Beware

Dear Editor 

Re: Proceed with caution

WALK AWAY Samoa follow Papua New Guinea and Fiji’s lead. They both saw the handwriting on the wall....they don’t want to be “bullied” into whatever Australia and New Zealand dictate. THIS IS BAD FOR SAMOA! 

Walk away.

I did a little research on this PACER Plus trade deal. Australia doesn’t want to call it a “trade deal” and I believe I know why, it sounds too close to TPP. And if any of you know anything about TPP, you’d know this deal is NOT GOOD FOR SAMOA. 

You’re up against two power house economies. You will be treated as “step children” or to put it in a more forceful way, a “b….” to Aust & NZ and do as you’re told!

Both Australia and New Zealand are members of the 12 countries involved in the TPP, where 50% of the countries economies are comparable to both Australia and New Zealand. This PACER Plus trade is SOOO lopsided as far as it’s member economies are concerned.

YOU ONLY need to see how accommodating Australia is to the rest of the “forum countries” to know they WANT THIS BADLY. THAT’S A HUGE RED FLAG!!!!!. Here’s how bad Australia wants this deal.....

Australia provided “SUBSTANTIAL” funding for:

1) for Forum Island Countries to commission independent research on PACER Plus and for training of Forum Island Country trade officials to strengthen their capacity in respect of the PACER Plus negotiations....HOW INDEPENDENT IS THIS RESEARCH IF ONE COUNTRY IS FUNDING IT?..

.2) it provided funding for officials from Forum Island Countries to attend PACER Plus meetings....HOW KIND OF THEM!!!

3) also helping to fund the Office of the Chief Trade Adviser which provides independent support and advice to Forum Island Countries on PACER Plus matters”....INDEPENDENT SUPPORT AND ADVICE? HOW INDEPENDENT IS THIS “OFFICE OF THE CHIEF TRADE ADVISER?”

This PACER Plus trade is a classic, Wolf in Sheep’s clothing!”..WALK AWAY AS PNG AND FIJI HAVE DONE! Bainimarama and Pres. Konrote of Fiji are not stupid...they can see the forest through the trees....WALK and don’t look back!

The language used to sell this trade is too vague. It’s wonderful language because it sucks you in to agreeing....who wouldn’t want to create job opportunities, enhance private sector growth, raise standards of living, and boost economic growth. The 500 lb gorilla in the room is, HOW? 

 

 

HOW IS THIS GOING TO BE ACCOMPLISHED? WHAT ARE THE SMALLER ISLAND NATIONS GOING TO GIVE UP FOR THESE NICE OBJECTIVES? Aust & NZ with their huge economies can sustain any changes, but the SMALL island nations CANNOT. I repeat, THE SMALL ISLAND NATIONS CANNOT....THEY WILL ACQUIESCE TO WHATEVER AUST & NZ DICTATE....FIJI & PNG SAW THIS AND MADE A B-LINE FOR THE EXIT! THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT SAMOA AND ITS NEGOTIATORS SHOULD DO....NOW!

This trade will be the nail in Samoa’s coffin. If you think the people of Samoa are slaves in their own country now, the PACER Plus deal will seal its fate. Tuilaepa and his “negotiators” are not savvy enough to deal with AUST & NZ. They have deep pockets and influence. Tuilaepa and his “negotiators” will look like 4th graders sitting across the table from University level negotiators....they shouldn’t even be in the same room!

Leituala, you’re right NAFTA was sold as a “job creator” to bring business to the US. Instead it did the opposite. It was the beginning of the slow death of manufacturing in America. It was the start of outsourcing jobs to all parts of the world....and Americans watched helplessly, unable to do anything about it, because the deal was already sealed......For those of you who do not know it, manufacturing in America is DEAD, thank you “slick willie.” Our economy has not recovered since!

Stella M

Samoa Observer

Upgrade to Premium

Subscribe to
Samoa Observer Online

Enjoy unlimited access to all our articles on any device + free trial to e-Edition. You can cancel anytime.

>