Opposition Leader ordered from Parliament for 24 hours

By Lagi Keresoma/

Apia, SAMOA – 19 June 2024 – The Opposition Leader, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi was ordered out for 24 hours from parliament this morning and should be back for tomorrows’ late morning session.

The order stemmed from a heated exchange between Tuilaepa and Speaker when the Speaker told the Safata 1 MP, Leaana Ronnie Posini not to respond to a question from the Opposition deputy leader, Lauofo Pierre Meredith.

Leaana was speaking on the budget and talked about his experience on an Air New Zealand flight were he said Samoan passengers have discriminated by the way they are seated on the aircraft.

He said the older people are being sent to back seats while younger passengers take the front seats. He linked that experience to what he said was the positive side of Samoa having its own aircraft to avoid being discriminated on other countries’ airlines.

The Minster of Samoa Airways, Leatinuu Wayne Sooialo then clarified that it is international aviation practice that the seat one takes on an aircraft is the seat the passenger affords and pays for. He said it has got nothing to do with discrimination against any passenger.

Lauofo intervened and directed a question at Leaana but was stopped by the Speaker and asked Lauofo several times to sit down but Lauofo continued to speak.

Lauofo finally heeded the Speakers order and sat down. But Tuilaepa took the floor and asked for permission to speak.

The Speaker wanted to know to whom Tuilaepa’s intervention was directed to.

“To you,” said Tuilaepa.

“No, I will not allow it,” said the Speaker.

However, Tuilaepa pressed on with a point of clarification saying any wrong must be corrected – “So’o se mea e sesē e tatau ona fa’asa’o.”

Tuilaepa did not finish what he was going to say as the Speaker ordered him to sit down as “it was not his prerogative to correct the Speaker.”

The exchange heated up with both the Speaker and Tuilaepa speaking at the same time and in raised voices until the Speaker stood up, pointed at Tuilaepa and demanded that he sit down; but Tuilaepa continued to speak.

The Minister of Agriculture, La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao then intervened and pleaded for calm as the country is listening to parliament.

He them moved a motion to remove Tuilaepa from the session.

The motion seconded, the Speaker then put the question and passed.

Lauofo unsuccessfully tried to open the motion to remove Tuilaepa for debate but the Speaker ordered him to sit down.

Tuilaepa also tried to speak but the Speaker said the decision has been made.

Tuilaepa then left parliament and is banned for 24 hours.

After the morning break, he Speaker gave his reasons for his decision saying the question by MP Leaana about the aircraft seating was already answered by the Minister of Samoa Airways. But he cannot allow a direct question by the Deputy Opposition Leader directed at the MP speaking.

Parliament continues with the 2024/2025 Budget debate tomorrow.