A former Member of Parliament believes a breakdown in family values is responsible for high levels of crime in Samoa.
<script async src="http://www.samoaobserver.ws///pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>
<!-- ads-articles(24.03.14) -->
<ins class="adsbygoogle"
style="display:inline-block;width:336px;height:280px"
data-ad-client="ca-pub-9419815128221199"
data-ad-slot="2395638412"></ins>
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>
“Our family values are broken down and I believe that is the cause of all these troubles,” LeotaSu’ateleManusegi said.
“Technology has really affected our people in a very negative way. I’m not saying that it is bad, but it has changed the behaviors of our people in a very bad way.
“I believe that the main cause of these crimes is because our people do not value the special things that our people used to treasure. Things like life, our culture and traditions.
“Nowadays, our people are being manipulated by all these technologies and they value these things more than they value our tradition and fa’aSamoa.
“Life is something that we should treasure and it is the most valuable thing in the world, but what is happening now? Every week there is always someone being killed. By who? Their own relatives, their own husbands and friends.
“It is intolerable and we cannot just sit around and pretend that nothing is wrong. These kinds of things rarely happened back in the day. But what’s happening now, it is rapidly increasing and that breaks my heart. “
Leota believed there was a simple way to deal with crime.
“Everything starts from our families. That is where our children are first educated and [it is] the solid foundation of any Samoan,” he said.
“I believe that everyone has a part to play. Samoa is known as the most organised community because of its matai system. Again, that is starting to fade away. It is time to rekindle our culture and bring back our values and traditions.
“Our government is wasting a lot of money in bringing in overseas people and in hosting workshops and seminars about ways to reduce the increasing number of crimes we have in Samoa. They can’t just bring in palagis and expect them to solve this issue, as if they are some kind of Jesus Christ.
“Go back to our roots, our basic value systems. I believe that if we have more workshops in the villages involving all the people in the village under the supervision of ali’i and faipule and church leaders, it will help bring our people together and talk about these things.
“I feel that if our youths are taught and are reminded about how valuable life is together, we can help [end] these bad behaviors.
“Evening services is one practice that we seldom see nowadays.
Where are our children during these times? They are either at the rugby fields, or they are hanging out with their friends.
“Our people should go back to enforcing these practices.”
Leota felt there was a lack of caring in Samoan culture.
“They say that sharing is caring and we used to care for each other because it was part of our cultural norms.
“I believe that is why there are a lot of disputes nowadays - we don’t care about each other anymore and again, our family values are broken down.
“We have a small police force here in Samoa. But with the help of ali’i and faipule and faifeaus and everyone, we can reduce these crimes.”
<!-- 336x280 (bottom-article) -->
<ins class="adsbygoogle"
style="display:inline-block;width:336px;height:280px"
data-ad-client="ca-pub-2469982834957525"
data-ad-slot="1033882026"></ins>
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>{/googleAds}