The sentiments of OLP followers are summarised succinctly and beautifully in a comment just in from a reader . . . she shows indignation, a desire for exposure and for change, but also a desire to understand and to want the best for Samoa. I expand and explain how this is outworking amongst the Samoan Diaspora. Enjoy.

The Samoan Prime Minister Tuila’epa is coming under serious attack as long term activist and anonymous online blogger O Le Palemia (OLP) gains traction.

Accusing the PM of a raft of corruption, and for a long time too, OLP has really taken it to the ‘old man’ up there in Samoa and the criticisms are starting to bite. He’s already tried to find OLP using the Police [that failed!]. He’s recently instructed the Attorney General to reinstate criminalisation of libel [and actually quoted OLP as the source of this request]. Some of his team have instructed their staff to remove all Likes and Follows to OLP’s Facebook pages and aparently interviewed the ones that did [holy sh*t!]. Government employees are specifically prohibited from joining a political march under direct threat of losing their jobs. [Dictatorship or freedom of thought? This conduct is reminiscent of Nazi Germany and the feared SS, or Communism and the KGB, or China and the underground churches, not surely peaceful ‘Christian’ Samoa, founded upon God!]

These are all the signs of either paranoia (if the claims of OLP are the bleating of a nutcase) or probably more realistically, recognition that OLP’s onto him.

It is telling that OLP’s questions have not been met with evidence to the contrary. Makes you think eh?

A recent comment sums up the sentiments of the people (particularly the off-shore Samoans, but increasing numbers of on-island Samoans too) beautifully. Her comments are worthy of reflection, and give a great demonstration of human nature. Let’s hear her in full before I have my say:

I have been following OLP, and I support everything that has been mentioned in regards to the corrupt PM, his minister’s in Govt and family members. We need to act now, we need to address this to the elderly people of Samoa, we need to protest his position and annoint an educated, intelligent candidate who can run Samoa in a proper fashion, with morals, of family values, respect, common ground with our people, we need a born leader, with a vision with direction, a bright future, and to make our country prosper.

I have had enough of this greedy self centred idiotic individual whose only goal in life is to feed his own fat ego, abuse his power, use and abuse any monetary gifts, living like he’s the king of Pop, when he’s the King of Flop, uses bribery as a means of control and the list just goes on…..

I honestly don’t know how he can sleep at night knowing that he has only dug a bigger hole for himself, how sad would that be, to know that, you as PM will be exposed for what you have done in the two decades. Why our people of Samoa are suffering, why the economy is slowly fading. I cannot recall anything extravagant or in good deed that this man has produced for Samoa. And I gladly applaud OLP and all the supporters out here in Aus, NZ and abroad to expose, dispose this individual for who he really is, who ever you are, keep up the good work.

Time to oust this incompetent loser for good. Samoa deserves a leader with compassion, respect and vision.

Whew! She doesn’t mince her words does she? And it is a rich resource for understanding the people and how they feel.

Commentary

Let’s get started.

I have been following OLP, and I support everything that has been mentioned in regards to the corrupt PM, his minister’s in Govt and family members.

This lady has followed OLP. There are thousands of people who have done this and are following him. I have too. I really kicked into full attention mode quite recently though when OLP claimed that Tuila’epa knew about the political assassination before it occurred and that there was no way Tuila’epa was the intended target. That was a real face-palm moment for me. “Well duh!” I thought. NOTHING gets past the old man. NOTHING. Of course he will have known about it, and OLP’s words rang so true to me.

Realising that Tuila’epa could have either engineered that event, and if he didn’t actually arrange it, then knew about it was a turning point for me. Of course he knew. Of course. Of course. You’d be NUTS not to think this. I’d spent heaps of time with him in the early days of my stay in Samoa. I’d crossed swords with him; written the book Corruption in Samoa, exposed his Mistress, gotten booted out for my troubles and yet I still fell for the line that Tuila’epa was the “intended target”. I can tell you that OLP really had my serious attention at that point.

As I started to analyse OLP’s materials, there was an overwhelming sense that he was onto it, not just a bleating whinging naysayer, but a man dedicated to the truth, and that his bitterness at Tuila’epa’s corrupt leadership was indeed valid. As an investigator, and a truthseeker, I am experienced in digesting ‘stories’. OLP’s work has what we call an “internal consistency” where the message is the same, never diverges, cannot be ‘broken’ with internal consistencies, or realistic factual challenges. it’s the sort of thing that my blog does too – 1.5 million words that speak the truth, day after day after year after year. I liar can’t even speak 10 minutes without conflicting statements, let alone speak for so long like OLP does with the same story.

Tuila’epa’s words and conduct has the opposite impact – it reeks of opportunism, political BS and yes, clear signs of the self-interest and corruption that I have talked about and that OLP has been exposing.

We need to act now, we need to address this to the elderly people of Samoa, we need to protest his position and annoint an educated, intelligent candidate who can run Samoa in a proper fashion, with morals, of family values, respect, common ground with our people, we need a born leader, with a vision with direction, a bright future, and to make our country prosper.

What a dream!

This lady’s vision is echoed in the bible. Global consciousness change, Nirvana and enlightenment are also the desire of many other religions too. Unfortunately while this dream is held by most caring and sensitive people, we live in the real world, a fallen world and she is unlikely to see this in her lifetime.

Remember what they did to the last dude who met her criteria . . . a couple of thousand years ago? The Master? That’s what people-power and politics does to you when you take a stance for good.

Just putting my own situation into the mix here for a minute too, and no, I don’t claim to be Jesus, but I did sacrifice all to love and help and bless and do the right things for Samoa for seven years. I got the same treatment from the old man (and many others too I might add). And why? Because I had the audacity to hold him to account. He sinned. He got himself compromised and then ripped me off over another ‘fat floozy’ who spreads her legs to get power. If people really knew what happened to and around me, the PM and Sonja, they would be soooooo disgusted and livid with these leaders, they’d lynch them both. And if you think that’s just bitterness on my part and very un-Christian to say, tell the Master He shouldn’t have called the crooks he named a “brood of vipers” and “children of the Devil”.

Yes, it’s a great dream she has here, but it’s a dream nonetheless. Yes for sure, she and others can ask their people to raise up leaders who can do it right. Yes, she should continue to pray for this to occur. Yes, she should believe and hope for and work for it. Jesus Himself taught us to petition “Thy Kingdom come” which is a prayer specifically for this dream to occur . . . but [and there is a but] it won’t be happening overnight, sorry to say.

I have had enough of this greedy self centred idiotic individual whose only goal in life is to feed his own fat ego, abuse his power, use and abuse any monetary gifts, living like he’s the king of Pop, when he’s the King of Flop, uses bribery as a means of control and the list just goes on…..

So here she lets her feelings out. This is the disgust that I was just talking about coming out into the open.

She lists the things that frustrate her:

1. greedy
2. self centred
3. idiotic
4. feed[ing] his own fat ego
5. abus[ing] his power
6. use and abuse any monetary gifts
7. living like he’s the king of Pop, when he’s the King of Flop [cute]
8. bribery
9. control

Apart from (7.) and perhaps (4.) which may be a bit of value-based judgements, these are all frustrations built on provable reality. The people know it too.

The thing also is that these are not new claims. Many people would switch off their TVs or make negative comments about Tuila’epa if/when he came on TV. I’ve said previously that he is not widely liked. Sure that doesn’t necessarily mean that a leader is not doing good things for the country. Tui’s problem though now, politically, is that he is not just unliked, as his corruption gets out more and more, the respect that he’s had, as leader is dropping fast. Samoans culturally always respect their leadership – that’s why the faifeaus have it all their way.

The process that is underway with Tuila’epa losing respect is common in political circles. People come in with a vote based on promises, bribes or faith in a political party; the ones voted power do their thing for a while; dissatisfaction increases; then their time on the stage is done and they move on or are moved on. The process repeats.

I honestly don’t know how he can sleep at night knowing that he has only dug a bigger hole for himself, how sad would that be, to know that, you as PM will be exposed for what you have done in the two decades.

That’s a common sentiment – not able to understand how he can be or do what he does. The reason is because most people don’t really understand the nature of political power, which as they say corrupts. Jesus refused it. Tuila’epa actively sought it.

Tuila’epa is an astute politician. He has the power and he knows how to use it. He doesn’t understand the modern age and technology; he has no vision and is an opportunist. With power you don’t need God, you can make decisions (even of life and death) and your thinking is governed by the power (and responsibility) that you have. Your conscience becomes seared and you are trapped in the hell-hole that you have dug for yourself.

Tuila’epa has made some god-awful decisions in the past. He can justify his poor decisions today because he had the power to decide given to him previously and he exercised that power. I’ll give you two examples of this:

1. The .WS namespace. Before the DOT-COM bubble and the rise of the Internet, Tuila’epa along with Octevi from CSL (which was a government entity) sold the entire .WS namespace to a private company offshore. They were ripped off, and big-time. It is hard for me to explain how big a mistake this was. Not one event in Samoa’s recent history shows how stupid the PM is than this. Maybe his involvement in the political assassination might be greater because it involved human life but this single act equivalent to selling not the crown jewels or the golden eggs, but the goose that laid the golden eggs or the gold mines of the King. No other country on the planet would be so stupid as to do this – he did. This is an ongoing goldmine of millions, tens of millions, and now probably hundreds of millions that should have been coming into Samoa but instead goes offshore to a private company. What can the man do about this? It is too big of an error to explain, to even talk about. He’s trapped. He must lie or hide because to confess would bring him and his power into huge disrepute. Samoa is a laughing stock in the IT industry because of this stupidity. Can you see how this previous decision holds him captive?

2. Then there is his Mistress. Once he’s compromised, he’s then captive to her every whim. This the way of immorality isn’t it? This is why she has her contract renewed every three years. This is why STA has such a poor track record; and why people say “Tui & Sonja are close!” without ever talking about the sexual relationship that everyone knows existed but nobody dares mention! This is why she is the last one out of his office after every meeting. This is why he [painfully I might add] ripped us off and in the end had no choice but to boot me out. I wouldn’t go voluntarily and I was a threat.

