20 May 2013

Divisions remain in Samoa's ruling party despite caucus vote

7:30 pm on 20 May 2013

Confusion remains in Samoa over disunity within the ruling party on the fate of the Finance Minister Faumuina Tiatia Liuga.

19 MPs from the Human Rights Protection Party have anonymously complained about the Minister in a letter published at the weekend.

Faumuina has been criticised over spending for his new office and there is also concern over the handling of plans for the new market in Apia.

The minister survived a caucus vote last week but our correspondent in Apia, Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia, says there is disappointment that the minister's fate was decided in caucus rather than by the prime minister himself.

He says they want the prime minister to make a decision to remove the minister.

"They've also said in the letter that they've noticed from these fifteen years that the Minister of Finance was in the cabinet he made alot of other decisions which really concern the public and really has put the ruling HRPP party under alot of scrutiny by the public."

Our correspondent in Apia, Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia