Parliamentary Sitting Summary March 17th, 19th – 20th, 2015

Upon the Speaker taking his Chair and at the conclusion of opening prayers, the first day of the Legislative Assembly’s March 2015 session officially commenced.  The Hon Speaker in his opening remarks acknowledged the Assembly’s sitting in its temporary Chamber, located at the Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi Convention Centre (TATTE).  He also welcomed students and teachers who were present for the three day Primary School Parliamentary Programme.

A total of 8 Parliamentary Papers were tabled in accordance with Standing Order 48: 1 Regulation, 4 Annual Reports, 1 Government Response and 1 Ministerial Statement .

2 Select Committee Reports were presented in accordance with Standing Order 51(5); these reports were from the Business, Standing Orders and Electoral Committee and the Justice, Police and Prisons, Land and Titles Committee. Pursuant to Standing Order 54, the Government must provide the Assembly a response to Committee recommendations within 90 days.

1 Government Response was presented in accordance with Standing Order 54 in response to recommendations by the Works, Transport and Infrastructure Committee Report on the Samoa Ports Authority Annual Report for the Financial Year ending 30th June 2012.

6 Bills were considered in detail along with Committee reports and third read: the Statistics Bill 2014 (14/15 No. 199, Report of the Government Administration Committee), the Public Finance Management Amendment Bill 2014 (14/15 No. 199, Report of the Finance and Expenditure Committee), the Public Holidays Amendment Bill 2014 (14/15 No. 212, Report of the Primary Production, Commerce, Industry and Labour Commiitee), the Metrology Bill 2014 (14/15 No. 213, Report of the Primary Production, Commerce, Industry and Labour Committee), the Health Promotion Foundation Bill 2013 (14/15 No. 214, Report of the Health, Social Services, Internal Affairs, Community and Social Development Committee), and the Electoral Amendment Bill 2014 (14/15 No. 222, Report of the Business, Standing Orders and Electoral Committee).

7 Bills were second read: the Ports Authority Amendment Bill 2014 (referred to the Works, Transport and Environment Committee), the National Provident Fund Amendment Bill 2015 (referred to the Finance and Expenditure Committee), the Teachers Bill (referred to the Education, Science, Communication and Information Technology Committee), the Geneva Conventions Bill 2015 (referred to the Foreign Affairs, Trade and Revenue Committee), the Water Schemes Bill 2015 (referred to the Health, Social Services, Internal Affairs, Community and Social Development Committee), the Road Traffic Amendment Bill 2015 (referred to Works, Transport and Environment Committee) and the Acts Interpretation Bill 2015 (referred to the Justice, Police & Prisons and Land & Titles Committee).

 

Overview of Bills Read a Second Time by the Assembly:

The first Bill to be put before the House for second reading was the Ports Authority Amendment Bill 2014.  After the Hon Minister of Works Transport and Infrastructure’s motion for second reading, he delivered a clarification speech to the House. Members who spoke on the Bill were:

  1. Papalii Lio Masipau, Member for Faasaleleaga No. 2 (Tautua)
  2. Hon Leaupepe Toleafoa Faafisi Apulu, Member for Aana Alofi No.1 (HRPP)
  3. Levaopolo Talatonu, Member for Gagaemauga No.2 (Tautua)
  4. Ifopo Matia Filisi, Member for Aiga i le Tai (HRPP)
  5. Hon Gatoloaifaana Amataga Alesana-Gidlow, Member for Faasaleleaga No.1 (HRPP)
  6. Aveau Nikotemo Palamo, Member for Faleata East (Tautua)
  7. Lealailepule Rimoni Aifi, Member for Faleata West (Tautua)
  8. Toeolesulusulu Cedric Pose Salesa Schuster, Member or Aana Alofi No.3 (Tautua)
  9. Afualo Wood Uti Salele, Member for Salega (Tautua) and
  10. Hon Palusalue Faapo II, Leader of the Opposition and Member for Safata (Tautua)

Substantial issues raised by Members included:

  1. The possibility of increased boat fares;
  2. The merge of bodies with overlapping functions;
  3. Competition with private sector;
  4. Internal audits between the ports and the Matautu port;
  5. Priority boarding on ferries;
  6. The transfer of ports and debts of the Samoa Port Authority; and
  7. The employment of specialists to maintain the ports.

 

The second Bill to be put before the House for second reading was the National Provident Fund Amendment Bill 2015.  After the Hon Prime Minister’s motion that the Bill be second read, he delivered a brief clarification to the House.  Members who spoke on the bill were:

  1. Toeolesulusulu Cedric Pose Salesa Schuster, Member or Aana Alofi No.3 (Tautua) and
  2. Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi, Member for Faleata West (Tautua)

Substantial issues raised by Members included:

  1. Increase in contribution resulting in an increase in NPF profit.

 

The third Bill to be put before the House for second reading was the Teachers Bill 2015.  After the Hon Minister of Education, Sports and Cultures motion that the Bill be second read he delivered a brief statement to the House.  Members who spoke on the bill were:

