Dear Editor,

Back in 1990 /91 only matai could vote for matai to enter parliament.  Then it changed and all the people were given the right (by who???) to vote for matai.  Isn’t it time that all the people were allowed to vote for anyone who is a Samoan citizen?

What was the mechanism for the first change to allow everyone to vote?

What is the mechanism to allow everyone to vote for everyone?

Who would make that decision?  Would it be a person who was voted into office (not power) by the people of Samoa?

It would appear (by someone) that matai are considered to be of a higher IQ than the average Joe/Joy in the street and more capable of being a parliamentarian?

Isn’t is time that the people of Samoa, who decide who runs the country, to have the right to stand for parliament.  How about someone with a doctorate in engineering, a doctorate in philosophy, a bus driver or someone who grows taro for a living?  Why would they require a title?  Does the sudden granting of a title make someone more capable of representing the people in the area where they live?  It’s called FULL EMANCIPATION!

Perhaps the Electoral Office, the Attorney General’s Department and the Chief Justice should have a meeting about this!

BUT WHO CARES!

Charlie Mansfield