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Chinese flags angers Samoan MP
1/21/2019 Headlines, Pacific News
Samoan Member of Parliament, Olo Fonoti Vaai, has called on Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr Sailele Malielegaoi's government to remove Chinese flags flown at the site of the various projects they are funding, reported the Samoa Observer Saturday.
The MP said it doesn't make sense flying their flags at projects that are funded by loans, which Samoan taxpayers will ultimately have to repay.
"This is Samoa and while we are thankful to the Chinese Government for their assistance, the fact remains these are not aid, these projects are all part of the WST$410 million (US$155.48 million) debt owed to China," he said.
"These projects are not free so why are we allowing them to fly their flags on the project sites – it does not make any sense."
Making reference to the coverage by the Samoa Observer on $1.1 billion (just over US$417 million) in foreign debts accumulated by the Samoa Government over the years, Olo said Samoa's debt with China currently stands at WST$410.01 million, and indicated that the Government paid WST$58.4 million (US$22.13 million) and WST$117.1 million (US$44.37 million) in 2013 as debt servicing for the loans that funded the construction of the Parliamentary Building, Ministry of Justice, and the Courts and Administration Building and the Convention Center.
The Chinese Ambassador to Samoa, Wang Xuefeng, has not responded to an email from Samoa Observer sent earlier in the week.
But the Embassy's Second Secretary Liu Peng replied, saying: "Is it not the international conventions to fly the two countries' flags in the cooperation projects – in order to show the cooperation relation and friendship between two countries, especially other countries also do the same things?"
Peng assured the Samoan Observer that she would ask the Ambassador for comment, but there was no response from the Embassy by the time this newspaper went to press last night.
There was also an instance of a Chinese flag being flown during the Faleolo International Airport upgrade project, which Olo didn't agree with.
"I was puzzled. This is the gateway for most of the tourists that visit Samoa, the first thing they see is the Samoan flag accompanied by the Chinese flag. And again, it does not paint a good picture of Samoa, as a country," he added.
The airport upgrade was funded by a loan provided by the Chinese Government, which the MP indicated the Samoa Government has already started to pay back.
"Again looking at the public accounts and for the upgrading of the airport, the loan started in 2014 with first repayment in financial year 2015 of $33.41 million."
"In 2016, the Government paid WST$59.50 million (US$22.54 million). This climbed to WST$90 million (US$34.09 million) in 2018."
Olo appealed to the Samoa Government to be cautious, and added that it is time for Samoans to have pride in their country and acknowledge the pre-independence work of the Mau leaders.
"Why can't we do the same, we should have some pride in our country, where our Mau leaders had shed blood to assure Samoa's Independence. Samoa was the first Pacific Island to gain Independence – we should wear that with pride and not allow this to continue."
"We can allow the Chinese Government to install a cemented plaque at the entrance of the buildings, but we should not let them fly their flags in our country, it is that simple."
It was not possible to get a comment from Prime Minister Tuilaepa at press time.
SOURCE: SAMOA OBSERVER/PACNEWS