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Treatment of former Head of State: ‘It’s insulting and disgraceful’

  I WILL NOT GIVE UP ON THIS ISSUE: Member of Parliament, Honourable Olo Fiti Vaai. (SO file photo)
The treatment of the former Head of State, His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi and the Masiofo, Her Highness Filifilia Tamasese by the government is “unacceptable, insulting and disgraceful.”

That’s the opinion of Member of Parliament, Olo Fiti Vaai, who has called on the government to reconsider its decision to deny the extension of the diplomatic passports for the former Head of State and his Masiofo. 

Last week, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi said the Government’s decision was final and they would not extend the diplomatic passports as requested. 

But the issue does not sit well with Olo Fiti, who said “Tui Atua was Samoa’s King.” 

“He is Tama Aiga (royalty) and no matter what the government does the mindset of our people will never change from the fact that Tui Atua is our King and he is royalty,” Olo told the Sunday Samoan. 

“Is this how we treat the King who has served in every aspect of the Government? "

“He’s a former Member of Parliament, who led the Opposition, a former Prime Minister and now a former Head of State."

“The move is not only insulting but degrading to say the least, and as a Member of Parliament and a citizen of this county, I am ashamed with how my former Head of State is being treated due to dirty politics."

 “I understand there are other diplomatic passports being used by former Members of Parliament which were recently cancelled when the government announced the denial of the extension of the former Head of State’s diplomatic passports."

“The issue at hand is significant, this is Samoa’s former Head of State, and his service has led Samoa to where it is now." 

Read more at Samoa Observer