Dear Editor

Re: You’re digging your own grave 

With all due respect, there are no more kings or queens in Samoa, those days are over. There are however, Tama Aiga and as the constitution was amended some years ago for five year terms only for a council elected HOS, the previous HOS had his tenure and an additional 5 years.

As stated by our prime minister, it is in keeping with respect to our traditional Tama Aiga titles or Kingly titles, that a HOS is chosen from one of these families. 

I personally think the previous HOS, the Hon. Tui Atua, was an honourable and stately man, well worthy of his role and did great service to his country, his village and above all, his noble family.

Much respect to him. However, this is the modern democracy we have chosen to run our affairs by and the now acting HOS, the Hon. Tui Aana, as chosen by our council of chiefs, is another well qualified, dignified and stately representative well worthy of the office of HOS.

Samoa is richer for its historical lineages of royalty and this system of acknowledging each worthy representative of these lines as part of our democracy, shows the depth and complexity of the Faa Samoa and our living traditional culture of titles and the ties we all have to our heritage.

I for one salute both the old and the new, as they both demand our respect as a people.

S. Auimatagi