Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, described the law as an “ass” yesterday before backtracking on the government’s plan to fast track the passing of the Electoral Amendment Bill 2014.
Tabled on Tuesday, the bill proposes major changes to the Electoral Act 1963.
The bill was introduced by the government with a certificate of urgency signed by the Head of State, His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese.
But it was met by strongly worded objections from members of the government as well as the Opposition Party who called on the government to ensure the due process is observed in relation to the bill.
When Parliament reconvened yesterday, Tuilaepa had a change of plan. He moved a motion for the Bill to be passed on to a Parliament Select Committee for a thorough review – as per usual process.
The announcement was met by a thundering approval from both sides of the House.
The members congratulated Prime Minister Tuilaepa for his willingness to compromise. Prior to that, Tuilaepa told Parliament that “the law is a donkey.”
He reiterated that the government’s vision behind the amendments being proposed to is to ensure a free and fair election. He told the House that the government wants to improve the way the election processes are being run.
Tuilaepa then blamed some traditional leaders, judges and lawyers for causing problems with existing electoral practice of gift giving to voters, called the o’o.
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“If we didn’t have matai who were fed during the o’o, then turning their backs after and accusing the candidates, we wouldn’t have these problems,” he said.
“But it’s the perception from people. “Even our own judges and lawyers argue that the cultural concept is wrong, so the government is trying to find a way to stop our country from being humiliated.”
Tuilaepa was referring to overseas Law an ass, P.M. says as Govt. backtracks perceptions of the cultural practice.
He added that the debates are helpful to help people in the villages to understand how difficult it is to find a solution to the different perceptions.
During the second reading of the bill, the debate focused on whether the o’o and momoli were the cultural practice or electoral bribery and corruption.
Highlighted in the Electoral Amendment Bill 2014, the proposed change suggested that o’o and momoli be undertaken in the 12 months after elections, not before.
This would be a change from current practice before elections, where politicians often hand out thousands of dollars in food, drinks, equipment and cash, justifying them as traditional marks of respect and gratitude for being chosen as candidates.
M.P. for A’ana Alofi No. 1, Le’aupepe Toleafoa Fa’afisi fully supports the current practice in relation to the o’o.
His concern is that if the custom is removed, there would be nothing else for the M.P. to give back to the village Council to thank them.
“There is no difference in doing the o’o before and after because even if you tell voters that you would present it after the election, that is bribing too,” he said.
“No matter what time the o’o is presented, it is still the same.”
M.P. for Vaisigano No. 2, Motuopua’a Aisoli Va’ai, disagreed with the practice. He wants the o’o to be removed.
Motuopua’a said M.P.’s already suffer from the cost of campaigns and the o’o adds to that burden.
“We spend thousands on campaigns,” he said.
“If we present a o’o it would be another cost because you don’t just go with 50 boxes of herring to do it. “We should just stop doing it.”
The M.P. also argued that o’o presentations are done everyday. He explained that in everyday life, when families have fa’alavelave family obligations they seek help from M.P.’s.
“When any family in the village has a fa’alavelave they come to your house,” said Motuopua’a. “But when you have a fa’alavelave no one comes to you and helps you, you do it on your own.
“I want this to change and I want the law to change the mindset of people, that when you become an M.P. you don’t have millions of dollars raining from the sky.”
However M.P. for A’ana Alofi no3, Toeolesulusulu Cedric Shuster made a different suggestion. He urged that the law define how much should be used for customary gift.
Toeolesulusulu said even $10 given to someone for their transportation is seen as illegal or a bribe.
“My suggestion is why don’t we define a limit on the amount of money given to people,” he said.
“This way we would have less people going to trial over a $10 tala that was only given to help them for transportation.”
Parliament into the early hours of this morning.
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