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Where has the tsunami relief money gone?

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Fred Purcell

Fred Purcell

video
Mon, 01 Nov 2010 7:00p.m.

Where has the tsunami relief money gone?

At the end of September, a year after a tsunami killed 143 people in Samoa, Campbell Live revisited the country to ask that very question.

In New Zealand, the Government would be compelled to answer it – and would do so as a matter of course.

But the Samoan government was outraged by it and embarked on a sustained campaign against Campbell Live’s story – including a formal BSA complaint.

Yes, there are new roads and electricity is back to the region. The Samoan government says it has spent $68.74 million Tala so far, but many tsunami victims feel deserted by their government and wonder why so little of the money has made its way back to them.

Documents obtained by Campbell Live suggest many millions more dollars have been received than have been spent around the coastline.

So when the Samoan Prime Minister accepted Campbell Live’s invitation to explain where the money has gone, John Campbell flew to Samoa to talk to him.

And to ask him the questions his people seem unable to answer.

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Comments [174]

Harry Young
30 Nov 2010 10:23a.m.

I bet they wish they had the same government that run Fijii.
Why so we in NZ deal with bent governments?

jack jason
29 Nov 2010 8:28p.m.

stupid samoans ......think about ur people........

thorn
26 Nov 2010 1:33p.m.

Its amazing how many empty cans we have in this country. For a start, this Mr.torn talks like someone who understands what has happened after the Tsunami, yet you sound like a lazy bum who sits and brag without doing any work, nor helping with the recovery work. If you have noticed lately, the opposition is yet again in another mess with Rimoni Aiafi its so-called leader exposing who he really is through his disgraceful actions as published in the Media.(exposing his kamai ulupoo meauli auleaga to a woman)..This is not a party/individual whom we can look up to for leadership..So to Mr. Torn, Id suggest you keep your mouth shut, or better wash your mouth before you can even talk or write nonsense.

tom
25 Nov 2010 2:38p.m.

Bravo Mr Campbell for this piece of news about the tsunami relief funds. I for one am confused with the amounts mentioned by the govt. Firstly, the report was never audited nor passed through paliament for deliberation and approval. It is a very childish report probably written and put together by the PMs cronies and yes men.
This PM lacks manners and education. As a hard working Samoan, I know the money has been partly directed to other things not solely for the tusnami affected areas.

Thousands of people have assisted Samoa and all they need is a transparent report of where all the money has been going to. But this govt have no sense and no consideration of the love and generosity for the people who have been donating.
I believe the Red Cross and other NGOs are doing a much better job in distributing the donations, much better than this govt.
Come 2011 election I hope a new party will win the election.

LOCAL SAMOAN
20 Nov 2010 1:47p.m.

Goodness. You people are seriously media driven. Living, breathing and staying here in Samoa, A WHOLE LOT has been done since 29/09/09. As for a professional journalist such as Campbell, questions such as "where is the money" is biased way of representing answers. Victoria get real and take a degree in Auditing and then you can take a hike like John Campbell to every achievement that donors has put in place for the victims of the tsunami. LOCAL

jenny
19 Nov 2010 8:50a.m.

OMG you guys in support of this wrong doing are all BLIND!!! seeing is believing....and seeing NOTHING has been done....BELIEVING money has gone astray I put in quite a bit of money and yet IM PISSD OFF!! You stupid people supporting and making excuses and blah blah blah give it up....even though you feel u can justify where some of the money has gone its MILLIONS so even if you deduct whatever from whereever....IT MILLIONS so if i haven't seen the worst areas...Campbell showed us....so NUFF SAID....just over the excuses the PM did no wrong....OPEN UR EARS n EYES IDIOTS!!!!

Samoa moni
18 Nov 2010 9:34a.m.

Victoria, its nice to hear sweet and encouraging words coming from people like you. However, I for one am puzzled to understand what the heck are you people asking for when Government and PM have given the report outlining the use of funds received from donors...ADB and World bank funds mentioned in the media was not aid at all. It is loan to the Government and will be repaid in the future...If you take these loans away from the equation, then the actual aid which you are trying to apply here is very minimal when compared to the actual work that has been done by Government...Its better if you were in Samoa and have visited the Tsunami area then you will understand and appreciate what I'm talking about...In the bible, Tom needed to touch and feel the wounds of our Saviour to confirm he is the risen Christ...Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed...and I say this to you Victoria that you are another Tom...

Victoria (Outraged Samoan)
17 Nov 2010 3:59p.m.

I URGE EVERYONE ESPECIALLY SAMOANS TO EMAIL THE SAMOAN PM VIA http://www.govt.ws/index_cm.html

This was my letter:

Dear Mr PM,

You as a PM should be a representative, spokesperson, face and voice of the people so any Samoa citizen should be outraged and demand a simple request of WHERE HAS THE TSUNAMI RELIEF MONEY GONE PM?????. It is every citizens right to public service information and finances. It is about time someone demands accountability from the despicable and careless people in the Samoan Government. Shame on you. I would ambush you like Campbell did to demand an explanation on this sensitive matter. It is your job to be able to deliver the answers to the questions.

I was mortified to find this video and findings exposing you and your corrupt government http://www.3news.co.nz/Where-has-the-tsunami-relief-money-gone/tabid/367/articleID/184117/Default.aspx

For a palagi like Campbell to demand and stand up for Samoan rights, every Samoan should be thankful he even gives a dam about our people and has streamed a Media video report on this outrageous act. Usually politicians show some kind of urgency when it is a question from the Media but this we call you our PM and therefore you should resign. It doesn’t matter if you are not used to walking down the street undisturbed.

You are incompetent to the highest degree, you lack leadership skills, you lack public speaking skills, you lack community spirit, you lack accountability and most critically, the people have lost faith in you and should, for the sake of our people, resign.

God bless all those Samoans without homes and who have not been compensated for their losses. All the people want are answers, a breakdown on relief money, where it will be spent, how long it will take to implement, how it will be implemented and why it is taking so long for the incompetency to go on for. The people need to know what is going on so that smart people like Campbell dont walk up to them and find out the truth. They need info and ACTION PM!! Shame on you PM!!

I request an urgent response to my letter with an explanation of the breakdown of funds.

From a very disappointed and outraged Samoan,
Victoria

Campolo
16 Nov 2010 10:43a.m.

kalofa e ia oukou uma o loo le fiafia ile Malo...E sao ai le upu - "e solomua ile kagaga e lei lafoa se sege ile Sunami oga piko i leokekele..."Lafo i Le Atua e faamasino le mea tonu" A sa'o le Malo lelei..A sa'o outou lelei foi...Ae aua le tusi lima le kefe e le'i faia se kaukua ile Malo..Ga o le pukio e maua e le kagaka lokoleaga...

George Vaimea
15 Nov 2010 12:23a.m.

All that money is in the prime minister's mouth, why did he say (to Campbell) you must have some respect? Campbell didn't do anything he just wanted to find out where this money gone because we, the New Zealanders need to know if they used that money properly to help those people who have lost everything in the tsunami. The prime minister wanted Campbell to provide some written question so clearly he (Samoa PM)is hiding something from us. I hope he didn't use that money for campaigns or use it to pay his employees. And my question, what happen if there's another tsunami? Is he (Samoa PM) going to use all his money to help those people? I don't think he can do that!

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