Faleata 3 MP kicked out of Parliament

By Lagi Keresoma

APIA, SAMOA-31 JANUARY 2022: The Faleata No.3. MP and Secretary for the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) was suspended from today’s Parliament sitting for 24 hours.

Speaker Papali’i Li’o Ta’eu Masipa’u made the ruling after the Minister of Parliament, Toelupe Poumulinuku Onesemo moved the motion and passed by Parliament.

Central to the suspension, is Lealailepule’s comments in an interview with an overseas based Samoan media programme where he criticized the Legislative Office report on their investigation on the issues raised by the Attorney General on the different versions of certain Acts passed in Parliament and the ones signed by the Head of State.

When the Report was tabled in Parliament two weeks ago, the Speaker specifically told the Members to refrain from discussing the report until such time the report will be debated in Parliament.

In his media interview, Lealailepule also spoke about certain issues now before the Courts such as the 10% of women members’ representation in Parliament.

When the motion to suspend the member was passed, Lealailepule asked for a chance to speak but was denied, and the Speaker warned the member to “leave peacefully.”

The Speaker also warned all MPs to uphold the dignity of Parliament and its Standing Orders.

The Speaker said the MPs media comments were misleading when he said that these were moves by the FAST government to put HRPP in a bad light.

The Speaker also said the Members’ actions breached the Standing Orders of Parliament and disregard of the orders by the Speaker.

Outside parliament, Lealaiplepule told the media that his suspension was “deliberate.”