A veteran member of parliament voiced his discontent over the recent appointment of three new Members of the Council of Deputies, highlighting concerns about the lack of female representation and the exclusion of experienced leaders. 

Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi, Secretary of the Human Rights Protection Party and Member of Parliament for Faleata No.3 expressed disappointment that no women were included in the newly announced appointments.

"We have our first female Prime Minister, so we were hoping that after 62 years of independence, we would finally have our first female member in the Council of Deputies," Lealailepule said. 

"It’s a pity that the government did not consider this. It’s high time we had a woman in that position."

The MP emphasised the importance of gender inclusivity in Samoa’s political leadership, noting that the absence of a female representative in the Council of Deputies was a missed opportunity for progress. 

Lealailepule's comments came after the announcement on Tuesday which introduced Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi, Malietoa Moli II, and Le Laulu Tiatia Mapesone Mapusua as the three new members of the Council of Deputies. 

The announcement also signalled the completion of Le Mamea Ropati Mualia's term.

Lealailepule also questioned the decision not to re-elect Le Mamea despite his continued health and fitness for the role. 

"He is still fit and healthy to continue his role, so we don’t understand why he was not re-elected," Lealailepule remarked.

Le Mamea who began his term in February 2016 is not among the newly appointed members. His term will officially end at the end of this month. 

In addition to his disappointment over the exclusion of women, Lealailepule pointed out that several other prominent figures, men and women, who had dedicated their lives to serving Samoa and would have been more than eligible for the positions. 

"There are many other eligible leaders, people who have served Samoa not just in Parliament but also in other areas," Lealailepule said. "Le Tagaloa Pita and Tafua Maluelue, to name a few, are among those who have given so much to this country and could have been considered for these roles."

The announcement of the new appointments was made by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Papali’i Li’o Ta’eu-Masipau, on Tuesday. Papali’i confirmed that the new members would officially take office in January 2024, marking the end of Le Mamea’s tenure.

Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi, one of the new appointees, is a former Head of State, having served from 2007 to 2017. Tui Atua’s term ended amid a controversial move by the former administration, which saw the Legislative Assembly elect Tuimalealiifano Sualauvi Vaaletoa II as the new Head of State. In 2019, a constitutional amendment was passed limiting the tenure of the Head of State to two terms.

Another appointee, Malietoa Moli II, is the son of the late Malietoa Tanumafili II, who served as Head of State for several decades. Malietoa Moli II was granted the prestigious title after a prolonged legal battle keeping the position vacant for over a decade.

Le Laulu Tiatia Mapesone Mapusua, the third appointee, hails from Gataivai, Savai’i, and is the son of the former Member of Parliament for Palauli le Falefa, Mapusua Malo, who served in the Legislative Assembly during the 1967 sitting when it consisted of 47 members. Le Laulu contested the 2021 General Election under the Fa'atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (F.A.S.T.) political banner.

Under Samoa’s Constitution, the Council of Deputies consists of one, two, or three persons elected by the Legislative Assembly. If the Assembly fails to elect the Council, the Chief Justice assumes its functions. To be eligible for appointment to the Council of Deputies, an individual must meet the same qualifications required for the Head of State, as outlined in Article 18 of the Constitution.

The current appointments complete the maximum number of members allowed by the Constitution. The inclusion of Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi, Malietoa Moli II, and Le Laulu Tiatia Mapesone Mapusua brings the total membership of the Council of Deputies to its constitutional limit.

Furthermore, the Constitution outlines that a member of the Council of Deputies is eligible to be re-elected, provided they meet the conditions outlined in clause (2) of the relevant regulations. This means that as long as the specific requirements under clause (2) are fulfilled, a member can seek re-election to continue in their role.

If a member decides to resign from their position in the Council of Deputies, they must submit a written resignation directly to the Prime Minister. Once the resignation is received, the Prime Minister must promptly notify the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. 

A member of the Council of Deputies can be removed from office by the Legislative Assembly if a motion for their removal is passed with the support of at least two-thirds of the total number of Members of Parliament, including any vacant seats. 

The reasons for removal may include misbehaviour or physical or mental incapacity that renders the member unfit for office. This provision ensures that the Council can maintain its standards of conduct and leadership.