By Staff Writer
No salaries for the 5 months of suspension from Parliament is not an issue for the two opposition MP leaders reinstated by a recent ruling of the court.
The opposition Human Rights Protection Party leader, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and party Secretary, Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi, are more interested in the tail end twist in the court ruling.
“I cannot work out the rationale behind the verdict in relations to a public service policy that is followed on matters of suspended workers,” Tuilaepa wondered aloud in his Thursday weekly media conference.
Suspended public servants are paid one month’s salary under the policy, pending the outcome of any investigation that may or may not end with the loss of employment.
“If the staff member is cleared for a return to service, the person is entitled to paid salary backdated to when it stopped, and if that turns out to be 12 months then that is the policy,” Tuilaepa added.
Tuilaepa and Lealailepule were suspended last April but the court ruled that their salaries are to be paid effective as of the date the re-instatement decision was handed down.
The opposition MPs assured they have no intentions of chasing after their unpaid salaries but felt very strongly that it is a matter worthy of full discussions.
“Our concern is for an honest ruling going forward and not about getting our lost salaries back.
“I am not putting any blame on the Speaker also because his ruling on when we should be paid is based on the court decision.”
Tuilaepa is treating the court ruling in the context of a revered fisherman who hauls and lands his tuna catch onto the wrong side of the fishing canoe hull.
“E poto le tautai ae sese lana atu i ama”
Both Tuilaepa and Lealailepule are due to return to Parliament when the House is in session again next month around mid-October.