with all my failures to assure my grandchildren to live in a safe world. what happens now, I educate them on the Facts of Democracy and how it works to prevent my past from demonizing their future

I, have failed not from trying, but from stopping short of her freedom!--- Democracy Lives Forever
Representative Democracy provides, debates, discuss and never denies people from their city state representative. The Polis in a City is declaration of the good of man and made manifest for the good of all and not the few. ---

Long Live Freedom , Long Live Democracy!

Malo Samoa. I take my hat off to all those who worked hard to reject the bill. Protesters, keep your spirits up and divert your energies to ensure there is a strong opposition party in Parliament. The future governance of Samoa needs a very effective Opposition Party.

All the best for the furure

meripa weir

Don't you think your editorial is a little over the top? You're basically screaming that you live in a totalitarian state just because the Police had the temerity to remove your crosses from the sides of the road. Whats the big deal? You had your protest marches. You made your voices heard in the media through your biased reporting. Your mates controlled the airwaves and television prime time with PASS advertisements. People vehemently against the switch regularly sent in fiercely critical letters into the newspapers, attacking the move, attacking the integrity of the govt, attacking the Prime Minister and everyone else in the HRPP who were going to vote for this law.

Given all that, how on earth can you possibly say that "democracy has failed"?? Just because you didn't get what you wanted, you cry that democracy has failed. Its a cop-out. The system may not be perfect, but the government has not acted at all outside of the Constitution or the law, despite what PASS is saying. People in western countries also have their banners removed if they are unneccessarily put on public land. Actually, given the bleatings of the Apia Pulenuu the other week, that "public land" could well be customary land, so the right to put them there in the first place is further reduced.

If you hate this government for what it has done, fine. Vote them out in 2011. Until then, make your voices heard by all means, but l suggest you move onto a new record, because the same old tired "democracy is dead" theme is worn out and old. This victim mentality is starting to sound like a broken record. I am getting sick and tired of the anti-RHD people acting and talking as if they are persecuted Tibetans. The huge exaggeration in the insinuations made in the media, that Samoa is now a dictatorship and comparable to Zimbabwe (mostly from the anti-RHD letter-writers) is ridiculous.

Perhaps a more effective way of influencing government policy is not to vote en masse for the HRPP next time. The HRPP changed the constitution in the 1990s because the people gave them the power to do so... at the ballot box. The HRPP are allowed to pass this RHD law because the people allowed them to do so at the last election... at the ballot box. It is at the ballot box where the real change comes from.

The lesson out of all of this for the anti-RHD people is to stop taking elections so lightly, and have a REAL think of who they're voting for.

Hey Geoff - don't you think your response is little over the top? Granted that you made a valid point about voting, but you've completely missed the gist of the entire editorial. Good for you if you're a proponent of the RHD switch since it's obvious in your veiled attempt; however, it is silly of you to reduce the position of those concerned citizens as some ' victim mentality syndrome.'

Please - don't belittle the efforts of those citizens who are passionate about their cause and their rights within a true democratic system. If anything - I salute and commend all those who stood up and marched in protest of the RHD. This is a sign of our times - take note: the government is now mandating the type of cars and the side of the road to drive on - and, sadly, it's an illustration of a failed democracy-and freedom of choice being flushed down the drain.

History has noted that the kind of mentality employed by the current government will entails an endless string of policies against the rights of its citizens. It's a Slippery slope -first the government tells you what side to drive. Next- they'll tell you what to eat and drink. Even worse, the government might further dictate how one should care for his or her private parts. So I'd say - March on, Samoa! Continue to raise your voices and wave your banners whenever it's needed - because if you don't then the government will continue to abuse your rights and freedoms.

May I point out to Geoff that it is protesting, demonstrating and marching that is the grass roots of momentum that gets those people aware of the issues and to the ballot box to secure change.

geoff, the matter of RHD was about national importance. It should have been decided at the ballot box by all. If, tomorrow the Government decides to implement a tax of 25%-- not that it will or that it should-- tell what process do we use, now that an overreaching government -- does not matter what country, but an overreaching government decided the closure of RHD-- of course the Constitution in a vague way allows the party in charge the affable right, but is not better would you say-- from a cultural perspective to use the old common sense and let the at large public to decide-- after all it is the same at large public who put them in charge that marched-- just my two cent

i can only say its about time somebody says something transparent enough to understand the situation here. Enough of the blames and complaints about democracy being on the downfall. Whatever, its about the election and YOUR VOTES people!!

if you really want to see "change" (obviously you dont see the many great changes in Apia/Samoa from the current political govt), then cast your votes in the next upcoming election and let your voice be heard!

in the meanwhile, continue with what you're doing and goodluck!

i support the government 110% all the way!!

manuia outou uma! Soifua!

