Tuilaepa & Lealailepule suspended indefinitely for contempt of Parliament

Staff Reporters

APIA, SAMOA – 24 MAY 2022: The Leader of the Opposition HRPP Party and Samoa’s longest serving Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Maliegaoi and HRPP Party Secretary, Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi have been suspended indefinitely from Parliament.

Parliament today upheld the findings and recommendations of the Privileges and Ethics Committee that found the two Members of contempt of Parliament and breaching parliamentary privileges.

The committee investigated the complaint filed by the Deputy Prime Minister, Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio that highlighted certain aspects of Parliamentary privilege and contempt of parliament were breached.

The pair was found guilty of contempt of court in March this year for statements made which were found to have scandalized the courts, the judiciary and therefore undermined public confidence in the court system.

They have also made statements that insult the Legislative Assembly of Samoa by suggesting that the new government is in some way illegitimate, arising from a ‘coup detat’ by the Judiciary.

When the Committees Report was tabled for discussion this morning, HRPP’s Deputy Leader Lauofo Pierre Lauofo requested the discussion be postponed until the Party Leader is back explaining that he was in isolation just having returned from an overseas trip.

The complainant was also unable to attend as he had been tested positive for Covid according to the Prime Minister.

The debate proceeded after the Committee Chairman, Valasi Luapitofanua Tafito Selesele clarified that the committee had a 3 hour long zoom discussion with the HRPP Leader on top of his written statement that the Committee based its decision on.

The Opposition MPs spoke on forgiveness and starting afresh and to consider Tuilaepas long service as the country’s Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa emphasized, the whole issue is restoring the dignity and integrity of parliament which have been beached.

At the end of the 6 hour long debate, Parliament approved the Report and Tuilaepa and Lealailepule are now suspended indefinitely without pay.

Parliament meets next Tuesday to table the Governments Main Budget 2022/2023. This will be followed by a significant and historical event as the start of the country’s 60^th Independence celebrations; but now without the country’s longest serving Prime Minister and senior Opposition MP.