Multiply that all by 20 years and extend it across the entire portfolio of the PM and you can see how cognitive dissonance has to become the norm. He has no choice BUT to make decisions, minute by minute, day by day and justify them to himself. That’s what he sought for himself – power. He’s got it. He has to sleep at night, so the human brain finds ways to justify his lifestyle and cope with his lot. It’s the same as a child who has a severe abuse situation at home who has no choice but to go to school and smile and do what’s required of them.

I suspect that as he ponders things, and he does, he would wish that he’s done things differently, perhaps in regards to me and certainly in regards to some of his bigger cock-ups, but as a Samoan Matai and PM he could never admit to an error, or say sorry.

Why our people of Samoa are suffering, why the economy is slowly fading. I cannot recall anything extravagant or in good deed that this man has produced for Samoa.

This is a common sentiment and is widespread but Tui’s supporters don’t see it this way – it is only really his detractors that claim NOTHING good has come from him. I can list lots of good things “he has done”.

The other thing is that he is a PM and has a team around him. He is quite right that he is not fully responsible for all decisions. He is however at the top so he must get the brickbats and bouquets, eventually.

And I gladly applaud OLP and all the supporters out here in Aus, NZ and abroad to expose, dispose this individual for who he really is, who ever you are, keep up the good work.

There you go OLP . . . take a bow.

Time to oust this incompetent loser for good. Samoa deserves a leader with compassion, respect and vision.

Yup! Let’s change the world at the same time eh?

Sadly this is unlikely to occur with the removal of one snake-head. I do not advocate removal of Tuila’epa from the political position he is in. This will simply bring in another “talking head” and would probably be worse. Instead my advice is for this lady and her ilk to do the right thing herself. When she hears the voice of the Lord and does it, whatever it is, in the power of the Holy Spirit the world WILL become a better place.

I’ve blogged about this previously and it’s probably one of the hardest things for us to understand – WE are the ones who empowered the idolatrous systems of Samoa when we voted, used their interest-bearing currencies and schemes, and put Fa’a Samoa above the Lord. WE are the ones who sustain TPTB through submission to their laws. OLP is dead right when he stands tall and says:

Every Samoan ought to remember this: There is no one above you. Live as a free person. Stop thinking and living like a slave to others. You were born into this world to be free. Don’t let others with their evil intentions tell you what to do, to become what they want you to become and think what they want you to think and believe.

“OLP was never born a slave – OLP was born a free man. OLP was born a free Spirit.”

Then if we want lasting change we must submit that spirit to THE Spirit.

Thank you to this lady for putting her thoughts in writing. Thank you too for reading. There’s more to come on this subject – a lot more!

One of the challenges facing an outsider commenting on another culture is that one can be seen as a sticky-beak, without proper understanding, without the requisite knowledge of the local culture. I believe this is a false characterisation if applied to me due to my extensive work adjusting to, enjoying and participating in the Samoan culture & lifestyle when I lived there. But that’s for debate.

What is not up for debate is the assessment that I bring AS a Palagi (foreigner) discussing the issue of engaging and perhaps investing into Samoa. This is where I am clearly in the best position to analyse and advise. My basic advice is NOT to invest, most certainly if your planned investment is intended for profit or capital retention. There is a 99% probability that an investor into Samoa will not see a return, ever, either by way of positive cashflow or a return of capital, and there are a hundred reasons why not.

There are a couple of exceptions which I know of. YP from Fiji did very well when he bought the Tanoa. He timed it well and got a massive boost from market events having refurbished at the perfect time while others were just getting started. He wouldn’t do so well now though. The Aussies who run the top resort Seabreeze on the South Coast have also carved out a nice little niche operation but again they did it well, timed it well and set the standard. There are a couple of larger companies that have a dominant role in telecommunications that have done quite nicely, but that’s pretty much it. They won’t fess up about it, but the multinationals struggle too in Samoa.

There are quite a few successful businesses run by foreigners – Chinese in particular – also Caucasians but this is generally lifestyle investing where [typically] a Palagi will marry local then immigrate and stay, bringing their capital and/or skills & work ethics into the marketplace. One foreign-owned business provided a long-term employment opportunity but recently closed. This was the exception.

What is much more common though is the sort of thing that I did and experienced. We, as Palagi, come into the new culture, and for us a new opportunity with Western ideas, do something (or in my case several things) and then generally leave (or in my case get booted out) having lost the shirt off our backs. Legion are the stories of Palagi losing their investments in Samoa and it’s not just the ‘lying, greedy, dishonest Samoans’ fault either.

Problems

Let’s go through some of the factors that influence success as an investor:

1. The Government
Tuila’epa makes a big song and dance about political stability, especially to foreign investors. He is right of course. What is not known, certainly until quite recently is how that is achieved. View Samoan politics from even partial knowledge and you can see a festering cesspit of greed and self-interest – what we in the West call corruption, or at best, extreme nepotism. Those who have something to give the people in power – be it at a central government level, local government (the village matais) or the religious leaders get the nod. What one needs to understand, and this is the barb on the hook, is that this “assistance” is not a once-off, nor a fixed arrangement. It is ongoing and it increases as Samoans require increasingly more “assistance” from the honeypot. In Samoa a deal is only a deal as long as it suits the Samoans. OLP has been sharing how the tips to those in power need to grow over time in order for things to remain “facilitated”. In the West we call this bribery or extortion. Samoans at all levels of society (especially those in power) see it as a right. It’s the norm.

2. Cross Cultural Issues
It is not possible to explain the differences between the two cultures in a way that a Palagi can properly understand the Samoan culture, certainly before investment occurs. This is because culture at heart, and especially Samoan, is a changing beast* and the culture has to be learned by imbibing, not taught. The bottom line is that an off-shore investor (and this can be a Westernised Samoan OR a Palagi) simply cannot understand nor play the game as the locals do. In fact the ex-pat Samoan has considerably MORE chance of losing all than a Palagi investor because Samoans know and understand how to use and abuse their own better. When you deal in cultural matters with manipulators you will find the goal-posts changing. The thing one needs to understand is that one CAN never fully understand and comply with cultural requirements. In simple terms this means that one will be paying forever, one way or another just in order to keep your investment or business afloat. This is the key reason that Palagi leave Samoa in disgust. They think, “Samoans are sneaky, dishonest and manipulative!” They are right. The Samoans think that the Palagi are rich and therefore should “feed them” forever, after all it is their land/beach/country or whatever. In their eyes they have that right.

3. Economies of Scale/Logistics
The Samoan islands are a small market miles from anywhere. Most investors do not understand the dynamics of being an island state in the middle of the Pacific. We view opportunity in both volume and commercial sense from a Western mindset which brings processes designed and proven for a different scale. The logistics of bringing a machine, or brand or product or service to market in Samoa is substantially different to that in the West. Add in cultural tendencies and you have a recipe for trauma if not outright failure. We might view the island ways with jealousy when looking at a laid-back approach to life when we’re on holiday and wanting to have more of it. An investor though will look at this as laziness and hate it with a passion. If for example you have a resort and think to pay a Samoan girl twice as much and expect her to work twice as hard is stupid for she’ll want to just work half the hours.

4. Competition & Adversity
Samoans seek to have the latest, in terms of ideas and to look good. If you do something new or unusual and it is successful, you will lose that competitive edge instantly as Samoans will copy or clone your success. For years the renting of motor scooters was limited. Over a two year period every man and his dog seemed to bring in scooter after scooter and they are now ubiquitous. If there is a commercial opportunity of note, you won’t get it, unless the government needs something. Then they will get what they want and go into opposition with you, so that your investment is lost. Likewise with resorts, construction, product development, services – across the board. It’s a repeating pattern – take the Palagi’s ideas (or money) and then kick him out.

Ways to Invest

But Samoa is not a closed door totally, there are ways that investors can invest and survive.

Marriage
The first one is to marry locally, immigrate and run your business with your family support. This is a proven business model that mixes the capital and expertise with the assets of land and labour. It is a wild ride for most Palagi doing this but it can work, for the brave! Challenges abound, as Samoans see the Palagi who has married into their family as a source of supply – money, influence (usually to get out of Samoa and to live offshore) etc – but it is possible.

Local Partnership
The second is to partner with a local businessman. Indians do this well, partnering with a Samoan with land or business opportunities; Chinese tend to do this with their own; Palagi generally find it hard because we want to own it all ourselves but this arrangement can work. You get the local knowledge and political influence. You do the bulk of the work but share the profits – in theory!

Cold Investing
Cold investment is a recipe for disaster. In my experience, reading government issued marketing materials, coming to Samoa and expecting to do business is almost certainly unwise.

Family Support
Lastly I turn to the issue of family investing, and here this mainly applies to ex-pat Samoans or Samoans born and bred overseas returning to help family. Typically they bring money, a deep desire to help and often a wish for change. All three things are red rag to a bull for local Samoans. They are wined and dined and honoured when the money flows; their desire to help is milked for all it is worth and change occurs readily when the ex-pat or “Westernised” Samoan is there, then reverts to the lowest common denominator the instant the outside influence has gone. Samoans from off-shore have a brutal experience when attempting to re-engage with their on-islands relatives. Three years is tops and then they mostly all return back overseas, mostly disillusioned, often bitter and hopefully a little wiser.

Watching this from the outside is ugly and painful. I understand both sides of this equation and I know the way that when you have nothing, you tend to look at people with something as a target. Our desire is to plug into their resources and when we are on a roll, it is so easy to push for more and more from those that give. It’s basic human nature. But from the outsider’s perspective it hurts to be bled unfairly, especially when their desire to help is not appreciated by the recipient. Many a time I have gone back to our investments and seen devastation as things have been abandoned, stripped or simply vandalised. One wonders why we should bother in the first place.

Motives

Which brings us to motive. A key part of the decision to invest must be to analyse one’s motive. If it is to profit . . . pass Samoa by without a second look. Dubai, London and New York offer infinitely more opportunity. Even Australia & New Zealand are 100x safer for a profit-based business. I would NEVER invest into Samoa is profit was a major requirement of investing. Never.