Faanoanoa lava e agaga i mea o lo o tutupu mai i si o tatou motu laititi. Ua avea tulaga tofi maualuluga i le malo ma auala ua le amanaia ai tagata lautele o Samoa ma o latou finagalo. Ua tiga ona tagi ma afugia le toatele o tama ma tina matutua le mamalu o le atunuu aemaise i latou o lo o i ai le tomai fapitoa ma malamala i tulaga o lea oo i ai le atunuu pe a faaiugafonoina lenei RHD, ua matua le amanaia ina lava e le Palemia ma le HRPP. O lea e faanoanoaga o le Sifi ona o le manatu i le tagi mai a le toatele o le si o tatou atunuu ae ua tali tualima ina e le malo. Ua leai ai se alofa i mamalu lautele ae ua faaaliali le power ma le finagalo oi le HRPP.
Lau susuga i le palemia ma lau kapeneta, se famolemole tuuia le faogaina o nai aufaifaatoaga ma tagata vaai e avea ma ala e tatau ai ona paisa lenei pili. Ma le taumafai e tuuai i le faatau mai o taavale taugofie second hand mai Iapani. Ona faulalai lea o taavale ma tele faatoaga e toto ao fea e faatau agai i ai. Ua toe faatau lava i Samoa fua o faatoaga. O na taamilomilo ai lava lea o tupe a Samoa i Samoa. What is the tradeoff you buy Japanese cars and you get cars from Japan and Japan take you money. Istead of money coming in your money goes out. Why don't you search for more markets overseas for our farmers to export their crops and bring in the money than you more focus on you RHD shits. I really don't understand your cabinet and their thoughts. A blind man leads us to something that is totally not worthy investing. Instead focusing our schools and university because those are the places where the future of our country must be greatly investing to, you are more focus of winning what you and your party want. O le mea lea ua foliga ese le tulaga o lo o see atu i ai si o tatou malo.
Mo le toatele o i latou lo o lagolagoina lenei pili a e le aiga i le palemia po o i latou i le HRPP that support this or you live in NZ or Aus po o atunuu e faataga ai le RHD and only comfortable driving LHD cars or poo outou foi e lei ola mai i Samoa. Ia e sili ona tou tagai lelei ma malamala i logona o i latou sa nonofo, o loo nonofo ma ola mai Samoa. Aua a e te le o malamamalama lelei. O le fautuaga a le Sifi e sili ona tatou mamalo ma sefe le manava ma taputapuai i nai o tatou aiga o le gafa ma le olaga i Samoa. E ese atunuu i fafo nei ese le olaga i Samoa. E ola fiafia tagata i Samoa, o i tatou i fafo nei e leai sou fiapoto e tele aua e control mai e malo tetele. O Samoa o si motu laiti ma le tau atiae. For those of you in the government, please let the people live free and faalogo to their concerns. You must be focus whats important to our islands and to invest in the future of our young generation as well as finding ways to bring in the money to help our economy than spending all your time and energy defending your stp RHD. Si ou atunuu pele Samoa ia aua nei o outou faavaivai. Ia tou keep on fighting. Vaai lelei si o outou sui i le HRPP mo leisi palota because he or she is going to made all excuses in the world why he/she voted for this bill. Ua o latou le representing ina lona itumalo na palotaina i totonu. Ae ua fai le mea e manao i ai le latou HRPP.

O le tatalo a le Sifi ia i ai le Atua ia outou taumafaiga. O ai lava o loo taalo God will do something nice for them. Aua nei o outou faavaivai. I loto tetele ma outou tau ina ia manumalo. O suiga mai fafo o loo lolofi atu ma faaogaina e nisi o loo i totonu o le malo ae ua galo ai le alofa ma le vaai i le lautele o si o tatou malo o lo o tagi mai ala.

manuia

Thanks for Samoalive for doing this I wish I have money so I can buy u a rejected cars from Japan, China or Korea. or I forgot to mention a perfect HUMMER from US.

Manuia le aso

There seems to be an ignorance of the political system that Samoa operates under. Too many people watching American tv thinking that the Prime Minister is some kind of president and that parliament is some kind of Congress which should be separate from the Prime Minister and government.

The Executive is NOT separate from the legislature (like in the US system). The Executive arm of government (cabinet 'according to Asiata' under-secretaries) is drawn from MPs in the legislative arm of government. Therefore the government controls parliament and parliament is supreme but subject to the constitution.

Parliament can pass any law it wants (subject to the Constitution & its own standing orders). This is called the Doctrine of Parliamentary Supremacy. Pretty sucky if you don't like the law being passed, but it is something which is an essential part of the British system of government which Samoa inherited. Parliament fought the English Civil War (1645-1659) with the then King and Parliament won. The King lost his head and the rest is history - Parliament rules, the King 'reigns', and (eventually) the People elect.

