By Staff Writer
The Supreme Court is to officially decide more than half of the General Election results with the hearing of 28 petitions in the coming weeks for the 52-seat Parliament.
The Supreme Court registration process lasted into Friday night 30 April 2021 at the Mulinu’u Court House.
In the final count, 11 Human Right Protection Party, HRPP, candidates filed petitions against FAST election winners.
FAST countered by lodging 10-candidates election petitions against the HRPP winners.
The remaining 7-petitions include 3-HRPP candidates challenging rival HRPP winners.
The Tautua Samoa Party filed 2-candidate petitions against FAST election winners while 2-independent candidates are protesting the wins by 1-HRPP and 1- FAST candidates.
Upolu results made up most of the election petitions with 19 altogether or 68% of the overall total while only 9 were filed against the results in Savaii or 32%.
Six women MPs are involved in the election petitions, 4-Savaii and 2-Upolu.
Half or 3 of the women won elections in Savaii and are being petitioned against while the others are protesting as candidates against the winners of their respective electorates.
Seven (7) different law firms are involved in legal representation of petitioners and it is their responsibility to serve copy of the petition on each respondent named.
Prompt service of proceedings is imperative to the timeliness and prompt progression of court procedures, according to a statement from the Ministry of Justice CEO Ms. Moliei Simi Vaai.
The statement also noted that Chief Justice Satiu Simativa Perese issued a Practice Note earlier in the week to the Samoa Law Society stating timetabling directions for filing of counter petitions and responses within 5 working days after receipt of service of the petition.
An administrative checklist was also dispatched for ease of preparation of petitions.
The Court has scheduled all 28 matters for a First Mention Call on Tuesday, 4th May 2021 at 10am for further directions of the Court.
at the end of business day today, 30 April 2021 being the last day for filing allowed for
The election petitions are issued under section 109 of the Electoral Act 2019 where candidates raised questions before the Court on the election or the election result against a winning candidate, the Electoral Commissioner or both.