Opposition

Samoa's Opposition without leadership following Parliament ban on Tuilaepa

Tuilaepa and the HRPP's secretary Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi were suspended indefinitely without pay on Tuesday from Parliament following a formal complaint by the Deputy Prime Minister, Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio.

The complaint led to a report with the recommendation they both be suspended.

Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa told Parliament an indefinite term of suspension is appropriate to monitor Tuilaepa and Lealailepule's behaviour and set a precedent for future reference.

The pair have also been denied their usual privileges payments during their suspension.

Samoa's HRPP readies to debate the Budget

On Friday, the opposition HRPP Party was re-admitted to parliament and its members-elect sworn in, following a directive from the Supreme Court, for the Speaker to end a ban on the 18 members.

Former Prime Minister Tuilaepa, HRPP leader Sailele Tuilaepa Malielegaoi embraced his successor Fiame Naomi Mata’afa as her Cabinet Ministers and Members arrived for Friday's session of the House.

The brief session went on to see MPs from shaking hands and embracing, after a five month long political standoff.

Samoa Council of Churches weighs in on political stand-off

A statement released by the Pacific Conference of Churches said the Samoa Council of Churches will meet representatives of Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata'aha and her predecessor, Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, in an attempt to end the stand-off.

Police barricaded the parliament complex yesterday as 18 elected but unsworn Opposition parliamentarians including Tuila'epa were protesting their inability to enter Parliament.

Solomons opposition accuses govt of bribery

The government of Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare is facing a vote of no confidence in parliament next week, after a series of defections from the government.

Mr Sogavare on Thursday announced moves to consolidate his coalition government, announcing eight new ministers.

But in a statement, the opposition group said that consolidation had included attempts at bribery.

It accuses the forestry minister Bradley Tovosia of trying to bribe MP Alfred Ghiro with cash and the fisheries portfolio, which he rejected.

     

PNG Opposition welcomes ACP delegation

In a media conference this afternoon, Opposition leader Don Polye said: “Our people are very friendly as we are the Melanesian people and accept our visitors and friends with open arms.”

He said PNG is an interesting place to visit as there are many business opportunities and friendly people.

This is the second time PNG is hosting the ACP.

Samoa Tautua and HRPP MPs to play role of opposition

Under the current standing orders a political party must have eight MPs in order to be recognized.

With the Tautua party only securing three of the 50 seats in the general election, party members had called on the new government to consider lowering that number.

Vanuatu opposition confident motion will go ahead

The Supreme Court this week declared a decision by the newly-appointed speaker of parliament, Marcellino Pipite, to rule out the opposition's motion of no confidence against the new prime minister Sato Kilman, and ordered parliament to reconvene on Tuesday to hear it.