Samoa PM

Samoa PM hits out at NZ Law Society

The society's president , Tiana Epati, expressed her misgivings about the proposals with her group standing alongside their Samoan counterparts in opposition to them.

However Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said there was no place for the "President of an overseas Law Society" to lecture or interfere with the country's democratic processes.

"Samoa's Government is trying to create a Specialist Court of Appeal for its own cultural Lands and Titles to be legally acknowledged and preserved," the prime minister said.

Samoa's former head of state blasts PM over Constitution comments

Last week Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi told Parliament amendments his government proposed aimed to change foreign concepts the Samoan leaders of the time did not comprehend and which were inserted by overseas advisers who helped frame the Constitution.

The changes would affect the Lands and Titles Court which oversaw customary lands and chiefly titles.

Tuilaepa also made similar statements in media briefings on three bills now before Parliament.

Samoa PM's stoush with deputy a breach of protocol - former AG

Fiame Naomi Mata'afa was publicly by censured by PM Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi last week for questioning an amendment to the Electoral Act.

She and other cabinet ministers were then told that any who disagreed with him should resign.

This showed the prime minister sought none but his own counsel, said lawyer Taulapapa Brenda Heather-Latu.

Taulapapa said Samoa has huge respect for its first female deputy, a trailblazer who has been in parliament since 1985 and is a member of the Tama-a-Aiga, or traditional nobility.

Samoa's PM blasts media over court reports of sexual offending

Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi said the journalists had reported cases broadcast locally and overseas which made it seem that sexual offences were happening from Monday to Sunday.

Tuila'epa said the reports were shameful and tarnished the good name and reputation of Samoa.

He said the journalists providing such coverage had no pride in the country.

The prime minister said when sexual offence stories were broadcast he turned off the TV or radio because they did not sound good.

Tight security measure in place for Samoa PM

Presiding over the bail hearing Supreme Court, Justice Tafaoimalo granted bail to the two defendants.

The bail conditions imposed by the Court include;
• prohibiting any post anything related to this case on social media
• not to have any contact with an alleged conspirator overseas
• not to approach or associate or have any contact with the alleged victim, and any police witnesses.
• sign in with police twice a week.

Samoa PM calls for resignation of slow judges

According to TV1Samoa, Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi made the remark in Parliament on Friday.

Tuilaepa was reportedly responding to a disappointment voiced by Vaimauga East MP Sulamanaia Tauiliili Tuivasa about the delay in a manslaughter case against people accused of being involved in the death of his son a year ago.

The prime minister told the house that many members of the public came to his office complaining about judgements taking too long to be delivered by the courts.

Samoa PM scotches plans for govt TV station

The Samoa Observer reports that Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi is wary of the heavy set-up costs and the ongoing expense imposed by the television regulator.

The regulator Samoa Digital Company Limited (SDCL) is at loggerheads with Samoa's seven existing stations over its tariff for the new digital platform which the country is migrating to.

It is charging each channel $US13,400 per month compared with the monthly $5600 previously touted as acceptable by Tuila'epa.

Tuila'epa questioned whether any stations would use the service if the cost was prohibitive to do so.

Man who admitted conspiracy to kill Samoan PM to change plea

Taualai Leiloa, of Laulii and Magiagi villages, through his lawyer told the court that he wants to change to a not guilty plea.

The defense counsel has not yet filed an application for change of plea. Nor has the prosecution responded yet.

The accused was scheduled to be sentenced last week but the acting chief justice, Vui Clarence Nelson, has ordered Taualai to engage a lawyer to represent him before passing sentence.

The matter will be called again next Friday.

New factory to create jobs in Samoa's Tanumalala - PM

The company, Skyline, will also grow and process fruit on site.

Samoa's Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said he welcomed Skyline's development because it would create jobs.

"With 200 new employees at the factory plus an additional 100 new employees to work at the proposed farm, that would plant the various crops of nonu, sour-sop, avocado, breadfruit and other fruit trees."

Skyline plans to send up to 25 containers of product to China each month.

Last year, it shipped nearly $US4 million worth of noni juice to China.

     

Bail hearing for Samoa PM assassination plot accused adjourned

Talamua Online reports Malele Paulo, also known as King Faipopo, and Lema'i Faioso Sione have been sent back into police custody until 16 October when the new legal matters will be heard.

Once those matters have been solved a date will be set for a bail hearing.

When the matter was called this week, counsels were called to chambers and advised the matter had been adjourned.

Both men entered not guilty pleas but a third man, Taualai Leiloa, has already pleaded guilty to the charges and now awaits sentencing on 30 September.