By Staff Writer
The opposition Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) is taking the Gagaifomauga 2 by-election loss in stride, after an independent candidate claimed the seat in last Saturday’s polling.
The HRPP candidate So’oalo Poka So’oalo polled a close second in the 4-man race for the Savaii constituency seat recently held by a ruling FAST MP before his passing.
‘We’re disappointed with the loss but encouraged by the show of support for our candidate, especially in the Apia based voters where he was popular,” HRPP Secretary MP Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi consoled.
The voters by-election turnout was at 67 per cent with voting locations spread out over 11 polling stations.
The Gagaifomauga 2 seat should finalise the seating arrangement for all members in the 54-seat Parliament after more than a year of political uncertainties.
Lealailepule said the main focus for now is to move on and continue to build on the strength of the party and to pick up on their fundraising efforts.
Party leader Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, admitted to the local media during the week that they have outstanding legal fees to cover.
Membership registration at the Maota o Petesa headquarters on Independence Day on Wednesday 1 June 2021, was one of their organised fundraising drives.
More legal costs are expected to incur with legal action the party is taking up in court to challenge the ‘indefinite suspension’ of Tuilaepa and Lealailepule from Parliament.
The House voted on the punishment recommended by the Privileges Committee on a complaint by the deputy Prime Minister for contempt of court convictions on the HRPP leaders.
A second court matter filed by the party last week is against the extension of the 10% ruling for women MPs to include Anoama’a 2 MP Leota Nora as the third woman.
A comprehensive analysis of the new budget for the 2022-2023 fiscal year is getting the full attention of the opposition financial sharpshooters.
Party leader Tuilaepa is taking the lead to find out what is in store for the country’s developments and how the true revenues and expenses are being accounted for.
‘The proposed estimates are to be debated in Parliament in two weeks time and one of the key areas we’ll be keen to look at is the rippling effect of the global economy on ours,” Tuilaepa explained.
The effects of climate change, COVID 19 pandemic and the Ukraine-Russian war, are the main influences on the global economy that affects Samoa directly.
The rise in the cost of living is already felt locally made more visible by the steady climb in the cost of petroleum products.
A quick analysis by the opposition leader also is showing a substantial cut in budget support from development partners for national projects.