Chairmen from several parliamentary committees had sought an extension of time to complete their reviews of multiple reports due before the Legislative Assembly this month. 

One of those reports referred to the Standing Orders, Electoral, Petition and Constitutional Offices Committee is the Constitution Amendment Bill 2024 and the Land and Titles Amendment Bill 2024. 

The amendments tabled in August this year provided for the disestablishment of the Land and Titles Court of Appeal and Review (L.T.C.A.R.) and the establishment of an interim L.T.C. Court of Appeal to determine more than 60 appeal cases held up in court.  It also seeks to revert the court system to its status quo before 2020. 

The parliamentary committee was tasked to review the amendments and report back to Parliament with their findings before it went for the third reading and was approved by the House. 

Chairman of the Standing Orders Committee, Auapaau Molipola Aloitafua moved a motion in Parliament on Tuesday this week seeking an extension of time to carry out their work. 

Auapaau said their review was not finalised and proposed more time to report back to the House, a motion that was subsequently approved. 

Other work from the same committee that needed more time included the Report on Irregularities for the Financial year 2021-2021 from the Samoa Audit Office, Report of the Controller and Auditor General on the Operations of the Samoa Audit Office for the financial year 2020-2021.  

Another report before the Standing Orders Committee is the investigation into evidence provided by the M.P. for Safata No.1 Leaana Ronnie Posini to support allegations he made against Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries La’auli Leuatea Schmidt. 

The Chairman of the Finance and Expenditure Committee Faleomavaega Fuimaono Titimaea Tafua moved another motion for extension of time for their review. 

The Finance Committee has three pending reports from the Ministry of Finance on its desk for their assessment. 

Similarly, the Chairman of the Social Sector and Economic Sector Committee Niuava Eti Malolo told the House they needed more time to review four outstanding reports too. 

From the Infrastructure Sector Committee, Chairman Fepuleai Faimata Sua also sought more time to review two annual reports in their possession. 

The Legislative Assembly approved the motions to extend the time for the parliamentary committees to report back. 

Speaker of the House, Papalii Lio Masipau was asked days before Parliament convened this week about the work from parliamentary committees being disrupted by the ruling party’s overseas tour to celebrate its anniversary. 

In response, Papalii assured the government work including those from the parliamentary committee were not impacted and were up to date. 

“There are no problems those are just politics but I can testify that our work is going well and no issues.” 

Parliament will reconvene in January next year.