Good sense prevailed in parliament on Tuesday as the first sitting of 2025 got underway. There were no fireworks and talks of heading into snap elections. It is comforting to know that some political stability has been maintained.

Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa, Opposition Leader Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and the new leader of the Faʻatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) Laauli Leuatea Schmidt mostly delivered the message for the need to have a politically stable nation to ensure growth and prosperity.

The Speaker of the House Papalii Lio Masipau has stood out to be the one to ensure the parliament and government business goes on as normal rejecting letters questioning the membership of Fiame and the five expelled from the FAST Party.

Special attention should be paid to Fiame’s message about the need to follow the rule of the law. Not following it landed the FAST Party in the situation that it is now. Hopefully, time will be a healer and they can resolve their differences. The current impasse between the disputing factions of the party should not become a hindrance when policies, laws and budgets are being passed.

Let us hope that the internal bickering does not let one faction disagree with everything proposed by the government.

In the short time left until the general elections, many things need to be done. The changes in the Electoral Act must be passed to allow for the re-registration and other proposed changes to modernise the law. There is a long wait for the amendments to the Lands and Titles Court Act so the LTC Appeals Court could be set up. The backlog in the appeals process is not helping anyone, especially in the Leauvaa and Afega matters. There are others as well.

More than ever, the Anti-Corruption Act, the Child Protection Act, the Information Act and changes to financial laws to allow for the functioning of an e-commerce platform linked with the Central Bank of Samoa are needed. These have to be completed.

There is much infrastructure work that needs to be done. Health, education, better roads, policing, border security, protection and equal opportunities for the disabled and the best use of the $1 million district are issues that will require an ‘all of government’ effort.

For these things to happen, the FAST Party members need to be united in their strive to develop the nation and provide the best services to the people of this nation.

Tuilaepa commended Fiame in his address to the parliament for staying steadfast in following the rule of law. Unlike other occasions, Fiame met the Laauli case head-on and showed that she believed in accountability and the principles of good governance. More of that is needed for her. As the leader of the nation, she needs to.

Fiame said in her ministerial statement that she was ready if questions or motions were made against her leadership. She also said that she only followed the rule of the law and asked the nation to do the same.

Let us hope that she will enforce the principles of good governance and accountability across all government departments and offices. Fiame must show the same zest for accountability and transparency and provide answers as a leader about the $25 million regional airport, the future of Fagalii Airport, the international incident when two members of parliament breached security procedures at the airport, for failing to meet with the people of the Safata district where the Manawanui incident caused an ecological disaster and she has to hold her cabinet accountable for incidents such as the partnering the Chinese financial companies where some attended the official opening as government representatives.

There is also the question about the missing money from a district council and the need to involve the police in this matter.

All MPs have a lesson to learn about the rule of the law and this incident which caused a fracture in the ruling party is a fine example.

Work for the people. They elected you for that reason. You made promises, it is time to fulfil them. Work under the principles of good governance and maintain accountability and transparency.

Let good sense prevail.