Tuilaepa for medical check in New Zealand

By Lagi Keresoma

APIA, SAMOA – 13 FEBRUARY 2022: Former Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi is in New Zealand for medical check.

The 76 year old Opposition Leader Tuilaepa departed Samoa on yesterday afternoon’s flight to Auckland.

The Minister of Health, Valasi Tafito Selesele said Cabinet had approved the former Prime Minister medical check under the government funded scheme and should have departed on the 22 January flight.

However that flight was cancelled after several passengers on the fight from Brisbane, Australia of 19 January tested positive to Covid-19.

Tuilaepa was admitted for four days at the Intensive Care Unit last month on what the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) Secretary said was ordinary flu and food poisoning which triggered other symptoms.

He missed most of the last Parliament session except for one day where he spoke on the Supplementary Budget 2021/2022. He was again admitted at the National Hospital last Tuesday.

Tuilaepa has led the HRPP Government as Prime Minister for 23 years. He lost power when the newly formed Faatuatua ile Atua Samoa ua Tasi – FAST party took power following a five months political impasse after the April 2021 general election.