By Martha Taumata Faavae
The Tautua Samoa political party leader is not ‘breaking any sweat’ at reports of prominent members, including the former leader, joining other political parties.
Former MP and now party leader, Afualo Mr. Wood Salele, is aware of the defections but he is not in any panic about it.
“If that is what they want it’s a free world, they can do whatever they want and that goes for the former leader as well,” Afualo reacted when asked after a new three party coalition was formalised last week.
“The movement of members to new political parties is not a new trend but as far as I’m concerned I have sworn allegiance to the party and I will honour that.
“Setting up a political party is not a simple exercise and I have made a personal commitment to the Tautua Samoa so I shall continue to give it my full support.”
Afualo’s conciliatory tone was tame compared to aggressive remarks the Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi made earlier to the former leader of the opposition Palusalue Fa’apo II.
Tuilaepa said he was told Palusalue is one of the people behind the establishment of the new political party FAST.
The PM painted his former agitator in Parliament as a person who won his trust and was appointed in his Cabinet.
But he started acting up when he was not reappointed a Cabinet Minister.
“Palusalue is a person that makes you believe he is not capable of forming any Government because he is always changing party allegiance when he doesn’t get what he wants,” Tuilaepa told the local media recently.
“ He is a person with a lot of wisdom and should have stayed with the Tautua Samoa but if he has moved to FAST then it reflects on his weak leadership character.”
Palusalue and several other former Members of Parliament who were with the Tautua Samoa have been linked to the new political party coalition.