An aspiring politician and leader of Sovereign Independent Samoa (S.I.S.) Party has appealed to Savai'i voters that the "authority to demolish" the new Land and Titles Courts Acts are in their hands. 

Fesola'i Logo Toloa gave an impassioned speech during a gathering held at the Apita o Pisaga Hall in Savai'i'i last week Friday, where leaders and candidates of the three political parties (Tautua Samoa, Samoa First and S.I.S.) attended to inform Savai'i voters of their election plans, ahead of the April election.  

Fesola'i has urged voters that the power to "destroy" the three most debatable packages of legislation recently passed into laws is in their hands.  

"The main issue that has motivated me to stand up is the protection of our lands," Fesola'i said. 

"Because it is our measina (treasure) our heritage from God. Even if I fight alone, I am not scared or discouraged because I believe and have faith in God. 

"Our God is our living God. And I have a big heart and great courage because even David was able to defeat Goliath with one stone from his sling." 

Fesola'i then asked the voters to "exercise their power" by "voting for change." 

"If you have relatives living in Upolu, then tell them to vote for Fesola'i and vote for candidates who are not afraid to stand up for change.

"That's how you exercise that right and the power and authority is in your hands.

“If you have a love for our country and all of us, and to protect your rights under the law, each one of us has a part to play.

"We must protect our lands for our children and generation to come."

When it comes to land, said Fesola'i, every Samoan must make a stance to "defend and protect" lands belonging to the people of the country. 

She also signaled out that Government and the Parliamentary Committee have been promoting the message that the motive behind the newly passed Judicature Bill 2020, Lands and Titles Bill 2020, and the Constitutional Amendment Bill 2020, will give prominence and recognition of Samoa’s customs and traditions. 

"But also wrapped that within these laws, is the Government’s belief that our forefathers who were part of the Constitutional Convention (Fono Fa'avae) and accepted the Constitution, did not understand the white man's idea of individual and communal rights."

She also told the voters that she was waiting for the Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi, to accept her challenge to publicly debate plans to overhaul the Land and Titles Court (L.T.C.), last year.

"I put up my hand in response to an open invitation made by the Prime Minister on television to publicly debate opponents of the bills before they were passed by Parliament last year.

"But he did not accept my challenge, but I was ready for that debate." 

Fesola'i said during the official launching of S.I.S. in September 2020 that the party’s name is a commemoration of what Samoa's ancestors fought for: "sovereignty and independence as achieved in 1962.” 

"These are the salutations of Samoa and we believe that it is no small feat," she said. 

"This is why this political party was given this name; it is our declaration to the outside world of who we are. We are the sovereign independent state of Samoa." 

S.I.S was registered in April 2020, as announced by the Office of the Electoral Commissioner, making it the fifth political party running for the elections next year.