Senate President Gaoteote Tofau Palaie yesterday revealed in the Senate that opposition has been presented to the Senate President’s Office regarding the new selection for the Saole County senate seat.
Gaoteote made the revelation as part of his response to Sen. Lualemaga Faoa’s questions raised on the Senate floor yesterday as to the status of the Saole senate seat after hearing reports the seat is now vacant.
The Senate president said he has received notification of an objection to the county selection and the Office of Samoan Affairs has also received similar information.
He did not provide any specific details as to who filed the objection with his office.
Gaoteote told the senators that under local law, the governor is to issue the appropriate decree for the special meeting of the county to select their new senator.
He said Utu had visited him recently about his resignation, leaving the seat vacant, and since then the Senate President’s Office sent an official communiqué to Gov. Togiola Tulafono informing the chief executive about the vacancy.
Gaoteote further noted that he had been informed by the county of its decision following traditional selection protocols.
(The Saole County Council during a traditional meeting on Dec. 24 endorsed the decision by the Amouli Village council to accept Sen. Utu Abe Malae’s resignation and for Fuata Dr. I’atala to take his place at the Senate for the remainder of Utu’s term.)
However, the Senate President said he informed the county that there are local laws that he has to follow, which means sending an official notice to the governor about the vacancy.
Gaoteote said he also received a letter from the Office of Samoan Affairs about the Saole County decision, but the Senate President has to follow the law by first informing the governor, who then issues the official notice of the vacancy to the county.
According to local law, when vacancies occur in the Senate, the governor, or the person exercising the functions of Governor, shall issue writs of special election to fill such vacancies, except if any such vacancy occurs within three months of the next regular election, then no special election may be held, and the Governor shall appoint a qualified person to fill such vacancy.
A person elected to fill a vacancy or appointed by the governor to fill a vacancy shall hold office during the remainder of the term of his predecessor, it says.
Lualemaga said he believes that this matter should have been brought before the Senate membership for consideration and points to Senate rules.
Gaoteote interjected and reiterated that he was following the law of the land by informing the governor of the vacancy, which is the first step cited by local law and the law has precedence over the Senate rules.
He said a county decision will go through the proper channels of transmitting it to the Office of Samoan Affairs first before coming to the Senate.
Once that decision is with the Senate, a special committee will be appointed to review the decision before the selected person is sworn into office and this has been a Senate rule for a long time, said Gaoteote.
There has been no official word from the governor’s office as to when the Governor will issue a writ of special election for Saole county. |
Comments to this story (12)
disgusted wrote: |
18 Jan 2010 04:06 AM |
| Sa'o lelei teine Samoa moni. How can this Senate President say to follow the law and even themselves enjoyed the vacation in Hawaii with that $200,000 for the festival and not approved by the fono. Muamua ta le aufa'i ae mulimuli faanoi. So forget you Senator and your comrades faufau mea leaga. Fai mai le faifeau Atu'u i le TV anapo "Tu'u tou amio faapaupau na. O le matagaoi ma le mana'o i le ava o le isi" |
So What Saole? wrote: |
15 Jan 2010 09:48 PM |
| It is not over until the paperwork is done. Stand in line like everybody else. geeezzz, the nerve! |
lemailoa wrote: |
14 Jan 2010 06:15 PM |
| Saole need representation in this fono and have made their choice. The Governor is the the one that is dragging his feet. His priorities are so screwed up because his only focus is how to qualify using $5 millions on buying COS's empthy facility and real estate American Samoa already own. |
Galolealofa I'atala Olsen wrote: |
14 Jan 2010 03:35 PM |
| Fa'amalo atu i lo'u itu malo o Saole mole fai ole faiva. Fa'afetai fo'i mo talosaga si'itia mo se tasi e fai ma leo ole tatou itu malo ile fono. Fa'afetai i lau filifiliga mo le tuagane ia Dr. Tagiilima I'atala Fuata, oute ioe fo'i ele'i faigofie le toe filifiliga ae peita'i ua tali mai lagi le vala'au mole tuagane nate tautuanina le atunu'u male itu malo e ala i lenei matagaluega. Ole fili ele moe, ae tatou tatalo ole Atua nate faia mea tonu uma, aua a fai ile loto ole tagata ele mautu lea, a'o mea tonu uma e fiafia i ai le Atua, nate fa'amanuiaina fo'i. Tu'u i tua mea fa'apolokiki ma taulamalama leaga, ma fa'aaukeni, ae va'ai ile lelei mole atunu'u. E TAUTALA MAI GALUEGA LELEI ALE TAGATA. Fa'amanuia le Atua ia te oe le tuagane male galuega olo'o e feagai ai ile tautuaina ole atunu'u ile falema'i, ae TALI I LAGI SO TA AI. Manatua pea outou uma i talosaga. Ieova e va ai i tatou.
