“We must bear in mind, then, that there is nothing more difficult and dangerous, or more doubtful of success, than an attempt to introduce a new order of things in any state. For the innovator has for enemies all those who derived advantages from the old order of things, whilst those who expect to be benefited by the new institutions will be but lukewarm defenders.”: Niccolo Machiavelli

I found the above comment by Niccolo di Bernardo dei Machiavelli, the Italian diplomat, author, philosopher, and historian from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia when searching for some previous event similar or even the same as the developing brouhaha between the Samoa National Provident Fund (SNPF), and the former PM, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi (Tuilaepa), and the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP). Tuilaepa and Papalii Panoa Moala, the SNPF boss had issues in the past.

There is also the spat between Mr Speaker and the Samoa Observer Editorial Board in which Air New Zealand is also involved.

The SNPF (the Fund) is trying to entice people to come and listen to the details of a proposed healthcare scheme to which the Fund contributors will pay a percentage of their funds, for their health care.

The SNPF held one meeting yesterday for Upolu and one in Savaii early this week.

No details of the scheme were given when the Samoa Observer went to press on Friday but Tuilaepa knew a lot about the proposed healthcare scheme.

He told a TV audience that the HRPP turned down the same scheme when it was presented to them while in office. They rejected the scheme because it was unworkable, he said. It might be fine if you get sick, all the time, he said. But if you don't get sick, who gets your money? he asked the would-be contributors in the audience.

On the alleged detention of the Speaker and his companion Cabinet Minister, SAMOA OBSERVER young reporters had a scoop as I have seen no report by the NZ  Herald or heard a news item on the radio from Kiwiland.

But, surprisingly, the New Zealand reporters had not found such an interesting story to report. Interesting also, is the Samoa Observer headline "Air NZ Bans VIP terminal use."

Has Air NZ had that much power over a Samoan government property?

But even more interesting than that is the report that the Speaker, head of the third branch of government in a democracy, and would naturally be central to the concept of parliamentary sovereignty was not included in the people 'exempted under Cabinet Directive' given: FK(14)18.

Why it is surprising is the fact the concept, also called parliamentary supremacy or legislative supremacy is in the constitutional law of some parliamentary democracies.

It holds that the legislative body has absolute sovereignty and is supreme over all other government institutions, including executive or judicial bodies. It also holds that the legislative body may change or repeal any previous legislation and so it is not bound by a written law (in some cases) not even a constitution or by precedent.

Changes to the constitution typically require, often two-thirds of votes, instead of a simple majority. Our laws require a two-thirds majority to amend our constitution.

In some countries, parliamentary sovereignty may be contrasted with separation of powers and constitutionalism, which limits the legislative' scope often to general law-making and makes it subject to eternal judicial review, where laws passed by the legislative may be declared invalid in certain circumstances.

According to the record in Wikipedia, states that have sovereign legislatures include the United Kingdom, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, and Jamaica.

But that is enough to explain the Speaker's 'insult to his office' reference. As he has a law degree, and was a former very senior police officer, it is also understandable why he bristles at the word 'detain' for that word's second meaning is: keep someone in official custody.

That is according to our Pocket Oxford English Dictionary, South Asia Edition which says: The World's most trusted dictionaries.

Malo sa'ili, to the young reporters who broke the story. With that goes a warning, mind your Ps and Qs. Speaking truth to power means standing up for what's right and telling people in charge what's what. That's the idea behind the phrase speak truth to power, an expression for courageously confronting an authority, calling out injustices on their watch, and demanding change. Always remember Like begets Like. Communication is a two-way street.

May the Samoa Observer also continue to be trusted as the only daily newspaper in Samoa: YOUR AWARD-WINNING NEWSPAPER. Manuia tele le vaiaso fou.

`