By Staff Writer
The Court of Appeal ruling for the FAST political party to be the new Government landed a big Friday blow for the HRPP party but have taken it in stride.
Party leader PM Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi was yesterday playing his ukulele with his serenading group of party members at Petesa headquarters.
He was to hold a press conference before their regular evening entertainment but decided to re-schedule for the start of the working week.
FAST leader Fiame Naomi Mataafa was meanwhile making victory speeches while being congratulated by the Prime Ministers of New Zealand and Australia in separate messages.
Fiame went on to call in several heads of Ministries for a briefing at FAST headquarters that included the acting Commissioner of Police.
The CEOs from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of the Prime Minister were there as well.
More political intrigue are expected to unfold during the week with the uncertainties of the long standoff between the parties expected to continue.
“Since all this started, something new always seems to come around every day and we look forward to what this coming Monday brings,” HRPP deputy leader Fonotoe Pierre Lauofo offered with a knowing smile.
The Appeals Court ruling legitimized the ‘under the tent swearing-in’ of the FAST Government on the 24 May 2021 that was voided as unconstitutional earlier in the Supreme Court.
The 28 page ruling declared that “ ….any action taken individually or collectively by those who have been in the caretaker government role, from this point forward, in the name of the caretaker government, will be regarded by the Court as unconstitutional and unlawful, and therefore of no effect.
“Further that the said actors are personally liable for any actions that they take.”
‘”It is now for the new Prime Minister and her Government to give effect to his judgment and the declaration contained within,” the Appeals Court has now ruled.
Chief Justice Satiu Perese handed down the ruling late Friday afternoon with the final conclusions that reads:
“ The Supreme Court is the guardian of the Constitution and it will continue to protect and maintain the rule of law and democracy under the Supreme law.
“We come to the following conclusions:
a. We dismissing the Appeal in its entirety; and
b. We uphold the respondents cross appeal.
“We declared that the swearing in carried out on 24 May 2021 at the Tiafau Malae of elected members of Parliament, to be consistent with the terms of the Constitution, the Supreme Law of Samoa, and therefore lawful.
“For the avoidance of doubt, it means there has been a lawful government in Samoa since 24 May 2021, and that lawful government is the FAST party which holds the majority of the seats in Parliament.”
Justices Mata Tuatagaloa and Leilani Tuala-Warren were the other Justices in the presiding panel of judges.