25 Aug 2005

Samoa prime minister says future depends on party caucus

9:47 am on 25 August 2005

Samoa's Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele says his future as leader of the country will depend on the decision of the Human Rights Protection Party caucus.

The PM said that the HRPP would soon decide who would lead the party on the election campaign trail.

Tuilaepa was responding to a statement by Opposition leader Le Mamea Ropati that the PM was power hungry and that legislation should be introduced to limit the tenure of a prime minister to two consecutive terms.

Tuilaepa told the Samoa Observer that he was seeking a second term in office.

The PM took over the reins of government in 1998 when the-then PM Tofilau Eti Alesana became ill and stepped down as leader of the country, Tuilaepa said he was determined to continue and complete on going development projects that spill over into the next electoral term.

These include road works, agriculture particularly in the area of livestock and crops, improvements to hospital facilities, school and education development, sports venues for the 2007 south Pacific games, hotel development and cultural preservation.