A Commission of Inquiry has been approved by the Legislative Assembly to investigate the discrepancies in the three controversial bills as it has been uncovered there are four different sets of copies which makes difficult to determine the correct Act.

Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa made the motion for a Commission before Parliament last night.

She said the amendments to the Constitution pertaining to the establishment of an Independent Lands and Titles Court does not address how the appointments are made, as well as salaries and benefits for the Judges of the LTC.

“The Lands and Titles Act 2020 does not include eligibilities for the position of Judges; the term of their contracts and if these issues are not enacted into the law it will jeoperdise the independence of the Judiciary.

“Furthermore the management does not have the authority to make the appropriate policies for Judges of the LTC.”

The Prime Minister said the Lands and Titles Act 1981 was replaced with the LTC Act 2020, but there are a numbers of issues that needs to be addressed.

This is one of the issues faced by the Ministry of Justice and Courts Administration and only in Parliament these matters can be addressed.

The committee members are Deputy Speaker, Auapaau Mulipola Aloitafua and deputy chairman is Loau Keneti Sio. Other Members sitting on the commission include, Vaele Paiaaua Sekuini, Faleomavaega Titimaea Tafua, Laumatiamanu Ringo Purcell, Tuu'u Anasi'i Leota and Alai’asa Sepulona Moananu.

The terms of reference for the Commission is to make recommendations for a process that should be followed by Parliament in similar matters; investigate the process used that led to the discrepancies of the three Acts in question; look into the legal impact of those actions and for the Commission to make recommendations to assure these types of issues does not arise in the future.