Parliament Endorses New Members of the Council of Deputies

By Lagi Keresoma/

Apia, Samoa – 17 December 2024 – Parliaments first task today was to endorse the appointment of three new Members of the Council of Deputies.

They are former Head of State, Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi, Malietoa Faamausili Moli Malietoa and Laulu Tiatia Mapesone.

Tui Atua is no stranger to the role as he served as a member of the Council of Deputies before he was appointment Head of State in June 2007 and he served for 10 years.

Prior to that, he was a Member of Parliament and served as Prime Minister.

After a long court battle, Malietoa has been confirmed as holder of the title taking after his later father, Malietoa Tanumafili 11 who remains the longest serving Head of State between 1962 and 2007.

The third member, Laulu Tiatia Mapesone is a retired businessman and ran as a candidate for the FAST Party in the 2021 general elections.

Le Mamea’s term comes to an end
The Speaker Papalii Lio Taeu Masipau also announced that the term of the only member of the Council, Le Mamea Tuiletufuga Ropati Mualia ends his term this month.

Le Mamea has been the sole member of the Council since the death of the late Tuiloma Pule Lameko in 2017.

Le Mamea is a veteran politician who started his political career with the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) where he was a Minister of Education and later Agriculture and Fisheries before he was appointed to the Council in 2016.