PM LABELS OBSERVER STORY ON FAUTASI O TOA LAUNCH A ‘DENIGRATION’
By: Joshua Lafoa’i
The Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi has scoffed at an article published by the Samoa Observer during his keynote address at the Fautasi o Toa launching event.
The story targeted the Prime Minister after he stopped the Don Bosco choir’s second song to cap off the prayer service last Wednesday afternoon. Tuilaepa said he had to attend the Cabinet meeting that was awaiting him and himself as the leader should follow protocol.
“Cabinet follows a very strict guideline and protocol. And if I can’t follow protocol and standards that I hold my Ministers to, then I am not setting the example of being a good leader. They would see me as discriminatory, if I had favored staying at the launch for as long as I wanted while Cabinet members waited for me,” he said.
Tuilaepa said the story insinuated that the he had committed a serious offence.
“They really made it look like it was a very serious situation when it really wasn’t at all. So they manipulated the story so they can have a front page story for the paper to sell,” he said.
“I don’t mind though as I’ve grown used to this type of tactic from them,” he added.
The Prime Minister says it is denigrating to see the Samoa Observer go to petty length for a front page story.
The Prime Minister delivered the keynote address at the launching of the Fautasi o Toa initiative as part of the 70th Anniversary of Saint Joseph’s College at Alafua.
The Fautasi o Toa or Long boat of Legends, is an all-female longboat led by renowned captain Vaimasanu’u Zita Sefo-Martel.
The Fautasi o Toa is part of the push to ending violence against women and girls as partnership with the UNDP.
