Court action

The Samoa Observer reports that Chief Justice Satiu Simativa Perese did not accept a request from the plaintiff's lawyer, Aumua Ming Leung Wai, for the issue to be settled as a matter of urgency.

The Speaker's lawyer, Taulapapa Brenda Heather Latu, questioned the jurisdiction of the court on a parliamentary matter and also said since the MPs had been suspended for contempt of Parliament to return to the assembly they should purge their contempt.

Taulapapa asked for time to prepare as her client is currently tied up with Parliamentary procedures.

The group is pursuing civil action against the Prime Minister Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, various government departments and agencies, and the current and former attorney generals, Lemalu Herman Retzlaff and Aumua Ming Leung Wai, over the Land Titles Registration Act 2008.

It's challenging the constitutionality of the act, which allows the registration of customary land leases and requires the registration of all customary land in Samoa.

The group claims this violates articles 102 and 109 of the constitution.