Parliament Pays Respect to the late Members of Parliament

By Lagi Keresoma

APIA, SAMOA-18 JANUARY 2022: Parliament stood in a minutes silence at the start of this mornings’ session to honour two former Members who passed away since last December’s session.

Former Cabinet Minister, Vaai Mafasolia Papu Vaai died yesterday, 17 January 2022 in New Zealand.

Vaai Mafasolia Papu Vaai is the son of HRPP’s first Prime Minister, Vaai Kolone Vaai. He first entered Parliament in 1996-1998 representing Falealupo and served as the Minister for Justice & Courts Administration (MJCA) under the Human Rights Protection Party.

He later served as an MP for Vaisigano No.1. from 1998-2001 as the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries.

Having a fall out with HRPP Leader Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, Vaai later broke off from HRPP and led the Opposition party, Tautua Samoa Party.

Up until his passing, Vaai had been critical of HRPP and its leadership and renamed HRPP as the Human Rights ‘Demolition’ Party and stood against the HRPP plans to visit to lay a wreath at his father grave in a planned rally around Savaii Island last August. He had been an ardent supporter of the FAST Party and government then.

Vaai was an outspoken MP who was not afraid to express his opinions.

Also acknowledged by parliament this morning was the late Tapusatele Mauteni Esera who passed in 8 December 2021.

He served in the last parliament as an MP for Vaisigano No.1. under the HRPP Government.

Speaker Papali’i Li’o Ta’eu Masipa’u conveyed parliaments’ condolences to the families of the late former MPs.