Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa is known for her measured and strategic approach to addressing concerns and engaging with the public, a stark contrast to her predecessor who often took a direct approach, sometimes marked by blunt language.

However, recent events point to a shifting leadership style that has affected not only the Prime Minister but also her Cabinet.

Opportunities to hear the Prime Minister address pressing issues through press conferences are rare and, at times, completely absent.

Updates on the Prime Minister’s engagements are also rarely shared.

And while it might be argued that this isn’t intentional, one undeniable truth about politics remains: nothing happens by accident—if it happens, it’s almost always planned that way.

This raises the question: Is the Prime Minister’s absence and lack of public engagement a deliberate political strategy or simply inaction?

Either way, Fiame’s prolonged absence from the spotlight has created a leadership vacuum—one that has disrupted decision-making and allowed rogue ministers to act independently.

This has become even more apparent as controversies involving government leaders continue to surface—issues that should be addressed directly by the Prime Minister.

For instance, as the leader of the Faatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party, Fiame has remained silent on how the manager of the $1 million tala District Development Project, attended a party fundraiser in the United States—an action that blatantly violated public service rules, which require public servants to remain politically neutral.

Equally concerning is her silence on the Attorney General’s confirmation of $175,000 in misappropriated funds in Fa’asaleleaga No. 2, which allegedly involves its Member of Parliament, Magele Sekati Fiaui.

Adding to these unresolved matters are the frequent nationwide power outages, which eventually sparked a dispute between the CEOs of the Ministry of Health and the Electric Power Corporation over whether these outages were directly responsible for the breakdown of the X-ray machine at the national hospital.

Meanwhile, Minister Olo Fiti Vaai has tried to justify the decision to have a contractor fund an empty plane to land solely for display purposes at the opening of an incomplete $25 million regional airport—a decision that continues to baffle many.

Similarly, the Samoa National Provident Fund (SNPF) is set to inject another $37 million tala of contributors' funds into Mulifanua Beach Resort Samoa Ltd, despite already loaning $22 million and being fully aware that the resort is on the brink of insolvency after a decade of financial losses.

Perhaps the clearest example of this leadership vacuum was the Cabinet’s inability to hold a meeting, as most of its members prioritised overseas travel for party fundraisers over addressing pressing national issues.

All these issues highlight a government in disarray, struggling with a lack of leadership where rogue ministers act without accountability. 

Without swift action from the Prime Minister to either defend or address these issues, the country remains disconnected from its leaders and uncertain about its future.

While others can be blamed or excuses made, the ultimate responsibility rests with the Prime Minister. 

It would be a mistake to assume Fiame is immune to public scrutiny, whether her silence is intentional or not.

As the old saying goes, “the buck stops here,” and as the holder of the highest office, the Prime Minister must be held accountable more than anyone else.