The Prime Minister of Samoa, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, who last November told John Campbell of New Zealand’s TV3 that he “had much to learn about good manners” this week displayed a more relaxed a attitude to the media. He suggested that the current storm-in-a-teacup between Fiji and Tonga was a result of global warming.
Asked for comment, the Prime Minister in the best of the Samoan tradition of fagogo (spinning a yarn) said; “After reading the reported facts, I am super clear that the Fiji colonel went out fishing and got into problems with the current that sucks every debris into the Tonga Trench.
“That the Tongan boat – basking in the sunny ocean – spotted the lone colonel and went in to help. That the fisherman was none other than King George’s relation is of pure coincidence. “Only in the Pacific do coincidences of this nature are aplenty. “So in essence, Commodore Bainimarama should be thanking the Tongan government for rescuing Mara. “He should be telling off his own navy for not helping. “Perhaps that’s what happens when their admiral spends all his time in politics leaving the navy headless.
The complaint to the Broadcasting Standards Authority of New Zealand was rejected. Samoa maintained that the Campbell Live item did not deal fairly with the Prime Minister, because he was door-stepped as he was leaving a function at 11pm. However, the BSA says the programme made considerable efforts to obtain comment from the Prime Minister, and it is not required to provide written questions in advance as had been requested. The Authority declined to determine if the reporting of the Samoa government’s action following the tsunami was accurate.”
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