Samoa parliament

Unopposed, Samoa PM secures seat in next parliament

The Samoa Observer newspaper reports Tuila'epa was declared elected unopposed, for the electoral constituency of Lepa, after his remaining opponent for the 2021 election, Faletagoai Tausaga, withdrew his candidacy.

This makes him the third incumbent MP to have secured a seat after former Deputy Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata'afa, and Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi.

Mr Tausaga had earlier challenged rival candidate, Tu'ula Kiliri Tuitui, who has been trying to run in Lepa for two elections.

Samoa Parliament to decide fate of controversial bills

Prime Minister Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi said the members of a special committee were going through the proposals, which will amend the Constitution, before Parliament's final deliberations and third reading.

The proposed bills aim to separate the administration and management of the Lands and Titles court.

But the legislation has faced strong criticism and opposition from Samoa's Law Society, which has been involved in a public awareness campaign over the past months.

Samoa Parliament sessions streamed live on YouTube

As of Tuesday this week, Parliament ceased the live feed on Facebook.

The new initiative by the Office of the Legislative Assembly is part of an effort to stop and dampen unpleasant and discourteous comments made towards Members of Parliament during its live proceedings on Facebook, which exemplifies a breach of respect towards leaders of our country.

The Office said it wishes to clarify that the initial purpose of its live feed is so that all Samoan citizens here and abroad have access to Parliament proceedings.

More consultation time needed for Samoa's controversial bills

Included in the Bills is the creation of the Land and Titles Court as a separate entity with its own administration and Court of Appeal.

The Clerk of the House, Tiatia Graeme Tualaulelei, told TV1 Samoa that three months after the House directed the committee to take the bills out for village consultations, there are still nine more electoral districts to visit.

He says the committee will also need time to write their report on the consultations.

The report will advise Parliament of any suggested amendments to the three Bills.

     

La'auli should resign from Parliament - Samoa PM

La'aulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt was sacked from the ruling party by its executive last year, for crossing the floor in a vote in the House.

However, the MP refused to accept his removal, sitting in the party's backbenches for more than a year before announcing his resignation from the Human Rights Protection Party in May.

Last week, he offered his resignation from parliament while it debated a privileges committee report into his conduct.

That report said La'aulialemalietoa had misled parliament about a $US300,000 generator for the Tanumalala prison.

Samoa parliament says media are not banned

The Journalists Association of Samoa recently called for better treatment of reporters and expressed surprise the new parliament building, funded by Australian did not include a press gallery.

Earlier when parliament tabled the budget for the 2019/20, media were given a tent to listen to proceedings without a television for visuals.

However in a statement, Parliament said house rules facilitated media access and reporting of parliamentary debates but also aimed to make sure the Fono Chamber as a working environment for MPs and officials, was maintained and respected.

No press gallery at Samoa's new parliament a surprise to media body

The JAWS President Rudy Bartley said he is surprised after years of planning and millions of Australian aid dollars spent on the Fono building that no one thought of a media gallery.

He has suggested Samoa could ask Fiji for help on how to set up a media gallery.

The comments come after it was revealed the media were banned from Parliament at the recent session to table the government budget for the financial year 2020/2021.

The media were shown to a tent to listen to proceedings but without a television set to watch a live feed.

Samoa Parliamentary Committee Continues to Hear Public Submissions on Amendment Bills

The Constitutional Amendment Bill 2020, the Lands and Titles Bill 2020 and the Judicature Bill 2020, have passed their first and second reading in Parliament, and as per usual process, it is now before a Parliamentary Select Committee for public submissions.

On the first day back from the Mother’s Day long weekend, the Parliamentary Committee heard from former Chief Justice Afioga Patu Tiava’su’e Falefatu Sapolu who was seen at the Offices of the Legislative Assembly yesterday morning.

Samoa Parliament continues crucial functions with USD$100,000 video-conferencing solutions

With the COVID-19 pandemic, many Parliaments across the Pacific and globally are struggling with the challenge to fulfil their democratic mandate and ensure governmental accountability, while at the same time practicing physical distancing and basic hygiene measures.

Along with a few other innovative Parliaments around the world, the Legislative Assembly of Samoa has adopted processes and mechanisms to ensure that they can work online, using information and communication technologies.

Number of charges against Samoa politician dropped

La'aulialemalietoa Leauatea Polataivao, his wife Heather Schmidt, and three business associates have been charged in relation to their running of a nonu company.

They relate to deposits made by unidentified sources into the company's bank account.

Initially, the group had faced 234 charges, which they all pleaded not guilty to.

The Samoa Observer reported that in court yesterday, the prosecution amended the charges down to 105, of which La'aulialemalietoa faces 49.