HRPP’s Threatened Split Stalled

Written by Pio Sioa
Sunday, 17 February 2008
*Protesting Party Members Remain Unconvinced About RHD Switch but opted to wait until the bill comes up for debate in Parliament* The governing Human Rights Protection Party, HRPP, did not split up after Friday’s story caucus meeting as it was earlier feared. But the cracks of division by members over the controversial Right Hand Drive issue, are serious enough for the Prime Minister to reportedly threaten to step down as party leader, confirmed by several Newsline sources. A spokesman for the members who are prepared to walk away in protest over the RHD bill, told Newsline yesterday that they will wait to see what the bill holds, when it comes up in Parliament. “We stated our position against the bill in the caucus meeting,” says the spokesman, who did not want to be named. “We still support the party, but we are prepared to vote against the Right Hand Drive because we believe it is an unnecessary burden on the country. “We were told that Cabinet is working on new amendments to be added to the bill, so we will just have to wait and see.” The spokesman did not want to say straight out if they are prepared to split from the HRPP if they are not happy with the new amendments and that Government decides to still go ahead with legislation. “It all depends on what comes up in Parliament, if anything is likely to happen, it will happen when the bill comes up for debate in the House.” The stormy caucus meeting lasted for ‘hours’ according to another HRPP member who supports the RHD initiative. “I left while it was still going on, but no our party is still intact,” Newsline was assured by the member. “But I’m really glad all this is coming out into the open. We can then sort it out and clear up the issue. ‘The bill is still being worked on so we’ll just have to wait until it is tabled,” the member said knowing that a draft of the bill found its way to the general public, when it was published by the Samoa Observer recently. The HRPP leader, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, continues to remain unswayed, to the extent where he allegedly accused dissenting members of not wanting to understand the benefits to the country of changing to RHD. “He is the one who doesn’t want to understand or accept the cry of protest by the country,’ the protesting spokesman argued “The people are being dragged into this whole RHD mess against their will, this is an added burden on top of many more on their shoulders right.” The proposed legislation that will force the country to switch from currently driving on the left hand to the right hand side, is expected to be tabled in Parliament in its next session scheduled for the 10 of March. Meanwhile, the RHD protest movement organized by People Against Switching Sides, PASS, is really turning on the pressure now, as the bill is set to make its way into Parliament. PASS leader, lawyer Toleafoa Solomona To’ailoa, is calling out the Prime Minister for a public debate on the issue on Saturday, 8th of March, in anticipation of the RHD bill being tabled in Parliament on March 10th.. He is also seeking a judicial review ruling by the court to stop Cabinet from tabling the bill in Parliament. If successful it will establish a bench mark ruling, where the process of judiciary is actually allowed to extend its authority into the affairs of state. Toleafoa is also urging the protesting public to rally in front of Parliament, when the RHD Bill comes up for the all important second reading in the House. A petition presented to Parliament by the protesters who marched to Muulinu’u last year, is under investigations by the House Petitions Committee, whose members went to Savaii a few days ago to solicit public opinion. The Petition Committee’s report to Parliament is expected to carry a lot of influence in deciding the future outcome of the RHD controversy. Comments (0) Subscribe to this comment's feed Write comment Name Email Title Comment
Last Updated ( Sunday, 17 February 2008 )

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