Honour your resignation, P.M. tells La'auli

By Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong 07 July 2020, 8:56PM

Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Dr. Sa'ilele Malielegaoi has challenged Gagaifomauga No. 3 Member of Parliament, La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt, to honour his verbal resignation he delivered in Parliament last week.

Tuilaepa said La'auli should tender his written resignation to prove that he is a man of his words.

The Prime Minister also revealed during a press conference that he has been informed the Independent M.P. has been told to tender his resignation. Tuilaepa did not reveal who has told La'auli this.

“But he should carry out the resignation (he announced) when 200,000 people listened to Parliament,” said Tuilaepa. 

“That is why I say that you can lie to the Court but you cannot lie in Parliament because it is being publicised again and again.”

La’auli walked out of Parliament last week after offering his verbal resignation before the Assembly while Parliament was debating a Privilege and Ethics Committee into his conduct. The Committee found La’auli guilty of misleading Parliament over matters he raised about what he described as a costly $300,000 generator for the Tanumalala prison. 

Tuilaepa said it was clear from the Committee’s report that La’auli misled Parliament. Told about the decision from villages of the Gagaifomauga No. 3 rejecting La’auli’s resignation and to form a new party, Tuilaepa said it was all political.  He reiterated that the matter is now “upon the law” (lea ua luga le tulafono). 

Contacted for a comment, La’auli said he will call a press conference this week to clarify the decision from his constituents and matters raised by the Prime Minister. 


By Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong 07 July 2020, 8:56PM
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