By Tupuola Terry Tavita

Just hours after the swearing-in ceremony at Tiafau Friday morning, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi called a meeting of his new Cabinet at the Cabinet conference room, Government Building, Eleele Fou.

The meeting, he said, was to lay out the preliminary programme of works for the new ministers.

Said the Prime Minister;

“Specifically, I stressed the importance of the work programme that should be well prepared by the advisory boards and various committees in terms of development.

“As part of this first session, discussions included exchanges in ideas on the immediate focus for the new ministers, the importance of the good governance principles of transparency and accountability and the various programmes for the different sectors.�?

The meeting lasted for an hour.

SPEAKER

But the maiden sitting of the XV Parliament started hours earlier at Tiafau with the election of a new Speaker of the House.

Gagaifomauga No III MP Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Fosi had already been elected by the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) as their candidate for the top job in the House.

However, the Tautua Samoa Party put forward Gagaaemauga No I MP Leavaopolo Talatonu Vaai as its candidate.

But as expected, the vote went 36-13 in favour of Laaulialemalietoa.

The new Speaker then was accompanied by the Prime Minister and the leader of the Tautua Party to State Residence, Vailele, where he was sworn into office by His Highness the Head of State Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi.

Returning to the House, Palauli i Sisifo MP and HRPP candidate Agafili Patisela Eteuati Tolovaa got the nod ahead of Tautua candidate Tuileutu Alavaa Voi as the new Deputy Speaker.

After a short break, the ceremony again resumed with the arrival of the Head State at Parliament House.

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi then took the floor to thank the public for the successful elections on 4 March, to congratulate the new and returning MPs, acknowledge the Tautua Samoa opposition party and to announce his new Cabinet.

“It’s been some time since we had a recognized opposition party in Parliament,�? said Tuilaepa.

“No doubt the country is happy as we now have a complete House. Personally, I’m very happy as there is now an opposition to the government.�?

He quipped;

“In saying that, you should not oppose for the sake of opposing. If there are issues raised from here that you know in your hearts are for the betterment of the country, then you should not oppose it.�?

Tuilaepa said the new HRPP caucus is bringing with talented individuals.

“We have here both secular and biblical scholars, doctors, teachers, lawyers, accountants, scientists, surveyors, civil engineers, builders, business people, farmers, traditional orators, pastors and deacons even a taekwando master.�?

Then on a serious note, the Prime Minister outlined the host of criteria he looked at when choosing his new Cabinet.

“It is really a balancing act. There is the issue of gender make-up, the mix of old and new MPs and the demography of the constituencies, both Upolu and Savaii, the reshuffling of portfolios and other important areas that cannot be overlooked.

“All these issues when put into context, requires divine intervention. That is why we continue to insist that leadership is a divine calling.�?

The Prime Minister then proceeded to read out his new Cabinet (see below).The Prime Minister and the 12 Cabinet members were then sworn in by clerk of the House Fepulea’i Atila Ropati in the presence of the Head of State.

An afternoon tea followed at the Luafatasaga Kalapu Lounge as the multitudes of relatives and well-wishers who packed the Parliament galleries flocked to congratulate the new MPs and Cabinet ministers.

Parliament will resume on 31 May.

The 2011-2016 Cabinet line-up is as follows

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