Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi has warned general election candidates, especially those running as Independents, not to play old tricks on the sitting Members of Parliament.
<script async src="http://www.samoaobserver.ws///pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>
<!-- ads-articles(24.03.14) -->
<ins class="adsbygoogle"
style="display:inline-block;width:336px;height:280px"
data-ad-client="ca-pub-9419815128221199"
data-ad-slot="2395638412"></ins>
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>
Speaking with the media recently, Tuilaepa was especially critical of candidates who plan to join an Independent group setup by M.P. Levaopolo Talatonu Va'ai.
He reminded the newcomers that any tricks are nothing new to him.
“I have heard that one of them (Levao) who thinks he’s so smart has gathered those that will be sitting on the fence (Independent candidates),” said Tuilaepa.
“They sit on the fence and look on each side (at what’s happening) and I’m telling you, those tricks are nothing new to the elderly M.Ps."
“Those tricks are trash…and some think it’s new but you can see from Asia and Sydney, it’s all winds (talk).”
Tuilaepa pointed out this is the very reason why he reminds any candidate that wants to join the Human Rights Protection Party not to be late.
He is referring to the Party’s official meeting on the next day of the general election, to acknowledge the winning candidates.
“I want to remind these guys (Independents) that if they come late to the candies giveaway because they’ve been sitting on the fence for too long, they will get scratched when they try to get off it. That is the reason why we have the early ava ceremony, so we can tell which one is the lamb and the goat.”
Early last month, the stood-down M.P for Gagaemauga no. 2, Levaopolo Talatonu Va'ai, said he is among 16 independent candidates working as a group.
He declined to confirm whether they would become a political party.
Instead, Levao said all he wants to do at this stage is to declare that there is a group of independent candidates that has been preparing for the election.
“Our group includes former A.C.E.Os of government, two lawyers and two former Members of Parliament, including myself,” he said.
“I just want to declare this group of independent candidates, so that whoever is running as an independent can come to join our group.”
According to Levao, members of the group represent different constituencies in Upolu and Savai’i.
“These are very good candidates and they are all running in next year’s election.”
Asked if the group would eventually form into a party, Levao was uncertain.
“We are not yet a party because we need eight members to win their seats in the election, in order for us to register as a new party,” he said.
“So far there are 16 of us independent candidates and we are expecting more to join us.”
<!-- ads-articles(24.03.14) -->
<ins class="adsbygoogle"
style="display:inline-block;width:336px;height:280px"
data-ad-client="ca-pub-9419815128221199"
data-ad-slot="2395638412"></ins>
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>{/googleAds}