By Staff Writer
The Land and Titles Court hearings are on again starting this week in March, after an unexpected hold up when the Minister of Justice directed the Ministry staff to cease all proceedings.
An exchange of letters this week between the Justice Minister, Matamua Vasati Pulufanu and the Land and Titles Court President Fepulea’i Atilla Ropati appeared to have sorted out the enforced delay.
It is the second round of letter exchanges started by the Minister after the first one that forced the LTC President to adjourn proceedings for February and March.
President Fepulea’i was left with no other recourse without the Ministry staff to assist the work of the court, after a directive from the Minister to the acting CEO/Registrar of the Ministry.
The LTC president objected strongly to the encroachment of the Executive branch into the independence of the Judiciary.
The Justice Minister worried about inconsistencies in the Land and Titles Act 2020 well as the Constitutional Amendment Act and possible bearings on the integrity of the Court.
The Minister responded to objections from the LTC with a second letter to assure that she did not ‘….give any direction in relation to the operation of the Land and Titles Court and there is no intention for the Executive to encroach on the work of the Judiciary.’
President Fepulea’i welcomed the Minister’s non-interference assurances and opted for the proceedings in court to be underway again at the start of the month this week.
“In light of the matters discussed, especially in appreciation of your clarification, the LTC will schedule cases for March 2022 onwards,” Fepulea’i wrote to the Minister.
“All in all, while we delay progression of cases before the Court because of the differences in agendas and opinions, the people suffering are those with urgent matters before the Court.”
In the interest of transparency and accountability, Newsline Samoa has reprinted the letters in full, in the second exchange by both parties.