Lautimuia Uelese Vaai confirmed winner of Vaimauga 3 by election

By Staff Reporters

APIA, SAMOA – 26 FEBRUARY 2023: The FAST Party candidate, Lautimuia Uelese Vaai has been confirmed by the Electoral Commissioner as winner of the Vaimauga 3 constituency by-election last Friday.

The public notice was issued following the final count of the by election results on Saturday.

Lautimuia led the final results with 1531 votes, 449 votes ahead of the HRPP candidate Samau Leatigagaeono Solitamalii Timani with 1082 votes.

Independent candidate Feagaimaalii Bruce Toomalatai got 106 votes.

Overall valid votes counted were 2719 and there were 18 invalid votes.

Vaimauga 3 is the third largest electoral constituency with 4,781 registered voters and the final results showed more than 2,000 voters did not cast their votes.

The by-election was called after former HRPP government Cabinet Minister, Tapunuu Niko Lee Hang passed away at the end of last year.

The by-election results is a swing away from HRPP in the villages the long-time Cabinet Minister drew his political support.

Lautimuia Uelese Vaai is a career public servant who had served in executive positions in various government ministries and was the CEO of the Samoa Shipping Service that had been the gateway for Samoan sailors now employed on ocean going vessels and cruise liners around the world.