the cost of diplomacy

Western Samoa looks at the cost of diplomacy

From FELISE VA’A in Apia

Western Samoa’s Government has decided to establish formal diplomatic relations with New Zealand and ap point a high commissioner who will be installed in a suitable residence in Wellington, as PIM reported in June.

And it’s that phrase “suitable resi dence” and all that goes with it which is causing more than a little heart burning in Western Samoa. “It’s a waste of time and money,” grumble the critics.

The decision to set up the diplo matic mission was made a long time ago but was kept secret because the cabinet feared premature announce ment would bring in a flood of appli cations. The flood materialised and gave the cabinet a headache. Who should get the job?

The second, and bigger headache is the grumbles of critics. Apparently, the government intends to do the thing in proper style with an elegant residence, a staff and all the frills which go with such a post. The critics moan that a high commission would be a waste of time and money.

The New Zealand Government, they felt, was already doing a fine job representing Western Samoa in the international capitals of the world.

Besides, they said, the money to go into the salaries for a high commis sioner and expenses would be better put to use in improving the standard of living in Samoa. (Samoa is one of the poorest countries in the world according to a recent United Nations survey.) On the other hand, proponents of the scheme argue the establishment of a high commission in New Zealand would better serve the in terests of the Western Samoan Gove n ? en *' As one top government official put it, “Western Samoa has many dealings with New Zealand: in trade, and in immigration for example. But above all, in matters to do with New Zealand aid to Western Samoa. Western Samoa,

• The US Department of Com merce has made a grant of SUS9BO,OOO to American Samoa.

The money will be used to develop an 80-acre industrial area at Tafuna, close to Pago Pago’s international airport. The development will create 300 new jobs.

therefore, needs a full time repre sentative in New Zealand”.

But these are not the only con siderations which compelled the cabinet to go ahead with the pro ject. Several years ago, Mac Fonoti, the president of the Samoan Pro gressive Movement in New Zealand, visited Samoa to persuade the cabinet to appoint a high commissioner to

New Zealand. Fonoti himself told me he had seen many cabinet ministers and had discussed this matter with them.

Fonoti said it was ridiculous that Western Samoa should appoint a consul in the United States and not appoint a representative to handle the interests of Samoans living in New Zealand. But he appeared to empha sise the need for the representative in New Zealand to be of diplomatic status.

It is quite possible cabinet was in fluenced by Fonoti. It is very prob able its members saw the time was ripe for such diplomatic representa tion. Perhaps it was time to break New Zealand’s spell.