BLOWING BUBBLES

I love living in American Samoa because everyone gets to blow bubbles and live in them. They often burst, like when the feds told us, a couple of years ago, to stop misusing their money, do the paperwork for accountability, or they’re jailing us or cutting it off. The free ride was over.

I think what we learned from that, was that our bubbles are subject to the same rules of right and wrong that the rest of the world lives in, even if you are a Samoan doing the blowing in the middle of nowhere, on the altar of culture, sitting atop a rock… in the Pacific Ocean, while doing a “siva ma pese” to “What’s love got to do with it… ”

LBJ STIPEND INCREASE

In a Senate hearing this week about the LBJ Board stipend increase — the chairman of the hospital board Mase Akapo noted several reasons for the increase: 1) the former CEO made the recommendation to increase their stipends, 2) they met more often because many times they did not have a quorum when they did try to meet, 3) the increase would help with paying for gas for their vehicles, and 4) they consulted a lawyer, who told them it was legal to do it.

There were some others as well, but these were the most noteworthy I think.

1ST: Mase seems to have thrown everyone under the bus, except himself of course — the CEO that they fired for alleged incompetence, some of the board members because they don’t come to all the meetings (maybe the didn’t have enough money for gas?), and the lawyer who told them it’s ok.

2ND: Mase also told the senators that it wasn’t until he was pressured by some of the members that he gave in — after four months of holding off the increase. (Talofae ia Weatherman!)

3RD: LBJ doesn’t have a lawyer on staff— so who was the lawyer they consulted, and how much did he or she charge for that bit of legal advice? I hope not more than the raises... and not paid with a bar tab…

GONGS FOR THEM ALL!

And then, there’s Senator Laolagi Savali Vaeao, who raised his concern about the hospital board increasing their own stipend. He told the hospital board that if anything — “that is your service to your people and your calling…” Why the raise?

Did anyone else fall off their chair laughing at the sheer irony of that remark? GONG!

VETO OVERRIDE REFERENDUM

The governor, in signing off on the election bill that includes the ban on campaign signs and billboards said, “I do wish to caution... that we must be ever mindful of our people’s rights under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and Article One of the Revised Constitution of American Samoa — most notably the right to freedom of speech and expression.”

Interesting. I wonder if the same applies to the Veto Override Referendum that he supports.

In his latest cabinet meeting, Lolo is reported as telling his cabinet, “It is time to make that change, I think for us, it is time to be democratically free we should decide, as this is the time for us to take the challenge and step up to the plate and give the Fono authority to override the governor’s veto.

”…I feel for us to be free, this authority should be given to the legislature, to override the governor’s veto and have the final say.”

Lolo said he has discussed this with the DOI and it appears that there is no problem. “If anything, the federal government wants us to pursue a free democratic society and for us to govern ourselves.

“…and our people must be educated so when they cast their votes, they know what they are endorsing,” he said.

I’m sorry: I’m going to use Lolo’s own words when he spoke about the signage ban, “This could be interpreted by some as infringing upon their right…” and you can name the right it’s stepping all over and that’s the one… Because, if you are going to use taxpayers money to get the word out about the referendum, you must present both sides of the coin — the pros and cons. That’s democracy… GONG!

I will repeat my side of the argument for what it’s worth: It’s not a democracy when you hand power — the final say — over to men or women who are not elected by the people. While, I understand that the “tama o le atunu’u” are supposed to be noted for their wisdom, I offer this simple thought: “Absolute power, corrupts absolutely”… A check and balance system is the only thing that will stop this corruption… “People First” … GONG!

SENATORS

The word is officially out — the tama o le atunu’u don’t think people should speak ill of them and the people’s opinions were likened to “le pola e motu i tua” —those” torn blinds at the back of the house” — not worthy of attention. Oh and by the way, they are doing their due diligence — not just sitting there ‘eating sweat’ (ai afu).

I agree… we knew you felt that way, because why else would you continue to sit there — year after year, day after day —doing the same thing: Grabbing more money, Grabbing more perks… Grabbing more power… GONG!

MASI

Here’s a bubble that needs bursting: the Miss American Samoa pageant needs to be moved to new management, away from MASI — I’m for the American Samoa Visitor’s Bureau — but that’s just my personal opinion.

It all has to do with the complaints about pageant organization. It’s poor! It’s lousy. I’m tired of hearing them — Do something! Perhaps this is what calls for the governor’s intervention? Order the ASVB to take it over as one of its marketing products, home grown and Pacific grown, part of the Moso’oi Week celebration. They have a budget now of $800k plus… it can’t be all about traveling?

This has nothing to do with the sponsors or the girls that come forward every year to brave the stage and public scrutiny. As a person whose company gets a corporate table every year, I thank you sponsors and pageant participants for doing the best with what you are given to work with — I’m talking about the current management of the pageant by MASI.

Asked for a comment about the pageant this year being labeled as the “worst pageant ever”, the MASI president told Samoa News while there are those who criticized the pageant, “maybe it’s because those are the supporters of one of the contestants that did not win, because that is always the case.” She assured that MASI learns from its experiences and moves forward.

Ummm… NOT! … GONG!

It’s the same complaints for the last few years — not enough food and drinks (they charge $600 per corporate table, that’s $100 per person, aside from the $20 per person for seating only), lousy food, lousy music, lousy sound system, stage decorations look like something off the plantation umu, MCs look lost, and it’s too long. Sponsors for their lack of mention or coverage before and during the pageant — are treated like second-hand clothes, the girls themselves look bewildered sometimes up there, and it’s always ‘sardine-packed’ — they over sell the event.

And, now there are questions about accountability for the money it makes or doesn’t make? Has anyone seen a MASI financial statement? Or has that gone the way of the pageant? GONG!