“And now my children, brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, go and do as I say and not as I do.”

The above-mentioned words were attributed to a preacher at the end of his homily at a service he conducted one Sunday morning when he became suspicious that his parishioners knew of his secret affairs. 

The great message delivered is one of love for one’s neighbour by walking the talk and doing to others as you want others to do to you.

The same message ought to be heeded by our Government leaders to deliver their promises to the very people who elected them. 

For instance, right now the SAT$1 million grant per district every year for 5 years is yet to be fulfilled.  

Those districts that already got their SAT$200,000, SAT$150,000, and SAT$425,000 transfers to date are mostly FAST districts.

We are well into the third year of the current parliament term of five years and no district is yet to receive its first full SAT$1 million. 

Social media has occasionally replayed the video of the promises made by La'auli about the SAT$1 million grant per district per annum, “which every district will spend on whatever project they want on their own accord without asking the Government for permission”.

Now every request for funding from the SAT$1 million grant must be approved by a special political committee of four Cabinet Ministers.

New harsh restrictive conditions are imposed continually on districts under HRPP MPs to ensure that only those districts with FAST party MPs have easier access, whilst HRPP districts are deliberately disadvantaged.

This is broad daylight misuse of budget support funds from donor partners. 

The intention is clear. It is to fund perpetual political campaigning by the FAST Government in preparation for the next general election in two years' time.

This abuse of power at the district level is done openly i.e. the distribution of money and agricultural equipment for agricultural shows, displaying farm produce presumably grown by the villages benefitting when everyone knows the produce displayed was allegedly bought from neighbouring villages. 

Proof of these abuses of power is now quite evident with the current shortage of our home-grown basic food items like taro etc.

If the recent public apology made by the Prime Minister in Parliament can be a reference point for alleged criminal activities committed by Cabinet Ministers, the case with rural development and the SAT$1 million grant is worse.  

Our Lord's message is hereby again invoked for Government leaders to remember.

Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi.

Leader of HRPP