Samoa parliament

Samoa Parliament agrees to clarify wording on women's seats quota

There had been a recommendation from a parliamentary committee looking into the political crisis which followed the 2021 election to scrap the entire provision.

The Samoa Observer said the committee modified its recommendation on the issue, and it was one of several out of more than 50 approved by the Legislative Assembly on Friday.

The initial report from the Committee tabled by chairman, Auapaau Mulipola Aloitafua, earlier his week called for the entire provision to be removed.

Samoa Parliament accepts Supreme Court’s decision to reinstate two opposition MPs

The court declared that parliament's suspension of the leaders of the Human Rights Protection Party, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and party Secretary Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi, were unconstitutional.

Papali'i Ta'eu Masipa'u told Parliament on Tuesday that he has already lodged an appeal with the Appeal Court of Samoa, and while they await the outcome, the two MPs have been allowed back to take their seats in the House.

Both members were not present in the House for this morning's session as they are both overseas and will be back later this month.

     

New leader for Samoan opposition

Pierre becomes leader following Parliament's approval of proposed amendments, entitling opposition leadership to the largest opposition party.

Approved amendments also give deputy leaders entitlement as leader of opposition if the party leader has been suspended for more than six months.

It comes over two months since former Prime Minister Tuilaepa Saʻilele Malielegaoi, was suspended indefinitely from Parliament for contempt of Parliament.

     

Samoa's Speaker defers decision

Tuala alleges the MPs acted contrary to the terms of the Parliamentary Oath of Allegiance, contrary to the terms of the Code of Parliamentary Ethics and breached Parliamentary Standing Orders.

Papalii told Parliament his ruling on the complaint will be made once he looks into all aspects of the complaint.

The complaint follows the guilty verdict by the Supreme Court on charges of contempt of court against Opposition Leader Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and HRPP Secretary Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi earlier this year.

Samoa parliament to look at improving RSE worker conditions

The Labour and Employment Relations Amendment Bill 2022 was discussed in a members pre-sitting session on Monday and will be tabled by the Minister for Commerce, Industry and Labour, Leatinu'u Wayne So'oialo, in this session.

The ministry chief executive, Pulotu Lyndon Chu Ling, said at the pre-sitting three main issues were addressed.

RNZ Pacific reports these include two yearly reviews of the minimum wage paid to seasonal workers.

Four new Members of Parliament welcomed into HRPP caucus

 A traditional welcoming kava ceremony (ava o le feiloaiga) was held at the Petesa HRPP party headquarters to welcome two Members of Parliament who had won their seats at the recent by-elections, and two women Members of Parliament appointed under the constitutional special measure to ensure Samoa’s parliamentary seats are at least 10% women.

 Maulolo Tavita Amosa secured the Sagaga 2 seat by 63 votes ahead of Faalogo Ivins Chan K Tong of FAST, while Aiono Tile Gafa secured the Aana Alofi 2 seat over FAST woman candidate Lolomatauama Eseta Faalata by just 19 votes.

Samoa Speaker unaware by-election dates have changed

Speaking to Talamua, Papali’i said he did not know of any changes and as far as he is concerned, the by-election is still on the 12 November.

 He said if there were any changes, then it is the Electoral Commissioner’s call.

 The changes were published on the Office of the Electoral Commission’s Facebook page .

* 29 October 2021 – Closure of electoral rolls for the 7 electoral constituencies of Safata 2, Sagaga 2, Sagaga 4, Falealupo, Aana Alofi 2, Falealili 2, Aleipata Itupa i Lalo.

 *The nomination period is from 01 to 05 November 2021.

Samoa rings changes to electoral law

The changes were pushed through under urgency, bypassing the parliamentary committee screenings process.

The amendments address some of the issues raised during the recent election petition court hearings.

They involve candidate eligibility and the government has sought to clarify this

By-elections are set to be held in seven constituencies.

All seven seats were won by candidates standing for the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP), which is now the opposition.

Samoa's parliament clerk sacked

The Samoa Observer reports the Speaker would not give details but said Tiatia had been served with his termination letter on Friday afternoon after the swearing in ceremony for the 18 members of the opposition Human Rights Protection Party.

Tiatia was suspended on August 20 along with then Attorney General Savalenoa Mareva Betham-Annandale who has since been sacked by the government.

The pair are also facing contempt of court charges along with former Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and former Speaker Le'aupepetele Toleafoa Fa'afisi.

No path into parliament yet for Samoa's HRPP

There were heated exchanges outside parliament as police turned back former prime minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and his Human Rights Protection Party colleagues.

The Speaker, Papali'i Li'o Masipa'u, banned HRPP members because he said they refuse to recognise him as Speaker.

Our correspondent Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia said the Speaker has not yet committed to a swearing-in schedule for HRPP.

He thought the Speaker might act at the end of the budget session.

Tuilaepa, who has been highly critical of the courts, is facing contempt charges.