Old Court House Building In Apia Before It Was Torn Down
LETTER TO THE EDITOR :
The above-mentioned expression sounds very nice.
But it may also sound pretty bad.
For a policeman who was always corrupt in the Service, may become more corrupt outside of the Service.
And a police who was always dedicated and performed to the best of his ability is expected to continue as a good leader when he retires from the Service.
He has principles with great Samoan Cultural and Christian values.
Can we say the same thing of an Attorney General?
Yes, of course.
The Attorney General is a Constitutional Appointment who advises the PM on legal matters and the AG has all the discretionary powers to institute, conduct or discontinue any proceedings for an offence allegedly committed.
The Attorney General has a right of Audience in and takes PRECEDENCE over any Person appearing before any Court.
The AG is also qualified to be a Judge of the Supreme Court, therefore an AG is like an angel.
Whilst being polite, the AG is expected to be firm in advising the Government to follow the Rule of Law.
The AG can never be intimidated.
Government and the Court Judges must also treat the AG with respect normally accorded by a Judge to another Judge.
If an appointed AG fails to live up to these expectations, then he should never have been there in the first place.
A question may be raised as to why Taulapapa Brenda Heather-Latu is representing the Prime Minister, Fiamē Naomi Mata’afa, legally?
Nothing wrong to speculate.
The current PM never trusts any AG.
Brenda is extra loyal, wiser and more capable to blindly do whatever action the Government asks for.
Why?
Principles are no longer important.
Money is.
Today, there is deep division within our Society, never before experienced over the last 60 years of Peaceful Independence.
Brothers are against brothers, parents against children, relatives against relatives and very strangely in a Country that proudly shouts at every opportunity to proclaim we are founded on God, its Religious Ministers too are fighting one another, for politics now is more important than Christ teachings to love one another.
Politics is for Politicians.
On August 13/8/21 at 2:30pm, Taulapapa conducted a zoom meeting with Pacific Newsroom, Sue Ahearn and Michael Field, and made the following outrageous observations.
I. She directed the Swearing in of the FAST Government under a tent because Parliament was locked.
II. Tuilaepa as PM made appointments to office based on obedience and family association.
III. That I illegally created the 10% for women to falsely add another woman MP to my Party
IV. She resigned as AG in 2006 because of my criticism of the role she played as “friend of the Court” who knew best the culture of Samoa. Her Submission resulted in the dismissal of Hon Mulitalo Siāfausa, a Minister she was supposed to protect. The Court missed completely that she could hardly speak Samoan, a New Zealand born who does not understand the depth of our Culture.
Now (I) the Supreme Court had already ruled the FAST Government swearing in was
unconstitutional and illegal. CJ Satiu Simativa Perese reversed this decision and the illegal
Government was subsequently made legal again.
(II) All appointments to the Public Service were based on Good Governance Principles and
the law in my time. Fiamē, who sat next to me, knows that. Political appointments to diplomatic posts were on merit eg, former CEO’s professionally and educated Samoans with clean police records who can represent this Country and people with honour, understanding and respect a reason for Samoan officials being highly regarded by their diplomatic communities. Did I act differently during her time as AG? NO!
(III) The 10% additional members for Women in Parliament and the wrongful Judgments by
our Court has already been rectified now by a Court of Appeal Judges from New Zealand.
(IV) I never criticized Taulapapa. It was Hon Mulitalo who criticized her for her part in
helping the opposition candidate to win in an election petition.
I tried to help her in all her time as AG to honour a promise I made to her mother who asked me personally to “please help my daughter Brenda, Tui, she is young”
Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi
Leader of HRPP