The debate on the calculation of women's quota in parliament brought contention from members that 51 representatives divided by 10 equals six is mathematically incorrect. 

On Thursday the Parliament resumed debate on the Constitution Amendment Bill 2025 that provides for matters relating to women representatives in the House. 

MP for Gagaifomauga No.3 La’auli Leuatea Schmidt spoke on the bill acknowledging the significant contribution of women evident in amendments that provided specific seats for women in the House. 

However, La’auli pointed out that 10 percent of 51 is 5.1 noting no one can change or suggest that the answer is wrong. 

He went on to say the decision from the court on the fraction when it comes to a person is a whole number and is the current formula used in parliament. 

The MP explained that mathematically rounding up 0.1 is incorrect it should be rounded down adding this has to be corrected. 

Opposition Leader, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi intervened telling La’auli that the court decision is clear that 0.1 is rounded up when it deals with objects and the reason for the decision was six women. 

La’auli responded to Tuilaepa that the decision from the court was made two years ago and the calculation was mathematically wrong. 

Tuilaepa hit back at La’auli that he could not let the matter go even when the court had decided on it, saying the member continued to breach Standing Orders.  

MP for Faleata No.3 Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi also took the floor saying when there were 49 MPs, 10 per cent was 4.9 resulting in five MPs in the previous sitting. 

He said the Speaker had told Parliament that the two-thirds majority of total members in the House was 35.33 saying it was 35 noting the Attorney General this morning said it was 36. 

Speaker Papalii Lio Masipau interjected to tell the member to stop going back and forth and whatever the decision he gives that is it. 

MP for Sagaga No.2 Maulolo Tavita Amosa said the proposed formula should be reconsidered to get the right percentage of potential women MP under 10 per cent. 

The formula under the bill is a = b ÷ (b + c) x 100 where A is the score of women candidates and B is the total number of valid votes received by the woman candidate in the most recent general election or by-election that she contested.

The letter C in the formula is the total number of valid votes received by the candidate elected to the Legislative Assembly to represent the constituency in the general election or by-elections. 

According to Maulolo, the denominator (C) in the proposed formula should be the total number of valid votes in the district instead of the total number of valid votes received by the winning MP. 

Maulolo, a former Math lecturer said the problem with the proposed formula would disadvantage other women candidates if their percentage depends on the total votes of the elected MP. 

He added that the woman candidate would be disadvantaged if there were multiple candidates from the district compared to another woman contesting from a district with fewer candidates. 

He urged the House to reconsider the formula while they can still have input and use the total number of votes from the district as the denominator in the formula. 

Parliament debate on the bill was cut early on Thursday when the power went out and was adjourned to Friday.