Ou te faatalofa atu i le paia o si o tatou atunuu. O lenei ua tatou i ai i le vaiaso lona lua o la tatou malaga o lenei tausaga fou – 2025. Malo le faatoatoa i galuega o lenei aso.
O paia faale-malo, paia faale-ekalesia, ma paia faale-atunuu, o le a nu’unu’u atu faatini o tausala, auā o Samoa ua maea ona tofi.
E le o toe po se lilo i le faafofoga a le atunuu i le mataupu e uiga i le faasalalau faalaua’itele ai o moliaga o le afioga ia Laauli Leuatea Polataivao Fosi i le Aso Faraile, 3 Ianuari 2025. Ma sa tuuina atu ai la’u faasalalauga muamua i lea lava aso, i le faatauaina o le mulimulitaia o le faasinomaga a le Tulafono, atoa ai ma auala o loo aiaia ai faatinoga uma faaletulafono o mataupu faapenei.
O le Aso Faraile na te’a nei, Aso 10 o Ianuari 2025, na tuuina atu ai le faasalalauga faalaua’itele mai ia te au nei o le Palemia, i le faamutaina o le tofiga o le Minisita o Faatoaga ma Faigafaiva sa tauaveina e le afioga i a Laauli e afua atu i le ta o le 5pm i le afiafi lava lea.
O le mataupu o loo ave sese ma faanenefu ai le maitau a le toatele, ona o faamatalaga salatua i luga o upega tafa’ilagi, e faapea ua molia le afioga ia Laauli i le maliu ai o Tu’u’au Maletino. E ao ona faailoa manino mo le silafia e le atunuu, e leai e lē o lena. O le mataupu ma le su’esu’ega o le maliu o Tuuau Maletino o lo’o matala pea, ma o lo’o fa’aauau su’esu’ega o faamatalaga uma e le Matagaluega o Leoleo.
Peitai o moliaga faasaga ia Laauli ma i latou e toa 5 na molia muamua, e faatatau i tuuaiga e fanau mai i ni taupulepulega e molia se tagata e faapea na maliu ai Tuuau Maletino ma le faia o fa’amatalaga e lepeti ai le nofo filemu. O nei moliaga e aofia ai le;
1. Taupulepule leaga e faaliliu ese le faamasinoga amiotonu (3 moliaga)
2. Tala pepelo fatu fua i le faiga o faamatalaga molimau
3. O le faasoesa e faaaogaina ai ala tau fesootaiga faaeleteroni
4. Faamatalaga sese ua mafua ai le faaleagaina o le tauleleia o le igoa o se tagata (3 moliaga)
5. Faia o faamatalaga poo upu taufaaleaga ma le faamoemoe e lepeti ai le filemu (2 moliaga)
O le faagasolo o lenei mataupu i le Faamasinoga, o le mapusaga lea e sailia ai le amiotonu. Ma o le Faamasinoga na te iloiloina toto’a mau uma e fitoitonu i lenei mataupu, atoa ai ma se faaiuga. Ma e tumau pea le mau faa-le-tulafono, e tauave pea le amiotonu o le tagata se’i vagana ua faamaonia lana solitulafono.
Ae peitai, o aafiaga o le Malo i le faatulai mai o moliaga o le afioga ia La’auli, e le māmā ia te a’u nei o le Palemia. Aemaise i le tausisia o le anava o le Faigamalo a le FAST, ina ia tausisia ma taunapo i le malu o le Tulafono. I lo’u agaga fetāla’i fa’ata’ita’i o le Malo, sa ou fautuaina le afioga i a Laauli ina ia faamavae mai lona tofiga. Ma e lē fou lea tulaga i faigamalo faatemokarasi, mo i latou o loo tauaveina tofiga taualoa o se Malo, pe afai ua i ai ni tulaga e tilofia ai ma ua ōia ai le tausia o le amio sa’o ma le tauleleia o le tofiga, aemaise le Kapeneta ma le Pule Faatonu.
E le fou foi i le afioga ia Laauli le filifiliga o le faamavae. O le aso 23 Aokuso 2017 sa tuuina atu ai e Laauli lana faamavaega mai le tofiga o le Minisita o Faatoaga ma Faigafaiva, i lē sa avea ma Palemia i lena vaitau – le Susuga i a Tuilaepa, ina ua faatula’i ni moliaga faasaga ia te ia. Peitai, i le mataupu lenei, e le’i taliaina e Laauli lona faamavae mai le tofiga Minisita. Ma taunuu ai loa i la’u faaiuga e faamuta lona tofiga e tusa ma le Mataupu 33(3)(e) o le Faavae.
I le afua mai o lenei mataupu, ua tulai mai ai se fesili i le faatuatuaina o a’u nei o le Palemia i le taitaiga o le Malo. Ua lagalagā ai finagalo o nisi o Faipule o le Vaega Faaupufai a le FAST, o i latou o loo lagolagoina Laauli. A o le faasinomaga a le Faavae o le Malo Tutoatasi o Samoa, i le tofiaina o Minisita o le Kapeneta o loo aiaia i le Mataupu 32(2)(e). Ma e i ai lea i le Palemia.
