Caretaker Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, has downplayed a lawsuit against his government being brought by the Tautua Samoa Party. 

Yesterday, Tuilaepa said he would counter sue the Opposition for a $100 billion.

 “I’m going to sue them for $100 billion and two coconuts, starting from Palu,” Tuilaepa responded during his weekly media session.

“(I’ll also sue) their Judge Harry (Schuster) and their former police officer (Papali’i Taeu Masipau). But I’ll save Aeau (Peniamina Leavaise’eta) as I see he looks sick.”

Tuilaepa said he feels sorry for the deputy leader of the Opposition.

“If I sue Aeau, something might happen to him because another Aeau had recently passed away, the one I wanted to be in the Council of Deputies but he’s been called early. 

“So he’s (Aeau) the only one I’ll save because he looks tired.” 

Tuilaepa said the two coconuts he will win from his counter suit would be used to feed his chickens while the $100 billion will go towards government developments. 

He added that he would use his lawyer qualifications to pursue his counter sue in the Supreme Court.

Tuilaepa’s response followed revelations by the Tautua Samoa Leader, Palusalue Fa’apo II, that they had filed a motion for declaratory judgment and restraining orders against the caretaker government.  

Filed on Wednesday 10 February, the motion argues that Tuilaepa’s caretaker government does not have the legal capacity to conduct the executive functions of the government. 

Palusalue accused Tuilaepa and his government of violating section 32 of the Constitution. 

“It’s clear under section 32 that if a Minister resigns all other Ministers should resign as a collective responsibility.”

The resignation Palu was referring to is Former Minister of Finance, Faumuina Tiatia Liuga.  

Asked about this Tuilaepa disagreed. 

“Why should we be penalised when he (Faumuina) resigned out of his freewill,” Tuilaepa said.

“There were many other Ministers that resigned in the past and this (claim from constitution) had been there. 

“But what happened, the people that were in the House then were very smart and this is the first time I have heard of such foolish thing from these M.Ps.”

He recalled in the past there were Ministers who were forced to resign in 1975 and 1972, unlike Faumuina who resigned out of his own freewill. 

“In those days when the Prime Minister appoints his eight Cabinet ministers, the other 30 plus M.Ps were the opposition. So no one had taken this into account then because they were very smart but now is the first time the government is sued and I’m going to counter sue them. 

“I’m going to sue each of them with $100 billion and two coconuts to teach them a lesson.”