Samoa’s Parliament had a lighter moment during the Friday session when Associate Minister of Women and Urban Development, Salausa Dr John Ah Ching, brought up the matter of family planning.
Salausa, a medical doctor urged young parents to space their children.
He was speaking during the Supplementary Budget debate when he made the recommendation.
“Budget your needs based on your income and your family’s needs,” he advised.
“If your income can support two children all the way up to their university education then two is enough.”
Salausa advised that if a couple can afford to care for 18 children like one of the Cabinet Ministers then that is alright, as long as they can financially support them.
Laughter erupted and Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi rose to his feet.
He told the House that he and the Associate Minister do not share the same views on the subject of family planning.
Tuilaepa said he has always encouraged couples to have more babies to boost not only the population but increase the player base for Sevens Rugby players and cricket teams.
He said he is not sure why the MP had singled out his Minister of Tourism which attracted more laughter and also brought the large figure of the Minister of Tourism, Sala Fata Pinati to the floor.
Sala said he believed Salausa’a statement was directed at him as he was a father of 18, which he described as a blessing and evidence of God’s love for him.
“I am the eldest of three children,” he said. “My brother passed away last year and my sister is a nun [stationed overseas] and she will be laid to rest there [when she passes away] leaving just me.”
While others have been unable to conceive, Sala said his life of caring for and putting 18 children through school is a miracle.
Sala said he is humbled that his 18 children have come up as a topic in Parliament and is testament of God’s love and blessings upon him.
Tuilaepa, a stout Catholic like his Minister of Tourism and his Associate Minister is on record as saying whoever invented family planning was an ‘’idiot’’.
“Having many children has a lot of benefits,’’ he said in January 2017.
“This is very useful, so that when you are old and crippled, at least you will have a lot of children to give you your cigarette and massage you.”
