CoveragePost
May 29, 2021
EDITORIAL: By the Samoa Observer’s editorial board Amid a mountainload of work this week in the [Samoan] Attorney-General’s Office – as the caretaker government’s lawyers look over the constitution for ways to “delegitimise” Monday’s Parliament swearing-in of Fa’atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party members – Attorney-General Savalenoa Mareva Betham-Annandale still finds time ... <a title="Samoa Observer: The Attorney-General’s fall from grace" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/05/29/samoa-observer-the-attorney-generals-fall-from-grace/" aria-label="Read more about Samoa Observer: The Attorney-General’s fall from grace">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 27, 2021
EDITORIAL: By the Editorial Board As the focus of Samoa’s political crisis shifts to the courtrooms of our Supreme and District Courts, and with Monday, 24 May 2021, going down in the history books as a tale of alternate realities, we are left wondering if there is something missing. Wherever you stand and whoever you ... <a title="Samoa Observer: Where is the Head of State?" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/05/27/samoa-observer-where-is-the-head-of-state/" aria-label="Read more about Samoa Observer: Where is the Head of State?">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 27, 2021
By Jamie Tahana, RNZ Pacific journalist Samoa’s incoming prime minister has called for the caretaker Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) government to relinquish power so the country can rebuild. The country is in a constitutional crisis after the FAST party, which won a one-seat majority in the April 9 election, was blocked from entering Parliament ... <a title="Fiame calls for Tuila’epa to end Samoa’s ‘enormous assault’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/05/27/fiame-calls-for-tuilaepa-to-end-samoas-enormous-assault/" aria-label="Read more about Fiame calls for Tuila’epa to end Samoa’s ‘enormous assault’">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 26, 2021
RNZ News Samoa’s Prime Minister-elect says she does not think the accusation of treason by the incumbent leader holds sway and suggested he his having a hard time letting go of power. Samoa’s Attorney-General has filed a complaint with the Supreme Court, claiming yesterday’s ad-hoc swearing in of the FAST party MPs was unconstitutional. The ... <a title="Samoa incumbent leader needs to ‘get a grip’, says PM-elect Fiame" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/05/26/samoa-incumbent-leader-needs-to-get-a-grip-says-pm-elect-fiame/" aria-label="Read more about Samoa incumbent leader needs to ‘get a grip’, says PM-elect Fiame">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 25, 2021
RNZ Pacific Samoa’s FAST Party is expecting to face another day locked out of Parliament today and is also predicting a long year ahead to resolve the country’s constitutional crisis. Accusations of coups and treason are flying as the standoff between the majority FAST party and the defeated caretaker government shows no sign of ending. ... <a title="FAST heading back to court to try and resolve political impasse in Samoa" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/05/25/fast-heading-back-to-court-to-try-and-resolve-political-impasse-in-samoa/" aria-label="Read more about FAST heading back to court to try and resolve political impasse in Samoa">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 25, 2021
RNZ Pacific Samoa’s election-winning FAST party leader Fiame Naomi Mata’afa has been named the country’s first woman Prime Minister, in a swearing-in ceremony her rival called “treason”. She named her cabinet this afternoon in the ceremony in a large marque tent erected on the Fale Fono (Parliament) grounds. Whether this ad-hoc ceremony will be recognised ... <a title="Samoa’s caretaker leader rejects swearing in of first woman PM as ‘treason’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/05/25/samoas-caretaker-leader-rejects-swearing-in-of-first-woman-pm-as-treason/" aria-label="Read more about Samoa’s caretaker leader rejects swearing in of first woman PM as ‘treason’">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 24, 2021
By Jamie Tahana, RNZ Pacific journalist Samoa’s constitutional crisis deepened today with the party that commands the majority of seats locked out of Parliament, but still insisting it can form a government today. The FAST party, its leader Fiame Naomi Mata’afa and a large number of supporters gathered in a tent on the lawn in ... <a title="FAST party locked out of Samoa’s Fale Fono as election turmoil continues" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/05/24/fast-party-locked-out-of-samoas-fale-fono-as-election-turmoil-continues/" aria-label="Read more about FAST party locked out of Samoa’s Fale Fono as election turmoil continues">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 24, 2021
By Michael Field of The Pacific Newsroom New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has appealed for people in Samoa to uphold its democracy and institutions. Speaking on RNZ’s Morning Report today, she said New Zealand was closely watching events. “We have faith in Samoa’s democracy and institutions,” she said. [embedded content]The scene outside the Fale ... <a title="NZ’s Ardern appeals to Samoans to uphold democracy as crisis deepens" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/05/24/nzs-ardern-appeals-to-samoans-to-uphold-democracy-as-crisis-deepens/" aria-label="Read more about NZ’s Ardern appeals to Samoans to uphold democracy as crisis deepens">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 21, 2021
By Lagi Keresoma in Apia Samoa’s Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeal by the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) against the Supreme Court’s ruling that overturned the appointment of a sixth woman Member of Parliament, Ali’imalemanu Alofa Tu’u’au. This paves the way for the sitting of Parliament (Fale Fono) on Monday as proclaimed by ... <a title="Samoa’s Fale Fono convenes Monday as court rules against HRPP appeal" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/05/21/samoas-fale-fono-convenes-monday-as-court-rules-against-hrpp-appeal/" aria-label="Read more about Samoa’s Fale Fono convenes Monday as court rules against HRPP appeal">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 19, 2021
RNZ Pacific Samoa’s Head of State has agreed to convene Parliament in order to swear in the members elected in April’s general election after weeks of political deadlock. Leaders of the majority FAST party – which won 26 of 51 seats – met with Tuimaleali’ifano Va’aleto’a Sualauvi II today to request that Parliament be called ... <a title="Samoa’s Head of State will convene Fono parliament to swear in MPs" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/05/19/samoas-head-of-state-will-convene-fono-parliament-to-swear-in-mps/" aria-label="Read more about Samoa’s Head of State will convene Fono parliament to swear in MPs">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 19, 2021
RNZ Pacific The struggle to decide Samoa’s government is headed back to court, as both main political parties continue to stand firm on their beliefs following a Supreme Court ruling dismissing a call for a second election. The Supreme Court yesterday threw out the Head of State’s move toward a second election to break a ... <a title="FAST leader delighted but struggle for political control in Samoa drags on" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/05/19/fast-leader-delighted-but-struggle-for-political-control-in-samoa-drags-on/" aria-label="Read more about FAST leader delighted but struggle for political control in Samoa drags on">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 19, 2021
By Lagi Keresoma in Apia The new elections in Samoa called by the Head of State for this Friday, May 21, cannot proceed as they were not called under any legal authority and is accordingly voided, the Supreme Court has ruled. So concluded the 28-page court ruling delivered by Chief Justice Satiu Simativa Perese this ... <a title="No new elections in Samoa as Head of State doesn’t have power, rules court" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/05/19/no-new-elections-in-samoa-as-head-of-state-doesnt-have-power-rules-court/" aria-label="Read more about No new elections in Samoa as Head of State doesn’t have power, rules court">Read more</a>