Samoa’s new Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa says working with ousted prime minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and uniting Samoa will be important.
This comes after months of political impasse which was ended by the Samoan Court of Appeal’s decision on July 23, resulting in Mr Tuilaepa conceding.
“We have to build confidence of the public servants back to holding neutral positions and carrying out their functions,” Ms Fiame said.
The Faatuatua ile Atua Samoa ua Tasi (Fast) Party, which is led by Ms Fiame, won the April 9 election but were locked out by the former government who then challenged their swearing-in.
The court ruled on July 23 that Fast MPs swearing-in was legitimate.
She told ABC Pacific Beat that Parliament would meet at the earliest opportunity to pass a temporary budget to the government running.
“We’ve instructed the Treasury to prepare a 25 per cent budget – this is a transitional, emergency provision under the Constitution allowing government operations to continue,” she said.
Meanwhile, Ms Fiame said the new government was looking at the possibility of opening travel bubbles with neighbouring Pacific countries, but that the health of Samoan citizens was paramount.
“Although we might keep the borders closed, I think we need to review some of the emergency orders that are in place and are constraining people’s ability to activate business and livelihoods,” she said.
You must handle with care when dealing with Covid 19 protocol. Fiji Islands is suffering now.