Then at the other end of the investing spectrum sits philanthropy – the idea that by investing we can help a nation and people that have greater need than ours. Unfortunately this “cargo cult” exists in strong measure in Samoa, particularly in and around adverse events such as the 2009 Tsunami, Cyclones such as Ofa, Val & [more recently] Evan. Samoans as a people know instinctively who to say thank you, and they do it VERY well. Unfortunately this is a poisoned chalice as giving often perpetuates poor thinking and self-interest. There are ways to give, and to invest to help constructively but these are not easy, they time to establish and are a lot harder to manage than straight out charity, or even philanthropic investing.

In the middle of these two extremes there are also a range of opportunities and structures where it is possible to invest and to achieve returns and achieve social benefit. It is hard though and fraught with danger. From what I know and have seen, unless you have very good partners, a deep understanding of Samoan ways, failure is very likely.

There is one other niche that I prefer not to encourage but can be successful investing and that is the dark arts of money laundering, crime and crooked business dealings of all manner. Samoa is an open book for these people. The public are largely uneducated, greedy and suckers for a quick buck. Tricky Palagi can do quite well if they are smarter than those they deal with and play the game well. I have neither interest or need to assist these people with advice. They do quite well without me!

Summary

Investing into a corrupt society like Samoa is a fool’s game. Cultural differences; social norms; greed and self-interest best described as excessive or extreme nepotism, if not outright endemic corruption conspire against a foreign investor. It can be done, depending on the level of support, luck and one’s capacity to ‘play the game’ [hint, hint, bribe] but it is a very hard road to hoe and inadvisable for most, and it’s particularly hard for off-shore raised, ex-pat Samoans.

* Jesus worked cross-culturally. He listened only to His Father and only did what He wanted. When we submit to a culture, any culture, of necessity we move from loving and respecting absolutes into a grey area. Samoan culture is literally an idol to most Samoans. It’s understandable but the proof of the pudding is that if or when the Samoan culture is shown to be ungodly in one area, biblical values get altered to fit. This the root cause of ungodliness where half-truths, and diplomacy that avoids hard issues in order to keep the peace. This is a noble goal of course but it’s one that grates with those who work with absolutes and causes conflict with the godly. We hate the way a Samoan breaks a deal for “cultural reasons” when we pay for their “flexibility”. So too does the Lord, for the flexibility simply  never ends . . . idolatry.

In this post I share a private (and thus far confidential) communication to Samoa’s CEO Tourism, Sonja Hunter, issued at the height of our conflict with STA. I do it in an effort to show that her inevitable shame, disgracing and downfall as knowledge that she’s the PM’s Mistress kicks in, was not a result of an effort by me to destroy someone who attempted to destroy me, but in fact occurred in spite of my best efforts to help her and Samoa. Sadly though, those with flakey morals and the hypocrisy to go with it are not ones to take advice, especially good, biblically based advice. If it’s possible to enjoy this sort of stuff, enjoy . . . 

In September 2016, the Minister of Samoan Immigration (PM Tuila’epa) evicted me, a Palagi guest in his country. He had to break the law to do it as I was a legitimate visitor on a legitimate visitor’s visa at the time, as did his department staff who had to also lie and break the law to get me out, but they achieved this. I lost all.

Why was a straight-shooting Palagi guy, one who had been in Samoa for seven years and gave all for the people booted out? Because the PM was worried that I would publish the book Corruption in Samoa in which one thing, and one thing only worried him . . . exposure of his immoral relationship with his Mistress, and CEO of Tourism, Papalii Sonja Hunter. To date, I have shared only details about the PM. I have shared my thoughts and exposed him personally. In this post I share more of the woman whom he preferred, lifted, protected and whom will forever eventually be known as his “girl”, Sonja.

I’ve recently responded to a comment on my blog that referred to the PM & Sonja’s relationship as a “romantic affair”. That’s not a correct characterisation as it implies a short-term fling. Their immorality has gone on for way more than a decade that I know of. This is serious stuff covered up by many means. I’ve also commented that Samoans’ jest and laughter thinking of these two having it off is a disgrace – an insult to the God that they claim to worship. Jesus didn’t die to enjoy people doing it on the fifth floor when they pretend to be sold out to him. He required that His people sacrifice themselves for others; He required integrity and good. He also called a spade a spade. I now turn to share a little more about my take on Sonja, a woman skilled in the art of manipulation and power games . . . her life now sadly about to change, most likely for the worse as word gets out from under the on-island political and social cover-ups and into the Samoan diaspora.

Sonja (and her husband) have received huge personal benefits under Tuila’epa’s sponsorage. She and her husband (and others) secured ownership of TV1 from the government. Woah! She has been CEO of Tourism for multiple terms, despite performance that equates to no more than “bureaucratic stability”, when (as [the late] Bev Barlow said to me more than once) we really need some creativity. To say that these two at the top are “close” is an understatement.

According to my read of things, giving your body to a man of power for personal gain is simply prostitution. Personally I think that Tuila’epa is a fool, a fool to think he would get away with it; a fool to take me on and try to cover up by exporting me; and a fool to choose to sow his oats with a manipulator like Sonja.

In my investigations I have established proof of their sexual relationship going back to 2008 when one of the Old Man’s staff walked in on one session when they forgot to lock the door. The poor staff member was beside herself and needed serious consoling on exit after stumbling into an act of immorality occurring on the floor. I feel for her, as I do for those who too are now learning who their leader really is, and despite the efforts to cover-up and deceive. As I have said directly to the PM on my Palemia website, the shame that these guys have brought and will continue to bring is a HUGE blot on Samoa’s proud history. It’s simply a huge, disgusting display of hypocrisy and evil. To my thinking the thought that every dignitary who has visited Samoa has unknowingly walked over the same carpet that these two have ‘shagged’ on and shaken hands with a man’s hand when I know where it has been, sends shivers up my spine.

That Sonja Hunter and her husband have got away with the immorality, yes even profited from it says a lot about Samoans and Samoa. People have known for years – not all I grant you, but a lot and as I raised the subject and simply chatted and asked questions when I lived there, it was clear that this really was common knowledge. People, especially in the tourism industry feared Sonja’s power. She not only had the power to hurt your business, she would also use it, so it was not possible to speak up without risking destroying your own families income.

This is the ugly side of corruption, immorality and sin – there is a human cost.

But there is also another side, and I think it is important for me to share this now, something that most people in Samoa do not know about me and how I read godliness, and it is that I care about people, including the lost, like Sonja, and the PM. Even as Sonja Hunter was two-faced, claiming to serve and to be appointed by the same God as mine yet screwing the PM as she chose, I was reaching out to her behind the scenes seeking to mend apparently burned bridges. For example in August 2011 when serious sh*t was going down I wrote her a long email attempting to explain, and build bridges. My wife also attempted to do the same at the same time. I quote from this email, at the time marked Private & Confidential, so that people can see that speaking publicly about someone and exposing their misconduct does not necessarily mean that you hate them, or are out to get them.

Much of Sonja’s venom against myself, and the SWAP Foundation was based on self-preservation – attack being the best form of defence when threatened. The same for the PM – he did what he did so that he could protect his powerbase and credibility. I was also working hard behind the scenes for sanity to prevail – unsuccessfully.

In the interests of disclosure, designed to show the motive for exposure is not personal, I share here that on 6th August 2011, in a 4257 word email entitled “Personal & Confidential” followed up by a supporting email from my wife I said this:

Hi Sonja

I’m writing this in a personal capacity, as if we were sitting down over a beer, away from work things, and without others around. I’ve discussed the ideas and concepts extensively with [my wife], and a few of them with my trusted friends and some close business colleagues. If anything contained within here is wrong, as a result of misunderstanding, guesswork or assumption on my part, I’m sorry and I stand open to correction.

Sonja did not respond.

1. UNDERSTANDING
The first and most important thing I want to say is that I UNDERSTAND. Please do not be deceived or misled in this regard. I do not always get things right “first up”, but I am deep. I constantly ask questions, and I always get to the bottom of things. This gives me a degree of wisdom that very often challenges those around me. No, I’m not God’s gift to mankind, and I’m not perfect, but I do understand people and things around me a lot more than most people think or realise, and it will help our relationship enormously if you can reframe the way that you look at me, and SWAP, knowing, or at least believing that I UNDERSTAND. I think that I understand you a lot more than you realise. Some of this is as a result of my personality; some of it is a gifting from the Lord; and some of it is just having learned from the school of hard knocks, pushing the doors and boundaries around me over several decades. Whatever the reason, I think you will find that truly, I am “onto it”.

2. CARING
It may sound a falsehood to you at the moment when I say that I CARE (about you personally, about STA, about Samoa and Tourism and more) but it is absolute fact. [My wife] and I want to lift you and help you, and we genuinely want to see you succeed – as a CEO, STA as an organisation and you as a sister in Christ. We really do care. The reason that we push so hard and are forcing matters with you and STA is because we do care. If we didn’t, we would be blogging about you, STA and Samoa with everything that we had against you, trying to pull you down. Bloggers can have a lot of influence because (unlike the printed media) our words remain online forever, and if you know what you are doing online (which we do) we can move into an industry, a subject or a country and dominate thought in that space. Many people have learned the hard way that bloggers who have a following have enormous influence – for good or for evil. The Lord knows that Samoa doesn’t need any more “knockers” so we’re not, and we won’t. We will not pull others down, unless we have exhausted all possibilities to do good, and even then we will only speak the truth and it is the Lord who will do the work removing any obstacle to His purposes. We will always speak the truth, hopefully in love. By the way, while our understanding of how to use the Internet like this can be used for hurt, this knowledge is the very reason that we can achieve so much for STA and Samoa online. It is a two-edged sword.

Sonja and the STA under her leadership continued to actively do many things to destroy the SWAP Foundation and my personal credibility.

3. WORKING WITH STA
The PM has told [my wife] and me more than once that he wants us to work with STA. He has also said that he has instructed you to trust him in his judgement call and that we can be a real asset to the country (in as many words).

I would note here that Tui’s actual words were to support us 200%. Yes, a direct quote!

My take on this is that if we respect his leadership (and I know that both you and I do) then we MUST work together. Realistically neither of us have an option in the matter. If the PM says to us “OK, give up trying to work with STA, just go and do your own thing” then we will. We have told the PM more than once: “If you want us to go away and do our own thing, just let us know and we will”, but he has ALWAYS said just, “Leave it to me . . . I’ll have a word with Sonja”. Nothing more. As we said in the last communication to you, unless we have things wrong or he changes his instructions to us, then we believe that we MUST push through and get STA/SWAP working together constructively.

