are footing the repair bill for shortcuts taken in the name of development.

Yes, you're right, La’auli is facing legal proceedings, and rightly so because that’s what a functioning democracy does: it subjects everyone to the same rules. For your information, I am not defending Laauli, I can’t stand the guy, but let’s not romanticise HRPP’s past. The assassination of Luagalau Levaula Kamu in 1999, planned by two HRPP Ministers, wasn’t just a tragedy. It was a dark warning about the consequences of unchecked political power. Justice isn’t new to Samoa, but applying it without bias- that’s what’s new.

You mentioned the Government’s failure to pass its budget, but what you forgot to mention is that HRPP and their newfound allies in red actively blocked it. This wasn’t a concern for Samoa’s economy, it was a deliberate attempt to derail governance. When a party refuses to support national interests simply because they’re not in charge, that’s not patriotism, that’s political sulking on the taxpayer’s time.

Years of HRPP political appointments in the Lands and Titles Court undermined judicial integrity. Positions were often handed out based on loyalty, not legal merit and the result - a backlog of cases, erosion of public trust, and a court system in desperate need of reform. That wasn’t a judicial renaissance, it was nepotism in a robe.

To address the national elephant in the sky, Samoa Airways, HRPP’s aircraft leasing scheme, had no viable business model and was buried under layers of financial trickery. It wasn’t a symbol of sovereignty. It was a mid-air budget implosion. The FAST Government made the painful but responsible choice to pull the plug. Leadership sometimes means knowing when to land the plane—especially when there’s no fuel, no plan, and no runway.

Since coming into office, the Government has reduced national debt, re-engaged international partners with transparency, and restored trust in the rule of law. Healthcare and education have been re-centred, and public consultation has returned as a governance norm not an afterthought. What the Government inherited was not a well-oiled machine. It was a bureaucratic patchwork held together by photo ops and political duct tape.

Let’s be honest, change was never going to be quick or clean, not after 40 years of concentrated power and political immunity. The difference is, the government consults openly, governs transparently, and owns its missteps. That alone marks a major shift from the days of my way or the highway.

You say we’re staring at the dirt, perhaps we are, but that’s only because, after decades of political rot, someone has to roll up their sleeves and dig out the foundations.

I say this not as a keyboard warrior, but as a public servant, someone who has worked across ministries, courtrooms, and communities. I have served this country with quiet consistency, and I have earned my voice through experience, not allegiance. 

So when you say change has failed, I say change is finally being tried and that alone is progress. As former U.S. President Barack Obama reminded us, “The arc of the moral universe may bend toward justice, but it doesn’t bend on its own. We have to do the work.” And that’s exactly what I, and many others, intend to keep doing for our Samoa.

Concerned.