Copyright dailypost
Since Epi MP Seoule Simeon stepped into the High Risk Corrections Facility in Port Vila, a new era has begun for Vanuatu. After 10 years, an MP has walked into prison, after a decade with a new Police Commissioner, a new Attorney General, and a damn good prosecution team, we have seen this rare eclipse happen again this month. However, this is just beginning. Picture an avalanche, Simeon is the first snowball rolling down this mountain of corruption. So hats off to all the authorities in play, from the judicial actors and the police, keep up the good work! Simeon currently has his sentence stayed, and as for our MP from the East, Jesse, he was remanded then released yesterday. I know of at least 3 other MPs that could wind up in court, in reality there are more, hiding behind bribes, hoping it won’t come to light, but let this be known, eventually it will and the fact that most of you didn’t financial invest in your constituencies to help your voters just widens the gap of support and sympathy like Simeon. Read the room, when Simeon was charged, sentenced and strolled into prison, there was hardly anyone fighting for him on social media, no one was saying that this was a miscarriage of justice, no one wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt, the majority of the country was sick and tired of these antics that our MPs are notoriously known for. Has the lesson been learnt? If you do not do your job right, and you cheat and steal while you’re at it, you will be seen as a disgrace in public. I got into a somewhat heated discussion with Hilaire Bule during our recording of Taem Blo Storian this week, I raised a populate debate topic regarding MPs still receiving full benefits after being charged and sentenced to prison. I argued that the law should be amended because money that’s meant for his constituency, he could be using that to fuel his legal costs, Hilaire argued that it’s his personal life and that’s private. For those of you who feel that the media goes too far when publishing pictures of MPs like Simeon in his bright orange Tee or sensitive articles of national leaders, know that they are public servants, when they campaigned for votes, they didn’t do it privately or quietly, they campaigned screamed into mics and blasted music because they wanted your attention and votes, when elected, they now have a social responsibility to us, society and the country. There is no such thing as private for our leaders. Human Rights Activist Anne Pakoa believes we’re trying to shame Simeon and the picture published of Simeon in handcuffs was a personal attack by Daily Posttowards him. The reason why we published that image was that it was newsworthy. Nothing more. Our MPs are not the Lord’s gift to us, they are men and women living in the same small island we live in who just happen to have the right amount of public influence to be elected. Please do not glorify them, we put them in power and they need to be held accountable for all their wrongdoings. I find it interesting how there isn’t a wave of support for Simeon advocating for a positive outcome for his appeal. There isn’t a village that he helped grow and develop that are concerned about his wellbeing and treatment when he was in prison, he served his own self-interest and that’s why there’s not much sympathy for the former speaker of parliament, if you disagree, I would love to hear from you. Bladiniere Incident There was an attack on two cops in Bladiniere recently. I for one am not surprised or shocked by this. During the Taem Blo Storianthis week we had a chat with 5-year Bladiniere resident Mike Esrom, who explained how Bladiniere has gone from bad to worse and nothing is being done about it. Almost every month, there is an attack, robbery or drug-induced incident that occurs within the stages of Bladiniere. So hearing that cops were assaulted there isn’t really a surprise, you neglect a community to the extent where young boys feel more than comfortable to assault men and women openly because there isn’t a presence there to ensure that consequences will follow. The last story we did about Bladiniere was to do with their roads and how it would cost upward of VT1B, then there’s no streetlights, no police situated inside Bladiniere stages, no community halls, no sports development programs for youths, there’s a whole lot of nothing. If the government is going to continue to neglect Bladiniere than the least you could do is erect a sign that says ‘Enter At Your Own Risk!’ ‘Danger Ahead!’ The attack on the cops is an indication that the thugs in Bladiniere are getting bolder, more uncontrollable and more dangerous, are we going to let them bully our first responders into submission or are we going to start taking control of the black sheep of Efate? Waiting to see how our new Police Commissioner responds to this. Trump is Irrelevant President of the United States of America Donald Trump said that Climate Change is not real, made-up, a “con job” first of I just want to remind you all that Trump and all his comments are irrelevant to Vanuatu. When the Don became POTUS, he instantly pulled out of COP and expressed his lack of interest in Pacific island affairs. Trump will say and do what he wants, but that doesn’t mean we should acknowledge or respond to him. As a major political figure of one of the most powerful nations, he instantly commands the respect of world leaders. Still, frankly, we shouldn’t respect a man who is blinded by his own deluded conspiracies. After his term is complete, hopefully America will elect a more sensible leader who understands that the world doesn’t rotate around the US. For the time being, I encourage our climate change champions not to be phased by the comments of Trump. We got the AO in our favor without the help or support of Washington. If we can accomplish that, we can accomplish much more. Have a great weekend.
