The decision by the leadership of Samoa’s opposition party to launch into a tirade against the Deputy Speaker’s appointment as the Chair of a Special Parliamentary Committee, due to concerns over his alleged conflict of interest, has to be a blessing in disguise in terms of putting the spotlight on the party's own track record.

During the tenure of the Human Rights Protection Party (H.R.P.P.) Administration, there were numerous instances of conflict of interest – in relation to publicly-funded contracts and appointment to public offices which the Samoa Observer raised through its stories and editorials – but to no avail and it was business as usual for the then ruling party.

The H.R.P.P. Administration's awarding of a $3.57 million contract to a company owned by the son of an Associate Minister in August 2018 to build an airport at Tia’vea and then there is the appointment of the former prime minister's own son as the C.E.O. of the Ministry of Finance amongst various cases. 

An article (H.R.P.P. Secretary supports leader, questions Speaker) in the 17 March 2022 edition of the Samoa Observer quoted the H.R.P.P. Secretary Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi expressing support for party leader Tuilaepa Dr. Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, who has called for the removal of Deputy Speaker, Auapaau Mulipola Aloitafua as the Chair of a Special Parliamentary Committee.

Seven months into the 5-year term of the Fa’atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (F.A.S.T.) Administration – the H.R.P.P. leadership led by Tuilaepa wants to move heaven and earth to get Auapaau removed as the Chair.

The accusation by Tuilaepa and his party’s membership is that Auapaau was a vocal critic of the Land and Titles (L.T.C.) Bills during the consultation process in 2020, consequently they say the M.P. is already biassed and not fit to chair the Parliamentary Committee, which has been tasked by the Parliament to investigate why there are four different versions of the L.T.C. Act in circulation.

There could be merit in the concerns raised by Tuilaepa, on how Auapaau’s opposition to the L.T.C. Bills two years ago made him unsuitable to chair the Parliamentary Committee, but those concerns should have been expressed during debate in the House prior to the establishment of the Committee.

We think the ship has sailed, in regards to this particular matter, as the Parliamentary Committee is in the middle of its proceedings. 

The Speaker Papalii Lio Masipau – as he correctly stated in his letter of reply to the Opposition Leader– does not have the power to remove Auapaau as the Chair of a Parliamentary Committee, when the Parliament sanctioned the appointments to the Committee.

The former prime minister and the H.R.P.P. members might want to check Sections 144–169 [Part XXXII Parliamentary Committees] of the Samoa Parliament’s Standing Orders pertaining to the Appointment of Parliamentary Committees, its membership and functions as well as powers amongst others.

We draw Tuilaepa’s attention to Section 152 (1) of the Standing Orders [Parliamentary Committee Elect Chairperson]: Every Parliamentary Committee, before proceeding to any other business shall elect a Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson who shall hold office during the life of the Committee. 

The key phrase in the above paragraph is, “who shall hold office during the life of the Committee.”

It is obvious no more changes can be made to the Parliamentary Committee’s membership – therefore appointments remain at the discretion of the Parliament – and so it should be in line with the Standing Orders.

In the last XVI Legislative Assembly, the then ruling party H.R.P.P. used its dominant numbers to strangle Parliament’s ability to keep the Government accountable, and in collusion with the then Speaker snuffed out attempts by Opposition Members to scrutinise major policies and legislation.

In retrospect was the H.R.P.P. leader’s letter to the Speaker, urging him to remove the Deputy Speaker as Chair of the Parliamentary Committee, an attempt to return to those bad days when the Standing Orders of Parliament were twisted and manipulated to suit the party’s political agenda?

We don’t know if that was the motive behind Tuilaepa’s correspondence, but it sure does display hallmarks of the H.R.P.P. of old, which would be unfortunate as it would show that the country’s oldest political party has not learnt from the heavy losses it sustained in the 2021 General Election.

With the commemoration of Samoa’s 60th Independence Anniversary around the corner, the people deserve to celebrate the next chapter of our nationhood with a new political culture that truly represents their dreams and aspirations.

Surely the Members of Parliament in the XVII Legislative Assembly can grant our people their wishes.