Parliament has tabled a report of their investigation into the three controversial bills, which the Legislative Clerk uncovered a number of discrepancies.
Speaker of the House Lio Papalii Taeu Masipa’u said it has been confirmed the differences in the three controversial bills, from the copies endorsed by the Head of State; the copies with the Attorney General’s office as well as the copies publicly available on the parliament’s website.
He added this is the first time in the history of Parliament such an incident has occurred.
“This has caused grave concerns given the impact of these bills on the work of the Lands and Titles which lies within the content of the bills in question; as well as concerns by the public as to which is the legitimate Acts.”
This issue was first announced by Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa last year and the Attorney General Hellene Wallwork Su’a was tasked to investigate.
The bills in question see the revamping of the Judiciary in its entirety.
He said this is the first time such an incident has occurred.
The Deputy Speaker of the House, Auapaau Mulipola Aloitafua motioned to table the report.
He concluded by urging the Members of Parliament, they will not be allowed to question the report until it is being discussed in session.
As reported earlier former Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr Sailele Malielegaoi dismissed claims noting its unfounded. He cautioned the Government not to rush into publicly announcing the “so call differences”.
In a press conference Tuilaepa called on the Government not to politics the issue and if these are such issues then it should be addressed appropriately, but shouldn’t be publicly announced.
“I read the Acts in question and its apparent the government rushed into making such announcements without thoroughly reviewing the bills.”
Tuileapa believes the “so-call differences” the government is referring to, is between the proposed bills and the actual bills that were approved in Parliament, given there were amendments as a result of the public consultations.
The bills in question revamps the entire Judiciary and created new positions in the LTC, including the Deputy President of the LTC which was deemed unlawful by the Government, as there is no enabling provisions in the LTC act.
The appointments also deemed unlawful by the government are the additional LTC judges that were sworn in April last year.