I lea tulaga, sa faataunuu ai a matou feiloaiga ma Minisita o le Kapeneta i le aso ananafi, e uiga i le mataupu o le faatuatuaina o a’u nei o le Palemia e Minisita o le Kapeneta, atoa ma lo’u foi faatuatuaina o Minisita o le Kapeneta e faaauau ai le galuega faa-le-kapeneta i lalo o la’u taitaiga. Ma i le faaiuina o nei feiloaiga, ua ou taunu’u ai i la’u faaiuga e faamuta (terminate) le tofiga o le afioga ia Mulipola Anarosa Ale Molio’o, o le Minisita o Tina ma Tamaitai, faamuta le tofiga o le afioga ia Leota Laki Lamositele o le Minisita o Pisinisi, Alamanuia ma Leipa, ma le faamutaina o le tofiga o le afioga ia Toelupe Poumulinuku Onesemo, o le Minisita o Fesootaiga ma Faamatalaga Tekonolosi.
E tauave pea e le faigamalo le mau faaletulafono ‘e leai se tasi e i luga atu o le Tulafono’ ma e lē avea tofiga taualoa po’o nisi mafua’aga, e suia ai le ala o le Tulafono atoa ai ma taualumaga o galuega a le Faamasinoga i ni mataupu e molia ai se tasi o loo ia umia tofiga taualoa o le Malo. O lo tatou tausisia o le ala o mea ma le faatonufolau a le Tulafono, o lo tatou aputiputiina lava lea o pulega lelei, faamaninoina o mataupu, ma le mafai ona tali atu. O poutu ia o so’o se faigamalo e mulimulita’i i le malu o le Tulafono ma faiga faavae o loo faatino ai ana galuega.
I le maitau i ai i le tutupu mai o luita’u tau i faigamalo i si o tatou atunuu, ua alia’e ai aafiaga o le Pulega Faatonu, o le Faamasinoga, le Palemene, atoa ai ma itutino e faalagolago i ai le Malo i le faatinoina ma le faamamaluina o le Tulafono, e pei o le Matagaluega o Leoleo. Ua i ai se vaaiga, ua fetosoaina itu mavae o le tafatolu i le pule faapolokiki aemaise i ni faiga faaala tua, ae ua tauau ina faatuatuana’i le pule a le Tulafono.
O vala faigata ia, ma afai e le galulue faatasi Taitai o le atunuu ma itutino uma o le Malo, e taulamua i le usitaia o le Tulafono ma ala o loo faatino ai, ona masofa lea o le fa, ma fanau mai ai lu’itau ogaoga sa feagai ma o lo’o feagai pea ma le tatou Malo Tutoatasi. O le feitaga’i ma le loto taui masui o ni uiga ua lanu ai a tatou upu fai.
E faapea foi se vaaiga i le aafia o le aufaigaluega a le Malo i feteenaiga ma le fetosoaiga o le pule faapolokiki, ma tauau ai ina nunu le to’au, i le faatinoina o galuega mo le tautuaina o le atunuu. O Vaega Faaupufai, o se fola e mafai ai ona faagaoioi faigamalo e tulai mai e tautua le atunuu. Ae lē avea faiga vaega faaupufa’i, e taitai fa’ai’a mātau ai le aufaigaluega mai le faatinoina o a latou galuega e tusa ma le faasinomaga o Tulafono, ma faiga faavae a le Malo. O le ala lea, e fesuia’i ai Taitai e filifili mai e le atunuu mai lea taimi i lea taimi, atoa ai ma Vaega Faaupufai e taitaia le Malo, ae tumau pea le aufaigaluega a le Malo, e faaauau le galuega auauna mo le atunuu.
Le aufaigaluega e a le Malo, ia faaauau pea le galuega ma ia mapo la tatou tautua mo si o tatou atunuu. Manatua, o la tatou tautoga i luma o le Atua, tatou te tautua ma le faamaoni e ala i le faasinomaga a le Tulafono, ma faiga faavae a le Malo. Ae sili ona tatou saili i le Atua, e va’atele i ai a tatou faatinoga uma.
O a pefea e tulai mai ona o mau ese’ese i finagalo o Faipule, o loo iai lava matafaioi tauave fa’ale-tulafono ma ala o mea i tofi e aafia ai, e faataunu’u ai i ni fa’aiuga. O nisi o ia faaiuga lea ua maea ona faia e pei ona otooto atu i luga.
O le faatuatuaina po’o le lē faatuatuaina o la’u taitaiga fa’a-Palemia e filifili iai le Palemene o Samoa, e le faia e le vaega faaupufai. E iai foi aiaiga fa’ale-Fa’avae ma ala o mea o lena laasaga, ma ua ou nofo sauni iai e fai i lumamea o le Maota Fono o Samoa.
Ia mau pea le to’ovae, le onosai ma le faapalepale, o le tofa saili ma le faautaga i taitai filifilia o le atunu’u e taatia mai iai taunuuga o lenei mataupu.
