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How Was The Rice Visit Stui? |
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Written by Pio Sioa
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Sunday, 27 July 2008 |
Now that our big VIP visitor is gone, let us hear what our mighty chief, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele, has to say about the visit.
All good family chiefs are required by customs and tradition to tell us what we as a country really got out of Dr. Rice, spending 2 hours at Aggie Beach Resort yesterday!
Did the US Secretary of State, Dr. Condoleezza Rice brought with her any ‘oso’ (gifts), as required from visiting dignitaries by our customs and traditions.
The questions has to be asked Mr. PM because it is in keeping with the accountability and transparency inherent in our way of life.
Shame on who ever is supposed to brief the Secretary of State about the demands of the Samoan culture, if Dr. Rice did not pass out any ‘lafo’ (token monetary gifts) for her hosts.
The only face saving escape for the Secretary is if the culture of international diplomacy overrides our traditional culture as the host country?
The Americans have a better word for it …veto. Has the culture of international diplomacy the power to assert the authority of veto over the local customs and traditions of the host country?
Well that should make for a very interesting debate!
The Minister in Attendance, Fiame Naomi Mataafa, has already claimed that the visit is something that we as the host country, should feel proud of.
Having the world’s most powerful woman meet with leaders of the region in Apia, is a huge endorsement of good leadership and political stability for Samoa.
Okay Fiame…if that is the perspective you want to take, so be it.!
But hang on, our economic well being and political stability are things we did ourselves!
Dr. Rice’s visit only served to give it that salutary recognition. Is that all we got?
Winston Peters did very well for himself by inviting theSecretary of State to New Zealand and escorting her to Samoa, albeit for only 2 hours.
We all know the political upheavals the NZ Minister of Foreign Affairs is going through back home?
Anyway, maybe we did stand to benefit as a region on issues like climate change, and the various other forms of natural securities, but again our man Stui will have to tell us.
Just what did he whisper, and how did she whispered back.
Did he mouthed in her ear anything to do with free travel between the two Samoas? How about trade …PM Helen Clarke was asking for improved trading relations between her people and Dr. Rice’s people.
What about us Stui?
Did you ask about trade between our people and Governor Togiola’s people?
How about special assistance in developments like sports?
China has build the gyms and all the other sporting facilities for us. Did you ask for Marion Jones, who’s looking for a presidential pardon, to come out to Samoa and train our people, as a condition for the pardon?
By the way, did you get any invites to the White House Stui?
You have already been to Beijing, courtesy of an official invitation from the leaders of the People’s Republic of China.
Is there a betting chance of President Bush hosting a state dinner on your behalf before he steps down?
Finally Stui…the New Zealand media were given a chance to put their questions to the State Secretary in a press conference.
Our local media was NOT extended the same privilege… did you ask the Madam Secretary, if she respected our freedom of the media in Samoa and of the other islands nations who were represented by their Minister’s of Foreign Affairs?
You really should have insisted why Samoans and others in the region were not good enough or deserving enough to be properly informed.
Daym Man! Now we’s gonna hafta holed on fo ‘nother 20 years before one of ‘em big time mothers come along again.
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