Voters stand by MP Ale Vena’s decision to leave HRPP

By Lagi Keresoma

APIA, SAMOA – 27 JUNE 2022: The majority of Faleata No 4 constituency voters Talamua spoke to have confirmed their support of their Member of Parliament Ale Vena Ale’s decision to leave the Human Rights Protection Party and become an Independent member.

The electoral constituency of Faleata No 4 consists of Saina, Toamua, Leusuoalii, Safune and Puipa’a.

“My support for Ale is not because he is my relative, but rather the logic behind his reasoning of remaining in a political party that is not moving forward, and a leader that does not consider the advice from its own members,” said Seruia Eli.

She and others have commended Ale for not letting his support for HRPP stop the opportunities for developments in the district.

Early this month, Ale called on the constituency to put their political stance aside and come together as a district to support the Government’s $1 million District Development Program.

With the exception of Saina, all other sub-villages of the district are in full support of the program and have set up a district council for the program.

They believe Ale knows what’s best for the people of the constituency and his support for the Government’s programs benefits the district and that is where their support lies.

They thought that if the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) leader Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi does not support the District Development Program, why should not other districts benefit from it.

One of Ale’s election Campaign Manager Atoe Su’a said Ale has been frustrated with HRPP for some time and have shared his frustration with family members, but it was during the celebration of Samoa’s 60^th Independent anniversary that he publicly voiced his frustration then called for the district unity in supporting the program.

Whilst the majority seems to support Ale, there are those who think Ale should remain with the party he committed to prior to the general election, and should not let the $1 million program cloud his judgement.

Unhappy with HRPP leader not stepping down
Ale is not afraid to voice his opinion and was very direct when he told Talamua that he was not happy with the HRPP leader.

Central to his disappointments is Tuilaepa not heeding the advice from members that he needs to step down as leader and give the chance to someone else.

According to Ale, in any democratic country it is the norm with political parties to change leadership when the leader fails to secure or hold the party standard together.

He said HRPP lost the general election to a newly formed party, only managed to secure 2 seats out of seven by-elections called after the election petitions, and lost many legal challenges that followed.

“Those are the signs and Tuilaepa knows it, but his refusal to even entertain any advice is taking its toll on the party members,” said Ale.

He confirmed he was in discussion with his lawyer to find ways for him to leave HRPP and remain an Independent member without returning for a by-election.

“If an MP wants to be an Independent MP, why does he/she have to go back to get the constituency’s consent?” asked Ale.

The law is a discrimination against MP’s
Ale said the law stopping MP’s from moving around or crossing over to another party or as an Independent member was “discriminatory.”

He said if an MP is not happy with a party that is not making progress, he/she should have the choice to become an Independent MP, but the current law passed urgently by the previous Government does not allow that.

His outburst during Parliament last week shocked members of his party and did not go unnoticed by the suspended HRPP leader Tuilaepa  who called for an urgent press conference on the same day.

He reminded Ale to think about how he first got into parliament, which Tuilaepa said, was through a by-election when the Faleata MP then, Lealailepule resigned.

The current law that stops MPs from becoming Independents, was passed by the HRPP government a few weeks to the 2021 general election.

Ale admitted that the law was put in place urgently towards the end of the HRPP’s term when there was suspicion that some members of the party planned to leave HRPP. This was after Fiame resigned and became an Independent, hence the urgency in passing the law.

Repeal the Land Transference Registration Act
Speaking on the Budget, Ale called for the removal of the Land Transference Registration Act (LTRA).

He pointed out that if customary lands can be leased out, then why was the Act not called Land Lease Registration Act instead of Land Transference Registration Act.

Ale’s interpretation of the Land Transference Act is “land being transferred to the Minister who has the authority to decide what’s best for the land.”

Using himself as an example, he said he is the family Sa’o whose responsibility is to safeguard family measina  including lands.

“As a Sa’o, I cannot do that (under the law) because I and my family do not have the authority over our own property except for the Minister,” he said.

“Remove the Act,” he stated.