P.M. Tuilaepa challenges Taimua Samoa 2016

12 June 2016, 12:00AM

Ignorance of the projections of Governments plans for the next five years is a failure on our part to engage in the future of Samoa – those were the sentiments of our Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Dr. Salilele Malielegaoi. 

The Leadership Samoa 2016 class were urged by the Prime Minster to be more proactive and broadly informed of the local and national issues and developments in Samoa.

It was an eye opening two-day journey for the participants of the LS2016 class – a beginning of lifetime moments stimulated thought provoking presentations, unexpected indirect challenges, and motivational findings. The focused on the two-day visit was on Political - Stable Government and Good Governance, Parliament, Law and Order, visiting all different Law and Justice Sectors and Parliament and Good Governance Sectors in Samoa.

The vital role of leadership in the maintenance of stability and good governance at all levels of society within Samoa. The group which heard from the Prime Minister, 8 Ministries (MJCA, OAG, NPO, MoP, SPCC, LA, SLRC, OEC), the private sector consultancy firm, KVA Consult, and the Samoa Institute of Directors observed that the shared vision amongst these offices is the upholding of good governance within their respective organisations.

These findings are lessons in themselves to take on and implement constructively in the future developments of Samoa. Such includes: 

- The poignant reminder from the Honorable Prime Minister for all future leaders to be more politically aware of what the various political parties in Samoa’s Policies and Manifestos. We also learnt of the shared mission to serve and protect the people of Samoa and their interests through Law and Order and Good Governance. In addition, understanding the importance of active participation from the general public in the design and development of the future of Samoa by having their say in consultations on different issues; the correlation between government stability and economic growth from the private sector. Finally, key leadership attributes 

- Faith in the Lord, Unity in the Team, strive for Excellence in every duty, goal and task in front of you; respect your elders, have a Heart of a Servant, Lead with courage, honor and compassion, to name a few from the riches shared and collected since the LS2016 set sail.

Afoa Kolone Va’ai, Managing Director of KVA Consult, provided factual basis and an interesting area of analysis, questioning whether there is a correlation between political stability and economic growth. He expressed the importance of considering the context of which informed decisions need to be made.

The need for citizens to actively participate in issues which affect the country, from participating in their democratic right to vote, to voicing their views in consultations to have their say.

We as the LS 2016 group must take it upon ourselves to be proactive, lateral and critical thinkers and approach issues with a fresh outlook from lessons learnt from the tours.

The LS 2016 commence their second study tour on 23rd and 24th June 2016 on the theme of Education.

Leadership Samoa offers a unique program that provides the platform for emerging leaders to appreciate the bigger picture of the pressing developmental issues facing our nation today. 

The program fills a niche with the delivery of a holistic cross-sector professional development program for emergent leaders and aims to raise the awareness of emergent leaders of key political, economic, social, technological, environmental and cultural issues facing the development of Samoa today, thus ensuring a pool of well-informed Samoan leaders in the future.

The organisation was established in 2010 and is funded by the Pacific Leadership Program. PLP is a regional initiative of the Australian Government that recognizes the pivotal role of leadership in development. 

PLP works at the regional level, and nationally and sub-nationally through country programs in Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu.

12 June 2016, 12:00AM
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