Head of State

A statement from the Office of the Clerk was issued last night in response to a media release titled “Head of State Agrees for Parliament to Convene” released yesterday afternoon.

A statement issued yesterday by FAST Party leader, Fiamē Naomi Mata’afa

Leaders of the majority FAST party - which won 26 of 51 seats - met with His Highness this afternoon to request that parliament be called on Friday.

FAST has advised the Head of State of their majority, and their intention to form a government once parliament meets.

The caretaker HRPP government is attempting to delay parliament, claiming legal challenges need to be settled first.

However FAST leader Fiame Naomi Mata'afa said the Head of State Tuimaleali'ifano Va'aleto'a Sualauvi II had agreed to convene parliament, although he has yet to confirm a date.

It was reported that the counsel for the incumbent Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP), Aumua Ming Leung Wai, seeks to justify that declaration, by arguing the call for fresh elections was lawful because they were exercising their 'reserve powers'.

The Attorney General is also likely to make the same argument, and they have indicated that they are likely to engage the services of a Queen's Counsel (a foreign lawyer whose work has been given special acknowledgement by the British Crown) to act or advise on the matter.

A former British colony that gained independence in 1966, Barbados has maintained a formal link with the British monarchy as have some other countries that were once part of the British empire.

"The time has come to fully leave our colonial past behind," said Barbados Governor-General Sandra Mason, delivering a speech on behalf of the country's Prime Minister Mia Mottley.

The new head of state will be sworn-in at the temporary Parliament house at Tuanaimato.

RNZI reports he is the holder of the paramount title Tui A'ana Tuimaleali'ifano Va'aleto'a Sualauvi II.

The current head of state, Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi, told reporters he will address the nation on the swearing-in day.

Despite opposition from a handful on MPs, the country's parliament has passed the Income Tax Amendment Act.

The MP for Urban West, Faumuina Wayne Fong, said it should have been a tax on the church rather than individual pastors, while another MP, Sulamanaia Tauiliili Tuivasa, said church pastors should be exempt. He did not oppose the Head of State paying tax.

Sulamanaia said the revenue minister, Tialavea Fea Leniu Tionisio Hunt, was too quick to table the bill and there should have been more time for consultation.