By Mataeliga Pio Sioa
Opposition Member of Parliament, Ale Vena Ale, called for a full review of the Constitution to firmly establish the powers of the Office of the Head of State, after the serious political fallout of the April 2021 general elections.
The Faleata No. 4 MP made the call in Parliament before the lockdown when he took the floor to speak on the Supplementary Budget debate.
“We are celebrating our 60th Independence anniversary this year, is it not the ideal time to review our Constitution to stamp fully the authority of the Head of State, after the uncertainties last year with our political differences, ” MP Ale urged.
Proclamations by His Highness for Parliament were challenged and usurped by the authority of the Judiciary during the historic period of political divisions last year in what was seen as a clash between the Constitution and the Rule of Law.
The country was seriously divided along political lines by support for the Constitutional powers of the Office of the Head of State as opposed to the Judiciary rule of law.
MP Ale wants to tighten up established protocols where the role of the Head of State is basically dictated by the advice of Government in place at the time.
“Any document he doesn’t want to sign is returned to Cabinet where it is approved after it is left for 7 days – His Highness has no say,” the protesting MP underlined.
“The Head of State is also required to call for a new Parliament to convene 45 days after the general elections- why not 30 days if the official results are ready 2 weeks after polling day?”
The MP is troubled by the recent show of disrespect towards the Office of the Head of State compared to the early period of independence when the word of the paramount leaders carried respect and unquestioned authority.
He said everything was in place during the time of Tupua Tamasese Meaole and Malietoa Tanumafili II as joint Heads of State with Mataafa Fiame Mulinu’u II as Prime Minister.
Whatever they decreed goes whether it is an overnight change of Government when a budget is rejected in Parliament.
“Now everything is challenged what then is the point of the Office of the Head of State that we are supposed to hold in very high respect?
“ We should take seriously the lessons from our political troubles last year and be very mindful of the consequences when it comes to indecision over the Constitution and the law.
“ When the Constitution is vague the lawyers will take over and worsened the situation with their legal interpretations, we don’t want a repeat of that.”
MP Ale is convinced the only way for Samoa to avoid any repeat of the political instability from last year is to go over the Constitution again that has not changed much since independence.