Home News Local Attorney General has Urged Speaker to Return Government Vehicles

Attorney General has Urged Speaker to Return Government Vehicles

As Samoa heads into the General Elections our Office remains committed to protecting the rule of law. We will take enforcement action if necessary but our preference is to encourage voluntary compliance with all our laws."

0
1007
Speaker of The House Papali'i Li'o Masipa'u (Photo: Vaitogi A. Matafeo)

The Attorney General of Samoa has publicised its legal opinion regarding the continuation of the use of Government vehicles by the Office of the Speaker and Deputy Speakers of the House.

“I have again urged the Speaker to return the vehicles so as to comply with the Public Finance Management (Government Vehicles) Regulations.”

Attorney General Su’a Hellene Wallwork Lamb said in a press release issued on Thursday night, that it was important to clarify two issues pertaining to the actions of the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, Satama Leatisa Uitime Tala.

“I have received questions from the media seeking to clarify the legal issues that the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly has taken actions on, namely:

1. The Clerk’s report on 27 May 2025 to the Head of State that Honourable Laauli Leauatea Polataivao Fosi has the confidence of the majority of the Members of Parliament and therefore to be appointed as the Prime Minister.

2. The Clerk’s press release dated 3 July 2025 stating that the Speaker and Deputy Speaker continue in Office following dissolution of Parliament and that they are both entitled to government vehicles.

“I have already provided legal opinions to clarify the law on these 2 matters.”

“Given that these matters are of significant public interest and for the sake of transparency, I have decided to publish the Legal Opinions provided by my Office on these 2 matters. These Legal Opinions are not subject to solicitor/client privilege.”

With respect to the issue of the vehicles, Su’a replied:

“The Clerk has already published the letter from Ministry of Finance requesting the return of the vehicles as well as the Speaker’s letter in response to the Ministry of Finance declining to return the vehicles that were allocated to him and the Deputy Speaker..”

Email: lynn@lynnsgetaway.com. Ph: +685 20272

“I have again urged the Speaker to return the vehicles so as to comply with the Public Finance Management (Government Vehicles) Regulations”

“As Samoa heads into the General Elections our Office remains committed to protecting the rule of law. We will take enforcement action if necessary but our preference is to encourage voluntary compliance with all our laws.”

More details are provided in the Legal Opinions on the QR code below .

SOURCE – Attorney General’s Office.

Speaker of The House Papali’i Li’o Masipa’u (Photo: Vaitogi A. Matafeo)

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here