‘All Options Remain Open’ As Samoan PM Still Ponders Fate Of Social Media
All options remain open, says Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi as he continues to ponder the fate of the social media and Samoa. Tuilaepa was responding to the latest claims on the social media that he had authorised a $1million tala (FJ$801,569.30) reward for information that could lead to unmasking social media ghost writers and bloggers.
“There is no reward and I will never authorise such a reward,” refuted the Prime Minister.
“Its a despicable attempt by the gutless social media misfits to twist my comments to suit their ulterior motives in their vile attempts to brainwash everyone,” the Prime Minister added.
He did acknowledge that he has instructed Attorney-General Lemalu Herman Retzlaff to prepare and proceed with the legal process to ensure that whoever the ghost writers are, they must stand trial and answer to their defamatory allegations which has blatantly violated the constitutional rights of some members of the innocent public including him even it means spending a million tala. “They must answer to their slander, personal vendetta and unsubstantiated malice posted freely without consequences virally.” “To clear the record, I remain firm that these gutless writers should not get away scot free. I have kept no secret in publicly condemning the miss-use of the social media which has defeated the genuine purpose behind the government’s investment to improve our ICT capacities for the benefit of the people,” said Tuilaepa. “For almost two decades, my administration has left no stone unturned in developing our ICT Sector. “And it has been a long journey of ups and downs from this office, Cabinet to parliament and back. “Why do you think, I took over as Minister of Communication at one point in time? I did because it needed a new injection of leadership… strong leadership to captain the government’s ICT drive to be where it is today (yesterday). “Government also separated SamoaTel’s and Samoa Post for a good reason and then removed SamoaTel’s monopoly and look at our Mobile services today.
“This was and continues to be the government strategy to provide our people with affordable communication opportunities, coupled with a Strategic Development Plan to improve all the sectors from Education, Health, Finance, and Agriculture….everything.
“The latest $20 plus million tala (US$7.8m, FJ$15.94m) investment in the Tui-Samoa Cable speaks volumes of where we are and where Samoa is going in ICT.”
But he is disappointed that the “misfits have used the opportunities to vent out that to slander, personal vendetta and unsubstantiated malice posted freely without consequences.”
And he also fears for their safety reiterating that he is worried that things may back fire when the identities of the faceless writers are exposed.
“The warnings are on the wall. “Individual and family reputations have been publicly smeared by these ruthless writers and I pray that there will be no outbreak of violence.”
The Prime Minister also hears audible and viral comments urging him to reconsider.
“There is little question when it comes to my vote to support for Facebook and other platforms.
“I am in favour and that’s why I was behind it from the start, when we pushed for the development of the Internet links to speed up communications with the outside world.
“But at the point Government is now moving to address the abuse and if it means closing Facebook down then that is what will ultimately happen.
“Again I am at a crossroads. “Until then all options are open,” he concluded. Samoa Observer
For almost two decades, my administration has left no stone unturned in developing our ICT Sector. And it has been a long journey of ups and downs from this office, Cabinet to parliament and back. Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi Samoan Prime Minister