Now it’s a Samoan Parliament - P.M says
Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, couldn't stop smiling yesterday.
He had many reasons to when the XVI Parliamentary sitting opened at Tuanaimato.
When the formalities and oaths were done for the members, Tuilaepa had the chance to address the country and he highlighted four key milestones achieved yesterday.
They are:
• With Fiame Naomi Mata’afa becoming the first woman Deputy Prime Minister, yesterday is the first time in the history of Samoa where five women have been in Parliament.
• It is the first time in history that Samoa has had 50 Members of Parliament, with the addition of the fifth woman member as required by the Constitutional amendment made last year
• It is the first time that a political party, the Human Rights Protection Party (H.R.P.P) has occupied 94 per cent of seats in the House. This is an extraordinary number.
• It is the first time that all Members of Parliament are matai titleholders since the government has eliminated the Individual Voters seats which allowed non-matai title holders to enter Parliament
Tuilaepa said these are achievements to be proud of, adding that now Parliament has become a true Samoan entity.
“It's now a meeting of matai from all over the country,” he said.