Dear Editor,

Based on the reported costs of the last two by-elections, Samoan taxpayers can expect to pay $340,000 for four completely unnecessary by-elections.

This reckless waste of taxpayer funds is triggered by elected Members of Parliament who wish to join the ruling Faatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi Government.

They believe that it is the only way that they can join in the FAST Party's abuse of public funds, which has been proven before the Courts.

Former MP Taioaliiseu convinced himself that he and his friends would benefit by leaving the Human Rights Protection Party and joining FAST.

That was an expensive mistake, both financially and politically.

Voters will always ask, how does an MP stand for the values and manifesto of HRPP, only to switch allegiance to FAST nine months later?

They want leaders with integrity who will not bend so easily to the forces of money.

Next up is the Safata by-election involving the Honourable Tuia who has also left HRPP to join the FAST Party.

These are unfamiliar decisions for inexperienced and young MPs who are learning politics the hard way.

Had they asked for our advice, we would have advised them to follow their oath of office and be honest in discharging their duties as elected representatives of the people of Samoa.

Those leaders who fail in this pledge and are dishonest will eventually be caught and punished.

We all know that famous proverb, "a bird in the hand is worth more than the two in the bush."

Taioaliiseu now realizes that the delicate HRPP bird that he held in his hand was worth more than the two FAST birds that he was chasing in the forest of Vaimauga.

Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi

Leader of HRPP