By Staff Writer
A call for more seats allocated for women in Parliament met with mixed reaction this week from several men MPs.
Gagaifomauga No.3 lady Member of Parliament, Fa’aulusau Rosa Duffy-Stowers, appealed for an extra two seats to increase the threshold for women in Parliament from 5 to 7.
The Minister of Women and Social Community Developments, Tuitama Dr. Talalelei Tuitama, was in full support and spoke up about it.
Veteran MP Faumuina Liuga had his doubts and so too was Anoama’a East MP Alaiasa Sepulona Moananu.
“Is this member trying to set up the women voters to go up against the men,” MP Alaiasa questioned.
MP Fa’aulusau made history following the 2016 general elections when she won more votes as a woman candidate to claim a mandatory seat to make up the required 5 women MPs in Parliament.
“Getting into Parliament is not easy for women because men are favoured for leadership in our culture,” the lady MP pointed out in the House debate yesterday, Wednesday 3 February 2021.
Her point was underscored by voter statistics from the 2016 general elections where 48 per cent of the voters were women compared to 59 per cent of men voters.
“Yet the number of men MPs is overwhelming with only 5 of the seats going to the women or 10 per cent of our Parliament.
“My appeal is to increase the threshold for women MPs to 15 per cent or 7 women MP in any Parliament seating.
“If it’s not possible with a change in the Constitution then maybe we can look for ways to do so.”
MP Fa’aulusau brushed off opposition to her appeal as her fellow male MPs crying at the wrong funeral.
A note was taken during the debate that Samoa is the only country so far to pass legislation to ensure that it is mandatory for a minimum of 5 seats to be allocated for women in any Parliament sitting.
The maximum number of women elected in any Parliament leading up to the 2016 general elections was 3.
The number went up to 4 from the 2016 polling results and later to 5 for the seat allocated to MP Fa’aulusau.
