Outspoken woman calls for a protest

By Deidre Fanene 13 March 2017, 12:00AM

Businessman, Moe Lei Sam, has expressed concerns about the decision by the Samoa National Provident Fund to lend $5.84million to a businessman whom the government has appointed to turn the $5.7million tala Vaitele market into profitable venture.

So concerned she said she will rally members of the local business community to protest against the government’s behaviour.

“What I am planning now is that I will be talking to some business people to do a protest on this matter,” she said.

“The one thing with our people is that they keep complaining and yet they just sit on their backside and do nothing about the matter. I want to put a stop to this.

“Five million is not a small amount of money and yet when our own people go there to borrow $100 or $200 tala, they ask heaps of questions.

“And here they are just giving this Chinese businessman millions of tala. It was just like a piece of cake.”

Speaking to the Samoa Observer, Ms. Lei Sam said this is sad and she blames Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi for allowing it.

 “Does he even know the situation that our country is in at the moment?” Ms. Lei Sam said. “We are in a big mess.”

The disappointed businesswoman went on to say that when she read the article, she cried because she was thinking about future of the young generation of today.

“They have no love for the people of this country because this money belongs to us,” she told the Samoa Observer. “This money is the only hope for our people to turn to when they have faalavelave’s and to look after their family.

“Look at the number of child vendors increasing day by day because families don’t know where to go?

“It’s true that we are not poor and we are not starving but that doesn’t mean we don’t need money because when our family members are sick it’s not like we can take taros to pay for our hospital fees and buy medications.”

Ms. Lei Sam reiterated that the matter not only affects the older generation but most especially the young ones.

“This is very unfair, because I tell you all the Chinese people that came to Samoa to start businesses they came with money, so how can they come and borrow from us poor people and poor country?” she said.

“Besides I can see the Chinese in another 10 to 15 years taking over Samoa. And if that happens what will happen to the younger generation? I keep talking about this all the time and I’m sure the people are fed up with me going public on these issues but I won’t stop because this is our island, it is our free country.

“This is supposed to be a happy Christian country but look at it now the government has taken over everything even the people’s lives they have taken over. 

“I cried this morning when I read the article because I feel sorry for these children that are out in the sun everyday selling things to make a living.”

She went on to say that the biggest question is “does Samoa need Chinese?”

 “A couple of weeks ago I had one Chinese man who came to my shop and said to me that he doesn’t understand his country. I asked him what he means and he told me that there are a lot of poor people in China and yet they are giving money to help Samoa instead of helping their own people.”

According to Ms. Lei Sam Samoa will be taken over by Chinese if the people don’t act right now.

“They are donating all of these things to the hospital and schools but the question is what’s behind it?” she said. “What do they want from us because they are not stupid they wouldn’t give all of these to us for nothing no, there’s a catch and they want something back.”

By Deidre Fanene 13 March 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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