Country over constituency, Fiame

Written by Mathew Lemisio
Monday, 21 January 2008
FOR THE COUNTRY: Minister of Women Affairs Fiame Naomi says MPs should consider putting the country’s needs over their constituency. Veteran politician and Cabinet Minister, Fiame Naomi Mataafa has done what most politicians would regards as “political suicide”. That is declaring to put the country’s needs first over each Member of Parliament’s constituency. Fiame said in Parliament last week that she was concern about the number of MPs putting their constituencies concerns before those of the country. “I have been sitting here and listening to the speeches by the Honourable Members of this Parliament,” Fiame said after addressing some of the issues raised by MPs relating to the government ministries under her ministerial portfolio. “What’s particularly interesting is the number of MPs arguing only for what their constituencies need without considering what our country need? “There have been calls for a University in Savaii but have there been any consideration placed on where that money would come from?” Fiame’s comments must have come as a shock to many MPs as their job or the lack of it is to try and address what their constituents need. After all it’s not the country that voted them into office but the constituents. And as one MP casually joked as he left Parliament some years ago, “as long as the voters are happy then that all it matters”. That MP is no longer in office. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- President John F Kennedy in his inaugral address on 20 January 1961 had this to say about what people should be asking themselves in serving their country Comments (2) Subscribe to this comment's feed Easy for her to say written by Faiumu, January 22, 2008 Easy for her to say, she has her seat on a plate. As long as Fiame and Mataafa are her names, she's assured of representing Lotofaga for life. Other MPs actually have to compete (or save up) for their seats. Sao lelei Fiame written by Manuia, January 22, 2008 About time someone sets the record straight. Instead of trying to please your own voters try and do things that are good for the country as a whole. O lona uiga o la e sau lava leisi MP ia e fai pea aga campaign i le palemene ae ua le lagolago mataupu ma faatu ni manatu aua le solosolo i luma ma le lelei o lo tatou atunuu atoa. E faafefea ona faaleleia se itumalo se tasi pea leai ni tupe a le atunuu e amata ai ni galuega? O leisi mea ua tatau lava e le MP ia ona taumafai lava e amata ma tulei tagata o lana itumalo e galulue mo le lelei o le itumalo ae le na o le faalagolago i fafo e maua mai ai ni tupe e fai ai ni suiga i le itumalo. Ia faafetai. Write comment Name Email Title Comment
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 22 January 2008 )

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