I find the comments and personal digs from (the usually politically adept) Tuilaepa to be rather unfortunate. I dont think Iati was at all denying Samoas need to develop, he was simply making a comment on the pace in which this development is taking place, and the ever present unseen-strings-attached conditions countries like Samoa and the Pacific have to negotiate when working with multilateral aid organisations. His main point is the need to ensure the people who benefit are aware and consulted, especially in the case of land leases. I know Samoa hates being told what to do, especially from their own people in NZ (it doesnt help with the number of uninformed comments some people in NZ make in relation to Samoa on FB - but come on its FB!) Iati is not some random making ill thought out comments on FB, Samoan born Dr Iati, a lecturer in Political Studies at the University of Otago, has a strong research background in Pacific regionalism, good governance, land and tenure reform in the Pacific. Would the reaction be the same if the comments were made from some international consultant (palagi) Samoa would pay thousands of dollars to reach the same conclusion?
Posted on: Sun, 08 Jun 2014 07:09:04 +0000
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