The controversial Transport Amendment Bill that has divided Samoans for months has been passed by the Samoa Government. This is despite a second protest march involving over 20,000 people that took place just days earlier. CHERELLE JACKSON reports.
The controversial Transport Amendment Bill that has divided Samoans for months has been passed by the Samoa Government. This is despite a second protest march that took place just days earlier.
The bill was brought to a vote by Members of Parliament on Thursday (Friday, 18 April NZT), and the majority of the house voted for the Bill. More than 10 MPs voted against. All of the governing Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) voted for the bill except Hans Joachim Keil, Associate Minister of Tourism, who had previously voiced his disagreement with the Bill.
Earlier in the week, an estimated 20,000 protesters marched against the Government’s plans to switch the sides of the road Samoans drive on. But apart from a few complaints about the manner of 200 strong police cordon, there were no reported disturbances or violence. In fact, after the protesters arrived at parliament, they broke out in song wishing the prime minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, happy birthday while he sat inside with his parliamentary colleagues.
The march, which took place on Monday, 14 April (Tuesday NZT) and went from the Government Building on beach road to the Parliament Fono house at Mulinuu, is the second protest march led by the People Against Switching Sides (PASS).
The protest brought the voice of the people to the forefront yet again, this time to intercept a parliament meeting at Mulinuu originally planned to discuss the controversial bill, now in its third reading.
The march was led by prominent lawyer, Toleafoa Solomona Toailoa.
Upon arrival at the Parliament grounds, the protestors sat on the field awaiting the Members of Parliament.
“We cannot possibly continue with (today’s) session while those people are making so much noise outside, I suggest we break for the day go back to our offices and the Speaker of the House address them,” Tuilaepa said on live broadcast from inside the Parliament building.
This caused a stir outside as protestors replied with murmurs of discontent.
The motion was passed by Minister of Natural Resource and Environment, Faumuina Tiatia Liuga.
But former Samoa Democratic United Party Leader, Le Mamea Ropati, and another Member of Parliament interrupted and suggested that all Members of Parliament meet the people.
This suggestion was met with great cheers by the protestors.
The Speaker of the House then walked out of Parliament House followed by all Members of Parliament, including all Cabinet Ministers.
“Thank you for coming, this matter has been discussed, however we do acknowledge your presence here today,” the Speaker of the House Tolufuaivalelei Falemoe Leiataua said.
Toailoa then reiterated that although they know the bill is in its third reading and that all democratic and legal methods of protesting have been exhausted, the march was yet another knock on the Governments door by the people.
“Tuilaepa, may I humbly remind you that it is the people who elected you in your position, and all Members of Parliament, therefore we humbly request that you consider our request,” said Toailoa.
At the end of his address, Toailoa told the Prime Minister that he should do something out of the ordinary, by honouring the voice of the people.
“We know that today is your birthday so please mark it with an acceptance of our cry,” Toailoa added.
It was only then that the solemn look on Tuilaepa’s face broke as he smiled and chuckled with his fellow Ministers.
The protestors then broke into a song and the 20,000 marchers sang Happy Birthday to the Prime Minister.
But that did not take away from the seriousness of their request
The introduction of this bill has triggered the most extensive public protests since the PSA Strike of 1981.
The Government proposed the bill in late 2007 saying that introducing right hand drive vehicles would make vehicle ownership more accessible to the people of Samoa because of the large Samoan communities in New Zealand and Australia.
Tuilaepa has previously linked the benefits of the proposed switch to curbing the adverse impacts of climate change on rural dwellers.
According to him, if more people in the rural areas have vehicles, it makes it easier for them to move inland therefore saving them from the rising sea levels and ultimately from the impacts of climate change.
This so far has been the main reason for Governments plans to switch the side of the road we drive on.
The estimate so far for the cost of the switch to the Samoan economy is SAT$790 million tala according to the Chamber of Commerce in addition to an estimate by the Institute of Professional Engineers of Samoa which is SAT$775 million tala.
A source from the Chamber of Commerce says the overall estimated cost of the switch would be 1.5 billion tala.
Currently Samoa has GDP of 1.3 billion tala annually.
