Senator Soliai Tuipine was furious yesterday when telling lawmaker, Vui Florence Vaili Saulo to “be quiet” — “ku’u, ku’u laia” — following the budget hearing for the Department of Public Safety, when she was trying to ask why Senate budget Chairman Laolagi Savali Vaeao did not give her a chance to question the Commissioner about the budget.

During the budget hearing for DPS, a motion was made to release the witnesses, Commissioner Save Liuato Tuitele, Deputy Commissioner Viamaga Maiava and Commander Terry Letuli. The hearing, which went for almost an hour, prompted Laolagi to announce to the Senators and Representatives that because there is a motion and eight more people wanting to question the witnesses, as Chairman he’s putting up that motion to release the witnesses for a vote.

He did so, and a majority of the Senators and Representatives voted to release the witnesses. However this did not sit well with Vui who raised her hand and asked Laolagi for an opportunity to question the Commissioner.

Laolagi responded that that there are seven other members who also want to question Save but the motion had been approved. She pointed out to Laolagi the importance of the issue she wanted to talk about, however Laolagi told Vui to please wait until the witnesses departed the Senate chamber, as it’s not pleasant to argue in front of the witnesses. She responded that she's not trying to argue rather she’s seeking an opportunity to question the witnesses.

When the witness departed the Senate Chamber, Laolagi explained to Vui again that there were seven members who were also trying to ask questions, but because there was a motion on the floor, the committee had to honor the motion.

He also reminded Vui that it’s up to him as Chairman as to how the hearings are conducted, as it’s what the members have all agreed upon the day before.

Laolagi then gave Vui the chance when she raised her hand, and as she attempted to respond to Laolagi, Senator Soliai Tuipine yelled out Vui’s name twice.

“Vui, Vui” he said, and told her to stop (in Samoan) and demanded that she listen to him. The Senator further told Vui that she was being disrespectful and she has no respect for the Fono.

He stated that her rudeness started last week, and even last year she did the same thing. He told her that it needs to stop, as she was being very disrespectful.

However, Vui told Samoa News that she was not being disrespectful, rather she has some concerns, given that her Tualauata District has the most people residing there, and there are a lot of issues pertaining to Tualauta, which is why she insisted on being able to question the Commissioner.

“I speak for my district, that’s why I am here. I was voted into office by my district, and that’s why it’s important to allow this opportunity for our District,” she said. “I am the voice for my Tualauta a District with 22,000 population that is why it’s important to give us the chance.”

(Samoan language version of this story appears in today’s Lali section.)