Samoa’s caretaker Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has painted a somewhat subdued picture of his negotiations with former independent Member of Parliament Tuala Tevaga Iosefo Ponifasio.
Samoa Observer reports Tuilaepa told media this week that their meetings were more respectful than they have been portrayed.
Tuala told the newspaper on Tuesday that he had asked the Human Rights Protection Party leader to “step down.”
Talamua Media
Tuilaepa said he met Tuala twice. The first meeting happened before the April General Elections.
“Prior to the election, some time before polling day, we met and [Tuala] said that he will be running as an Independent Member but he will come across [to Human Rights Protection Party] after the election,” said Tuilaepa.m
He said that after Tuala won, he called to congratulate him and schedule a meeting.
“We chatted for maybe three hours, about our side, cabinet issues and it did include his question of whether I should retire. It was done in a respectful manner.”
Tuilaepa said Tuala had asked his thoughts about retiring and he explained that it was entirely up to the party as the caucus votes the leaders.
“However, reading the newspaper, it appears [to be characterized as critical], when it wasn’t,” said Tuilaepa.
Tuala said he met with Tuilaepa and requested five other members of the party to be present during their meeting so they could hear first-hand what his terms for their negotiations were.
“It goes beyond Tuilaepa,” he added. “Those are the things I put to Tuilaepa [to step down] because one of the things that the people are crying out for is change.”
