By Mataeliga Pio Sioa
The infamous tag of ‘court decision with a tail’ popped up again last week.
The surprise pop up was when the Supreme Court ruling on Wednesday made FAST election candidate To’omata Nora an MP.
The ruling went against what was already generally accepted as 6 women required to meet the10% representation in Parliament.
To’omata makes it 7.
The ruling quoted a section of the Act where the extra seat is allowed but it did not stop the ‘tail’ thrashing in public opinion when it was handed down.
Much of the protests came from political critics surprised once again by what they believe to be another court ruling to favour the Government party.
Hard to fault where they are coming from though!
The run of court rulings ever since the extra seat was contested in court has benefitted FAST more than its opposition rivals HRPP.
The Appeals Court ruling for Ali’imalemanu Alofa Tu’uau, as the elected MP under the 10% representation was the very first handed down with a ‘tail’ end twist.
Her appointment was subject to the outcome of by-elections in case it affects her winning tally of votes.
Aleipata–itupa-i-lalo HRPP candidate Fagaesealii Sapoa Feagiai came onto the political scene when she took over as the 6th woman.
She tallied the second highest vote from the by-election to step in as replacement for Falealupo MP Leota Tima Leavai-Peteru who resigned.
To’omata Nora with her second highest tally from the general elections challenged Fagaesealii’s winning total in court.
The ruling when it came out last week decided instead to appoint both women.
If the political critics had any merits in their criticisms it will be on the question of whether the court ruling tried to please all sides with a compromise.
Why? The ruling is now at risk of re-opening Pandora’s box to the fact that Ali’imalemanu would have tied up the numbers in Parliament to 26 seats all if she was allowed to be sworn in?
Instead of forcing a return to general elections, the Ali’imalemanu ruling was delayed and the court stepped in and legitimised the rule of the FAST Party.
Doing so exposed the Judiciary to howling political criticisms of meddling outside of its jurisdiction boundaries.
Political upheaval was created unlike never before in Samoa and the country to this day remains disturbingly divided in many ways.
Politically, Samoa is in a bad place right now.
Of serious cause for concerns are the pillars of our national stability that appears to be infected by a political virus – an angry one.
The virus has spread like an epidemic with no vaccination yet in sight to contain it and allow the country to return to its normal harmonious self.
What this virus is doing is to lie simmering inside its host to incite angry rage for the people to shoot off every time there is a politically related court ruling with a ‘tail’ ending.
From what is brewing in Parliament after recent sessions, more court related matters are on the way.
The contempt of court complaint by the deputy PM against the HRPP leader and general secretary is a likely one depending on how the Speaker rules.
The same for Constitutional changes made by the previous HRPP Government the FAST ruling party are not too excited about.
Outside of politics even the ‘God Pillars’ have not been spared the epidemic spread of the political virus infection.
There is little denying that the EFKS as the dominant church in the country are seen as not only pro-FAST but a leading promoter of the ruling party.
The most obvious example is every time the EFKS television is turned on a Cabinet Minister is seen and heard running down the opposition.
A church seen to play favourites on God’s flock is proof that the ‘God Pillar’ is in need of vaccination too from the political virus.
The Catholic television though is devoted to the teaching of the Word so that lessens the worry.
If we are to look for a vaccine for our political health issues where should we start?
Since it is more a moral dilemma, we can always leave it to the power that rules over true justice to get it sorted.
If that is what it takes then we as a country should be on our knees pleading divine help.
We are just simple creations put into this world to be tested for our faith and loyalty to good and evil.
The final judgment is not ours to give. If we do judge it is to the best of our human limitations.
Fair and honest judgments are just part of the test. Corruption of justice is another.
Do we want to return to a harmonious Samoa or not?
The choice is ours but nothing beats a pleading “help us Lord”