Acting P.M. issues assurance

By Joyetter Luamanu 18 October 2017, 12:00AM

Acting Prime Minister, Papali’i Niko Lee Hang, is on a mission to investigate reports about certain party members conspiring to take over the Prime Ministership role.

He has also reassured the country there is nothing to be alarmed about.

With Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi remaining in New Zealand for medical reasons, reports have surfaced about underground jostling within the Human Rights Protection Party (H.R.P.P.) members for the position.

Asked for a comment yesterday, Acting P.M. Papali’i said he has taken steps to get to the bottom of the reports. That includes a meeting with the Member of Parliament, Faumuina Wayne Fong, who raised the claims last week.

Faumuina had expressed sadness at what he had described as “dirty politics” within H.R.P.P.

He did not say who the members were. A move that was strongly criticized by fellow H.R.P.P. Member of Parliament, Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi, who challenged Faumuina to cough up the names of the so-called members of the H.R.P.P. who are conspiring to take over the Prime Ministership role.

Leala told the Samoa Observer that “as a member of the H.R.P.P, there’s nothing going on in our party nor is there any underground jostling for the Prime Ministership position among certain members as mentioned by Faumuina in the paper."

But the Acting Prime Minister told the Samoa Observer, the views expressed by the said Members of Parliament were their own, not the views of H.R.P.P.

“As far as I know, these are just speculations of a small party who are small minded,” he said.

“I am not really concerned about them and their motives. I am meeting with Faumuina Wayne this afternoon (yesterday) as I need to know what is going."

“I’m meeting him for information to be relayed to the Prime Minister when he calls and I will tell him what is going on." 

“But for me I cannot comment on what is going on because I don’t know who are behind this and like Faumuina said they are small-minded people.”

Pressed for his views as Acting Prime Minister, Papali’i said: “As I said before, I have to meet the man who started this."

 “At this stage there is nothing to worry about. We will also have to wait until the arrival of the Prime Minister." 

“In the meantime I will speak to Faumuina today and then I will know everything. But for now I have nothing to say about the issue."

“I mean I hear speculations here and there from other members of Parliament and I think it’s time the identities of people behind this should be revealed."

“I will meet him this afternoon and then I will get those names and report back to the Prime Minister,” Papali’i said.

By Joyetter Luamanu 18 October 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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