The leaders and people of Masefau village began practicing their song and dance for Flag Day 2016 more than a month ago.
However they wont be on the 2016 Flag Day Program.
Masefau volunteered to provide traditional entertainment for Flag Day after the Eastern District Governor Alo Dr. Paul Stevenson couldn’t get a village to volunteer to entertain.
But earlier this week Secretary of Samoan Affairs Mauga Tasi Ausega , who co-chairs the Flag Day Committee with Lt. Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga, apologized to village leaders saying that there had been advice from the Governor’s Office which necessitated a change and that Masefau will not be performing on Flag Day.
Instead that honor has been given to Nuuuli village.
A matai of Masefau who spoke to KHJ News on condition that he not be named said the announcement came as a blow to their village.
He said matai, fathers, mothers, the youth and children of Masefau had spent the past month practicing every day for their Flag Day performance.
He said their pese and siva was shaping up nicely and one could feel the joy of the village in representing Masefau.
A ranking chief of Masefau, Faamausili Mau Mau Jr., is reported to have been moved to tears when he accepted the government’s decision as relayed by Mauga.
He took note that it was on the governor’s advice that the change was made and said while his heart cries for his beloved villagers, and Masefau is deeply saddened, they will humbly accept the government’s will.
According to the Masefau matai who spoke with KHJ News, Faamausili related to Mauga it was clear that the office of local government will not change what the governor has decided.
And he wonders what has become of the authority of Mauga’s office to protect and preserve traditions and cultural values and authority.
Our source said the government has asked for a meeting with village leaders today to apparently make a “peace offering” in the form of cash to the village.
The matai said Masefau will attend the meeting as they are full of respect of the Office of Samoan Affairs but he doubts that any monetary peace offering will be accepted.
