The Samoa Supreme Court yesterday upheld a petition by FAST candidate for Falealupo electoral constituency Fuiono Tenina Crichton to disqualify Human Rights Protection Party candidate Tuitogamanaia Dr Peniamina Leavai as he does not meet qualification criteria.
Chief Justice Satiu Simativa Perese and Justice Niava Mata Tuatagaloa ruled after a 7-day hearing that Tuitogamanaia does not satisfy a requirement to render service to the church due to the matafale that he serves belonging to his father, Aeau Peniamina Leavaiseeta.
Chief Justice Perese said Tuitogamanaia’s voluntary contribution to the EFKS church in Falealupo is not attributed to him but rather his father and he is therefore disqualified from contesting the by-election.
The decision means Fuiono is now unopposed and will be declared the constituency’s new Member of Parliament.
The opposition HRPP now has a tough task of securing the last 6 seats in the by-elections.
F.A.S.T. currently holds a 27-seat majority in Parliament while H.R.P.P. has numbers 18 seats.
