Court of Appeal progresses on 10% women representation in Parliament

Samoa’s court house, Mulinu’u.

By Lagi Keresoma

APIA, SAMOA – 31 MAY 2021: The Court of Appeal hearing of the appeal against the Supreme Court decision on the 10% women representation in parliament is in progress.

This was after the withdrawal of the application by Attorney General to recuse the Chief Justice.

But Counsel Aumua Ming Leung Wai proceeded with a submission to remove the Chief Justice from presiding as he was related to the FAST Party Leader, Fiamē Naomi Mata’afa.

According to Aumua, he was instructed by his client to continue with the application based on Gatoloaifaana’s affidavit on the relationship between Fiamē and the Chief Justice.

He also asked to bring in an overseas judge to preside.

The presiding judges, the Chief Justice Satiu Simativa Perese, Fepulea’i Roma and Tafaoimalo Leilani TUala-Warren took only 15 minutes and returned with a dismissal verdict for both applications.

Justice Tafaoimalo Leilani read out the decision. Apparently Fiamē and the Chief Justice’s relationship goes back to the fourth generation and the reasons for dismissal are included in the written decision.

The appeal by HRPP is central to the caretaker government’s argument for the country to return to the polls.