I explained what actually happened in the book Corruption in Samoa, when the Tuila’epa buckled to Sonja’s wish and he reneged (ripped us off).

4. A BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP
[My wife] and I are acutely aware that developing a partnership with another organisation like SWAP is a new, and potentially challenging step for STA, and for most likely for yourself. I first offered my services to you, and Misa and Tuila’epa in early October 2009 – the first week of October actually. As you know, we have yet to reach first base. As you can also see, we’re patient. We set up SWAP, and I relocated to Samoa, and [my wife] followed later, to do what we are currently doing despite not having any contract with you or Misa. A good working relationship with STA is central to our work, life and ministry. Sure, we can do it alone without your support, and we’d probably do quite well and make good money, but this is not the best thing for Samoa. [My wife] and I are pragmatic enough to face reality and do our own thing if we are forced to do so BUT that would be our “Plan B”. We are people of faith however, who believe that we SHOULD be working with you, and we will not stop us”working at it” to achieve what we believe is the right thing. Put simply, we are not going away, and we are not giving up. Put even more crudely, if SWAP cannot develop a partnership with STA within the next three years with you, we’ll wait, believing that when the time is right, the Lord will put in place people that will be able to develop a working relationship between the two organisations.

This is indeed what happened and that we had hundreds of guests through despite the active efforts of Sonja and her team attempting to destroy our operations is nothing short of a miracle!

Sonja, this is not a threat – it is simply me trying to show you that we’ve been knocking on your door now for 18 months, actively working with the PM for almost a year, and trying to show you that we’re totally committed. Just as the pig said to the chicken that the farmers breakfast of bacon and eggs meant a different level of sacrifice to each of them, we too have made a step of faith and sacrificed much to come here. We believe that STA and SWAP should and WILL be working together. Hopefully this will be soon, but definitely eventually.

5. MATTERS OF FAITH
A large part of our determination to do what we are doing stems from our faith. This is not simply the fact that we love the Lord and are Christians. For me, it is faith stemming from an extended encounter that I had with the Lord in Fusi Safata in October 2009. When we have a moment to relax and chat, I will be happy to share details of this extraordinary sequence of life-changing events. You will likely be speechless and will have a much deeper appreciation of who we are, why we are here and the amazing creative, loving God that cared so much about Samoa, [my wife], you and me, that He engineered such a sequence of events as has happened and is happening. It is as we all push forward into His will that things get done. When the time is right, you can ask me to share with you the miracles that have occurred around me personally, and of course SWAP and [my wife] over the last year or two while we have been in Samoa. Sonja, we do not need a high profile visiting evangelist to visit Samoa. We need small people, like you and me to listen to the Lord, humble ourselves and do what He wants us to do, in faith. That is how Christ worked and what He taught us. It was nothing about show or greatness or anything major – it is always small. That is all that [my wife] and I are trying to do.

I consider this a hugely important comment and one that repeats in my mind day after day in regards to Samoa and my own existence. We tend to want the spectacular and think that the little things (like immorality) don’t matter. They do. Absolutely they do!

My role is to spearhead things; to push forward; to confront, challenge, teach and lead in new areas, so that God will be glorified and the work will get done. [my wife’s] calling is different. Her calling is to come to Samoa and support me in the work. I assure you that Samoa is the last place on earth she wants to be, except that I am here, and she naturally shares the vision. Shortly, [my wife] will be writing to you personally, sharing what is on her heart, but from a Christian perspective we believe that the Lord wants our two organisations (and particularly you and me personally) to work together. It is therefore for us a faith thing to push forward, to speak like this, to constantly seek what we seek.

6. THE BEST
It may seem like we’re out to pull you down; to knock you or to fight with you. I understand how threatening we could possibly be. Developing any partnership is a high risk activity, similar to establishing a marriage. While it can produce fruit, it requires commitment, communication and a developing relationship. This naturally creates opportunity for pain, hurt, conflict and we understand this well. The Lord was quite specific with me that I was to only work with the best in Samoa. This sounds logical and a simple thing to say, but for me, in the space that I was two years ago, with my background and business and life experience this request of me was a major issue and revolutionary. I have constantly worked on a budget. I have had to drag others less capable than me up and taught them to perform. Except for niche markets (like my public speaking and authorship in the IT industry) I’ve never had the guts to stand up and see myself as worthy of leading people that I previously looked up to. This all changed in 2009 when the Lord showed me what He wanted me to do, and showed me what He wanted for Samoa. He called me to do what I am doing because, to put it directly, I am the best man for the job. Without a doubt. I found myself launched into a country, and industry and a time in which my unique experiences, personality and giftings meant that I could do things that virtually nobody else could or would do. The knowledge that I was the best man for the job, and that He has given me this opportunity because I was, has driven me to work tirelessly, selflessly and in faith to speak to, seek and work with only the best at all times. It has also helped me to do and say things that to others may seem like arrogance and worse. This guidance from the Lord was a direct experience. It came out of the blue and was one of many concepts that have helped develop the SWAP Foundation, and our work in Samoa. The first thing I did, literally the FIRST thing, was go straight to Tuila’epa and spoke these words: “Hi. My name is Dennis. I am from New Zealand. I believe that the Lord . . . ” and I shared briefly that I was an Internet Marketing strategist, able and willing to help. But Sonja, this is not all about me, NOR about SWAP. It affects you too. If what I have just said in this paragraph is fact, then you too MUST (by the fact that Tuila’epa reappointed you and supports you) be the best person for the job, and you MUST be anointed and uniquely resourced to do the job. Please do not be confused by one communication from us that appears to accuse you of evil, and another that appears to acknowledge you as unique anointed to do the job. I will try to explain . . .

As I have tried to explain, people claim that their position is God-appointed thus because they have His authority, they have His blessing. Tui and Sonja both claim this. These are two separate issues. It is a logical fallacy to claim that one’s position, obtained through sexual favours or political manoeuvres gives credence to what we say or do because God ordained that authority! As can now be seen, these people have been fools, and have ZERO credibility in His eyes. Sonja could have done the right thing. She chose NOT to. There is a subtle but important difference.

7. FAILINGS AND FAILURE
I believe that STA under your leadership currently has some very serious weaknesses. Some of this is a result of Board direction and activities (or lack of) but some of it is directly attributable to you and your leadership, personality and style. Our last communication was quite direct, detailing several areas where we believe that you (and of course your team) have missed the boat so-to-speak and have been unprofessional in regards to dealing with us. To be quite frank Sonja, I actually don’t care about the past. I’ve spent a lifetime with people misunderstanding me and my motives, so I am well practiced at getting over things and progressing with people-relationships where problems have occurred in the past. I’m 100% focused on getting the job done, and that requires developing a strong relationship. The reason that I stayed up to 1.30am writing what I did, and again spending hours today writing trying to explain for you like I am is that I seek a strong relationship and good understanding. What we must do however to build a strong relationship is to face the facts, acknowledging the past and deal with it constructively. Just as I have to face the music when I say or do something wrong, or cause offence, you too must face your failings when they come to the surface. I believe that you and STA have failed us so far in several areas (already mentioned) that require you to step up to the plate, acknowledge and apologise for, so that we can get on with life. If this is genuine, then [my wife] and I will absolutely accept it, and help you to move forward. Failing is not failure per se, unless it is reinforced and defended. Failing is a possibility of course for us all at some time or place, but failure as a whole to us is not an option, and if we are working together we will not let STA fail, nor you personally.

Her offer to start afresh after a strong of problems wasn’t genuine and we all know why now, eh?

8. STA & PERCEPTIONS
Sonja, if you are still listening to me, I’d like to share with you some home truths about STA and how they, and you personally, are perceived in the industry. We know that we’re still outsiders and relative newcomers to your country and business but this is changing as we get our teeth into businesses and develop relationships here. We are still Palagi and always will be. We know that. We know and understand the culture of complaining, bickering, put-downs and the difficulties this places public servants in (and in fact anyone who wants to get ahead). In the course of 18 months I have been VERY active, talking to a wide range of people in the tourism industry and others and I have yet to meet one person, that has spoken positively about you. Three people have been neutral, between thirty to forty have been openly negative (some scathing) and [my wife] has been witness and party to probably a dozen or so of these people. This is a serious crisis Sonja for both you and STA. This is not Dennis or [my wife] out to get you. This is not just knockers out to knock. This is a clear consistent pattern from people at random over 18 months who all report the same things.

I want to clarify this further here so that you have maximum opportunity here to understand what I am trying to say. I am NOT saying that everybody else is RIGHT. I am NOT saying that you are not doing anything or that everything you say or do is wrong or ineffective. I am however saying two things:

First, STA is not seen as an active effective organisation, and secondly that you are not respected for your capacity to empathise, or to work constructively for the industry and DO what is required nor to listen to the industry.

In general, from what I have seen and experienced, I concur with the sentiments summarise above. Again, I’m not putting you down, it is how you come across, and how I see STA.

A note of clarification here . . . we have NOT gone to the industry saying “STA and/or Sonja sucks. Don’t you agree?” Most feedback has been generated from open questions about STA and/or yourself and not led by us. This has been the one factor that makes our analysis of your public perception so scary, and worrying – the fact that we did not seek negativity, but that there was widespread dissatisfaction, mostly unsolicited.

9. SWAP VISIONS & PLANS
[My wife] and I established the SWAP Foundation with more than a simple business idea in mind. Yes, voluntourism is a growing sector and suits Samoa well, but we did it following the visions that I experienced and mentioned above. One day I trust that you can hear the full extent of the visions (if it is possible to explain His visions in words! John struggled to do it in Revelation, but I will do the best I can!). Basically the Lord wants to use Samoa to bless and prepare selected people for end-times. Samoa has developed the ability to receive and has refined this process well, but it has yet to mature in the art of giving. Samoa has given of its people to the world with a large and increasing diaspora, but He has a specific role for the country in the absence of its brightest and best for end-times. I believe that the 2009 Tsunami and the associated $1billion of negative press created a unique set of circumstances from which He is setting up Samoa to have a steady stream of selected people, primarily Palagi but also a few key ex-pat Samoans come to its shores, experience some of His “magic” and then return to their own nations wiser, closer to Him and ready for end-times. Some (like us) will stay but the heart of the Lord is to develop Samoa into a resource that can give.

