Samoa now has an autonomous Land and Titles Court complete with its own Court of Appeal and management and administration.
The Land and Titles Court Bill 2020 is one of three controversial bills passed into law by Parliament yesterday during its last session for the year.
The Constitutional Amendment Bill 2020 and the Judicature Bill 2020 are the other two bills that were passed.
The new laws also successfully changed the country’s Constitution to ensure Samoan culture and traditions are part of the supreme law of the land.
According to the Minister of Justice, Faaolesa Katopau Ainuu this is to fulfill the desire of the framers of the Constitution in 1960 to enshrine the traditional rule of matai councils in the Constitution.
Village matai council decisions and communal rights now rank the same as individual rights.
Only four MPs voted against the bills:former Deputy PM Fiame Naomi Mataafa, Laauli Leauatea Schmidt, Olo Fiti Vaai and Faumuina Wayne Fong.
The expected heated discussions during the third reading of the bills did not happen as civility took preference in the somewhat subdued debate.
The Parliamentary Select Committee which claimed to have garnered more than 80% community support, made several amendments that seemed to have appeased the dissenters.
All that remains now is approval by the Head of State for the bills to become law.
