By Staff Writer
A FAST political party take-over of Government failed last Thursday morning when it was unable to follow through with a 48-hour ultimatum for the HRPP to step aside.
The demand fell on the deaf ears of the Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi who went about his caretaker work scheduled on the day.
His secretary did phone FAST take-over leader La’auli Fosi Schmidt that the PM has other prior commitments at 10.00am and will not be able to meet with him as demanded.
The Thursday drama ended when the FAST take-over group retreated to the Matautu-tai residence of the party leader Fiame Naomi Mataafa to re-strategize.
Party spokesman La’auli told the local media that they decided to back off in the interest of peace.
The morning events on Thursday goes back to flopped talks last Monday (see other story) when FAST issued its take-over ultimatum and HRPP shrugged it off to continue the standoff.
The talks at the PM’s Office at the Government Building followed the same unsuccessful ending as the first ones a week earlier on Thursday.
The HRPP caucus secretary, MP Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi, defend the caretaker Government’s position to the FAST attempted takeover that actually started with the Office of the Legislative Assembly.
“ The FAST appointed Speaker and others turned up before the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly to take up office but were told the premises was still under the legal authority of the caretaker Speaker Toleafoa Fa’afisi,” MP Lealailepule explained when asked by the Newsline Samoa.
“ The Clerk was unable to hand over the keys to the office which he said was kept by the caretaker Speaker along with his official vehicle.”
MP Lealailepule sympathised with the Clerk and his staff at the Legislative Assembly Office for the kind of political they were put through.
He also agreed with the expressed disappointment reportedly by the Clerk at the FAST Speaker who is also a lawyer.
“ First of all these are Government working officials doing their jobs independent from any political involvement, secondly as a lawyer this FAST Speaker should be fully aware of the Standing Orders already having been in Parliament before.”
MP Lealailepule pointed to the separation of powers in Government where the Head of State and the Speaker of the House has full authority of the Legislative Assembly under the Constitution.
He denied FAST claims that they are already legal in Government following the ‘under-the-tents’ swearing in on 24 May 2021 outside the Parliament Building by party lawyers.
The HRPP spokesman went on to scoff at the FAST pleading reaction by La’auli at the failed take-over last Thursday in the interest of peace.
“What peace is he talking about when Samoa is still safe and well under the loving care of our Holy Father, if anyone is threating the peace it is FAST with people like La’auli twisting everything to suit their purposes.”
MP Lealailepule was referring to the ‘misleading’ claims by FAST they have a 26 -25 seat majority, despite the Appeals Court ruling allowed for a 6th woman Parliamentarian.
“FAST has been drumming up wherever they can the need to keep to the rule of law but all they’ve been doing so far is break the law.”
Lealailepule also blamed the Monday disagreement on the FAST leader Fiame when she rejected a call by PM Tuilaepa to hold off making any decision until after the Monday 14 June court hearing.
The Attorney General is challenging the legality of the FAST swearing in outside Parliament by party lawyers instead of the Head of State, Member of the Council of Deputies or the Chief Justice.
