2026-02-27 - 01:57

MY SAY : Journalists On Devils Watch By Mataeliga Pio Sioa When this ‘disrespectful’ journalist was ‘escorted’ out of the visiting Australian Foreign Minister’s media conference, it was a struggle to hold down a bubbling burst of laughter. As a career journo the irony of rare incidents like this tickles the funny bone. The fact that the call was by the PM himself, in a fit of rage at being ignored, bursts the mirth bubble. The thought of a spoiled child throwing a tantrum zoomed into focus somehow. Obviously a nerve was struck and giving this journo the boot turned it into a surprisingly hilarious reaction. Journos are notorious for their thick skins. Constant exposure over the years to all manners of challenging public reactions thicken the body layers. The PM’s ‘hissy lash out’ is a classic example. Central to all this was the grant of several million tala by the Australian Govt to help the Lakapi Samoa development. Unfortunately, the funds required the signature of the PM as condition for the release. The process was simple enough without giving it any second thoughts. Obviously, the Australian Government in good faith never expected Laauli to turn it into a political sucker punch for the opposition leader. His blatant attempt to manipulate the goodwill gesture to take down Tuilaepa as the Lakapi Samoa Chairman, threatened to defile the integrity of the Australian peoples kind, giving, heart. So this ‘escorted journo’ was more interested in the visiting Minister’s reaction. Minister Wong had stepped back with raised hands, not wanting to be dragged by the media into the PM’s domestic juvenile politics. Laauli, however, did not like being ignored. The fact became obvious when he called in his law enforcing cavalry on this journo’s insistence for more worthwhile remarks from the visiting Minister. A word that stands out as a journalist in this added chapter of an enduring career is resilience. Long after the Laauli influence disappears from the political scenery this journalist will still be around. He will continue to honour the divine call by our Good Lord with the talents he was blessed with to keep the people informed. Samoa needs to know what is going on around them to make worthy decisions for their own good – more so now. Why this asinine character was picked for the high office of the PM is not a surprise given the ‘mysterious ways of our Lord’. Maybe that is why He created journalists. The wolves in sheep skins are always around and they must be monitored at all times. His innocent children needs all the help they can get to remain fully aware of the silvery deceit of sweet talk by these sheepskin wearers. Stay blessed folks.