A proposal by a district's steering committee to have an M.P. step aside as chairman and let the district council committee front the project is not new and has been done in the Prime Minister’s constituency.

This was revealed by the Minister for Women, Community, and Social Development, Leota Laki Sio when commenting on the ongoing stalemate in attempts to access and roll out the Lepa constituency's SAT$1 million fund. 

The project’s steering committee through Leota had written to the M.P. for Lepa, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi raising several issues including criticism of his leadership. 

In an interview with the Samoa Observer, Leota said the committee is only suggesting and “not demanding” that the M.P. step aside and let the district committee run the projects. 

He said the proposal is not new and pointed to the district of the Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa which is carrying out a similar practice. 

“The Committee is only suggesting for him to step aside we are not demanding it and this is so we can address concerns raised,” said Leota. 

“It's not new for the Chairperson to step aside and an example is the Prime Minister who has done so and let other committee members run it and she sits in as an advisor. 

“The Vice Chairman is running the district council committee and that is very good letting the district run it…what is wrong with that?” 

The Minister said the response from the Deputy Chairman for Lepa, Auelua Samuelu Enari is no different from their local M.P. and will not resolve the issue. 

“We can’t afford to wait to deal with those issues and the intentions are not genuine,” said Leota. “I sympathise with the district and the district has given them their trust…it’s for him to do something about it.” 

Furthermore, the Minister said the steering committee will not change and does hope that the proposed consultation with the district will see some positive outcome. 

“At the end of the day we all want to resolve the issues and for Lepa to move on,” he said. “Their response often refers to what this district is doing and what this M.P. is doing. 

"We are trying to say to him why not leave those districts and answer to the issues raised and complaints from people [alleging] he dictates decisions. 

“The issues with each district are dealt with on a case by case basis…but basically these letters of exchange with the chairman is all politics.” 

 The Deputy Chairman of Lepa had accused the steering committee of setting different policies for their district by asking to have their M.P. removed as chairman when it was not done in others. 

Auelua in his letter to Leota stated the decision to have their M.P. removed was discriminatory because of his party affiliation and accused them of basing their decision on unfounded allegations. 

In relation to the lease agreement for Lepa which uses the E.F.K.S. church building for their district office, Leota said the problem is there is no guarantee of the lease after 4 years. 

He noted other reasonable leases have 20 20-year terms but the “4-year lease is designed by the Chairman as if after that term the project will not continue and they will return to Government.” 

It was put to the Minister that Auelua made reference to a condition in their lease agreement that notes “a right of renewal” after four years. 

In response, Leota said if that was the case these are documents that should be submitted and referred to their legal team to review. 

Asked how the district can re-arrange their lease agreement if advance payment has already been paid out. 

The Minister said the lease document needs to assure the rights of the lessee which is the district is protected. It could not be confirmed when will the parties hold the proposed meeting to address the issues and find a way forward. 

Lepa is one of three districts that has only accessed the SAT$200,000 district council establishment grant.