Land & Titles Court cases suspended indefinitely

By Lagi Keresoma

APIA, SAMOA – 18 FEBRUARY 2022: All court cases and those for mediation now before the Land and Titles Court have been suspended indefinitely.

The Minister for Justice Courts & Administration, Matamua Vasati Pulufana has confirmed the suspension of all Land and Titles Court matters and was followed by a public notice issued tonight.

The suspension covers all cases scheduled for February and March.

However, the LTC administration office will continue its daily routine according to the Minister.

This is the latest development as the Land and Titles Court is embroiled in a legal tangle with the President having sworn in three judges last December but the Attorney General has pointed to the lack of provisions under the Act to make such appointments.

This has been complicated further with the revelation that there are at least four different versions of the Act now available to the public, the Attorney General’s Office and the courts and there are discrepancies in the Act passed by parliament and that signed into law by the Head of State.

This is now the subject of an investigation by a Special Parliamentary Committee that is to report to parliament in next month’s session.

The Minister confirms that suspending the cases before the Land & Titles Court is the proper step to take at this time and to await the outcome of the Special Parliamentary Committee investigation into the matter.

Meanwhile, the President of the Land and Titles Court, Fepuleai Atila Ropati has applied for a declaratory order by the Supreme Court to validate the appointments of the three judges made and sworn in last December.

The application is set down for re-mention 8 March to set a hearing date.