Siumu’s Member of Parliament, Tuu’u Anasi’i Leota, has confirmed moves to set up a new political party.
In fact, the Associate Minister of Education and veteran member of the Human Rights Protection Party (H.R.P.P) said he has been named the leader.
“Yes I was named leader of a new party – by a number of our H.R.P.P and also Tautua (Party members) but (it’s) not official yet,” he wrote in response to questions from the Sunday Samoan.
About the new party, the M.P declined to discuss the details. “I cannot give a number yet of members until it’s official.”
Tuu’u, however, said the formation is over growing unhappiness among H.R.P.P members about the performance of the Minister of Finance, Faumuina Tiatia Liuga.
The unhappy members want him to be removed from Cabinet over the handling of a number of issues they are not happy with.
Among them is his handling of the Fugalei Market, his new office at the S.N.P.F Plaza and revelations about “corrupt practises” at the Samoa Land Corporation when he was the Minister there.
<!-- Right 300X250 -->
<ins class="adsbygoogle"
style="display:inline-block;width:300px;height:250px"
data-ad-client="ca-pub-2469982834957525"
data-ad-slot="8433753430"></ins>
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script> {/googleAds}
This is not the first time members of the H.R.P.P have asked the Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, for the Minister to be removed.
Last year, Tuu’u was among members of the H.R.P.P who wrote to the Prime Minister to sack Faumuina. In the letter, they detailed 18 allegations of wrong doing against the Minister.
The Prime Minister defended Faumuina. Yesterday, asked if the proposed party has emerged because Prime Minister Tuilaepa continues to refuse to deal with Faumuina,
Tuu’u said: “As the P.M said, it’s a political game the M.P’s are very good at throwing around the ball.”
He did not elaborate. It was not possible to obtain a comment from either Faumuina or Tuilaepa yesterday.
Tuilaepa is out of the country. Last week, the Prime Minister rejected claims there were frictions within the H.R.P.P. He also reiterated that the H.R.P.P caucus has decided on the future of the Minister of Finance, Faumuina and as far as he was concerned, there is no issue there anymore.
“This thing is not new,” he said.
“We’ve already met about this.” During the meeting in question, held last year, Tuilaepa said “only three voted differently, wanting him to resign. Everyone else wanted him to continue and that’s how it is.” Tuilaepa refused to give names.
“There is nothing wrong [within our party],”
Tuilaepa said. “We had a party last week and everyone was there except for these two who are still angry. They still don't have the heart to forgive.”
Asked who the two members are, he said: “I won’t tell you who they are.”
But Tuu’u confirmed to Talamua Media that he was present at the “party” in question. He is quoted as saying that less than half of the 37 Caucus members turned up, including the “angry two.”
google_ad_client = "ca-pub-2469982834957525";
/* Bottom Articles */
google_ad_slot = "5910176767";
google_ad_width = 468;
google_ad_height = 60;
//-->
</script>
<script type="text/javascript"
src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js">
</script>