“I will not go back on my decision” – Tuala Tevaga Iosefo Ponifasio

FAST elected member Tuala Tevaga Iosefo Ponifasio.

By Lagi Keresoma

APIA, SAMOA – 28 APRIL 2021: The 26^th elected member of the FAST political party, Tuala Tevaga Iosefo Ponifasio has rejected “as untrue” the Electoral Commissioners announcement that Tuala is still an independent unless he is sworn in as a Member of Parliament.

Addressing the public in a media conference yesterday, Tuala said while he was an Independent, he announced on 20 April that he had chosen to join the FAST Party after meeting the leaders of the two (main) political parties.

On the following day, 21 April, he met with his constituency who supported his decision and he announced the decision on the media in the evening.

On 23 April, Tuala was presented by his constituency to the FAST Party in a public ceremony that was streamed live and had already paid his registration as a (financial) member of the party.

“What I’m saying is, what more is there to doubt and question my being a member of the FAST party?” Tuala Tevaga  Iosefo Ponifasio.

“It was not an easy decision but one that will stand and will not change,” he referred to his negotiations with the two parties and what led to his final decision.

Tuala’s name is included in the FAST Party’s list of 26 elected members presented to the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly to confirm the numbers given the current political stalemate.

But Tuala, a lawyer, is taking a further step by making a Statutory Declaration that he is a member of the FAST Party given the OECs announcement that he was still an Independent until he is sworn in.

“The law has (long) been satisfied, but this is to satisfy the Electoral Commissioner,” said Tuala.

“But I will not go back on my decision,” he declared.