In 2011, these words were very early in my understanding of what the Lord wanted for Samoa. Wisdom is best defined as knowing the heart & mind of God in any given situation. Even today I view these words as the essence of Samoa’s role for the future . . . IF the Samoan people have an ear towards Him, and not the distractions of culture, self or power.

The Tsunami has affected tourism, and will continue to do so for many years, which has brought the country to its knees. It is from that weakness that His strength can shine. As we have people like you, me and our team who connect with Him, understand His vision, then do what He wants for us each individually then He can do the work that He wants. As with all things that He does, this will affect much more than one sector such as tourism. Our plans are to work in the tourism and IT fields developing value-adds and online systems that are scaleable and have viral replication for exponential Return On Investment. This is not pipe-dream nor is it just positive thinking. It is sound business strategy developed from extensive experience mentoring and advising companies at board level and shown to me by the Lord on how to apply into the Samoan context. Foreign investment and tourism are our targets using smart, well-thought out, modern and proven Internet Marketing strategies.

When we next meet we have specific new ideas and suggestions that can perhaps help break through professionally.

It never happened!

10. UNDERSTANDING DENNIS
In moving forward, it will be really important to understand me. A large part of this is trust. The more you can “get inside me” the more you will be able to trust me (and us) and get productive.

People who are trustworthy trust. Vias versa. “Mr” Hunter cannot trust his wife . . . but he knew that!

I am different. I’m much more than just a straight-shooter, or what they call a “creative-gifted”. I actually carry the role of prophet very comfortably. While it is hard for me personally, I have been used by the Lord increasingly frequently to bring a message of hope into peoples’ lives, often a hard message. I believe that the Lord has blessed me increasingly in this “ministry” because, believe it or not, I am genuinely humble in speaking the hard words. I have not a skerrick of malice in my blood toward you, and genuinely want to help you and lift you. In fact if you really want to know, I care more about you and STA than I do about myself and SWAP. I can say this because I know in my bones that the Lord has us in His hands and no matter what you or STA does or says, that He will achieve what He wants through or with us. It is from this position of strength (essentially one of faith) that it is really, really easy for [my wife] and me to reach out and help. In time I pray that you will see that my arrival has been an absolute blessing and that you can step aside more and more from doing things and fighting in your job and career and give the Lord the space and room to do miracles. Again this is nothing to do with Dennis, or [my wife], or SWAP, or in fact even the PM, but heaps to do with you and the Lord, and letting Him work in your life and career, so that He gets the glory.

Over the coming years, as the Palagi blogger who got booted out of Samoa for speaking it like it is, and for taking on the “Corrupt” PM Tuila’epa, I expect to have an increasing influence in those Samoans who care. This is the flip side of paying the price. While the crooks can gloat and continue their corruption, there will come a time when people, more and more, turn back to the ones like OLP, and me and thank us. This is a prophetic role that I perform – speaking it like it is, and it is a dangerous and sometimes scary game we play, but it is done for Him. People like Sonja and the PM Tuila’epa speak these words but put themselves above Him. It never works. He can never be mocked. Never!

11. PERSONAL
I now move into an area that is a mixture of assumption, guesswork, experience, revelation and faith. If I am wrong, forgive me, please. If I was chatting by the fireside, and you were still listening to me and wanted to know more, by now I would want to get up and give you a great big hug and say, truly Sonja, it’s OK, we’re all in this thing together. I wouldn’t of course, but that’s how I would be feeling. I think that there is something much deeper going on in your life in regards to Dennis, and SWAP and the PM. Some of the things that you have done and said are extraordinary to me. I see a defensiveness in you that is common to those that the Lord has used me to “talk to”. That you want to back off and seek counsel now, because you are “misunderstood” just at the very time that we are desperate to push through and achieve great things together indicates to me that something major is happening for you. I would imagine that we would be seen as providing a constant barrage of problems for you when you are simply trying to do your job to the best of your ability. But there are a couple of keys that I think I need to mention.

Sometimes there comes a recognition that you are out of your depth. Sonja was always threatened by me, first I never wanted anything so I as never bribable; secondly I shot dead straight. People like Sonja do not understand straight-shooters, and thirdly I knew my stuff. She didn’t and doesn’t.

I then moved into deep stuff that gets personal. I do this with people I really care about . . . it hurts but if it’s accurate people never forget it. Sometimes, years later people come back to me and say, “Tenisi, I hated you when you said it, but you were right. Thank you. I needed that!” So I spoke it straight to Sonja . . .

The first is a spiritual matter that all people-problems – all – have a root cause of pride. Your pride. My pride. There is no exception to this. Humbling ourselves is the ONLY way forward. Many, perhaps 50% of the people who I have spoken to about STA have spoken of you personally with words that reflect an arrogance they object to in you. Some of this has been general (such as “they” i.e. all officials) but a scary percentage has been quite direct about you, personally. In my dealings with you, I too have seen this and I would advise you to seek the Lord on what it is and how to deal with it. In terms of importance to your Christian walk on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being a crisis, I would put this issue at least as high as an 8, with the possibility of becoming a crisis if not dealt with proactively. [My wife] and I are able and willing to help you and support you but your husband and others should be your first port of call. I predict that your career, work and business relationships will blossom like you could never have dreamed of before if you can push through, and that your work and business relationships will gradually, possibly quite quickly close down and turn sour until the matter is rectified.

As Sonja’s career closes and the shame kicks in, sour will be seen as an understatement. Expect serious bitterness form the Hunter camp over the next few years . . .

Sonja, this has been a risky thing for me to say. I believe that this is “from the Lord” and that I am 100% right, possibly speaking words that hurt (as well as help) and that may have a far deeper meaning than even I could know. I will leave it to you now and move on . . .

The second issue is more of a personal skill or technique to cope with and progress in discussions with SWAP. Please listen to us. You do not have strong listening skills. The more that you can force yourself to listen, genuinely, humbly, as the PM has done with us, the more I believe that you will WANT to work with us, the more that you will be able to see the unique offering that we have to all; yourself personally and professionally; to STA; for the PM; for Samoa; for indeed the body of Christ and God’s purposes here in Samoa and internationally. I believe that your capacity to listen to us, to engage with us has a direct correlation to the effectiveness of the Lord’s purpose through us in Samoa. There are many times in the scriptures that the Lord’s stated plans and purpose was held back until one individual “processed stuff” and the time was right. Jonah, Moses, David, and even Jesus had to spend 30 years as a house-builder before he was released into ministry.

We understand this and await good news that you are strong enough to talk with us and engage meaningfully. Until then we stand by in faith, waiting and praying for you.

And note the final words:

Bless you

The above communication is NOT your typical letter sent to a CEO of a government department. I did it in a personal capacity and it was ignored. When you’re in bed with the PM and can have what you want in life, why would you want to respond to this sort of thing.

It is however the way that a man of God works . . . while being destroyed on the outside, we work on the inside with those who are destroying us, doing what we can to affect wise choices. Never let it be said that I do not care and never let it be said that Sonja Hunter didn’t have her chances.

Shown to be a tramp in public in Samoan society, the only reason that she can remain in the position she currently holds is if the Samoan people do not care, and the PM continues to pay the price to protect her, personally, politically and spiritually.

Those who care about the PM’s Mistress should step up to her quickly, give her a little nudge and find a hole a long way from the halls of power to hide in.

Sonja . . . I warned you!

Word is out that Corruption exists in Samoa and people are getting excited that King Kong Tuila’epa’s days of tyranny could be coming to an end. In this post I hope to bring balance and depth to the forever challenging political scene in Paradise. Against the backdrop of the PM being evacuated to first Apia Hospital and then Auckland Hospital and then vanishing from the news circles for two weeks, I discuss the bigger picture and what the little people can do.

There is no doubt that the words, “corruption” and “Samoa” are birds of a feather. Prime Minister Tuila’epa is and has been at the head of this snake for a decade and a half and has cemented his power quite nicely thank you very much. A recent visit by the PM to hospital in Apia, then in New Zealand, along with release of my book Corruption in Samoa and adverse blogging from an anonymous Samoan blogger “O Le Palemia” have increased detractors’ hopes of change.

Tuila’epa is a prime target, and I would not be surprised in the slightest if the pressure has been getting to him and his recent illness is a consequence of taking the heat. He is aging; some of what’s been coming out will have been rather uncomfortable for him and he’s certainly past his prime. That said though Samoans do support their leaders way more than those in the West, generally letting them “have their day” and swooping for the goodies only after they have gone.

There are two distinct political and social sectors of Samoan society – those that vote (on-island) and those that can’t being (mostly off-island) the Samoan diaspora and those born and bred off-shore. Tuila’epa works his magic in the former. I in the latter. This means that Tui can “buy” loyalty on-island through political means. I however “buy” loyalty by speaking it like it is to those who recognise that something is a teensy wheensey little bit wrong back in Paradise.

Samoans as a rule don’t go deep. Those who understand the political dynamics of leading a country are few and far between. This is seen in the rural villages of Samoa where the typical answers to the questions, “Who did you vote for & why?” is answered according to what a certain candidate has done for them, personally. Values, integrity, abstracts – forget it! Just WIIFM!

Now this is an observation not a criticism – Samoa is little different to others in this regard!

So the way a Christian views the world is through the Word of God – the bible. I write from a Christian perspective as long-time readers will already know.

One of the really interesting things about the way that God handles evil is that He actually doesn’t fight it. In bible school and in myriads of social situations we come to see a fight between good and evil, yet this is not an accurate picture of reality, and we need to understand this as it sets the scene for how we as Christians should respond to evil, in Samoa’s case the corruption that plagues their society. Corruption within their leadership is coming out more and more as people like OLP and myself show the world reality in Samoan society, but while there are political waves of corruption over the years as one crook after another gets into power and has their day in the limelight on the stage (thank you Billy Shakespeare for the prompt on that one) sin, evil continues generation after generation.