Soifua,
Galolealofa I'atala Olsen
Tacoma, WA, |
Samoa mao'i, las vegas nv. wrote: |
14 Jan 2010 03:56 AM |
| fa'amolemole ua uma ona fono le itumalo Saole ua tasi ia Fuata ole a le isi mea e tou te mana'o ai? Ole mea lea ua leaga le tele o mea i amerika samoa o ou tou faipule ma tou polokiki, ua tatau ona sui uma faipule aumai fanau ale atunu'u e run le malo ae fire uma le au faipolokiki sent to jail. leave Saole district decision that's what they want. |
Tama o le Ula Fala. wrote: |
13 Jan 2010 04:48 PM |
| To Tama Samoa Moni, I appreciate and respect your comment. But, we need to abide with our guidelines. I don't work for the Fono but after reading the above artical I think what Mr. Senate President is excersing here, is that we need to go through proper guidelines in doing so. You know, and we all know that the senate President cannot dispute a decision reached by County chiefs as of whom will represent them in the senate therefore I don't see any politics play by the senate President. I here you loud and clear, yes let's move forward but let's also do it right. You also mention "President of the Senate interpreting the law", my dear friend the Senate President is interpreting guidelines in which has to be followed in the event of a vacant seat as we experience in this case. With much respect, Soifua. |
Teine Samoa Moni wrote: |
13 Jan 2010 04:27 PM |
| Mr. President;
how can you say, you are just following the law when you senator did not follow the law. You used 200 thousand dollar for your Hawaii vacation and few weeks later approved. Shame on you and your law degree. |
Vietnam Veteran wrote: |
13 Jan 2010 02:53 PM |
| These fools only opened the Law Book when their friends don't get selected. Cmon cut off the b.s. and do some honest work for the good of AS. |
sharkie wrote: |
13 Jan 2010 01:54 PM |
| Hahaha that's absolutely true Tama Samoa Moni. Senate President you're just a rookie and be thankful you hold that position. Please don't argue with Senator Lualemaga about the law. He was a former Judge and a senator for many years. Silence and taking advises from your colleagues is better than a big noise from an empty can. The County has made a decision and it's sad to see a few trying to twist the decision by using dirty politics. Best wishes to Fuata Dr. I'atala! |
Layn' back! wrote: |
13 Jan 2010 01:32 PM |
| Ahhhh, life in "paradise?" |
The Maverick wrote: |
13 Jan 2010 01:09 PM |
| Sounds like the cart before the horse, the protocol is, The Senate Pres. was to be notified of the Vacancy, then He in turn informed(commnunique) the Governor, the Governor then issue the appropriate decree to the county for the special election. Once the county made the decision, then it goes to the Samoan Affairs and then to the Senate(body for review before the person is sworn in. according to the Senate Pres.Gaoteote, the governor have not yet issued that decree (why the objection)? Does this meant that the council will have to go back and re-constitute the selection of Dr.I'atala ? Apparently the meeting was not decreed by the governor but by the presumption heads up of council leaders. More over the Governor's office dropped the ball, accreditted the Saole County leaders for their prudent,and in good judgement, precipitated the selection process for their Senate representation. This continues the concern of Senate selection it is unconstitutional and vetting improperply, incompetetively with lots of squabbling people in the county. The Ballot box is the only fair game, and in restrospect to the Aua, Leleloa and Atu'u Senate seat taken by Mauga which lives in Vaitogi and registered voter in Ma'uputasi. Amen! |
Tama Samoa Moni wrote: |
13 Jan 2010 08:10 AM |
| My gooness, the County has made a decision. Technicality, legal reviews and all, what is going on here? Guys, get it right and stop making yourselves look like fools most of the time. Sa'ole County has endorsed someone and everyone should ensure it meets all "other requirement" associated with this decision. Suddenly we have the President of the Senate interpreting the law as if he is in possession of a law degree. 'Cmon, let's stop playig politics with these decisions, it's not wonder we will never live in harmony when we profess "fa'aaloalo - respect" in all that we do. There's a witch hunt somewhere in here if I read it correctly. The 2008 elections are long gone, let's move forward, honestly. |
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