11 Mar 2010

Samoa government to crack down on dishing out of titles

1:44 pm on 11 March 2010

Samoa's government plans to tighten the matai system in order to safeguard its integrity.

A Commission of Inquiry is to report to Cabinet at the end of next month with recommendations on how to restrict the number of matai titles that can be bestowed.

The Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, says the matai system's traditional values are being breached.

Our correspondent in Samoa, Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia, says in the past, no more than four important chiefly and oratory titles were given out at a time.

"But not like the practice that we have right now that we have some families they have 40, 50, 60, 70 and over 100. So it's a concern of the Prime Minister because it looks like it's a commercial thing in order to have a financial gain for those matais who are looking after families right now."

Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia.