By Staff Writer
An attempt to ensure a smooth opening of Parliament next week was thrashed out by the House Speaker, Papali’i Masepa’u, and a delegation from the opposition Human Rights Protection Party, HRPP, yesterday, Tuesday, 8 September 2021,
Opposition leader Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, confirmed the meeting that he described as positive.
“We had a good positive exchange and we look forward to his written response probably this afternoon,” Tuilaepa said in an interview on the HRPP online webpage.
Drama continues to build towards the first session of the new Parliament on the 14 September 2021, with all the 18 HRPP elected MPs yet to be sworn in and have not been officially summoned to attend.
Letters have been going back and forth between the two parties since then setting out their respective positions on the issue
Speaker Papali’i has made it clear that he will carry out the swearing in and not the Head of State as the opposition party wants.
The political standoff has been brewing since the Appeals Court ruling legitimized the FAST Government ‘under the tent’ swearing in of the new administration.
The HRPP is insisting that they will attend the opening session of Parliament, regardless of not being summoned, as it is their right as duly elected representatives of their respective electoral constituencies.
They will also want the Head of State to be present at their swearing in to restore dignity to Parliament, respect His Highness and the Constitution.
Family members and village supporters of each opposition MP are expected to turn up en masse at Parliament grounds in keeping with normal customs and traditions of celebration.
The gathering has worried the FAST Government supporters who alleged publicly that the opposition party was inciting violence.
The claims have been soundly rejected and it was one of the key issues raised in the Tuesday meeting of the Speaker and Tuilaepa along with the HRPP deputy leader and party Secretary.
“The Speaker is fully aware of our true intentions and that we are not coming to confront but to claim our rights as representatives of our constituencies,” Tuilaepa explained.
“We are talking about the rights of each MP and the rights of families and supporters to celebrate the occasion that is the Samoan way.”
The opposition leader admitted raising serious reservations of the party with the Speaker about not being officially summoned to the Parliament session.
He made the suggestion that if there were any hints of conflict with the crowd turnout then maybe the Church should play a role in calling for spiritual peace and calm to prevail.
“If the church is to play any role then they still have a few days left to make their peace call before Parliament opens next week.
”We don’t want any head on clash because the consequences can be extremely unpleasant.”
A meeting of all HRPP supporters is being called for this coming Friday at the Maota i Petesa party headquarters, to explain the procedure to follow in the official presentation of MPs at Parliament opening.
Representatives from each of the MPs electoral constituencies will officially escort them into Parliament in the respected Samoan customs and traditions.
Families will also be present to ‘garland’ the MPs in celebration and to honour their leadership achievements.