Tautua Party turns five

The Tautua Samoa Party yesterday celebrated its fifth birthday at the Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi Conference Centre.

The celebration was well attended by supporters and family members of the party.

Patron and Chairman of the National Council of Churches, Reverend Kasiano Leaupepe conducted a prayer service while Founding member and former Member of Parliament, Va’ai Papu Va’ai cut the birthday cake. Addressing the audience, Party leader, Palusalue Fa’apo II, said the party has had to overcome a lot of challenges.

“We were chased out of Parliament and nine seats were vacant,” Palusalue said, referring to a ruling by a former Speaker of Parliament, which was later declared void by the Supreme Court.

“We were threatened with the thought of being sent back to our constituency for by-elections.

We’ve also been through Court cases.”

In January 2009, the then Speaker of the Parliament, Tolofuaivalelei Falemoe Lei’ataua ordered the Tautua Samoa Party to provide a formal notice of its existence and membership.

Nine members of the party formally identified themselves as members.

In May that year, the Speaker revoked the Parliamentary membership of all nine of the party members on the grounds that joining a party after being elected “breached the provisions of the Electoral Act and Parliament’s Standing orders.”

Tautua Whip, Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi, then sought an interim injunction against the Speaker’s ruling. The Supreme Court went on to cancel the by-elections and reinstated the members of the Tautua Party.

“We took the government to Court and we won,” said Palusalue.

“We went through by-election so that our party could be recognised in Parliament but what did they do?

They made amendments to prevent us from setting up a party.”

In March 2010, the Electoral Act was amended forbidding any Member of Parliament from leaving his/her original party.

Palusalue, Lealailepule and Va’ai Papu Vaai resigned and were forced into by-elections.

According to Palusalue, the changes in legislation was the government’s plan to dominate Parliament without any opposition.

But that will not happen as long as the Tautua Party is around.

“We are the alternative government,” he said. “We are ready for the next general election and we want people to know that Tautua is going to be here for a long time.

"We want to prove to our people that we are here and we can lead the country”.

Criticising his rival, Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, Palusalue said the government “is too complacent.”

“There is a lot of friction inside the H.R.P.P and it is a reflection that the M.P.'s are gagged and one person is making all the decisions. That person is the Prime Minister,” said Palusalue.

Palusalue said the government has made many bad decisions, costing the country millions of tala. He used the Fiaga Power Project as an example.

“The country recently spent millions on it,” he said. “And we are already spending more money to repair it. That’s why our foreign debt is continuing to climb.”

According to Palusalue, the government has become so arrogant that Prime Minister Tuilaepa has gotten as far as meddling with the position of Head of State. He said the government should leave the position alone.

Palusalue added that there are many other examples of abuse of power by the government that they are concerned about.

And that’s something they will not be silent about. Looking to the future, Palusalue said the Tautua Party is ready for the 2016 General Election.

“In our caucus, each member is given a portfolio and they are to study that area,” he said. The results, he said, have been very positive.

“Our members have researched and have really done their jobs in raising questions in Parliament. As you know most of the Ministers don’t know the answers to our questions and that is a good reflection (of the work that’s being put in by our members).”