Sagaga 1 MP suspended for 24 hours for swearing

Apia, Samoa – 28 October 2025 – The Member of Parliament for Sagaga 1, Loau Keneti Sio has been suspended from parliament for 24 hours for uttering a swear word during parliament session on 23 October.

When the incident happened, and widely commented on social media, the Speaker of Parliament, Auapaau Mulipola Aloitafua told parliament that the incident will be investigated.

The Speaker told parliament this morning that he met with the MP yesterday and this morning and that the MP had confirmed and also apologized for the incident.

Before delivering his decision, the Speaker appealed to the Members of Parliament that as leaders that the public look up to, they should set the example.

He also said that people have been charged and penalized for uttering derogatory words that have also affected person to person human relations.

The Speaker also referred to last night’s parliament session where Members expressed grave concern about the harsh language used on social media that have impacted negatively on human relations.

As the Member has confirmed he uttered the word during the 23 October parliament session, the Speaker said Parliament should set an example.

He then ordered the Member be suspended from the House for 24 hours.

The Member then took the floor and offered his apologies to the Speaker, the Deputy Prime Minister and Parliament for his behaviour.

He said that what he said was not directed at the Deputy Prime Minister, but a word he said jokingly to the Member of Faleata 3, forgetting that the microphone was on.

He also offered apologies to the public and Samoa and that he accepted the decision.

He then left parliament chambers.