Laauli calls out former PM Tuilaepa’s Conflict of Interest

By Lagi Keresoma/

“A tusi la le lima a o le a lau mea na e fai Tuilaepa, pule lou atali’i i tupe ae Palemia oe, se mea a le tou aiga?” – Laaulialemalietoa.

Apia, SAMOA – 28 June 2024 – The accusation by the Opposition Leader, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi of a conflict of interest of the Director General of Health, Aiono Alec Ekeroma drew a heated exchange between him and the Minister of Agriculture, Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao during Wednesday night’s parliament session.

Speaking on the 2024/2025 budget, Tuilaepa accused the Health Director’s conflict of interest.

The former Prime Minister said that if there was a conflict of interest, it would be hard to do the right thing and said there have been complaints about this.

Aiono owns a private health clinic which operated before he became the Director General of Health.

Laauli took the floor and reminded Tuilaepa of the Standing Orders on naming a person who cannot defend him/herself.

Laauli said Aiono was among the CEOs present in parliament but could not defend himself.

Laauli then reminded Tuilaepa that he was pointing his finger but what he did have a conflict of interest when he was Prime Minister and his son headed the Ministry of Finance. “As if it was owned by your family?” La’auli said.

Rather than responding directly to the conflict of interest assertion, Tuilaepa accused Laauli of being a liar and said he was going to tell.

Laauli challenged Tuilaepa to say what he had to tell and told him that he could move a motion to present proof of his accusations in parliament.

The Member of Parliament for Sagaga 2, Maulolo Amosa Tavita joined the Speaker in trying to calm the situation and appealed to both Tuilaepa and Laauli’s connections to the Malietoa title.

When the situation died down, the Speaker reiterated Laauli’s words about the provisions of the Standing Orders regarding MPs naming a person under parliamentary privilege when that person cannot defend him/herself in parliament.

He then ordered to remove Tuilaepa’s words accusing the Director of Health from the Hansard.