Villages to reform juveniles in Samoa

Written by Mathew Lemisio
Sunday, 20 January 2008
*Minister of Justice Unasa Mesi says the Community Justice Bill, if it becomes law will help prevent juveniles from being associated with veteran criminals at Tafaigata.* New law favors potential shareholders The fate of young offenders convicted of “minor offences” could fall into the hands of their villages’ faifeau and matai. That will be the case if the Community Justice Bill becomes law. It went through its third reading on Friday in Parliament. The new law will see young offenders sentenced to probationary services which are to be conducted and supervised by either their village church ministers or village councils. There were no major objections to the Bill as Member of the House went through its provisions. The Minister of Justice, Unasa Mesi said the motive behind the Bill was to prevent young offenders from entering jail where most likely they come out as hardcore criminals. Uansa said most young people commit crimes which are not “too serious” but based on different circumstances surrounding their cases; the courts send them to jail. As a result these young offenders are locked up with “veteran criminals” and the odds are against these young offenders coming out as reformed human beings. He said the new law targets those in the age group of 10 to 16. MP from Vaa o Fonoti asked whether this bill will allow taulelea (untitled young men) of the village beating these young offenders, as is the case in most Samoan families when their young ones overstepped the border. This brought laughter to the House but the already amused Unasa said this was not part of the law. Meanwhile, another Bill tabled in Parliament will allow “an ordinary man from Savaii or Aleipata” to buy shares in big companies if Parliament approves of it. The Unit Trust Bill presented by Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi Bill will make it easier and affordable for most people to buy share in big companies. “The current laws seem to allow only a few who have the money to invest and buy shares in bigger companies coming into the country,” Tuilaepa said. “But with this Bill, it will make it much easier for any ordinary man from Savaii or Aleipata to come with his $300 and buy shares in Vailima or some other companies.” Comments (0) Subscribe to this comment's feed Write comment Name Email Title Comment
Last Updated ( Sunday, 20 January 2008 )

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