Member of Parliament for Fa'asaleleaga No.5 Peseta Vaifou Tevaga raised concerns about his suspension as chairman of the district council attributing it to causing disunity within his constituency. 

He made the comments in Parliament on Wednesday.

Peseta expressed that the suspension, imposed for 12 months not only affected his reputation but also stirred discord among the villages comprising Fa'asaleleaga No.5.

Fa'asaleleaga No.5 is comprised of three villages: Lano, Asaga, and Pu'apu'a. Peseta highlighted that the conflict began when differing views arose regarding the composition of the district council committee responsible for overseeing a $1 million development project. 

Specifically, Asaga proposed a disproportionate representation of committee members from their village compared to Pu'apu'a and Lano, sparking internal tensions.

Speaking on behalf of his constituency in Parliament, Peseta recounted efforts to address these internal conflicts, including meetings with relevant government officials. 

Despite his attempts to resolve the matter locally, he emphasised the decision's broader implications on community relationships and his standing as an elected leader.

Peseta also acknowledged the Ministry of Finance's clearance of allegations concerning the project funds, affirming proper utilisation of allocated resources. 

The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Papali'i Li'o Ta'eu Masipau, interrupted and advised Peseta to focus on parliamentary matters, cautioning him against discussing personal or constituency-specific issues since Parliament lacks the authority to deliberate or decide on such matters.

In response, Peseta told Parliament that he had been instructed by his village to voice the matter in parliament and as the elected member, he was just following orders. 

However, he contested the legitimacy of his suspension, asserting it was a decision from the Steering Committee.

The Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, La'auli Leuatea Schmidt, then addressed the assembly in his role as a member of the Steering Committee, cautioning Peseta against implicating the Steering Committee and government ministers in the decision to suspend him. 

La'auli clarified that the recommendation to remove Peseta as the chairman of the district council came from the members of Fa'asaleleaga No.5. district council.

Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa intervened during the discussion, underscoring parliamentary protocol concerning personal matters and advising Peseta on the appropriate channels for addressing constituency issues. 

While she noted that the issue raised by Peseta is very important, she emphasised the importance of adhering to parliamentary procedures in resolving local disputes.

Peseta in response acknowledged the reminder from the Prime Minister expressing his commitment to accepting the suspension while maintaining his duty to represent the concerns of Fa'asaleleaga No.5 in Parliament. 

He reiterated his constituents' desire for transparency and fairness in governance, pledging to cooperate with established processes to uphold community unity and accountability.

This newspaper previously reported that the committee of Fa'asaleleaga No.5 district had formally requested the removal of their Member of Parliament as chairman following extensive consultations and discussions.

Mulipola Anarosa Ale-Molio'o, the Minister for the Ministry of Women, Community, and Social Development, confirmed in a previous interview that numerous attempts were made to communicate with the MP regarding the progress of the project, but unfortunately, those attempts were unanswered.

Concerns were raised about delays in implementing the project, which were attributed to unresolved internal issues within the district council. In response, members of the Fa'asaleleaga No.5 committee sought assistance from both the Ministry and the Steering Committee.

Initially hesitant to intervene in district matters, Mulipola stressed the necessity of taking action to resolve the underlying issues that were impeding progress. It was disclosed that committee members collectively drafted a letter requesting the Ministry and the Steering Committee to intervene and remove Peseta from his role as chairman.

Following subsequent consultations and legal advice, a resolution was reached for Peseta to step aside for 12 months. This decision was aimed at facilitating smoother project implementation under new leadership