The reason is that the primary forces are the same and are never dealt with. Ungodliness exists and is defended, reinforced and perpetuated no matter who is at the helm. Dealing to this effectively requires wisdom, understanding and insight. Bear with me as we did deeper.

When you flick the man at the top (at this point it’s Tuila’epa) all you do is create a leadership vacuum and the next cockroach comes out of hiding and sticks his or her head up to take over. Their big-talk and lies, suck the people in and then after a while (or a long while if they are good at the political game like Tui is) they shuffle on or are shuffled on.

Isaiah Chapter 3 talks about how the people get the leaders they deserve. People, society, the individuals who make up a given society empower politicians, priests or chiefs. They all (all three power and control systems in Samoan society) gain their power from submission of individuals. They CLAIM that their power comes from above, or from the authority of Democracy, or (in this case) the Samoan culture. Tuila’epa has many times referred to his appointment as a divine appointment as if he has his power from God. Likewise the Priests and Ministers and Pastors who seen to require business-class or first-class travel, big houses, churches and new cars. High Chiefs who use fear to control do the same.

Power is obtained by the few FROM the masses – individuals who have abdicated their authority (and responsibilities) to others.

Now when Jesus came, He taught took us back to a personal accountability and a personal responsibility. He short-circuited all the control systems of the day and showed the incredible power and logic of simply listening to the Father and being obedient to Him. He never fought evil – not once. He countered temptation with the Word of god – simply speaking the truth. He called the crooks by their correct descriptions but let them continue with their skullduggery when He could have zapped them from the planet in a click of His fingers. He simply did what He knew was right and twelve men spread the word when He departed . . . three thousand men, women and children on Pentecost never fought evil . . .they simply spoke the truth; “Me too!” “Me too!” “Me too!” paid the price . . . and the known world was turned upside down.

The point here is that overthrowing one corrupt leader will simply bring the next fool into power. Fighting evil is a mug’s game. Standing up and naming and shaming evil for what it is however, will create and environment where an entire society sees it for what it really is. This then creates the environment that leaders are more likely to comply with biblical values and leadership is less centralised.

Think for a moment about Tuila’epa’s long-term immorality with his Mistress Sonja. For more than a decade the PM has been mucking around, protecting and lifting a floosie to a top job in his administration, all the while claiming that Samoa is founded upon God and that he’s got God’s blessing in what he decides and decrees! I’ll never forget the Tourism Exchanges where Sonja stood and claimed that Samoa was founded upon God then gave glowing testimonial to a Minister for saying a prayer. WTF?!

Sure it took one Palagi to write a book and get evicted from the country to make a difference but is there anyone in Samoa now who doesn’t know the score any more? Are there increasing numbers of Samoans across the globe plugging into the facts that these guys are crooks?

So can societal actually change occur in Samoa, where personal responsibility is abdicated to family and semi-communal living under Fa’a Samoa? You betcha! Is it easy and will it happen in a week, month or year or two? Not likely but as the Western ways return with the influence of the Samoan diaspora, yes, you will see, with generational influence, an increase of godliness and a depowering of the ugly self-interest so visible in current Samoan politics.

There is a lot more to this too . . . Samoa does not exist in a vacuum. It fits into the global spiritual and political environment. Political leaders have their hands tied with NWO compliance required in order to be a part of the global political environment. Fishing rights MUST be traded for Climate Change monies. Lending from the central banks by way of an unbiblical interest-bearing Legal Tender monetary system is essential at present. United Nations compliance is required, especially for smaller nation states like Samoa unless they are enormously advanced and independent (none are yet) so it is inevitable that the nation must sell its sovereignty for filthy lucre.

The huge debt that Tuila’epa has saddled with the country is nothing different to that which most other countries have as well . . . you can’t just ping one nation’s leaders for the entire sins of the world. BUT there is something that people can do – be obedient to Him. That is within the reach of ALL Samoans, on and off-island. If they stand back and ping their PM for bonking his Mistress and feeding his family the cushy jobs, then they themselves knock off the girl next door, or pocket an extra few items from the factory floor on their way out at the end of the day . . . how can they expect Samoa to ever learn, grow in faith or change?

Put a good man in charge of a bunch of crooks and guess what happens to him? He’ll be taken out within 3 years. Speak to the Master! Likewise Samoa.

But God is in control. He has done the work on the cross. The Lord sent the Holy Spirit so we have the power. It’s up to the little people, one by one to pay the price, to humble themselves and to do the right thing – whatever that may be.

I speak to a lot of people – including Samoans, many of them from the Samoan diaspora, some many generations out of the country. I love their increasing wisdom, and heart for their country of origin. I think there is a huge generational change taking place now where it is clear that the older generation has screwed up and the people are coming back in, wanting to clean the place up and make a difference. I support this move. I want to see it succeed but it will only achieve its objectives when it aligns itself with God and what He wants.

In 2009, I believe that the Lord showed me that Samoa has a unique role in His work, but it will be only a small percentage of those that He will be using. For every twenty people who want to do good things for Samoa, if there is only one that can hear Him and who actually DO what he wants then Samoa will be truly transformed. It will take time as people like the current PM pass on and so too his anointed prodigies in crime, but as the democratic/financial beast implodes, it could be that Samoa is ready for leading others. Many a mighty country can and will learn things from Samoa.

The key is not to fight evil, but to let it have its way . . . it will always implode. Our job is to expose it so that it does implode, then to do what He wants us to do . . . nothing less, nothing more, individually. That starts with Ewen Me. Today.

Let’s do the right thing eh?

Chapter 15.

I am an author, blogger and IT Entrepreneur, born in New Zealand but living, working and playing in Samoa since 2009.

I walk the fine line between genius and insanity, challenging anything that tries to deceive me as well as anyone who says, “No! It can’t be done!”

Put simply, I facilitate the possible, and live to devise ways to do the rest.

I don’t know all the answers but I’m a thinker and opinionated, fearless to speak it as I see it, no matter the subject or consequences. I have been a truthseeker from my earliest memories initially subconsciously, then consciously the more I found the truth to be extraordinarily elusive in this crazy mixed-up world that we live in!

I’ve spent my career in the IT industry, always self-employed, moving my businesses over three decades from hardware, through software and to the Internet.

I established the Web Developers Association of New Zealand in 2006, which helped our members for some three years from 2006 to 2009 when I relocated to Samoa. I have established various charitable and philanthropic activities over the years, and in Samoa, the SWAP Foundation.

I am truthseeker first and foremost but if asked to quantify my faith I reply that, I am a non-denominational Christian. In a nutshell, this means that I avoid churches but not the Truth. I do not actively proselytise but am not shy of sharing my opinions and experiences.

My writing and publishing consists of a series of eBooks on a range of subjects, IT, philosophy, Samoan Tourism & culture and more, always spoken directly and from a Christian perspective.

My most recent publication is an investigative work tracking down and highlighting the Australian conman, Daniel Evans, who terrorised the commercial Barter industry for more than a decade.

His latest fraudulent commercial venture (Ormita) was forced to close down shortly following my publication of The Ormita Report that (along with online exposure) listed and explained his fraudulent activities in graphic detail.

First, Best & Worst
My first philosophical treatise was that “Life is simple, but that doesn’t make it easy”, something that still rings true in my ears almost four decades later. Sometimes we get it right!

My greatest learning experience was to recognise as a truthseeker that truth was not an abstract, rather a Person – and therefore required a relationship. As a result of that, my biggest desire is that at some point in the future I will hear the words, “Well done good and faithful servant!”

My worst moment of existence was when I was confronted in my early twenties with the stark reality of who I really was, but the best moment was when I accepted it, then got on with living in that knowledge anyway!

My most treasured characteristic is that if I believe in something, I never give up which essentially means that I am an achiever but I’m told bl**dy difficult to live with! A “prickly character” is what they say behind my back.

Thanks for reading!

I trust you’ve enjoyed it and learned something.

Chapter 14.

A week prior to the scheduled publication of this book and website, I delivered an electronic copy to the Prime Minister for his perusal.

He replied:

29 May 2015

Dennis A. Smith

Thanks for copying me with your draft. There are numerous inaccurate and defamatory statements in your draft based on your very superficial and/or lack of understanding on the workings of the Government and the customs of Samoa. As it stands, your baseless allegations will open you to defamatory actions in Court. Indeed small knowledge is dangerous knowledge. I will elaborate more next Tuesday – Enjoy the Independent celebrations – Cheers!

It should be noted that I had sought a response from him prior to the publication date (1st June 2015), and that his promise to respond later was a professional response – not a delaying tactic as it might appear on the surface.

His detailed reply was:

9 June 2015

Dennis A. Smith

I promised to come back on your draft story of Paradise

You will recall way back my suggestion that you meet with an American Hotelier in XXX and I activated an invitation for you to attend and talk to the American who has been in Samoa for a long time who learned and understood the culture.

In suggesting this my attention was for you to learn from another European how he coped and understood. You have a lot to learn

After I saw what you wanted to do at Satapuala, I felt that you had something good to offer to Samoans. That was why I tried to help you and I went out of my way to come and settle your differences with the first Landlord who informed me that you were an accomplished liar. And the reason that he disliked you was that you did not pay your rent as you both agreed.

I began to believe that Satapuala chief when SLC copied me with your rent arrears reminders.

Several of the overseas people you brought to Samoa in yoru program also ended up in my office complaining.

You, like many overseas people who came for help do not understand how Governments operate. Ministers are only involved on policies. Public Servants implement policies – they are the technicians, graduates with degrees. When I direct my CEOs to give help, the unspoken understanding is whatever help that is given must follow Government processes and policies of accountability and transparency. CEOs have the right to use their common sense and judgement. You, like many others think wrongly that once I agree to direct my CEO to help – that help is given regardless, No! If after CEOs examine a proposal she/he thinks it was not necessary, they advise me of their decisions.

Your story is full of defamatory allegations which will expose you to court actions. It is up to you to decide – but I am telling you that your draft is full of bull….

I replied to the Prime Minister thus:

Hello Tui

Thank you for responding to the draft of Corruption In Samoa.

1. The book went live online at the scheduled time and date that was broadcast months in advance being midday 1 June 2015. I did not receive any reply from you, although I understand now from your staff that you did but they failed to forward it to me. I have suspended the website temporarily as an act of goodwill.