  1. Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi, Member for Faleata West (Tautua)
  2. Levaopolo Talatonu, Member for Gagaemauaga No.2 (Tautua)
  3. Hon Tuiloma Lameko, Minister for Revenue and Member for Falealili (HRPP)
  4. Tuileutu Alavaa Voi, Member for Faasaleleaga No. 3 (Tautua)
  5. Tafua Maluelue Tafua, Member for Aleipata Itupa i Lalo (HRPP).
  6. Hon Palusalue Faapo II, Leader of the Opposition and Member for Safata (Tautua) and
  7. Papalii Lio Taeu Masepau, Member for Faasaleleaga No.2 (Tautua)

Substantial issues raised by Members included:

  1. The Council of Teachers to allocate teachers to different schools;
  2. School committees to manage schools in the villages;
  3. Teachers registration fees;
  4. Student-teacher ratio;
  5. School allocations of donor portions; and
  6. Teacher salaries

 

The fourth Bill to be put before the House for second reading was the Geneva Conventions Bill 2015.  After the Hon Prime Minister’s motion that the Bill be second read, he delivered a clarification speech to the House.  Members who spoke on the bill were:

  1. Aveau Nikotemo Palamo, Member for Faleata East (Tautua)
  2. Afoafouvale John Moors, Member for Palauli (HRPP) and
  3. Toeolesulusulu Cedric Pose Salesa Schuster, Member or Aana Alofi No.3 (Tautua)

Substantial issues raised by Members included:

  1. Provisions on International Agreements; and
  2. Protection of Samoan citizens involved in peacekeeping initiatives.

 

The fifth Bill to be put before the House for second reading was the Water Schemes Bill 2015.  After the Hon Prime Minister’s motion that the Bill be second read he delivered a clarification speech to the House.  Members who spoke on the bill were:

  1. Hon Tuuu Anasii Leota, Member for Siumu (HRPP)
  2. Tusa Misi Tupuola, Member for Falealili (HRPP)
  3. Tafua Maluelue Tafua, Member for Aleipata Itupa i Lalo (HRPP).
  4. Lefau Harry Schuster, Member for Vaimauga West (Tautua)
  5. Levaopolo Talatonu, Member for Gagaemauaga No.2 (Tautua)
  6. Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi, Member for Faleata West (Tautua) and
  7. Toeolesulusulu Cedric Pose Salesa Schuster, Member or Aana Alofi No.3 (Tautua)

Substantial issues raised by Members included:

  1. Unhygienic water for consumption from the Independent Water Schemes;
  2. Authority given to Village Councils to maintain the water schemes;
  3. Water sources;
  4. Samoa Water Authority metering system and the Independent Water schemes;
  5. Testing and maintenance of the water schemes;
  6. The need of a legal framework to ensure standards of all water schemes; and
  7. Need for specialist in order to improve these Independent Water Schemes

 

The sixth Bill to be put before the House for second reading was the Road Traffic Amendment Bill 2015.  After the Hon Minister of Works, Transport and Infrastructures motion that the Bill be second read he delivered a clarification speech to the House.  Members who spoke on the bill were:

  1. Tafua Maluelue Tafua, Member for Aleipata Itupa i Lalo (HRPP).
  2. Tufuga Gafoaleata Faitua, Member for Vaisigano No. 1 (HRPP)
  3. Hon Leaupepe Toleafoa Apulu Faasisi, Member for Aana Alofi No.1 (HRPP)
  4. Fagaaivalu Kenrick Samu, Member for Aleipata Itupa i Luga (HRPP)
  5. Tusa Misi Tupuola, Member for Falealili (HRPP)
  6. Aveau Nikotemo Palamo, Member for Faleata East (Tautua)
  7. Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi, Member for Faleata West (Tautua)
  8. Toeolesulusulu Cedric Pose Salesa Schuster, Member or Aana Alofi No.3 (Tautua) and
  9. Alo Fulifuli Taveuveu, Member for Anoamaa West (HRPP)

Substantial issues raised by Members included:

  1. Speed limits on two lane roads;
  2. Removal of the 5 day provision for producing drivers licenses;
  3. Towing of cars to a nearby mechanic;
  4. Age restriction for operating a motor omnibus;
  5. Period for impound cars to be sold;
  6. Illegal parking in the town area;
  7. Removal of speed humps; and
  8. Accidents that may arise due to buses stopping on any side of the road;
  9. Traffic officers to be vested with more powers than the police.

 

The final Bill put before the House for discussion was the Acts Interpretation Bill 2014.  Following the second reading motion moved by the Hon Deputy Prime Minister he delivered a clarification speech to the House.  Members who spoke on the Bill were:

  1. Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi, Member for Faleata West (Tautua)
  2. Lefau Harry Schuster, Member for Vaimauga West (HRPP)
  3. Aveau Nikotemo Palamo, Member for Faleata East (Tautua) and
  4. Afualo Wood Uti Salele, Member for Salega (Tautua).

Substantial issues raised by Members included:

  1. The usage of words “shall”, “may” and “must”;
  2. Drafting styles;
  3. Usage of singular and plural within provisions of the Bill; and
  4. Penalties imposed in the Bill.

 

MORE INFORMATION:

See detailed Summary of debates http://www.parliament.gov.ws/new/parliament-business/daily-progress-summary/2015-march/

 

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