Samoa Needs More Women Matais – Yeah Right

Written by Astrid Sesega
Monday, 10 March 2008
Debaters: Ms. Vavatau (top) and Rev. Vavatau If you can’t climb a coconut tree then how can you be a Matai? This was one of the points debated in “The Great Debate” held by Network of Women in Samoa on Friday at the Samoa Tel Conference Room as part of the celebrations for International Women’s Day. The motion of “Samoa needs more women Matai’s” made for great humor for the hour long debate which left the crowd in hysterics. Husband and Wife, Rev. Vavatau Taufao and Roina Faatauvaa-Vavatau, personally attacked each other to liven up the atmosphere which made for great debating. The affirmative team consisted of Rula Levi CEO of Samoa Housing Corporation (SHC), Roina Faatauvaa-Vavatau CEO of SUNGO and Afemata Aiavao Apelu Author and Head of Sulu Newspaper. With the opposing team made up of Maulolo Tavita ACEO of Internal Affairs, Rev. Vavatau Taufao, NUS Lecturer and Brenda Heather Latu Partner of LatuEy Law. For the motion Points made by the affirmative side include the notion that women are responsible for service to the family and a lot of decision making within the family which means they should all have access to matai titles. Levi even stated that if there were more women Matai’s she could become the Helen Clarke of Samoa. It was also argued that women are better at decision making and budgeting. The affirmative noted that women do not have the ego component that men carry around with them when trying to make decisions. “A women’s place is in the house, of Parliament,” argued Levi. Finally it was debated that because of women Samoa has been very blessed and if you look at a number of professions in Samoa such as Lawyers, Doctors and Teachers, many of the roles are filled by women. “Who is breaking all the rules?” asked Afemata, “Who is having sex with their daughters?” Against the motion Personal attacks by each side were prominent during this fun and light hearted debate. Maulolo, the first Speaker of the opposing side noted that women cannot cope in a man’s role particularly as a Matai. Rev. Vavatau followed this up by saying to his wife on the opposite team that Matai’s get up early to fish, they climb coconut trees and he challenged his wife by saying: “Can you do that?” “Even if you wanted to, I wouldn’t let you,” he said, looking directly at his wife on the affirmative side. Finally, Latu stated that this was not an issue of Gender but an issue of who is right for the position and the qualities a person brings to the position. With the points tallied, Judge Afamasaga Toliafoa, decided that because the affirmative team came late to the debate the opposing team would win. Enjoy Yes Minister's Take on Women in the Public Service Comments (5) Subscribe to this comment's feed ... written by oBserVer, March 10, 2008 Samoa need a change...Samoa need a woman to be the PM....and see who can rule the country better. ... written by GC, March 10, 2008 Samoa needs the right person to lead, that necessarily does not have to be a woman. Sexism can go the other way too if its misapplied. not our decision to make written by Olo, March 11, 2008 PM is voted for by the MPs in the house. I guess the more women MPs that are voted into the House, the more chance of a woman to become the PM. I have to say though that at least two women in parliament at the moment got their seats on account of their Chiefly status and who their daddies were, rather than on ability alone. But in fairness to them, many of the Male MPs are probably there because of the same reason... chiefly status and who their daddies were. ... written by Ms. Leasau, March 18, 2008 I strongly believe that the sex does not matter. What matters is that the right person is chosen to lead Samoa down the right path whether it is a woman or man...the person should know what is best for Samoa............ Laufiso.. written by M.F.Laufiso, March 23, 2008 E muamua lava ona faamalo atu i le Mataupu ua folasia ile mamea , o lo'u taofi e le tatau i Tama'ita'i ona umia ni Suafa Matai .... a. I le foafoaga o le Lalolagi , na fetali le Atua le Tama i le Atua le Alo ma le Atua le Agaga , o maia tatou fausia se tagata i lo tatou fa'atusa , se tagata o lona uiga e tasi le tagata e le lua ni tagata.. Fa'atoa fai muliane ai le fafine o se fesoasoani , o ia na fausia i musele o atamu e lei fausia i le fa'atusa o le Atua e pei ona fausia ai Atu ile eleele ma le efuefu. e.. Ua tele tausaga o nofo Atamu ile fa'atoaga e le'i pa'i lava ile la'au na fa'asaina , a e le'i atoa se vaiaso o Eva a e nofo ma 'ai le fua ole la'au ma fai ia Atamu e 'ai .. i.. Ina ua tula'i mai Ioane le Papatiso e fa'alaulelei le Ala o le Mesia , na fasiotria e le Fafine ina ua mana'o i lona Ao.. o.. Ua lava na Pine fa'amau e lagolagoina lo'u taofi .. Fa'afetai lava. M.F.Laufiso.. Write comment Name Email Title Comment
Last Updated ( Monday, 10 March 2008 )

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