2. I consider your references to past events to be irrelevant. I’ve ignored those comments.

3. I counsel you that your faith in the words of a self-confessed proven liar with an obvious agenda to deceive, over a man of God with little reason to misrepresent such a minor matter should be a warning sign to you that you have or are starting to ‘lose the plot’. You also do not know the story behind SLC and neither does SLC either because they simply will not engage in a constructive manner with goodwill. They really want to take me to court and I will wait to state my case in court. In regards to making assessments on financial matters without the full information, I considered using the word foolish but my intent here is to inform you and teach you, not to aggravate you.

4. Your hint/threat of litigation is totally meaningless – even with your formal detailed response yesterday you STILL didn’t detail WHAT you have a problem with. I invite you to respond in detail and/or sue me – it will also help my book sales enormously. Better still, you could put my whistle-blower credibility through the roof if you had my immigration status ‘reviewed’. Be careful for I am an intelligent man and the contents of the book and the website are way more than just me mouthing off. I believe that in an atmosphere of goodwill it is my responsibility to get things right but that it is your responsibility to be specific on what you have a problem with.

5. Your formal written response is, in my opinion, inappropriate for a Prime Minister. Your words, attitude and quality of thought give me the impression of paternal, even condescending arrogance and are offensive.

6. You have a lot to learn about me and have totally misjudged my character, motives and intent. I am a capable, intelligent, committed and passionate man who has spent more than five years of his life committed to learning the intricacies of your culture. If there’s one thing about me Tui, it is that I ALWAYS ‘get it’ – always. It might take me some time but I always get there. After attending the American’s relaunch and birthday celebration I understood very well – thank you VERY much. Your error in judgement though is to assume today that because I am still a square peg in a round hole that I don’t know how to play the game. The reality, I venture to suggest, is because I am a square peg and will never become a round peg in this lifetime, that either the Lord has made a big mistake bringing me here or that He WANTS me to be a square peg in the land of round holes. You wouldn’t be the first to make this mistake but if you never ask me any questions and you lean on gossip from people with vested interests then you’ll never understand. I don’t blame you for I have hardly shared anything with you since the time that you shrugged your shoulders and palmed me off but things are different now three years on – very different.

7. The book and website represent a potentially very serious threat to the status quo and for people who have something to hide. It is a deliberate, well-planned, well-thought through, calculated online resource that will grow in time to have major influence in primarily the Samoan diaspora online (my constituency) but which will in due course affect the local political environment (your constituency) which is partly online but growing daily. Despite my pleading and teaching over five years you still have no idea of the power of the Internet when used intelligently. You will learn this though from the influence of [updated] www.Palemia.com – that I promise.

8. Strategically I am highly skilled in this area Tui and you will eventually learn the power that I have because I work hard and smart; I am fearless, have nothing to lose and understand how to use the Internet for a given purpose. The way I see it is that you have political power; are at the peak of your career and fear what man thinks. You thus have a lot to lose with a book and website like this. I on the other hand have nothing to lose, and have every opportunity ahead of me to build a career as an Internet strategist extraordinaire in Samoa. If there is a need in Samoan society for people to share their frustrations and someone comes along with an escape value [valve] then it doesn’t matter who that person is, the Samoan people will use that technology. It is my assessment that the topic of corruption (with primarily but not exclusively your people) has become red-hot and that Internet Samoan people-power is ready to flex its muscles. I believe (and it iss one of the reasons I have done this) that there is a market ready and waiting to vent, to let off steam and to do things differently. I have scheduled the interactive aspects of thewww.CorruptionInSamoa.com website for 2016, however I can bring them forward OR push them out to the end of 2016 depending on outside events. I can also respond ultra-quickly, literally, within an hour.

9. I respectfully suggest that it is in your best interest to engage with me meaningfully in which case I can help you, specifically with advance notice of politically sensitive material, an outlet for your side of stories and in other political and personal ways. I know that this may not appeal to you, so I accept that you may simply choose to ignore me or enter into a conflict situation – as you said to me, but too late to have any meaning, “it is up to you to decide”. It’s not too late for you though.

I confirmed with the Prime Minister’s secretary that he did received this message of reply and copied him a revised draft of this book (Ver 1.06), and apart from the addition of this chapter, have gone to press with it virtually unchanged. [UPDATE 1 June 2017, now Ver 2.01 containing contact detail changes & minor spelling & grammar corrections]

Chapter 13.

Corruption is a complex subject that as I have shown covers conduct right across the board. It is widely viewed primarily as a political phenomenon and is presented as an external problem.

It’s neither. It’s a widespread matter and is an internal problem – it resides within us all.

At the root, all forms of corruption are founded firmly in pride. In Samoa’s case this pride is manifested in an extremely strong claim of divine right. Faa Samoa; Samoa Mo Samoa; customary land laws; political and religious leadership by Divine Decree; and constantly claiming that Samoa is “Founded Upon God” are all threads of the same cord.

This arrogance is ultimately the cause of the ills that befall Samoan society.

From the Prime Minister down through the political and bureaucratic systems; from the High Chiefs down through the local government systems into the family structure, from the religious leaders through all the church systems, the solution is so incredibly simple.

We must humble ourselves, recognise that before God no power entrusted to us is ours of right – it is a privilege. According to the Good Book we are stewards, not owners of that which we control.

The solution, while simple, may not be easy . . . but should we choose to humble ourselves we will reap the blessing inherent. Continued arrogance will continue to bring curse in the form of the corruption I have identified and discussed in this book.

According to scripture, the process for rectifying something that is wrong in society is so incredibly simple –

a) HEAR the Word of God and
b) DO it.

In this regard Samoa lacks wisdom, fearing man rather than God. The bible says though, that the people will get the leadership that they deserve.

Despite its widespread beliefs to the contrary, Samoa is no exception, and corruption exists.

I trust that I have helped you to connect the dots!

Chapter 12.

I have chosen to expose corruption in Samoa at this time and in this manner for several reasons:

1. The time has come. I have been in Samoa for five years. No rational human being should ever have to undergo the experiences that I have undergone here. A Palagi is a prime target and unless participating in corrupt practices himself as many here do, he simply has no chance of a fair go – none. If exposing the corruption prevents just one person suffering even a fraction of what I have, then I will have achieved something worthy.

2. I have now received proof of the Ombudsman’s whitewash of my formal complaint of Police Corruption. This completes the last step in all formal processes to deal with corruption. I held back publication of my book A little Slice of Paradise – Engaging with post-Tsunami Samoa, for two years pending hopeful resolution of the matter of this Police corruption. Such was not to be and the fact that the highest man in the country entrusted with dealing with corruption in government is himself corrupt is a strong trigger for me to act now. People who have to date observed my challenges and just written them off as the way things are here; or a result of my direct and [in Samoa offensive] style; or seen as just a minor matter can now see the extent of the racism, self-interest and more, should they so choose to inform themselves.

3. Samoa claims to be founded upon God, the Christian God, yet the evidence of this a reality is lacking outside of external ‘religious practices’. The Bible exhorts us to find the truth and to publish it but this runs contrary to Samoan culture that is ultra-sensitive to causing offence. I fear the Lord more than I do Samoan culture. The scripture I refer to in this regard is in Ephesians 5:11: Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.

I am an individual author and investigative blogger. As an individual I have enormous freedom to speak freely. I have no human superior to whom I report.

My work though is tempered by the limitations that one individual must have – I don’t know everyone or everything. This makes it difficult to assess complex situations and to pass judgement.

My neighbour and Minister of the Crown Tuisuga is a case in point. I have been told by more than one source that his account at Samoa Land Corporation is grossly in arrears. One person even told me that he has never paid ANYTHING, ever! I suspect very much that he is not the only senior government official who is in this situation.

If I name him as an abuser of the system and not the others, I do this only because he is the one whom I know has, as he put it himself to me, “resourcing issues” and has received special treatment from SLC for many years. This may be unfair if the others get away free of exposure, but it is not my current intent to name and shame all corrupt officials in Samoa! I can however speak about what I do know of.

I have no interest in hurting people per se, however speaking the truth about people who are corrupt, greedy; pretenders and/or liars will of course cause them discomfort and raise their ire.

To them I say, “Too bad! Get over it. You brought it on yourself. Sue me or state your case and I’ll correct any errors of fact.”

There are other reasons for the website and the future whistleblower functions. The Internet is a powerful medium internationally. I have spent considerable time and effort attempting to explain this to the Prime Minister and his responses demonstrate utter foolishness, with a head-in-the-sand attitude that will come back to bite him when he ignores the medium.

When people, one after the other come forward and state their case online showing his government up for what it truly is, it is just possible that he will learn the importance of engaging with people where they are at – online.

To some, the name of Tuila’epa is synonymous with corruption. His primary concern is local politics where he has the power. Ignoring the power of the Internet is insanity. The Luddites’ days are now well and truly over, and that applies even in Samoa!

The principle of what I call “The Power of One” is best described in Andersen’s story Tale by Hans Christian Andersen, “The Emperor’s New Clothes”. This tale where one small boy simply stated the obvious and the entire society was transformed and the fools exposed.

I too am only one man, with one story, one website but the potential is that many will learn the truth about a proud nation in denial and clearly totally unwilling and probably incapable of solving its own problems of corruption.

The personal costs for speaking the truth in Samoa and taking Corruption on in Samoa are huge. I am widely hated (or at least not trusted) in government and business circles thanks largely to the efforts of one person who has spearheaded a campaign of gossip from the day of my arrival.

I live with those around me having an attitude of begrudging tolerance when necessary but backstabbing and gossip the norm. Living in a comparatively violent country I also have to determine daily whether or not I am prepared to pay the ultimate price for speaking and acting as I do. I am.

As I have shown in this book, one needs to be prepared for anything. When a simple thing such as chasing thieves out of a plantation can turn fatal in an instant or a confrontation with a person of stature in public can result in serious immigration ramifications, and major financial losses and hospitalisation can occur in a slit-second decision by an angry Samoan, it makes for sobering thought.

It is little wonder that Samoans cower in fear of those above them and many struggle to cope, let alone be proactive to deal with it.

