Samoa Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt told parliament on Monday that Australia had told him to sign the AU$50 million Veimoana agreement to support rugby in Samoa, during a heated exchange in which he accused Opposition Leader Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi of having “failed” the sport.
The exchange unfolded during a discussion on Lakapi Samoa, World Rugby, government support for rugby, and accountability over the reported AUD$50 million(US$35 million) over five years linked to the Veimoana rugby proposal. The proposal has been signed by the Prime Minister but is still awaiting approval from the Australian government.
“Australia said, Laauli, you have to sign this $50 million (US$35 million) to help the rugby in Samoa,” Laaulialemalietoa told parliament.
He said Australia had also made it clear that the government would be responsible for the handling of the money.
“Australia said you (the government) are responsible for the money; accountability and transparency of the money is with the government,” he said.
The debate began after Lakapi Samoa Chairman Namulauulu Sami Leota raised the importance of maintaining a strong relationship between Lakapi Samoa and World Rugby.
Namulauulu told parliament that his recent appointment by the World Rugby Council as chairman of Lakapi Samoa was not only an achievement for him, but for Samoa and those who had contributed to rugby. “It’s an achievement from all of us,” Namulauulu said.
However, Laaulialemalietoa questioned whether Namulauulu was speaking on behalf of the government during his recent trip, in which he received recognition from World Rugby.
“You are speaking on behalf of the government,” Laaulialemalietoa said, adding that Namulauulu had not discussed his meeting with World Rugby before he left.
Opposition Leader and former Lakapi Samoa chairman, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, challenged the Prime Minister’s comments, saying rugby in Samoa had been affected because funding had been held back under the Fa’atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi Government.
‘The important thing is World Rugby is supporting Lakapi Samoa,” Tuilaepa said.
He argued that without funding, rugby could not develop.
“If there is no money, the game cannot go further,” he said.
He then blamed the FAST Government, saying, “Once FAST came in, the money stopped.”
Laaulialemalietoa rejected the claim.
Laaulialemalietoa said the government continued to support Lakapi Samoa and had already informed World Rugby that it would support the proper running of rugby in Samoa.
He said it was the “people’s wish, not the Prime Minister’s,” for a change in the leadership of Lakapi Samoa.
“The Government has not stopped supporting Lakapi Samoa, even when we came in,” he said.
The exchange intensified as Tuilaepa attempted to respond, but some of his comments were not picked up by the microphone.
The Speaker was forced to intervene as the debate continued.
“You failed,” Laaulialemalietoa told Tuilaepa.
Laaulialemalietoa later objected to the issue being discussed in parliament, saying it should be dealt with outside the House and in consultation with the other rugby unions.
Namulauulu responded that he had raised the issue in parliament because the Prime Minister had not wanted to discuss the matter by phone or at the courthouse, but had instead brought it to parliament for discussion.
“This is why I have brought it up here,” he said.
“The truth is, this is a serious matter because you are the leader. If we continue like this, we could end up like Fiji and Papua New Guinea, whose memberships were suspended. The message from World Rugby is clear: respect the current legal framework,” he said.
