The fate of the Faleata No. 4 and Siumu Members of Parliament will be determined by the Legislative Assembly next month, says the Speaker of the House.

Speaker Papalii Taeu Masipau said in a media release issued Tuesday night by the Office of the Legislative Assembly that since the resignation of the two former Human Rights Protection Party (H.R.P.P.) members last week as well as queries by their former party leader on by-elections for the two seats, he has to thread with care on the matter and will refer it to the Parliament for a decision to be made.

He said it is a "sensitive matter" – in light of the fact that the seats belonging to the two constituencies have to be vacant – and this would be in recognition of the fundamental rights of the Members.

"Since the resignation of both Members of Parliament for Siumu and Faleata No. 4 has been made public both written and orally, the leader of the H.R.P.P. although suspended, has submitted a letter which recommends that the seats for these electoral constituencies should be made vacant in parliament," said the Speaker.

"However, I am well aware that this is a sensitive matter, if the seats for these electoral constituencies are to be vacant, in recognition of fundamental rights of these Members pursuant  to Article 47 of the Constitution of the Independent State of Samoa.

"In this regard, it is the Speaker's good intention that this matter should be presented before the Legislative Assembly (Parliament) in its meeting on December 20, 2022 for a just decision on this matter." 

The statement issued by the Office of the Legislative Assembly comes on the back of criticism by the H.R.P.P. secretary Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi, who urged the Speaker to follow the law and make a decision on by-elections for the Faleata No. 4 and Siumu constituencies. 

Former H.R.P.P. members Ale and Tu’u’u tendered their resignation letters from the former ruling party last week, saying they cannot continue to be part of a party that was lead by a man who was found guilty of contempt of court and contempt of Parliament.