17 Mar 2014

Tautua Samoa MP says PM no support for strong opposition

4:22 pm on 17 March 2014

An opposition MP in Samoa has voiced concerns over the lack of support for a strong opposition in parliament.

Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi, who is the whip for the Tautua Samoa Party, says the Prime Minister, Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, does not 'walk the talk' on democratic principles and the need for a strong opposition.

He says the lack of legislation recognising the shadow cabinet shows disrespect for democracy.

The concerns have been voiced ahead of tomorrow's session of parliament, where the house will debate the Controller and Chief Auditor's report on allegations of abuse of public assets, including by government ministries and corporations.

The opposition MP says the ruling HRPP party does not want to recognise the opposition's shadow cabinet because they believe the HRPP, which has been in power for more than thirty years, will never become the opposition.

The opposition leader, Palusalue Faapo, says he supports Lealailepule's concerns.