By Staff Writer
Public fears that the Deputy Prime Minister will throw the country back into the same political upheavals of post-general elections with his contempt of court complaint, proved true this morning in Parliament.
The decision by Speaker Papali’i Taeau Masepa’u’ to forward the complaint to the House Privileges and Ethics Committee sparked an uproar on the floor, that left him briefly helpless to control.
Both the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) opposition party leader Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and party Secretary, Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi, are named in the deputy leader’s complaint.
The pair, however, have countered with a complaint of their own against the deputy leader.
A heated screaming exchange ensued when Tuilaepa challenged the Speaker’s neutrality and fairness, when he did not voice out their complaint against the Deputy PM.
The exchange was added more volume when MP Lealailepule complained that the Speaker’s decision was already made public the night before on local television, which is a disrespect to the House.
The Minister of Agriculture and FAST Party Chairman, La’auli Leuatea Schmidt, was accused of revealing the Speakers decision before it was delivered in the morning.
The allegations brought the Minister to his feet to accuse the opposition side of disrespecting the authority of the Speaker.
It was unclear from the uproar of shouting voices if he did deny revealing the decision before the Speaker did.
Vaimauga No. 1 opposition MP Sulamanaia Tauiliili Tuivasa, roared against the Minister for disrespecting the Speaker and it offended the Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa.
The PM motion to remove MP Sulamanaia from the House was upheld and the Vaimauga No.1 is on a 24-hour suspension from Parliament.
Calm and composure was finally restored in the House and the session continued where it left off with the labour workers legislation debate.
Speaker Papali’i managed to bring the opposition temperatures down when he explained that their letter of complaint is with him but there was no copy for the Deputy PM that should also come through his office.