MP discharged without conviction is MNRE Minister

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The Member of Parliament for A’ana Alofi IV, Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster, has been sworn in as the Minister  of Natural Resources and Environment for the Faatuatua I Le Atua Samoa ua Tasi government.

 Toeolesulusulu was initially sworn in as MNRE Minister at the controversial swearing in under a tent on 24 May, 2021 but resigned a few days later after police charged him with driving under the influence.

 He was discharged without conviction last week but was ordered to pay court costs of $2,000 tālā.

 The new Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, Leatisā Uitime Tala,  also ook his oath of office at the same ceremony,

 TV1Samoa reports that this was a direct appointment by Cabinet without going through the normal process for public service appointments which involve advertising the vacancy.

 Leatisā has been acting Clerk since the sacking of Tiatia Graeme Tualaulelei who apparently did not have the confidence of the speaker Papalii Li’o Ta’eu Masipa’u.