The formerly suspended Samoa opposition leader says he agrees with the Speaker of Parliament that he should not get back pay.
RNZ reports that Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and his Human Rights Protection party secretary were suspended by Parliament, but reinstated following a court decision.
Speaker Papali’i Ta’eu Masipa’u said he accepted the decision to lift the suspension but there was nothing in the decision indicating the MPs were entitled to back pay.
Tuilaepa said they should start getting paid from the day the decision to lift our suspension was made, but also suggested the court should have included a provision for a starting point for back pay.
The court decision did say that Parliament should revisit the penalty, and Papali’i has since reconvened the parliamentary Privileges and Ethics Committee to discuss the matter.
