Samoa to reform village bylaws

Transcript

The Samoan government is proposing a change to village by-laws to help curb rising levels of domestic violence and drug and alcohol abuse in village communities.

The Minister of Women, Community and Social Development, Tolofua Leiataua, told Koroi Hawkins the changes come at an important time.

TOLOFUA IVALELEI LEIATAUA: What we expect is that all the villagers comply with the village policies as well as village by-laws

KOROI HAWKINS: Now I understand that the Prime Minister on the floor of parliament has said that he would like to see changes because there is some inaccuracies or overlap in the way that the law is meted out by the village councils and sometimes conflicting with the constitutional rights of people is that correct?

TIL: Well I should say yes. So this bill will require the Village Fono Council to lay down a foundation for curfews and dont's and dos. I mean what the village fono council would like to see the people of each village comply in as far as upholding the law and maintaining peace and tranquility in the village and for them to comply with that is the village fono council to lay down these rules and by-laws to be in line with the constitution of Samoa. And if anybody violates it then they also lay down the fines and penalties which include banishment in the event that those the culprits do not comply with the requirements of the laws within the villages.

KH: Is this a significant change for law in Samoa in terms of affecting peace and stability as you mentioned in the villages?

TIL: Since the problems of continuous violence which are being noticed of against women, you know and the children. I think this is one important thing. And secondly the level of violations in as far as drug usage through the youths of Samoa and those people who love to transport it or transfer it. And I think it goes well with our tradition and usage's that everyone must comply with the village level of its laws within each traditional village of Samoa. So it helps a lot with the work of the police and the courts. If it can be controlled within the village level then that is a very successful bill.

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi says he wants the amended bill to ensure that village matais do not breach the human rights of village residents.

He says incidents of arbitrary detention have caused embarrassment.