A shouting match between Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and one of his former ministers marred the first day of the latest session of Parliament.
Televised live on Tuesday, the first business of the day was tabling a new bill, introduced by Tuilaepa.
Leader of the new Faatuatua ile Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party, former Cabinet Minister, Laauli Leuatea Schmidt rose to speak on the bill.
However, he chose the moment to speak about the Speaker vacating the seats of two electoral districts whose members have declared as members of FAST for the 2021 General Elections.
The Prime Minister immediately took the floorband said the member should stick to the matter at hand accusing Laauli of lying and being devious.
Laauli asked the Speaker to stop Tuilaepa using insulting words and name calling but the PM told him to sit down as the Speaker had not given him permission.
“You sit down,” Laauli shot back.
More words were exchanged between the two while the Speaker tried to calm the situation before eventually calling a recess.
However a government associate minister Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi, started chiding Laauli who told him to bide his time and stay out of the argument.
This argument continued out of the chamber with Lealailepule accusing Laauli of being rude.
The Sergeant-at-Arms had to step in and break up what was about to develop to more than an exchange of words.
After recess things got back on track after the members involved apologized for their errant outbursts.