O le tatalo, ia faaloaloa mai pea aao alofa o le Atua i luga o Samoa ma aumai lona toafilemu ma le manino e foe ai le tatou sā folau.
Ia manuia lau tapuaiga Samoa.
SOIFUA.
PRESS STATEMENT FROM THE HON. PRIME MINISTER – AFIOGA FIAME NAOMI MATA’AFA – 14th January 2025
Good morning Samoa;
A lot has transpired since former Cabinet Minister – Hon Laauli Leuatea Polataivao Fosi was charged by the police on January 3rd 2025. I wish to take this opportunity to clarify matters culminating in my decision issued last week on Friday 10th January 2025 on Hon. Laauli, as well as recent developments which have unfolded over the past few days.
On January 3rd 2025, charges laid against Honourable La’auli Leauatea Polataivao Fosi came to light following an announcement by the former Minister. On the same day, I issued a press statement underlying the essence of adhering to the rule of law and compliance with prescribed processes and procedures to deal with legal matters.
On Friday 10 January, I had issued a public statement on the termination of Hon Laauli’s appointment as the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries effective from 5.00pm of the same day. This decision was made after I held discussions with Hon. Laauli on options he could consider as stipulated in Article 33(3) of the Constitution. These included tendering his resignation or potentially a termination of his appointment.
As Prime Minister I had hoped that the former Minister would choose to resign. This is a common stance often considered and taken by esteemed public office custodians if allegations or charges are laid against them. After all, Hon Laauli opted to resign from his portfolio as Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries on August 23, 2017, following charges laid against him. However, when the option of resignation was mooted with the former minister, this was declined, so subsequently on Friday 10th January 2025, I issued a revocation of his appointment as Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries.
Misinformation has since spread uncontrollably on social media platforms alleging that Hon La’auli had been charged in connection to the death of Mr Tu’uau Maletino. I emphatically maintain this is not true. The case and investigation into the death of Mr Tu’uau Maletino remains open, and the Police are continuing their investigation.
However, the charges laid against La’auli and five others relate to;
1. Conspiracy to obstruct or pervert the course of justice (3 counts)
2. Conspiracy to commit an offence (fabricate evidence).
3. Harassment utilizing means of electronic communication.
4. False statement causing harm to a person’s reputation (3 counts).
5. Using insulting words with intent to provoke a breach of the peace (2counts).
The processing of these charges before the Courts is the only recourse to examine and determine the course of justice. At the same time, it is important to observe the presumption of innocence – that a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The consequences and impact of this matter on the Executive Government particularly on the integrity of Cabinet are substantial and significant as they border on respect for the rule of law, processes and procedures that everyone regardless of status are required by law to follow, and reflect the level of accountability and transparency in the justice system.
When the FAST Party came to power in 2021, we committed to champion the Rule of Law. That has not changed and we remain steadfast to that call.
The unfolding of the current situation among the FAST party caucus, has brought about divisiveness leading to questions pertaining to confidence in my leadership as Prime Minister. Some members are taking sides with Hon Laauli questioning the way his charges have been handled.
In response to the issue of confidence in my leadership as the Prime Minister, I convened meetings with each Cabinet Minister yesterday to determine their level of confidence and trust in my leadership. It is pivotal to note that confidence in the Prime Minister is a two way process. One is the Prime Minister’s confidence and trust in her Cabinet that they can work as a collective in the discharge of their portfolio responsibilities, and two, is the Cabinet Ministers’ confidence to work with the Prime Minister.
At the completion of our meetings yesterday I made the decision pursuant to Article 33(3)(b) of the Constitution to revoke;
i. the appointment of Hon. Mulipola Anarosa Ale Molio’o as Minister of Women, Community, and Social Development;
ii. the appointment of Hon Leota Laki Lamositele as Minister of Commerce, Industry and Labour; and
iii. the appointment of Hon. Toelupe Poumulinuku Onesemo as Minister of Communications and Information Technology, with immediate effect.
As leaders, we are committed to upholding the Rule of Law, ensuring that no one, regardless of status, power, or influence, is above it. The Rule of Law must be followed without exception, as it is the cornerstone of our nation’s integrity and foundation of good governance. By adhering to these principles, we protect the fairness, accountability, and trust that are essential for a just society.
Disregarding the rule of law will undoubtedly have far-reaching negative impacts on a whole-of-government scale, including undermining of our Judiciary system and the abilities of our law enforcement agencies to fulfil their duties in maintaining law and order, and peace and harmony.
This is what we, as leaders, must work together to protect.
Determining the issue of confidence in the Prime Minister’s leadership is a constitutional matter that rests with Parliament. It is not a Political Party’s responsibility. Whatever the consequences of the divergence in parliamentarians’ views relating to their confidence in the Prime Minister and Cabinet, there are constitutional processes and procedures that should be implemented. I am ready to do that in Parliament.
It is very critical when there is political discontent that the agencies of Government hold fast to their mandates and conduct their work professionally.
May God continue to bless Samoa,
SOIFUA.
