The Member of Parliament for Faleata No. 3, Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi says his suspension from Parliament this morning was a deliberate move by the Government to stop him from raising critical issues in the House. 

Speaking to the Samoa Observer outside the parliament after being stood down for 24 hours, Leala denied he made any misleading statements that disrespected parliament. 

When parliament resumed on Monday to debate the Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2021/2022, the Speaker of the House, Papalii Lio Masipau raised issue with Leala. 

Papalii told the parliament that the senior M.P. had breached Standing Orders when he made claims outside of the House regarding reports that are not subject to discussion at this stage. 

Leala was cited by the Speaker for making public statements about the parliamentary findings into the Land and Titles Court (L.T.C.) legislation and secondly pending Court cases involving both parties. 

Papalii said the L.T.C. report was tabled on 20 January 2022 and he had ordered that the findings in the report should not be discussed beforehand until it is debated in the House. 

Furthermore, he said the public statements made by the senior M.P. regarding the swearing-in of the additional women M.P.s misled the public about the basis of the Speaker’s decision. 

According to Papalii the cases are before the Court and the comments by the M.P. are unfounded and misled the public. 

He added the M.P.’s actions reflects his disrespect and disregard of the Speaker and the dignity of the House. 

While the Speaker made the announcement, the Minister of Communications Information and Technology, Toelupe Poumulinuku Onesemo interjected. 

Toelupe, who is also the Minister of the Legislative Assembly, moved a motion to suspend Leala for 24 hours due to the “seriousness” of his offence under several sections of the Standing Orders. 

Leala intervened, in a bid to respond, but was denied the opportunity by the Speaker. 

The motion by Toelupe was passed by the parliament and Leala was ordered to vacate the chamber. 

Leala said the public comments that he is cited for are public information. 

“I wont take back what I say, I’m sorry if the Speaker took it [differently] but I was stating the conclusion from the report [L.T.C. report],” said the M.P. 

“Its public information [the report] and Fiame and them have already spoken about the issue saying that the copies were different…”

Leala, who is also the secretary of the Human Rights Protection Party, was prepared to speak on the Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2021/2022 today before he was stood down for 24 hours.