Speaker of the House Li’o Papalii Taeu Masipa’u stands by his decision not to entertain the request by the leader of the Human Rights Protection Party, to remove the Chairman of Parliamentary Inquiry Committee, Deputy Speaker, Auappau Aloi-tafua Mulipola.

The Parliament’s Inquiry Committee is mandated to investigate the process of the three controversial bills, including the Lands and Titles Act 2020 given there are four different versions.

The former Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi, expressed concerns the Chairman has a clear conflict as he was vocal against the measures during the public consultation of the three controversial bills.

Dated the 14, March the Speaker was puzzled as to why Tuilaepa initially stated the Deputy Speaker on several occasions appeared before the Parliament Committee voicing his opposition against the bills and now saying rather its rumours.

Tuileapa in his first letter to the Speaker on the matter cited good governance principles of transparency and accountability which their party continues to claim is the foundation of FAST. He also threatened to take legal action if the Speaker does not heed their request.

However the Speaker has rejected the request noting that he does not have the authority to make such changes when it has already been approved by Parliament.