Former Minister of Finance, Faumuina Tiatia Liuga, sat alone in Parliament.
He was preparing for his Ministerial statement while the rest of Members of Parliament were eager for some fresh air.
It was close to midnight on Wednesday and for most M.P.’s it was time to stretch their arms after a tiring few hours of debate.
As for Faumuina, it wasn’t just another late night away from home.
This was the night he had been waiting for, one he would remember for some time.
Being the only M.P. inside the chamber during the break, Faumuina sat quietly on the front bench.
He was reading over his speech.
Meanwhile, the Speaker of the House, La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Polata’ivao and Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, stayed in the Speaker’s room behind the chamber for more than 10 minutes.
Finally, it was time for Parliament to resume.
Still, Minister Faumuina kept his head low and continued reading a pile of papers.
Within seconds, the Parliament was back in action.
Prime Minister, Tuilaepa took the stand. He moved a motion for Parliament to adopt 39 reports without debate so that “we can get on to the Officers of Parliament committee report”.
The Opposition leader, Palusalue Fa’apo II, disagreed. He insisted that there was enough time to go through the reports since “all the members wanted to speak about them.”
Palusalue lost the argument.
Back to Faumuina, La’auli had a few things to say.
“Much has been said about the Minister for seven to eight months now,” said La’auli. “It is only fitting for him to answer to these accusations that he’s been accused of and it will not stop you from asking questions.”
At that point, Faumuina stood up and signaled to the Speaker that he wished to speak. With eyes locked on the Speaker, Faumuina requested to make a Ministerial speech to answer to the allegations.
Palusalue objected to this.
He wasn't the only one. The Minister of Justice and Courts Administration, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, cut in.
“It’s important for the Minister to do a Ministerial speech but I question what grounds he’s speaking on,” said Fiame. She explained that the report is concerning the Samoa Land Corporation (S.L.C) and Faumuina was the former Minister of S.L.C.
<!-- Large SkyAd -->
<ins class="adsbygoogle"
style="display:inline-block;width:300px;height:600px"
data-ad-client="ca-pub-2469982834957525"
data-ad-slot="5623196827"></ins>
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>{/googleAds}
“My understanding is that a Minister speaks about their (current) portfolio,” she said. “He is the current Minister of Finance and the Prime Minister has now taken over S.L.C.
“He’s no longer the Minister for S.L.C, he was the former Minister and I think if the Minister (Faumuina) wishes to speak, he should request to speak using (Parliamentary) privileges, not as a Ministerial speech.”
Tuilaepa disagreed. He told Parliament there was nothing wrong with the Minister trying to explain and answer to the many allegations.
“Nothing is hidden,” he pointed. “I don’t know why Fiame doesn’t want the Minister to answer to the report.”
But Fiame was not deterred.
“I do not object to the Minister giving a (Ministerial) speech but to me the issue now is personal to him,” said Fiame. “I am not stopping the Minister from responding to the report but I am only saying he should speak using privileges, not a Ministerial speech.
“But, Honourable Speaker, it is you who decides.”
There was much muttering inside the chamber as the feud from both sides continued.
M.P. for Falelatai and Samatau, Taefu Lemi, intervened. He told Parliament there are a lot disagreements but he didn’t understand now what the Minister was answering to when the questions hadn’t been asked.
“It’s like the horse cart is going first, before the horse,” he said.
MP for Alataua West, Lafaitele Patrick Leiataualesa, agreed.
He told the Speaker his only hope is “you make a righteous decision”.
The Speaker finally agreed to pass the motion for Faumuina to make his Ministerial speech.
Many M.P.s especially from the Opposition side shook their heads in disapproval.
With an hour gone, members of the House were noticeably upset.
Palusalue lost patience and he took the stand to ask the Speaker if the Minister was almost done with his speech.
“I’m just worried about the Prime Minister, he looks cold,” said Palusalue, in a barbed comment recalling his last appearance in Parliament, when he ended up being assisted to the intensive care.
Veteran M.P. for Falealupo, Aeau Peniamina Leavaiseeta, backed their leader.
“Please Mr. Speaker, I just want to know two things,” he said. “First, I want to know what the Minister speech is about and secondly he’s wasting his time because that’s not what we wanted to ask about in the report.
“I’m just thinking if this is a plan of his to take up time and by the time he finishes, our time is up.”
Tuilaepa disputed this, attacking the M.P.’s.
“I have never seen such disrespectful manners where a Minister is giving a Ministerial speech and you keep interfering with him. If you hadn’t kept interfering with the Ministerial speech, it would’ve been finished by now, so let’s just listen.”
Faumuina continued with his 25 pagelong speech. It was almost 11:30 pm when Faumuina reached the bottom of his speech – and revealed his resignation.
All eyes turned to Faumuina. He didn’t rush saying the words. Tears flowed freely from his eyes.
“The root of our work is done to praise our Father in Heaven,” said Faumuina. “Thank you Prime Minister for your trust in me and Cabinet ministers that I’ve worked with and the Opposition.
“God’s children are soft hearted, humble and forgiving…and based on these laws I thank you Prime Minister for your trust in me but I give my resignation to our Cabinet.”
There was a stunned silence in the chamber. As he fought the tears, Faumuina stopped for a split second and continued.
“Thank you for electing me (as Minister),” he told Parliament. “I am not turning my back on your orders, no, only God knows.
“I’m not mad at anyone; I believe God allows these things to test the faith of people who trust in him.”
The mood in Parliament changed from a loud dispute to sorrow.
Later, outside Parliament, Faumuina responded for the first time in more than a year to many requests for an interview with Samoa Observer.
Unlike the stony silence of past months, Faumuina seemed relieved, almost friendly. He said it was time for him to give up his duties, giving him time to attend monthly meetings in his constituency.
<!-- samoa_observer.ws -->
<ins class="adsbygoogle"
style="display:inline-block;width:336px;height:280px"
data-ad-client="ca-pub-9419815128221199"
data-ad-slot="5306335075"></ins>
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>{/googleAds}
“Samoa, fa’amagalo lo outou auauna”, he said - Samoa, forgive your servant.
Earlier, Prime Minister, Tuilaepa had accepted Faumuina’s resignation.
He acknowledged Faumuina’s contribution to the development of the country saying 14 years of service to Parliament is not a short period of time.
He also praised Faumuina’s bravery in implementing a number of projects that many politicians were scared of.
Among them, he said, included the transformation of a Ministry previously known as a “Ministry of Waste” to what is known today as a “well run” Ministry of Works, Transport and Infrastructure.
“Don't forget that God has blessed you with many talents,” Tuilaepa told Faumuina.
“The end of your service in this area will mean your availability to serve in another area.”
Tuilaepa also announced that a new Minister of Finance would be sworn in at 4pm on Friday 25 April 2014.
Minutes after the resignation, CEO of the Ministry of Finance, Tupaimatuna Iulai Lavea, was seen rushing to Parliament in his vehicle. The Governor of Central Bank of Samoa, Maiava Atalina Ainu’u Enari followed.
Outside Parliament, Faumuina was embraced by the C.E.O.s. After Parliament, M.P.’s surrounded Faumuina. Others hugged, shook hands and some patted him on the back.
In a country founded on God, and built on forgiveness, Faumuina was no longer a minister.
But, unlike at the start of the speech, he was no longer alone.