MP claims Immunity under the Powers and Privileges Act against village punishment

The Member of Parliament for Falealili West, Fuimaono Samuelu Te’o.

By Lagi Keresoma

APIA, SAMOA – 09 FEBRUARY 2021: The Member of Parliament for Falealili West, Fuimaono Samuelu Te’o has claimed immunity under the Powers and Privileges Act 1960 against the penalty dished out on him by his village of Salani.

Fuimaono was fined 100 cartons of fish and one cattle by the village Council after he criticised the former Head of State, Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi, a paramount chief of the village for being part of the Faatuatua I le Atua Samoa ua Tasi political rally at Salani village last month.

Fuimaono told Talamua that the punishment goes against the Powers and Privileges Act 1960, provision (3)(a) that “no member of the Legislative Assembly is liable to any civil or criminal proceedings in respect to any speech or debate in the Legislative Assembly or a Committee.”

Fuimaono said the Act is clear and he believes that the “toeaina” referring to the ‘old men’ of the Village Council are not aware of the Act.

Fuimaono said he was not present at the village meeting where the council issued the penalty.

“I went yesterday to present the penalty but there was no usual Monday meeting,” he said.

The penalty stemmed from Fuimaono’s final farewell speech in Parliament last week where, he criticized Tupua’s presence at the FAST rally.

Tupua is the paramount chief of Salani and according to Fuimaono he should stay neutral with regards to issues including politics.

He believes Tui Atua should not have rallied support to oppose the 3 Bills; Land and Titles, Constitutional Amendment and the Judicature Bill already passed by Parliament.

Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi, MP Fuimaono Samuelu Te’o with members of Salani village.

Fuimaono was one of the members of the select Parliamentary Committee that held public consultations on the Bills.

During his speech he named the former and late MPs for Falealili who have kept the balance and peace in politics within the constituency and he hoped to see it continue without the influential presence of Tui Atua.

FAST leader Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao intervened cautioning Fuimaono not to name people who cannot speak out to defend themselves in Parliament.

The intervention prompted Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi to defend Fuimaono’s claim saying that he was also part of the Sa Fenunuivao clan that has Tupua as its titular head.

A village matai told Talamua that the village called a special meeting to discuss Fuimaono’s matter as what he said in Parliament towards the Tama Aiga was “disrespectful” especially when it was Fuimaono who spoke on behalf of the village in welcoming Tupua when he visited Salani late last year.

The village matai also confirmed that there was no village council meeting on the first Monday of this month.