Samoa Deputy Prime Minister Calls It ‘Black Tuesday’; Recounts Tragedy on The Ground

Samoa’s Deputy Prime Minister Misa Telefoni, who is also Samoa’s Tourism Minister, was in Auckland when the earthquake and tsunami hit Samoa pn Tuesday 29 October 2009 leaving a trail of death and destruction with more than 140 officially declared dead. The following account are his own words of that day which he calls ‘Black Tuesday’.

PHOENIX RISES FROM TRAGEDY’S ASHES

By Deputy Prime Minister of Samoa
Misa Telefoni
Sunday 4 October 2009

Black Tuesday

It was a successful meeting in Auckland.  Our insurance brokers advised Forum Samoa II’s claim had been accepted, and we were to conclude the repairs as soon as practical.

The previous day I had traveled to Wellington to meet with Hon Murray McCully and his officials on assistance for Forum Samoa II and the new route structures proposed by Pacific Forum Line (PFL).

I was to travel to Nadi for a high level European Union meeting to discuss the expediting of project disbursements under EDF10.  Samoa is due to receive over $300 million in assistance.

At 7.10am my daughter rang to tell me a massive earthquake had struck Samoa.  We live in Puipaa.  She rang again a few minutes later that they were evacuating to Tanumapua as there was a tsunami warning.

I went to the television and there was breaking news – an earthquake and tsunami alert for the Pacific Islands and New Zealand.

Airlines’ Respond

When the magnitude of the tragedy became clear, I tried to get a booking home.  Air New Zealand had 20 people waitlisted for their flight that afternoon.

Glen Sowry of Air New Zealand rang me that they were upgrading the aircraft to 777 – with 140 more seats than the Airbus, and they had a seat for me.

Air New Zealand deserves commendation for their quick response to the disaster.  Quickly adding freight and passenger capacity.  Bringing over assistance in clothing and provisions.  Offering free tickets for volunteer doctors and nurses.

I also received a call from Mark Pitt of Polynesian Blue.  They are putting on extra flights at minimal airfares for relatives and friends of the victims, and have also offered assistance in future marketting efforts for our many properties unaffected by this disaster.  Savaii’s many tourist properties were not affected at all.

Best Portion of a Good Man’s Life

The poet William Wordsworth talked of “that best portion of a good man’s life.  His little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love”.

This natural disaster has brought out the best in all our people, both in Samoa and overseas.

I shall never forget the wailing cry of anguish by a Saleapaga lady as we arrived on Wednesday morning, they had just found her mother’s badly decomposed body.

Her pure despair was compounded by the need to embrace her mother – clearly not possible now.

As one of my Ministerial colleagues spoke words of comfort, there were new cries of anguish from the distance as another mother found her four year old daughter.

These memories will be forever etched in my mind.

Overwhelming International Response

Apart from the more than $500,000 raised in the Telethon on Thursday, the Samoan communities throughout Samoa and the world, have responded to the pain and suffering of the victims.  All of them endured emotional as well as physical pain  – and all needed spiritual comfort as well as physical healing.

The international response has been both quick and quite overwhelming.  His Excellency Matt Anderson’s personal involvement has had a substantial impact.

The visits of Foreign Minister Murray McCully and Prime Minister John Key have been an indication of New Zealand’s great concern and their own substantial and positive response.

Former Labour Ministers Hon Luamanuvao Winnie Laban and Chris Carter were also in Samoa by Tuesday (29/9) indicating the New Zealand Labour Party’s eagerness to render assistance.

The governments of China and Japan, and even Tokelau who offered $30,000 and provisions.  There are many more offers of international assistance from different countries.

The European Union, both the Commission, and individual EU members, have been quick to offer their assistance.

This assistance has been unprecedented in both its speed and magnitude.

I have personally received a pile of faxes and e-mails from some people I had not heard from for several years, as well as from many close friends, relatives and colleagues.

It has been a great comfort and I am certain the victims of this tragedy have felt the warmth of the love and affection manifest in all these magnificent acts of benevolence.

In the immortal words of Wordsworth “acts of kindness and of love”.

The Tears Must Flow

We all need to mourn our losses.  My cousin Tuatagaloa Joe Annandale lost his dear wife Tui.  She was a gem, a rare human being who will be sadly missed by all her relatives and friends.

Every Samoan, in some way, has been touched by this tragedy.  I hold the title Lesamatauanuu and we lost members of our Purcell clan in Malaela, Aleipata.

Many Samoans, and even our visitors, have lost their lives.  Many of our relatives and friends from American Samoa and Tonga also lost their lives.  We mourn them all.

We must all mourn.  We must bear the pain in our own special ways, unique to us all.

But eventually, we need to accept that life must be go on, for those of us who have survived this tragedy.

That process and the transition involved needs time – time to heal, time to mend the broken hearts, time to let the pain fade.  Even if for some, that pain can never completely fade away.

Samoa Still Has So Much More to Offer

Samoa Tourism is preparing a strong message – that message is that Samoa still has so much more to offer our visitors – whose custom we value and whose patronage we consider a special privilege and honour.

In a special report, Samoa Tourism Authority (STA) gave this information of what is on offer.

1. We still have 5 out of 7 deluxe hotels available – 326 Rooms and 854 beds.

1. We still have 5 out of 7 superior Resorts available – 135 Rooms and 314 beds

1. We still have 22 out of 24 standard hotels available – 315 Rooms and 759 Beds

1. We still have 27 out of 29 Budget hotels available – 406 rooms and 864 beds

1. We still have 9 out of 14 Beach Fales available (Overnight stays) or 144 rooms and 348 beds.

1. We still have 8 out of 17 Beach Fales available (Day Stays) or 51 rooms.

The Rehabilitation Process

Cabinet has approved KVA Consult to carry out a study to assess the damage, and advise on a road-map to total rehabilitation in the least possible time.

The Australian government has responded positively to our request for financial assistance to fund this study.

The aim is to complete this study in 2 – 3 weeks.

It is essential that this Study is sensitive to all the physical, financial, but as well the emotional costs of this natural disaster.

New Campaign

STA will launch on 12 October 2009 a new aggressive marketting campaign to assure our tourism partners that Samoa is still in business, and offering the same ideallic holidays in Paradise that our visitors have come to expect.

The specialists are already working hard on this campaign, and no time must be lost in ensuring that this message is made manifestly clear in the best possible way, taking into account the cultural and emotional sensitivities surrounding this situation.

Dedication

Our dedication is to all the victims of this tragedy.

Not only the victims who lost their lives.

All the victims – their close kin and relatives, their extended families, their friends and acquaintances.

All the victims of the consequential and economic loss.  The many people who worked in these many hotels and tourist centers and those who provided goods and services for them.

All the victims who are investors, owners, and shareholders in these resorts.

Our entire nation.  All Samoans everywhere have been touched in some way by this tragedy.

As our Prime Minister and spiritual leaders such as Rev Oka Fauolo have urged us in this time of sorrow – we must turn to God.

God for His special comfort and healing powers.

May God bless all Samoa, and lest we forget – a very special blessing for all our children on their Special Sunday and holiday next week.

Misa Telefoni