Speaker La'auli defends extension

“I don't take this report lightly because it caused a lot of controversy in Parliament. During one of the sessions, we were up all night and we sat until 4 in the morning. It also resulted in the resignation of a Minister” – Speaker of Parliament La’auli Leuatea Polata’ivao

The Speaker of Parliament, La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Polata’ivao, yesterday defended the extension he has granted the government to respond to the Controller and Chief Auditor’s report as well as the Officers of Parliament Committee (O.P.C) report.

Whereas Chief Auditor Fuimano Camillo Afele’s report highlighted a number of alleged corruption cases in the running of certain government bodies, the O.P.C’s report confirmed instances of “corrupt practises” and “collusion (among public servants) to defraud.”

Chaired by the Associate Minister of Education, Muagututagata Peter Ah Him, the Committee called on Parliament to take legal action against the public servants implicated.

When the O.P.C report was tabled in Parliament at the beginning of the year, the government, according to the law, had 90 days to respond.

That period expired in August.

Yesterday, Speaker La’auli told the Samoa Observer he has granted the government an “indefinite deadline” to respond.

Asked why and if this this was legal, La’auli was circumspect.

“I don't take this report lightly because it caused a lot of controversy in Parliament,” he said. “During one of the sessions, we were up all night and we sat until 4 in the morning. It also resulted in the resignation of a Minister.

“So I am giving the government time so that they will have a full explanation (about the contents of the report).”

The Minister he is referring to is the former Minister of Finance, Faumuina Tiatia Liuga. He resigned through tears during the early morning session that La’auli is referring to here.

Prior to his resignation, Faumuina had come under huge pressure over his running of a number of government bodies questioned by the

Chief Auditor and the O.P.C committee.

With this in mind, La’auli said the government must be thorough in its response and it must given enough time to do so.

He also reminded that there are many members of Parliament who are consistently questioning what the government will do about the reports.

These include the Chairman of the Finance Committee, Papali’i Niko Lee Hang, fellow H.R.P.P member Tuu’u Anasi’i Leota as well as members of the Opposition party.

Asked for a comment yesterday, Papali’i declined.

“I will comment only when the government responds,” he said.

But the leader of the Tautua Samoa Party, Palusalue Fa’apo criticised the Speaker’s decision to extend the time for the government to respond.

He said what the Speaker has done “is protect the government from corrupt practices that require an immediate response from them.”

Further, Palusalue said the Speaker does not have the authority to grant an extension when Parliament was not in session.

“It is breaking the law,” he said. “What has happened with the Speaker is that he is dealing with everything by his discretion."

“This shouldn't be the case. Under the law, there are only certain matters during which the Speaker has a right to exercise his discretion.”

Palusalue said the granting of an extension in such a sensitive issue is not one of them.

“The law says the government should report within 90 days and that is the law,” Palusalue said. “He [Speaker] does not use his discretion to change this law.”

Palusalue said the Speaker’s decision has left many members of the House confused.

“I simply cannot understand how this decision was arrived at,” he said. “I can only interpret it that he is protecting the government from breaking the law that clearly says they have 90 days to respond.

“The law doesn’t say 90 days unless the speaker has some discretion. No.”