Samoa caretaker Speaker rejects dictatorship fears

Samoa caretaker Speaker of Parliament, La’aulialemalietoa Polataivao Fosi, has added his voice to a strengthening chorus of government officials to assuage fears about Samoa becoming a one-party state.

Speaking to the Samoa Observer, La’auli rejected claims that Samoa has become more of a dictatorship instead of a democracy after the ruling Human Rights Protection Party thumped the Tautua Samoa Party last Friday.

In my honest opinion, we should not be worried,” La’auli said. “Once the members enter Parliament, it’s not so much about having an opposition party. I believe every member of Parliament should stick his or her principles and have a good sense of judgement and conscience when issues a discussed.”

Laauli, the Member of Parliament for Gagaifomauga No. 3, said all members of Parliament are called to represent their constituencies.

“They have to be true to their calling and that is to represent the interests of their constituencies in Parliament without fear or favour regardless of party affiliations.

“In Parliament, the members are encouraged to speak freely. There are no barriers to stop them from speaking up if it’s things that they feel must be addressed.”

Besides, La’auli said Samoa’s democracy has traditionally been a one-party state.

“There were no political parties back then,” he reminded. “After a Prime Minister and his Cabinet were selected, then the floor would be open for any opposition in Parliament.

“The way I see it, the three pillars of democracy are in place in Samoa that provides the check and balances.

“So to me there is nothing is to worry about. As Members of Parliament, what we should be concerned about are the values we bring to the House.  

“In my own opinion, it is up to the Member of Parliament and his/her performance to speak up and he/she will not be stopped from voicing their thoughts.”

As for the country choosing mostly HRPP through their votes, La’auli reiterated that the people have spoken.

“This is the reality because if the people wanted to have an Opposition, they would have voted that way.

“But that’s not the case they (the people) put their trust in the HRPP. It doesn't mean we will be forgetting about the principles of good governance, accountability and transparency. These principles provide the checks and balances.”

Laauli encouraged Members of Parliament to speak up.

“If a member of Parliament sees that there should be things that need to be corrected, then correct it,” he said. “Why should they be afraid to speak up? That is the reality of things right now.”

If he returns as the Speaker of the House after next week, will he treat the three Members of the Tautua Samoa Party differently?

“They all have a voice,” he said. “Everyone is the same and they will speak independently. There’s no way and no reason why we should stop them from speaking up. They will all have the same rights as every other M.Ps in Parliament.”

On Sunday, Laauli’s views were echoed by the leader of the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP), Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi.

According to Tuilaepa, there is nothing they can do if members of the public have expressed their desire through their votes.

“Even though there are not enough opposition (M.Ps), four is enough,” he said.

“What can we do if this is what the country wants? If there is no Opposition, then the other members from our side can speak as Opposition members.

“There are many ways to skin a cat.”

About claims that the ruling party has become a dictatorship, Tuilaepa said such thoughts are just “words from academics that are floating on the air”.

He assured that there are checks and balance mechanisms in place to ensure that does not happen in Samoa.

“That is not new. In this political party, there are intense internal discussions about all matters,” he said.

“There is a check and balance that cannot be taken away. What you have to remember is when you talk about good governance, transparency and accountability, those are always the bait used by oppositions, said Tuilaepa.

SOURCE: SAMOA OBSERVER