“So what do we do next, let us go and govern”.
The words of Samoa’s first female Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, to loud cheering by members of the Faatuatua I le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) Party last evening as they celebrated the ruling of the Samoa Court of Appeal declaring them the duly elected and sworn in government of Samoa.
“Let us accept with humility the decision we have received especially with the spirit of peacefulness,” she said.
The decision was delivered by Chief Justice Satiu Simativa Perese assisted by Justice Niava Mata Tuatagaloa and Justice Tafaoimalo Leilani Tuala Warren around 4:30pm Friday 23, July.
It declared that the ad-hoc swearing in ceremony held by FAST in a tent 24 May was legal and constitutional.
“We declare that the swearing in carried out on the 24th May 2021 at the Tiafau Malae of elected members of Parliament, to be consistent with the Constitution, the Supreme Law of Samoa, and therefore lawful,”
“For the avoidance of doubt, this means that ther has been lawful government in Samoa since 24 May 2021 and that lawful government is the FAST Party which holds the majority of seats in Parliament”.
Fiame said the first order of business was to gather all public service leaders and advise them o th direction the transition will take.
The Human Rights Protection Party of Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi met in a subdued prayer meeting where he continued to express displeasure against the Courts and decisions it has been making.
Samoa will be waking up this morning still with some sense of uncertainty, especially with the unknown reaction from the Public Service.
The main feeling is that, as it has done in the last more than 2 months, Tuilaepa and his party, supported by the Head of State will have a new move to continue in caretaker mode.
