The new Consul-General of Samoa in Auckland New Zealand, Afemata Palusalue Faʻapo II has urged the Samoan community in New Zealand to put aside their political differences as they embark on a new journey together for the betterment of Samoa.He emphasised this in his speech at the welcoming ava ce.
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Samoa s Supreme Court
Photo: RNZ Pacific / Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia
Chief Justice Satiu Simativa Perese allowed petitioners and respondents a further week to get their arguments and counter petitions in order.
The Electoral Commission and candidates from the incumbent HRPP and newcomer FAST parties are accused of breaches of campaign practices in the run-up to the election, which was nearly a month ago.
Some petitioners have been approached by constituents asking them to withdraw their petitions including the Tautua Samoa Party leader Afualo Dr Woods Uti Salele in Salega Number One against the winning FAST party candidate, Fepulea i Fa asavalu Faimata Sua.
With the doors to the actual parliament locked to try to stop the transition of power, the FAST party and its leader, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, Samoa s first woman prime minister, were sworn in outside of parliament, in a marquee. For those who aren’t so sure about what’s going on in Samoa and the changes it brings about to its political scene and prime minister, let’s explain the basics.
BEC HANIFY-SEUMANU/Supplied Who has been the dominant political party? For 39 years, Samoa has had the same political party – the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) – in power, and the same leader since 1998.