Vice Speaker Fetui Fetu, who serves as chairman of the House Rules Committee which oversees the conduct and behavior of House members and decorum during House proceedings. However his own conduct has come under scrutiny.
While Governor Pulaalii Nikolao Pula was delivering his State of the Territory address on Monday, the Vice Speaker stood up and walked to the back of the Lee Auditorium, crossing in front of the head table where the Chief Justice, the Senate President and Speaker of the House were seated with the Governor at the podium giving his address.
Speaker Savali Talavou Ale asked members to remain after Wednesday’s House session as there were matters he wanted to discuss with them. He brought up the Vice Speaker’s conduct during the opening of the Fono, saying that it has attracted public criticism and put the Fono in disrepute. He told the Vice Speaker that he was in charge of decorum in the House and he should not have conducted himself in an embarrassing manner.
The Speaker asked for an explanation from Fetu.
The Vice Speaker asked for pardon if his explanation sounded disrespectful. He said that he could not restrain himself and had to use the bathroom. “The bathroom is at the back so I walked to the back,” he said.
He apologized if his behavior has caused embarrassment to the Fono, and attracted criticism from the public.
Speaker Savali said if anyone else had done the same, it would be unacceptable to the Vice Speaker. “All of the leaders of the government, the executive, judiciary and Fono were seated and you walked in front of them, said Savali. :You are in charge of decorum in the chamber, and the conduct of members, you should protect the dignity of the Fono and members,” he admonished.
