A year ago this week, the Government led by Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa officially took over control of this nation’s political affairs. In extraordinary circumstances, the Court of Appeal ruled that the Fa’atuatua ile Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party is the new government of Samoa, legitimising the administration sworn in under a tent and ending what had been a prolonged and ugly General Election stalemate. 

With former Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi and the HRPP’s stranglehold on power released, Fiame and her administration swiftly got on with the job of governing the affairs of Samoa. It was a breath of fresh air. Most people would agree that it was a change that needed to happen.

Like all things in life, it has not all been smooth sailing. On top of the COVID-19 crisis and a struggling economy, the FAST government inherited a deeply divided nation and a government system that would have been extremely tough to change especially when one party had controlled it for nearly 40 years, and treated it like it belonged to their families.

Today, there is sense of rejuvenation in the nation’s affairs with a leadership style that is more engaging and inclusive. Prime Minister Fiame and her Cabinet have certainly asserted their authority in many ways, making instant changes on their list of priorities where they see fit. Some of those changes, including key leadership roles in government ministries, have not been very popular but such is life. 

It’s impossible to please everyone. 

A year onwards, and after all the controversies, all is well. Samoa remains very peaceful and next week; our nation will once again welcome international visitors to our shores for the first time in nearly three years. It’s an exciting development, no doubt key in the Government’s economic recovery plan. 

But there is another sensitive development Prime Minister Fiame and her administration will have to deal with. Soon. It involves the role of the Head of State. A story titled “Head of State's appointment extended” published in the Samoa Observer this week brought the issue back to the fore. 

Apparently, the Government has extended the appointment of His Highness Tuimaleali’ifano Sualauvi II until the next Parliament sitting in August. “There is a provision under the law for extension,” Prime Minister Fiame said. “But there needs to be a recommendation to be submitted to the Speaker on the earliest Parliament sitting which is on the 23rd August.” 

The extension of the appointment is necessary and the Government has made the right decision. In doing so, they have also given themselves a month to sleep over their decision on whether to keep His Highness Tuimaleali’ifano or make a recommendation for someone else. 

It’s a big decision. It is also a sensitive matter especially given the current Head of State’s role during the recent Constitutional crisis. We can all vividly remember how things had unfolded and in hindsight, we can only wonder if things could have been a lot different had the Head of State’s reaction, or intervention, been better? 

While we don’t want to bring back what was a very painful memory in our history, it is only natural to feel that this will perhaps count against the incumbent Head of State when the decision is eventually made.  Add the fact the former Head of State, His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi, played vital role during the election campaign to get FAST over the line, there is certainly reason to believe that Prime Minister Fiame and her party’s decision would be quite obvious. 

But this where we want to caution the Government to tread very, very carefully. 

Now, let us remind that we are having this conversation about the Head of State because of unnecessary changes Tuilaepa and the HRPP rammed through for very selfish reasons. Because they felt they had such unfettered power, they forced through the Head of State’s Constitutional Amendment Act 2019, which has led us down this path, thinking they were always going to be in power. 

This law has done nothing but decimate the integrity of the Office of the Head so that today, it has become merely another political appointment. When you understand the political intentions of this law, you would be a lot more forgiving towards the incumbent Head of State when you think back to his reaction in the events during the Constitutional Crisis. 

Still, we’d like to believe our leaders are people of principle and integrity. 

So where to from here? The facts as they stand today naturally point to the FAST administration supporting a candidate other than the incumbent Head of State. If they do, that is their decision to make. 

But we hope that when the time comes, a decision will not be motivated by the need for vengeance, malice and to avenge past hurts. We appeal that the FAST party, and Parliament for that matter, think about the big picture and what is best for Samoa. 

Forget the personalities. Parliament must think about the future and the unborn generations of this nation. Looking at what has happened, we need to restore the sanctity of the Office of the Head of State so that no matter who occupies it, he/she will command the kind of respect and reverence the people of this nation have always reserved, for the Ao Mamalu o le Malo Tuto’atasi o Samoa. 

Let that be the legacy of this new administration. 

Have a great weekend Samoa, God bless!