By Staff Writer
The Deputy Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mataafa, is on a collision course with the Prime Minister after media comments by both yesterday, over controversial constitutional amendment bills to the Lands and Titles Court.
The Lotofaga constituents of the deputy PM rejected the bills and so too did Fiame in a review meeting with the Parliamentary Select Committee yesterday, Thursday 10 September 2020.
“I’m expressing my views freely as a Member of Parliament because I was not involved in the debate on the bills when they came up in the House,” Fiame was widely reported on the national media.
The DPM was in isolation for two weeks on her return from an overseas trip and was unable to attend Parliament at the time.
The Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, was made aware of his deputy’s rejection of the bills but rather than appear surprised, he was threatening instead.
“That’s alright, but she’ll have to go,” he said on national media.
The two are expected to run into each other today at the HRPP party caucus this afternoon at the Petesa party headquarters, Sogi.
It is not clear whether the growing rift between the party leaders will be raised in caucus.
The obvious differences between the pair have added more fuel to growing election campaign talk that Fiame is the prime target by opposition parties, to lead a concerted quest to bring the HRPP down in the 2021 election polls.