FAST welcomes Four new Members of Parliament

By Lagi Keresoma

APIA, SAMOA – 11 DECEMBER 2021: The Faatuatua I le Atua Samoa ua Tasi – FAST party welcomed four new Members of Parliament yesterday in a four hour long ceremony attended by the members of the four electoral constituencies and supporters.

The new MPs are former Manu Samoa coach, Faleomavaega Titimaea Tafua of Aleipata Itupa i Lalo, Maiava Fuimaono Tito of Falealili No.2, Tagaloatele Pasi Poloa of Sagaga No.4 and former police officer Laumatiamanu Mathew Ringo Purcell of Safata No.2.

The fifth member, Falealupo MP Fuiono Denina Chricton could not attend the event.

FAST leader and Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa acknowledged the constituencies trust and confidence in FAST as evident in the outcome of the by-elections where FAST won 5 seats that were held by HRPP in the April general elections.

FAST Leader and Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa speaking at yesterdays’ presentation

While Fiame commended the support of all constituencies, she pointed to the legal issues now before the Court.

One pertains to women representation in Parliament that FAST is challenging after the former Electoral Commissioner Faimalomatumua Mathew Lemisio activated the 10% requirement and signed by the Head of States that appointed two additional women seats for the Human Rights Protection Party.

Fiame noted that yesterday’s welcoming celebration of additional MPs coincided with the ending of the party’s day of fasting.

“The FAST party dedicates two days of fasting a week, and what better way to end todays fasting than celebrating another milestone event,” she said.

Fiame also said the celebration coincided with the commemoration of the human rights day on 10 December and that Fiame participated in the world leaders’ virtual conference at 4am.

The conference was called by the United States President Joe Biden where he emphasized the need for democracy, the rule of law and the protection of human rights.

“We think of the journey that we took and remind ourselves of our commitment to protecting the rule of law and the need for Samoa to maintain and protect the Convention that our forbearers founded,” she said.

FAST Chairman Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt then called on the Deputy Speaker to officially hand over the invitation to the four MPs to attend Parliament where they will be sworn in on Tuesday 14 December.

The four constituencies then took turns to make traditional presentations of food, fine mats and money and the FAST Party reciprocated to acknowledge not only todays presentations, but the ones made at the rallies during the election period prior to the by elections, so as to not break the law.

One of the presentations by the Aleipata Itupa i Lalo constituency to the FAST Party