The Legislative Assembly's sitting this month has been moved to October, due to the heavy workload of the Parliamentary Committees, says the House Speaker, Papalii Lio Masipau.

A Government notice dated 8 August 2023 and signed by the Head of State, His Highness Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II on the meeting of the House confirmed the deferral of the sitting.

The notice referred to Article 52 of the Constitution and Standing Order 170(2) (g)(ii) on the parliamentary sitting scheduled for Tuesday 22 August 2023 which is now deferred to Tuesday 24 October 2023. 

In an interview with the Samoa Observer, Speaker Papalii said there are many parliamentary works that need to be carried out before they can be tabled in the House. 

He referred to the Parliamentary Committee into the Commission of Inquiry report on the 2021 General Election and committees deliberating on several legislative amendments. 

“There are instances where committees ask for more time to carry out their work before it is tabled in the House,” said Papalii. “We have to consider that there are parliament sessions where the House meets for half a day because there are many parliamentary work that has to be completed first. 

“There should be enough matters on the order paper and there is no point in meeting and there is no business on the agenda…also the parliament calendar is not set in stone it can be rearranged according to parliamentary work.” 

The Speaker also noted additional work on annual reports referred to the Committee which is new as the previous sitting did not deliberate on annual reports. 

Additionally, he said there are other Members who are not available for the sitting, which could impact the quorum that is needed for the House to sit.  

Asked if the upcoming by-elections were a factor in the deferral of the sitting, the Speaker rejected this, saying the House does not use rumours as a means to affect the way its business is done. 

“Those are weak materials,” he added. “It's important to note the Assembly carries out its work according to its parliamentary business and there are parliamentary procedures. 

“The deferral was done in accordance to the Constitution as cited by the Head of State…”

The last time a Parliament sitting was deferred was in May 2021 when the Head of State suspended the Legislative Assembly sitting during a time of political turmoil. The reasons behind that suspension were because of the House quorum and the 10 per cent for women seats matter has yet to be determined by the Court. 

That decision to suspend the first Parliament sitting was challenged in Court and was declared void with the Supreme Court ordering the Assembly to meet within 45 days after the 2021 General Election to comply with the Constitution.  

Meanwhile, the August sitting would have seen three seats in the House vacant, which were previously held by former Human Rights Protection Party (H.R.P.P.) members who now have to go for by-elections.

The sitting would have also marked the first time for the return of the Opposition Leader, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and party secretary, Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi in the House after their suspension in October last year. 

Their suspension was void by the Supreme Court last month reinstating them to their positions and ordering that their remuneration and benefits are paid back from the date of their suspension. That decision is being appealed by the Speaker.