Royal titles, a sore point

From Felise Va’a in Apia

Politics in Western Samoa are dangerously imbalanced at the mo ment because no official appoint ments have been made to the two Tama Aiga titles of Mataafa and Tuimalealiifano.

After years of litigation, the Land and Titles Court recently appointed a policeman, Sergeant Atonio Vaaleto’a Eti to the Tuimalealiifano title. Eight other candidates were not successful. But Atonio’s ap pointment has been appealed

against by Seagai Faumuina, a Sa moan business entrepreneur. And there may be other appeals.

The Mataafa title is also expected to end up in court. There are at least three known candidates for this ti tle.

The only two Tama Aiga (royal ti tles) now filled are those of Malietoa, the Head of State, and Tamasese, former prime minister

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and now a member of the Council of

Deputies.

Tama Aiga titleholders are nor mally decided by the heirs to the ti tles. But when there is disagreement among them and no solution seems likely, they then resort to the Land and Titles Court which makes the decision for them.

When reading out the court’s decision, Mr Bryan Nicholson, president of the court, said the deci sion was based on various factors: blood connection to the title, ser vices rendered to the previous

titleholder, understanding of

Samoa’s customs and traditions,

personality, administrative ability,

education, and ability to support and hold the family together. ”Of all these things, personality and ability were the most impor tant,” Mr Nicholson said.

The most sensational outcome of the case was the decision by Mokeni, son of the late titleholder, to with draw his candidacy.

Under cross-examination, Mokeni told the court and his surprised supporters that he did not want to take over the title as he felt he was not qualified for it. He lack ed a sufficient understanding of the customs and traditions, and he add ed that he preferred to push ahead with his university studies.

Healthy Samoan politics require that all four Tama Aiga play active

leadership roles simultaneously.

Trouble has always arisen in the past when this has not been the case.

But it has been the curse of Sa moan society that successors to deceased title-holders often take many years before they are finally appointed either by the family or by the court. Recent trends show that more often than not, final settlement of successors is made by the Land and Titles Court.

Even if the court’s appointment is confirmed after appeal, it does not guarantee that peace wui come to the families concerned. Wounded pride sometimes is healed but not always so.

For the future, these develop ments do not auger well. For they could mean the weakening of the Tama Aiga families.

It may well turn out that, in future, the court may be influenced to appoint the most “neutral” per son, one that does not “rock the boat” rather than the most qualified and able.