By Nanai Laveitiga Tuiletufuga

Paramount chiefs have stepped up to denounce the Tautua Samoa Opposition Party’s campaign to remove the electoral law regulation for candidates to fulfill the three year monotaga clause in order to be eligible to run for office.

At a pre-election meeting with election candidates and committee members with the Human Rights Protection Party Executive, the majority of matais, mostly paramount chiefs, audibly rejected the proposal and urged the HRPP to remain firm on the monotaga mandate because it represents the “dignity of the village council and matais.”

The high chiefs denouncement of the Opposition’s stance comes a day after the ruling party’s leader and Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi had publicly condemned the Opposition’s intentions in his weekly radio program with Talofa FM.

Said Tuilaepa;

“The Opposition’s lame excuse in labeling the monotaga as a political shield by government to prevent candidates from running in the election is an insult to every matai serving his or her village and family.

“Without the monotaga, peace and harmony within the village and constituencies would be compromised.

“The greatest insult to our resident Samoan matais is for a candidate to pop up from nowhere and claim his right as an election candidate and that candidate has never provided services or contributed a sene for the village developments and welfare.

“Is the Opposition prioritizing the rights of non-serving matais over matais who are toiling daily to ensure our survival and our people’s daily needs?

“Under HRPP, our matai system will remain paramount because of their crucial role in maintaining stability and peace within our community.

“The monotaga is a service to the village and the constituency.

“It is proof they are worthy to be candidates because they have served the voters they propose to represent.

“This is a Samoan tradition and one gets to authority through serving others.”

The Prime Minister is also asking future candidates to place value on giving service to their village if they want to stand as an election candidate.

Service to the village (monotaga) is one of the criteria candidates must meet if they are to run for Samoa’s parliament.

Before the court this week, are nine election eligibility challenges. Among the challenges include 8 targeting the monotaga regulation.

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