Published – Thursday 30 March 2000
The Samoa Water Authority deserves a pat on the back for admitting to a mistake it had inadvertently made, then promptly waiving its charges. (Samoa Observer 29 March.)
Other government authorities should be prepared to act similarly; they should own up to their mistakes, perhaps apologize, then offer compensation if necessary.
This would prevent disruptive disillusionment generally, make people happy, society a reasonably good place for everyone to be.
SWA has unfortunately been the target of criticisms from consumers over the last several weeks, the majority of which had to do with contaminated water coming down the faucets in the homes.
Clearly a perennial problem, the sickly-looking water during the rain seasons has been baffling the authorities for years. Now that moves to tackle the problem are underway, let’s hope the days of contaminated water will soon be over.
But SWA’s decision to waive Mose Isaia’s water bill of $431.43 because the estimation of which was based on “a wrong water meter reading”, is a good move albeit not an optional one. The idea, however, that it ended a standoff that might have developed into something sinister, regretful, is no doubt appreciated by everyone involved.
The mistake was simple enough. The bill for the water consumed by Mose Isaia’s family for three months has been $11.00. The family was therefore surprised when a bill of $431.43 for nine months of water consumed, was received. As a result, the family lodged a complaint.
This was looked at carefully, the mistake was located, and the bill was subsequently waived. So that now, Moe’s family is happy it would not have to pay for water it did not consume, and SWA are satisfied they have corrected a wrong.
But perhaps the real lesson to learn from this scenario is that SWA has set a precedence for the rest to think about. If problems affecting the public occur, they should be attended to immediately with the idea of solving them. To do this, they should be put on the table so that they can be discussed.
This is not happening in many cases. There are crucial problems facing this country which are difficult to solve because they are being hidden from public view.
And as long as they remain unsolved, the public suffers, the poor more so than the well-to-do.
But we’ve all heard of that adage that no matter how of that adage that no matter how hard one tries to hide a young chick, one simply can’t, because the chick will continue to chirp from where ever it is hidden.
Such a young bird has been chirping from the darkness where it has been barricaded over the last twenty years. It’s chirping has become feeble, but it will not give up yet.
The point is that we have reached that stage in our life where accountability and transparency should be insisted upon without conditions. This will inevitably lead to true democracy where those in leadership positions would guide the way towards self-reliance, true independence.
They do this having forsaken their fears of reprisals and following the dictates of their consciences instead. At this point also, we should know that without accountability and transparency, no country can move forward as a nation. It says trapped in a swamp of stagnation for sure.
Even rich nations of the world cannot continue to help. It’s good to hear, therefore, that President Clinton has offered to “write off 100 per cent of debts (owed by) heavily indebted poor countries of the Commonwealth.”
Whether Samoa is one of these countries we do not know. What we know is that the United States is focusing its attention on such volatile, itchy nuclear powers as India – whose population reached one billion August last year – Pakistan, China, and African nations, with the idea of defusing tension there.
We doubt that the thought of tiny Samoa ever crosses Clinton’s brain twice a year. So our leaders should try to get used to being isolated yet accountable to the people. An open society from which not many destructive schemes are hidden would be an ideal place for everyone, including generations yet to arrive.
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