9 Feb 2011

Samoa public servants running in general election told to resign

11:06 am on 9 February 2011

Public Servants in Samoa running for Parliament in next months general elections were told in a Cabinet directive last week to resign.

The confidential Cabinet directive was was leaked to the media yesterday.

The directive says all government property used by the public servants who are electoral candidates should also be returned.

Further, the directive says if the public servant fails in their bid to enter Parliament, they may re-apply for vacancies that arise in the public service.

Opponents of the directive, including Tautua Samoa Party candidate, Levaopolo Talatonu, believes it to be unconstitutional.

The Electoral Act says public servants may take special leave to campaign to run for Parliament from the deadline for nominations of electoral candidates - which is February 18.