16 Jan 2017

Samoa ruling party favours separation of Lands and Titles Court

5:26 pm on 16 January 2017

Samoa's ruling HRPP party is considering separating the Lands and Titles Court from the supervision of the criminal and civil courts.

Samoa PM, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi

Samoa PM, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi Photo: RNZ Pacific / Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia

The courts are currently under the authority of a judiciary commission chaired by the Chief Justice.

The Prime Minister Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi said nearly all his party's MPs were in favour of the idea.

However, questions remained over how to fund such a split because the Lands and Titles Court would need its own staff.

A new system would also be needed to appoint judges.

The proposed split comes after a parliamentary committee inquiry which was ordered by Tuilaepa to investigate the works of the Lands and Titles Court judges.

Parliament is yet to debate the report but is expected to do so once it recieves an official response to it from the Lands and Titles

Court itself.