12 Feb 2003

American Samoan House suspends member

10:16 am on 12 February 2003

The American Samoa House of Representatives has suspended one of its members, Muavaefaatasi Ae Ae junior, aftre alleging that he was direspectful.

The representative for Pago Pago will be banned form the legislature without pay for the current session of parliament.

All members of the House Rules Committee agreed that Muavaefaatasi should be taught a lesson for his outbursts.

One representataive, Tagaloa Letuli, said Muavaefaatasi's behaviour has made the House appear as if it was a boxing ring.

But one of Muavaefaatasi's associates, Sua Schuster, said he should not be punished because his bad temper was the result of serving in the Persian Gulf.