New Minister for Women calls for Unity & Team Work

By Lagi Keresoma

Apia, Samoa – 06 October 2023: The new Minister for Women, Community & Social Development (MWCSD) Mulipola Anarosa Ale Molio’o has called for unity and team work from the Ministry.

Mulipola was officially welcomed in a Ava ceremony by the MWCSD Associate Minister Seuamuli  FasiToma and staff yesterday.

Mulipola acknowledged the Ministry’s gesture of respect – faaaloalo then spoke on the importance of working together to ensure a positive outcome for the country and ministry itself.

“Unlike other Ministries which focus on one area, the Ministry of Women carries the weight of the whole country dealing with the social issues and the lives of the country and needs everyone to work together,” said Mulipola..

She acknowledged the former Minister, Leota Laki Lamositele and Chief Executive Officer Leilua Dr. Mema Motusaga for the work they have done and laid out for her to continue.

She said it would not be an easy journey as they will certainly encounter challenges along the way and such critical times can be countered by a strong fearless team with faith in God.

“It is natural for any boat to move forward, but there are times a boat can take a different turn hence the need for us to stand together in delivering our service,” said Mulipola.

Honesty & Respect
She also emphasized the importance of the policies set down by the Public Service Commission for all public servants.

She encouraged the ministry staff to do their own self-assessment and meditate on the importance of serving with honesty, respect, doing the right thing, unbiased and rendering good service.

The Associate Minister, Seuamuli Fasi Toma, Minister Mulipola Anarosa Ale Molioo and Assistant Chief Executive Officer Polataivao Tiotio.

Muliploa however is not new to the Ministry and staff as she had been working together with the former Minister in implementing and delivering the $1million District Development Project.

The Associate Minister, Seuamuli Fasi Toma spoke on behalf of the Ministry and assured the Minister of the ministry’s support and readiness to serve under her leadership.

He too agreed that the ministry has a huge responsibility then noted some of the things he thought need to be reviewed and addressed.

History repeating itself
Mulipola was the first woman to be appointed Minister for Finance where she set high achievements such as the Governments first $1billion tala budget 2023/2024, the country’s foreign reserves crossing the $1billion tala mark and bringing the levels of governments foreign debts down.

Last month, Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa announced a Cabinet reshuffle shifting Mulipola from Finance to MWCSD and Leota to the Ministry of Commerce Industry & Labour (MCIL).

Seuamuli reminded the gathering that the ministry is not new to reshuffles as it happened before.

The previous Government appointed Faimalotoa Kika Stowers as the Minister for Women and in 2019 shifted her to be the Minister of Health when the measles epidemic got worse and declared a national state of emergency.