Like many of his recent actions and utterances, the Minister of Works Olo Fiti Va’ai’s call for a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the unprecedented electricity blackouts defies logic and common sense.

Just who or what does the Minister want to investigate?

We have heard him repeatedly talk about “my airport,” “my decision,” “my advisors,” and “my everything.”

He must therefore acknowledge that he is, in fact, the proud owner of all these blackouts.

Samoa began experiencing blackouts on this scale during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in October 2024.

We all recall the delay of the CHOGM opening ceremony due to a temporary blackout.

This was three years after the courts handed the reins of government to the Fa’atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi Party!

In 2021, the FAST Government inherited an Electric Power Corporation with bank deposits of close to $70 million set aside for emergencies.

Due to the FAST Government’s mismanagement of these funds and misuse of power, these deposits are now depleted.

As a result, every family in Samoa is struggling to cope with the consequences.

Now, we hear that the government is seeking to lease generators from Fiji to temporarily alleviate the problem.

New Zealand has also been mentioned.

This is deeply embarrassing for a country that graduated from least-developed status in 2014.

We are now back to where we were 50 years ago!

Why isn’t there a “whole-of-government” approach to solving this national crisis?  Where is the Minister of Finance?

Where is the three per cent contingency provision from the total budget under the Constitution for emergencies that we approved in 2006?

Why not divert funds from other unnecessary expenditures to address this critical priority?

All this talk about a Commission of Inquiry is nothing but a setup to blame the EPC staff for the FAST Government’s incompetence and irresponsible decisions.

What’s next?

Commissions of inquiry to blame our civil servants for the poor hospital conditions, border violations, unauthorized gun imports, illegal cattle farm leases, and unlawful stock exchanges?

This week, Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa claimed no knowledge of her Minister’s call for such a commission.

This FAST madness needs to stop. Our people are facing one crisis on top of others.

Samoa needs accountable and competent leaders who will find solutions, not excuses.

Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi

Leader of HRPP