I once stood up to the wife of a powerful man whose staff had stolen from me. I heard later that the Prime Minister had been approached by this man to have my immigration status “reviewed”. Should this or worse occur following publication of this book and website, my words will certainly have increased exposure and validity!

Such is the nature of speaking the truth fearlessly.

Chapter 11.

In the five years I have lived in Samoa, I’ve had extensive interaction with many individuals from across both islands, and from government to businesses, village leaders to the untitled.

Corruption is the norm in day-to-day living as well as in politics and power.

The two things that brass off a Palagi the most when they start to engage with Samoa are the lies and the theft. At the least tension exists as a result of these Samoan idiosyncrasies and often conflict results.

CASE STUDY

The Tuigamala family . . .

Within a year of my arrival in Samoa I met Tamapaa Tuigamala in a chance encounter (such is normal within the small islands of Samoa). We had previously met at a book launch of his brother Vaiiga in Auckland. Befriending the man cost me dearly.

Tamapaa hails from Faleasiu and Sanaapu and has a lovely cheerful demeanour that meant that I was his uso [brother] from day one. This was however to be proven highly deceptive in retrospect.

We befriended him, supported him in his efforts to enter parliament and to all intents and purposes could be considered one of the family. Many a time we would laugh, joke, socialise with him and his family befriending his mother, wife, child and extended family.

When the issue of his planned business was raised, it seemed natural for us to have confidence to invest. We did and it was inconceivable to us that anything could go wrong on the relationship side of things. How wrong this was to be!

Putting the last of our available capital into Tuigamala’s planned funeral business and becoming 50/50 Partners was probably one of the most hurtful experiences in Samoa – not so much that we lost all our money, which we did, but the lies and deceptions that occurred in the process meant that his lack of integrity has been exposed, and badly.

Like his younger brother Vaiiga, who had multiple business failures in New Zealand before coming back home to Samoa, Tamapaa seemed to have ‘a way’ with money, one way, his way, if you know what I mean! After a series of incredible events that boggles the Western business mind, a relationship had been destroyed, a business failed and all the money . . . well . . . gone!

I tried many times to deal with the issue constructively – Luigi had the best advice though – “You justa forget about it eh?”

Knowing that exposure would be coming sooner or later I called in to his shop in Vaimea to attempt to find a way to resolve the matters with Vaiiga, Tamapaa’s younger brother. My aim was to avoid further embarrassment for their mother, one who had picked up the pieces for years over the boys malfeasances. It was a waste of time with an arrogant and abusive response from the former All Black hero that just made me cringe. I simply walked away from someone who clearly has some pretty serious issues with ego.
[Links: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10897444 & http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/small-business/8911768/All-Blacks-funeral-business-in-liquidation]

As I’ve said elsewhere, not one person in Samoa in more than five years who has ripped me off, has ever fronted and attempted to resolve the problem in a proper godly (or Samoan) manner, talking the matter through and getting to an agreed solution. The Tuigamala’s are no exception.

Some of this is the ‘Palagi factor’, the fact that it is a shame for a Samoan to confess to wrongdoing, especially to a Palagi. Some of this is just simple ugly arrogance.

Our Tuigamala rip-off and relationship breakdown was a not a complex matter, but it is not always so simple in Samoa as the cultural things can get in the way very easily.

The corruption in this area, of personal relationships, business dealings and so on are huge. In a nutshell it goes like this . . . a Palagi (and to a certain extent Samoans who use Palagi systems or values against fellow Samoans) can never ‘win’ in Samoa, and will never be allowed to win.

A typical relationship breakdown will go like this . . .

a) An agreement is entered into, between say a Palagi and a Samoan Matai
b) Trouble will occur, often around misunderstanding but also commonly relating to greed on the part of the Samoan
c) Conflict will occur and escalate. It will take the form of indignation on the part of the Palagi and offence on the part of the Samoan
d) Mediation (or litigation) will occur and a middle-ground is agreed upon (in the interests of expediency) between the generally honest Palagi and the generally dishonest Samoan positions
e) Samoan gains; Palagi loses; appearances are however kept good
f) The situation repeats with another topic, issue, sometimes the same one

The Samoan culture is a flexible beast, without the absolutes of right/wrong or good/bad thus it can be easily manipulated for personal benefit. Typical phrases used in the ‘games’ played are that “we don’t want to cause offence” or that Samoan culture is “all about diplomacy”, thus the absolutes of right and wrong are sidelined into a cess-pit of ‘cultural’ greyness.

Opportunism, white-lies and greed fester in a political and cultural environment where one on the tail-end of injustice can never win.

The high profile case where an entire Village Council was fined heavily by a judge for instructing the boys to burn down one families home and possessions is a perfect example of this. Years later and the family who lost all has received only minimal amounts of the judgement. Some Matais have died; others have paid something; others have paid nothing. They’ll be incredibly lucky if they ever receive justice.

Interpersonal conflict too often comes down to the power that one has in the situation, not to the lofty ideals of justice. Thus, if the decision-maker is your relative or friend, then you will have a greater chance of prevailing in a conflict situation. This form of justice, where politics and pragmatism rule over abstracts, is the norm in Samoa.

Sadly the Samoan ways in this regard are a corruption of the biblical/Judeo-Christian value system, even though they are normal here.

CASE STUDY

Satapuala Matai Violence

In 2010 we leased land from a Matai, Eniko Taufete’e and his wife Sa, in Satapuala. Three weeks after the Prime Minister opened the business we erected the signs according to the contract, but the wife of the Matai attempted to double the rent.

We resisted the greed, finding out that a conflict had arisen between the husband (who wanted to honour the agreement) and the wife (who had lied to a neighbour about getting more money for the signs).

Long story short, Samoan fists connected with a Palagi face; I ended up in hospital and we lost all, as we abandoned the premises and evacuated to our government-leased land in Aleisa.

The issue in this case study here was exactly as described in the typical relationship breakdown mentioned above. Sadly, this is a repeating story in Samoa and should be serious cause of concern for Palagi considering investing in Samoa. Rural village engagements are fraught with complexity and cross-cultural challenges abound.

There are ways to work through these challenges (a little bribery through the church and Matais is the traditional method of greasing the wheels) but it is NOT easy and it takes a good couple of years living in Samoa to understand the significance of cultural relationships.

This two years is a typical time for a Palagi to adjust. It is more like three years for Samoans born and raised overseas. Either can be shortened a little with effective mentoring/scaffolding.

Again, it’s hard to level an accusation of corruption across the board in Samoa, because there are exceptions, but they are hard to find and interpersonal challenges certainly abound.

The same or similar issues are also found in many other third world nations.1

Chapter 10.

The Samoa Observer is the primary daily Samoan newspaper. Established some 40 years ago and run by a Samoan businessman (Savea Sano Malifa1) it claims a long track-record in taking on the Government of the day and standing up for the little guy.

This claim is true to some extent and it can be rightly viewed as a mix between a newspaper, a tabloid and a Fourth Estate watchdog in many respects. Their tendency to rush to press with one-sided stories and shallow investigative work is balanced with long-term tenacity on some important matters of exposing corruption.

In the last decade or so, as the owner has aged, and personalities have clashed between him and the current Prime Minister, quality of thought has mainly come from other editors who can have some good points at times but are rarely able to drill down into the real root cause of Samoa’s ills. While a challenge to speak words of wisdom daily as an editor of a newspaper, their response to corruption tends towards bleating and tut-tutting.

The owner of Samoa Observer is widely viewed as a crook2 as multiple people I have spoken to have recounted not getting a fair deal or simply not getting paid from him. I’ve detailed his foolishness in previous commentary and blogging but he’s a proud businessman driven by money, making it and protecting it. His number one concern is clearly to make money and to not get sued in the process.

His staff fear him and submit, for obvious reasons.

The paper does take up the stories of the small guy hard done-by on occasion but these stories are quite often shallow, one-sided and are countered in due course by official denials and cover-ups.

The Samoan government led by Prime Minister Tuila’epa appear to tolerate the paper and their stories but certainly do not respect them. I’ve noticed some good strikes from the paper in the five years that I have been here but the many more losses than successes indicate a gross inefficiency in terms of dealing with Corruption in Samoa meaningfully. They are a voice, but little more than that.

I would counsel people on the end of Corruption to seek Samoa Observer’s support in leveraging their exposure but wouldn’t hold my breath on any meaningful change.
CASE STUDY

Savea Sano Malifa – Fooled by Gossip3

The background

I came to Samoa from New Zealand in September 2009 and immigrated in February 2010.

I’ve blogged extensively about the Samoan culture, particularly in the context of the Christian world-view. This is my interest and I guess you could say it is a passion of mine.

My third book, A little Slice of Paradise is currently pending publication and talks a lot about the Samoan culture alongside the factual events of my first few years in Paradise.

I approached Savea on the 5th October 2012 (more than three years after I first came to Samoa), introduced myself, chatted a while with him in his office and told him that I would be interested in writing a column “Palagi Perspectives”, and shared a little of the planned subjects.

We agreed to a deal – I would write 300-600 words weekly (as long as it “made people think and didn’t get him sued”) and he’d run one daily classified advertisement for me, which was a roughly agreed equivalent value. I summarised this conversation and our agreement by email to Savea that same afternoon. He instructed his staff accordingly.
I blogged about the new challenge at the time4.

I delivered, on time as promised and Samoa Observer published the columns for several months.

Samoa Observer though didn’t deliver the advertisements as agreed. Despite several calls over those months, and follow-up visits, Samoa Observer dropped the ball badly. They didn’t or wouldn’t reconcile my account, although the Editor did recognise that they “should honour any deal they agreed to”.

Savea got news from his Editor that I had suggested that to rectify historical matters, he should just pay me for the missing adverts and start the adverts running properly, then he fired me off an email that contained a little bit of flowery language, basically telling me to F*** off!

Great eh?

Corruption, greed, foolishness and arrogance from the Fourth Estate!

You can read the entire sorry details of this saga online, if you’re interested, with the actual communications and my commentary. It’s quite sad to see the ugly pride of an old Samoan man, one who could be resting on his laurels with a lifetime of service to his country and the industry he worked in for decades, yet just shown up for being another greedy racist Samoan lacking in integrity the same as many others.

But that’s corruption in Samoa outworked yet again, for you!