Dear Editor,

The President of the American Samoan Senate reportedly described the opening ceremony of the new Fono building as one of the most unique events ever held in the Territory.

It was indeed unique for all the wrong reasons.

Firstly, the new legislative building, which has been under construction for many years, remains incomplete.

I saw the unfinished project myself during a personal visit to American Samoa last week.

Secondly, while all Members of Parliament from Samoa should have been invited as is customary for interactions between legislative bodies, which are separate from government-to-government ceremonial events, only MPs from the Faatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi Government attended.

Predictably, Members from the Human Rights Protection Party and the Samoa United Party were excluded from the Samoan Parliamentary delegation.

Thirdly, Prime Minister La’auli reportedly confirmed that it cost the Samoan taxpayers a quarter million tālā (WST250,000) to travel him and the FAST delegation to Pago Pago.

These costs included several trips by our Samoa Police vessel to transport slaughtered cows, FAST MPs, and their supporters.

These expenses should have been borne by the FAST Party, yet public funds were used instead.

Official visits between our two administrations are normally conducted on a government-to-government basis and appropriately funded through the national budget.

The agenda centered on our mutual development and meetings conducted in a professional manner.

When the present Governor of American Samoa was sworn in earlier this year, I received an official invitation to attend the ceremony, and both PM Fiame and I attended.

The visit was conducted in a manner consistent with established protocols and without unnecessary strain on public resources.

As we have witnessed over the past five years, quick money is what motivates the FAST Party.

Money is the reason that they scramble to American Samoa, New Zealand, Australia and the US mainland.

We can see that they desperately need to replenish the money used to buy the 2025 national elections.

In fact, they don’t even bother any more to link these taxpayer-funded trips to their so-called development plans and how they will benefit our local communities.

At least under FAST1 they pretended to visit some chicken farms and warehouses.

That pretense is now gone.

While FAST2 starts again on their taxpayer-funded globetrotting, our business community continues to struggle under some of the most difficult economic conditions ever experienced in the past 50 years.

Medicines are running out and electricity shortages are also back, just in time for Christmas.

Our forefathers fought tirelessly to uphold the spirit of Samoa mo Samoa.

However, under the FAST Party leadership, our values are drifting further apart.

Driven by the winds of greed.  

Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi

Leader of HRPP