Recently members of the SWAP Foundation team observed NZ reporter John Campbell (TV3) approach the Prime Minister of Samoa Tuila’epa. We are very concerned with what we witnessed.
The Prime Minister Tuila’epa had invited the SWAP team to an evening meal at a Vaitele restaurant. At the conclusion of the evening John Campbell approached the PM in an aggressive manner outside the restaurant as we were leaving. The approach was akin to that of an investigative reporter catching a criminal.
Our concerns with the matter are two-fold.
First, we have concerns over the subject matter – allocation (or misappropriation) of Tsunami-relief funds. Having lived and worked in Samoa since the Tsunami, we are aware of the substantial work completed by the Government and other aid agencies. We are not in a position to address specific claims but the original story run by Campbell Live ran more along the lines of a shallow “media beat-up” than a well-researched investigation.
We are NOT in a position to make judgements on the performance of the government and we DO encourage openness and transparency, but we have concerns over the extent of John’s claims of large mis-appropriation of funds.
Secondly, we believe that the manner in which John and his team approached both the orginal piece and more specifically the Prime Minister at a social event was unprofessional and will have been highly offensive to the Samoan people.
Having learned lessons ourselves on the importance of understanding the Samoan culture when working in Samoa, we encourage John Campbell and his team (and in fact any other person or business intending to work in Samoa) to seek the counsel and support of people who know and who understand the ways of Samoa (Fa’a Samoa).
Doing so, will assist his endeavours in Paradise enormously.
A blog post entitled Persona Non Grata on my personal website shares more about this issue.
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