The theory is that the people control parliament through elections every three years and therefore parliament can do anything it wants (as long as it doesn't breach the constitution and the House standing orders). In Samoa, the HRPP amended the Constitution to change the term to FIVE years in the 1990s (they had 2/3rd control of the house at that time so they could do this). This was a major Constitutional Amendment yet most of the country slept when it happened. The length of term is an essential Constitutional check on the power of parliament. Now look what's happened? I bet you that the HRPP wouldn't have done it if an election was in 2009 instead of 2011. Another major Constitutional change was the change in term of the Auditer-General's term of office. This essentially brought the independent watch-dog under the control of the cabinet.

So, the seeds for this RHD uproar was sown in the 1990s when major alterations to the Constitution were made.

Personally, I don't think the RHD law itself is in breach of the Constitution. However, the RHD protesters have a point that they weren't forewarned. Well, unfortunately for them, the govt (I reckon) is not doing anything illegal or unconstitutional. The point they are making is a political point which can only be addressed at the next election in 2011.

Hey JM, I see that Boeing 747 clue still has not made a landing request on your head.

When will you get that people will complain if a passed law does not sit well with them, even if it is legally bound?

Parliament may as well round up tomorrow and pass a law dictating cars can only go upside-down on the road and champions like you will applaud this new vision and rant on and on about its pseudo-benefits and the soundness of its legality.

Hello GC,

You missed my point. I was saying that, legally, there is nothing wrong with the law - according to my interpretation of the Constitution & House standing orders. However, the Supreme Court has the final say. They may well agree that the law is in breach of Article 5.

You're questioning its morality I guess. Fine. I have no argument with that. Just because a law is legally sound, doesn't mean it is morality justified.

That is all.

Your point was missed because it didn't register anywhere on the issue at hand.

That is all.

I don't make a habit of commenting, but this topic is far too good to miss. A friend said that democracy has not failed in Samoa, but rather it has come into full force with the voice of the people. So despite the fact that their voice were disregarded the fact that they did come out and protest is an exercise of their democratic rights. Interesting stuff eh'

cheers

cj

I assure you that everyone knows what Democracy is. It gives the freedom to people to do anything they want..you are free to do anything..freedom of speech, also freedom of actions, such as strikes or protests etc. So if posters and signs were removed from places then thats part of democracy. Democracy has allowed them to do so. It happens to any country of the world not just only Samoa. What about if you or your family will be the first time to own a car as the result of this change? I don't think that you will vote against someone who put you to where you are now. It's your decision.

what an interesting read - its good to see the discussions for and against the change. I must admit it is hard for me, a very proud Samoan born person living in New Zealand to fully appreciate the bill as I cannot view the marches and the feeling within our home country due to the different environment.
However i believe this change of passage will cause havoc in the streets of Samoa, i believe there maybe much confusion when it is implemented. I believe that when creating policies and process - one must address the immediate effects as well as the long term affects.

The primary risk of lives lost, secondary - property damage, loss for current buisnesses etc must be greater than the possible benefits in the long run. I see a write up where the PM states Samoan people will benefit from this change because when they come to NZ or Aust they will be used to driving on the right side.... my response to that is - e le avatu le iloa aveave i le itu a NZ ma Aust e fai ai se maliu o seisi i le confusion lea la fai nei i Samoa. The whole Samoan society from children to elderly have lived with the situation as it was.

A question to the PM - whats the cost of life to you and all those that vote for this bill? Does the high possibility in the loss of a mothers child or any other life in the streets of Samoa account for the benefit of knowing which side of the road you drive in when you come to NZ or Aust? That seems pretty cheap to me.
It appears the PM and his supporters believe that allowing NZ/Aust cars into Samoa will help some people who don't have cars already - my response is - having a car is an expensive commodity - if Samoa have warrant of fitness checks plus car registration - these costs money - therefore low income people or ones with no income that receive cars from relies over here - may actually end up in a worse position - due to the high costs of maintaining a car incl. petrol. The roads also play a part in an attempt to prolong the structure of the car - i wonder if the roads of Samoa have actually improved. People could gain fines for not having a warrant of fitness etc, plus the car parts maybe very expensive in Samoa.

Allowing a further influx of cars into Samoa can also be detrimental to the environment with the additional pollution to be created. The apparent absolute disregard of what appears to be a large majority of the peoples voices via the PASS mvmt is very very disturbing.

People have discussed that it's about whom you vote for when election comes around - this is true to an extent however there is also the view that people who gain positions of 'persumed power' e.g. politicians must utilise this privilledge with caution, a good leader is one that listens to the voice of their people and should carve a way that is safe and sound primarily. There is a phrase used in New Zealand by the Maori people where the question is asked - of who is the most important - the answer is - It is the people, It is the people.

Ia Manuia

Filomena
NZ