3) Talk about the problems a newly-independent state is confronted with (Section IV, «Progress in Samoa»)

Samoa is a newly independent state and located south of the equator, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand in the Polynesianregion of the Pacific Ocean. Samoa nation is living in a time of change and challenge and of great opportunity as well.

The sound of progress and civilization is springing up around the country, but that phenomenon is also frightening for some of the inhabitants of the island state. They do not want changes to come so fast, perhaps they are not ready mentally for them yet. When it comes to this part of the world modern things may seem controversial for the locals.

The tradition of communal land ownership stultifies individual incentive and has resulted in neglect of the land. Nowadays Samoa witnesses an exodus of the youth; the migrant workers are leaving for New Zealand. The money the emigrants send to their families supports them, but leads to the thousands of Samoan families ignoring the land and living off the earnings of their expatriate children. This phenomenon provokes inflation and economic retard.

The capital, Apia, is teeming with people all around the world who want to help. There has been a great modernization work done: the streets have been torn up for a new road system, the hospitals are being rebuilt with the loan from New Zealand, while a new 1 million pounds hotel has opened to promote tourism – an industry the country is not quite sure it wants.

Having followed the same pattern for thousands of years the Samoans do not want to lose their traditional culture. Only time will tell whether they find a balance between past and future.

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