One of the roles independent media plays is fact-checking. This practice holds people accountable for making statements in the public arena.

Many politicians think that parliamentary privilege extends outside the walls of the parliament house. Many have become fond of making ludicrous public statements. Most times about things that would never happen, never did and against parties they do not like.

It is also very common for these politicians to do so on platforms or with media that would never hold them accountable.

A responsible government must keep its citizens informed of the truth. This includes budgets which can be interpreted by a simple Simon. Not so much the case over here. It has become a habit for some cabinet ministers to take to social media-based platforms and spread misinformation.

The Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries Laauli Leuatea Schmidt had previously done this successfully on a television program that was sponsored by his political party. When this was stopped, he took to platforms that are funded by his businesses and made ludicrous comments including those that led to a complaint in the police with charges pending.

In recent weeks, another cabinet minister has chosen to do the same. He has not spoken to independent media that is free from government influence but has taken to social media-based platforms to make comments that have been allowed to be aired without being checked.

The heat has been on those involved in the $25 million regional terminal at the Faleolo International Airport. The Airport Authority Chief Executive Officer has suddenly lost his voice. In fact, he has not said much since the time he declared that basketball great Shaquille O’Neal was coming to Samoa.

When the regional terminal opened, even before the project was finished, our leaders boldly stated that it would boost flights from the region. The regional terminal will now cater to flights from American Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Tuvalu, Niue, and the Cook Islands, along with domestic inter-island flights.

Talofa Airways and Samoa Airways have ruled out expanding their services beyond the current routes they serve. The keyword to any route serviced by an airline is feasible. Talofa Airways flies to Tonga once a month because it is not worth the cost to make more flights than that.

The current population of Tuvalu is 9,588 as of Thursday, November 14, 2024, based on the latest United Nations estimates. How many Tuvaluans come to Samoa? What will they come and do here? Regional headquarters and major business operations or embassies who process visas are absent from Samoa giving no reason for most Pacific islanders to fly to or through Samoa.

According to the latest United Nations estimates, the current population of Tokelau is 2,544 as of Friday, November 15, 2024.

The latest United Nations estimates put the current population of Niue at 1,819 as of Thursday, November 14, 2024. The latest United Nations estimates for the Cook Islands at 13,552 as of Thursday, November 14, 2024.

There are only two routes that airlines in the Cook Islands service. Air New Zealand flies between Rarotonga and Auckland, and there are flights from Australia. There are close to 1000 Samoans in the Cook Islands and close to 2000 Fijians, but even then, there are no direct flights to Fiji.

Will the regional terminal become a no-fly-zone? All will be revealed in due time.