The Truest Test Of Character

Written by Cherelle Jackson
Sunday, 16 December 2007
If absence from a dear one makes the heart grow fonder then absence of Samoa must make the critical mind wonder, in bewilderment, if not sheer shock. What is with this, I leave this place for a few weeks and all hell breaks lose, these are indeed interesting times for the so called “pin-up star of the Pacific” none other than the beautiful Samoa. Everywhere you turn there’s a right hand drive sticker, t-shirt, petition paper, protestor and the ever visible anti-RHD media campaign. Have we had it with this debate? No, not at all, in fact we have all just started, tomorrow will a monumental step however in the anti-RHD campaign, and indeed a sweet test for democracy in Samoa. Well if that’s what we are playing at here, the last time I checked, HRPP is leading the country, not the Government elected by the people. If democracy is still in existence then the voice of the people would be considered. This is how Professor and Director Governance at the University of the South Pacific Dr. Graham Hassall described democracy. “Democracy is a set of values which are then translated into processes and ways of achieving outcomes, the important values that are in the ethos of democracy start with the voice of the people, the will of the people. The question of how you determine that is a matter for procedure. The first value is making sure that the broad will of the people is known and clear and acted on, so that those who are in authority are there because they have a mandate that has come from a broad mass of society.” It is fair to assume that so far the “broad will of the people” have been disregarded in the past few weeks, thus the march tomorrow. According to Hassall, once the voice of the people is ignored then the essence of democracy has collapsed. But the public outcry so far has indicated that there is still a very strong will of the people and that as long as that exists then there is hope for democracy. In that respect, the right hand drive debate has been beneficial for Samoa. For the first time Samoans from all walks of life and particularly those in the business community have come together to fight for a common cause, that’s not sports. This is very encouraging; it is a sign of an educated and proactive population. Watch out world, we are passive no more, which should be a worry not just for the local Government but for the Pacific region. So what are the other benefits of the right hand drive switch. Well apart from the reasons outlined by the Government, like the far fetched answer to climate change, the misleading cost reductions in importation and sale of vehicles there are other reasons. Now the reasons given below were given by some very well educated people. A local student said, he will finally afford a car, because for sure he will be able to buy a left hand drive for $500.00 once it’s banned from the market. A Geologist said, for one, if the switch goes as planned, the death toll will greatly reduce the population of Samoa, therefore reducing the pressure on our resources and ultimately solve the family planning issues we face on a yearly basis. A local Doctor said, the undertaker business will boom, and if you want to make money invest in either casket making or even undertaking before July. When these gentlemen expressed these ideas, one could not help but ponder the absurdity of such notions, but then again, is it absurd at all? The fact is, people will die, not just children but adult pedestrians and drivers, daily, if not by the minute when the switch occurs. Are we ready for this? If public opposition so far speaks for anything, it is that tommorows march will be well attended. This is a true test of character for the current Government and for the people of Samoa, will there be a compromise or will the decision stay? Only time will tell, meanwhile the march itself will resonate throughout the region as the end to stability of the last remaining hope for the Pacific. It’s not just democracy that will take a beating, but the reputation of a people, and a region. Have a Peaceful Sunday Samoa. Comments (1) Subscribe to this comment's feed Great job !! written by TM, December 17, 2007 You have stated it well Ms Jackson - what all of us feel about the proposed RHD experiment. Lets hope our trusted Government will do the right thing and stop this spur-of-the-moment , miscalculated idea which will probably backfire sooner that they plan. Write comment Name Email Title Comment
Last Updated ( Monday, 17 December 2007 )

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