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NO WORRIES - PM

Written by Pio Sioa
Sunday, 20 April 2008
PM Unfazed by Cracks In HRPP Unity From Recent RHD Protest - full account on video clip. Cracks in the once seemingly unbreakable hold on political power by the ruling Human Rights Protection Party, HRPP, during the recent uproar of the road switch policy, is not a concern to worry the Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi. The two party members who walked away recently from the HRPP, in support of the protesters is nothing new in the party, according to the PM. “We’ve had many divisions in the party before, starting back in 1985 when we came into power with a two thirds majority, but had to bow out because of a division between members,” PM Tuilaepa told Newsline. The PM was referring to the time when the late Prime Minster Vaai Kolone and several HRPP members broke away to form a winning coalition with the former Prime Minister at the time, Tupuola Efi and his Samoa National Development Party, SNDP. “ The walkout by MPs Palusalue and Muagututia was nothing,” he noted, “those two resigned, but in the past we had to dismiss members from the party as in the case of Toi and Leafa who are now in prison.” The two were former Cabinet Ministers now serving life sentences at Tafaigata Prison for their involvement in the assisnation of the late Minister of Works, Luagalau Levaula Kamu. The Prime Minister remains defiant that the process of decision making in his party ensures continuing strength and a stronger unity for the HRPP. “There is a general misconcetion that came out during the RHD debate that the issue was championed by myself alone, what was forgotten is that whenever there is a project or new development to be pushed, it is always discussed inside the party caucus first. “Once it’s approved it becomes a party project and it becomes a collective responsibility for Government to undertake. “ This is the point often missed by many, every decision we take is done so collectively.” PM Tuilaepa admitted however that the members of the party who resigned over the RHD issue did so when pressure from the protesters began to mount. “When the RHD issue was first brought up in our caucus meeting there was consensus but that was before the build up of dissenting views in the public came up and led to the members who left the party. ‘In fact when those two members left it only served to consolidate the unity of the party.” Tuilaepa did concede that the RHD was a ‘healthy development’ for Samoa’s democracy. When asked about how the issue appears to inject new life into the opposition MPs, he agreed but was wary about how long it will last if the unity is based only on the response to the RHD. “My only hope is that the independents do not come together out of opposition against the right hand drive for the sake of opposition. I do hope that they themselves form together into a party for the next elections.” He noted however that the major obstacle ahead for the independents would be the senstive and thorny question of whom they can agree on as party leader. The PM’s leadership of Government, except for the RHD issue, was never questioned by the protesters, who even went to the extent of wishing him a rousing happy 63rd birthday cheer, while staging the 2nd protest march before Parliament last Monday. “If I had the microphone at the time I would have said, I love you all.” Comments (2) Subscribe to this comment's feed questioning appropriate representation written by Filomena, April 23, 2008 I would like to know if the members of Parliament take the upcoming issues to be debated in parliament to the people in the villages they represent. Are MPs from their villages really being honest advocates for the people of the villages or are the people from their villaes only consulted and severely befriended when it is election time - the rest of their time in parliament - they vote based on their own desires, agendas and so forth.. If I was an MP'er: I got a lotta of splannin to do written by MP'er, April 24, 2008 let's see, I was their at the meeting and had absolutely no idea Tuilaepa was going to do such a thing? or let's see, I was taking some pain medicine that day and was in the bathroom all morning before the vote and how dare they start the meetings without me? or lets see-- O le fia pule ia o Tuilaepa, koe send au a faasao le me lea, maybe we can reverse the waters in the river beds next as our new discussion? or lets see-- I was their and was overuled and Tuilaepa looked at me with a finger pointed at his neck that if I decided to vote with my concious, he will have my head on the umu tonight... maybe, but for sure, since I, was not circumcized into Democracy, maybe I get to get a cut after the vote for free.... O the things we weave, when we believe to conceive? ------- Shakes Write comment Name Email Title Comment

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