We had hoped our common sense prescriptions on how to handle
questionable statements emanating from the office of Delegate Faleomavaega
would have proved persuasive to Samoa News but apparently not, as they again have
persisted in engaging in a deception about Faleomavaega’s physical
condition. As a result, the paper is
losing more and more credibility with the public, but as really the only
general advertising vehicle on island, they may not much care.
Samoa News published three articles over its Friday and
Saturday issues that speak to the point.
In a story about Senate passage of the Omnibus Territories bill, a piece
of legislation that contains provisions authored by Faleomavaega last summer, Samoa News, under a headline that read “Full
U.S. Senate set to vote on Omnibus bill which affects territories,” the writer,
identified only as “Samoa News staff,” said “After the bill passed the Senate
committee Cong. Faleomavaega's office issued a statement saying the congressman
would keep the people of American Samoa updated as the bill moves forward.”
What is deceptive here, of course, is that the headline
leads the reader to believe the Senate just passed the bill (otherwise why
would this be news?) and that the delegate was on top of the situation, even
though the writer concedes that the bill passed more than a week ago. When an on-line reader recently commented on a letter
to the editor on the health issue calling the paper on its tactics, the webmaster responded “In any
release run from Eni's office since his illness, Samoa News says, there is
still no official word on his health and that the media release came from his
office staff.”
Clearly that is not the case here. There is absolutely no mention of his
illness. The article says the bill will
be taken up by the full Senate when it returns to session after the holidays
and that Faleomavaega will keep the people updated on its progress. If Samoa News cannot see how deceptive their
article is, then there really is no hope that their integrity can be restored.
Two other articles are noticeable by their silence on
Faleomavaega altogether. A Friday story
headlined “Food stamp benefits to be reduced by 13% next month” speaks for
itself. But surely Samoa News cannot
have forgotten that it was Faleomavaega who introduced the program into the
territory over the objections of ASG at the time. Can this cut be restored? What is Faleomavaega’s position on the
issue? Is he well enough to fight for
restoration? These all are questions
Samoa News should be asking.
A third story appeared in today’s issue. It is headlined “Citizenship lawsuit appeal
takes on new twist” and speaks of one or more distinguished law professors who
want to intervene in the case on behalf of the plaintiffs. This case has such serious potential
ramifications for the territory that Faleomavaega himself filed a friend of the
court brief before he took ill. What does this new twist
mean? Surely this again is a question
that should be put to the delegate and readers should be told if he is or is
not in a position to address the issue.
Issues such as these: Omnibus territories bill, Citizenship lawsuit
and food stamp reductions are all in the purview of the delegate and Samoa News
shirks its duty to its readers by ignoring his role or deceiving us on the state
of his ability to look after our interests.
Let us be crystal clear here. We are not seeking the removal of the
delegate from office or for him to step aside early. Nor do we need to be told specifically what
is wrong with him. However, the public
needs to know how American Samoa’s
issues in Washington are being
addressed if he does have some lengthy illness that will keep him sidelined for
any length of time. These issues are not going to wait for his rehabilitation.
We do not blame him, especially if he is too ill to even
issue any instructions to his staff. But
we do hold his office accountable and condemn Samoa News for participating in
any charade.
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