Caretaker Government Continues Refusal to Relinquish Power

By Lagi Keresoma

APIA, SAMOA – 10 JUNE 2021: This week, the Fa’atuatua I le Atua Samoa ua Tasi – FAST Party wrote to the Caretaker Government to leave office by the end of 48 hours which was Wednesday afternoon.

But instead, the Caretaker Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi informed the Prime Minister elect, Fiamē Naomi Mata’afa that they did not accept them should they come to the Government building.

When the caretaker government learnt that the 26 FAST members were coming to the building at 1000 this morning, the Ministers secretaries and staff were instructed not to open the doors to FAST members.

In the end, FAST opted to refrain from making their way into the Government building, according to FAST Party Chairman La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Polata’ivao Fosi, but at least they have proven one thing.

“Today is proof that Tuilaepa and the Caretaker Government still do not want to relinquish power to the newly elected FAST government,” La’auli told the media.

He also pointed out that of the Caretaker governments 13 Cabinet Ministers, 6 are no longer elected MPs as 5 lost their seats in the general election, one resigned and only 5 returned after the polls.

As well, all of the 25 HRPP Members have not been sworn-in including Tuilaepa.

“As of today, none of them is legally an MP because the 45 days allocated in the Constitution to swear in the MPs have passed and only the FAST MPs were sworn in under a tent in front of Parliament house.”

FAST rejects HRPP conditions for forming a new Government
Last week, the FAST leader, Fiamē Naomi Mata’afa met Tuilaepa to sort out the arrangements for the transition of the new government. First on Friday and the second meeting on Monday this week and the talks came to a deadlock.

At the Monday meeting, Fiamē told Tuilaepa that FAST did not accept the conditions put forward by HRPP to convene Parliament if FAST drop all election petitions and agree to allow the sixth woman member which will again create a hung parliament and force fresh elections.

“FAST is now waiting for the Court process to continue with the election petitions and other legal matters such as the legality of the swearing in of members of parliament held on 24 May that HRPP says is unconstitutional,” explained La’auli.

As for the Government of the day, the Court of Appeal ruled that although there should be 6 women for the 51 seats in Parliament, they upheld the Supreme Court original decision to void Ali’imalemanu Alofa Tu’u’au’s seat as the additional woman member.

The Court decision maintained the 26 FAST seats and HRPP 25 which is the foundation of  FAST’s belief that they are legally the Government of the day.

Application to clarify the 10% decision
However, because of the confusion caused by various interpretations of the court decision (mainly to suit political leanings), La’auli confirmed that FAST has filed an additional application to the Court to clarify their decision on the 10% women representation issue.

“The Court has interpreted the 10% yet HRPP lawyers came up with their own interpretation and confusing the Police and the Legislative Assembly staff of where they should stand and who they should listen to in the current confusion,” said La’auli.

Budget extension illegal
This week, the Caretaker Government endorsed the extension of the budget to September that La’auli said is illegal – ”E solitulafono.”

They cannot make such major decisions because they are not the official Government and most of the Cabinet Ministers are no longer MP’s, and the budget is the priority of Parliament,” said La’auli.

He argued that more than half of the caretaker cabinet are no longer MPs as they lost in the general elections yet are still controlling and deciding on the country’s financial resources as they use every way to cling on to power.

Cabinet ministers who lost their seats in the general elections but still directing the country’s affairs under the caretaker government, include the Minister of Finance – Sili Epa Tuioti; Minister of Agriculture – Lopao’o Tanielu Mu’a; Minister of Communications – Afamasaga Rico Tupa’i; Minister of Justice – Fa’aolesa Katopau Ainu’u and the Minister of Women’s Affairs who did not contest the election.

“Parliament should convene,” La’auli insisted.

“However, this is a one party state, one party system controlled by one person,” said La’auli.

He also pinpointed to the governments control on the public servants who fear for their jobs security and have led some senior public servants to disobey the law to satisfy the caretaker governments’ instructions.