It is believed that Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa gave the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries La’auli Leuatea Schmidt an ultimatum on Monday regarding his future with the cabinet.

The Samoa Observer understands that the Minister was told to consider options about his future in the cabinet and come back with a decision by Tuesday afternoon, failure to do so would lead the Prime Minister to make the final call.

Attempts to obtain a comment from La’auli were unsuccessful. 

This follows the 10 charges filed against La’auli last Friday. On Monday, the cabinet convened a meeting, which La’auli did not attend. 

At the subsequent meeting, other Cabinet Ministers were allowed to share their thoughts on their colleague's future. 

Under the Constitution, four options are provided for ministers to have their ministerial portfolio annulled. 

This includes the revocation of the Minister's appointment by the Head of State acting on the advice of the Prime Minister. Second, if the Minister resigns by way of writing addressed to the Head of State, and third, a Minister can be suspended by the Head of State on the advice of the Prime Minister during the period of any investigation or inquiry into his or her conduct.

The fourth option is the Minister ceases to be an MP other than the dissolution of the Legislative Assembly. This can result in revocation of his or her appointment. 

At the beginning of this parliamentary term, the only cabinet minister who resigned from his portfolio Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster when he was charged with driving under the influence. 

Toeolesulusulu stepped down from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) and Samoa Tourism Authority (STA), so he could deal with the court case. 

He was late reinstated to the MNRE portfolio after he went through the court proceeding. 

As of Tuesday afternoon, there has been no official word from the government regarding the situation.