FAST Opens New Headquarters at Mulinu’u

By Lagi Keresoma/

Apia, SAMOA – 8 June 2026: The Faatuatua I le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) political party officially opened its headquarters “Home of Faith” at Mulinu’u last Saturday.

The cutting of the ribbon to open the building was conducted by the Deputy Chairman of the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa Reverend Elder Enefatu Lesa and all the church ministers who were present at the opening.

The renovation of the headquarters is estimated to cost around $1.5m and restored one of the remaining historical buildings from the days of Samoa’s fight for independence.

The building has been one of the offices serving the constitutional convention leading up to independence in 1962 and later used as the office of the Lands and Titles Court and later by the Electoral Commission before it was left deserted and ran down.

The ribbon is cut by eight church ministers present at the opening led by the Deputy Chair of the Congregational Christian Church, Reverend Elder Enefatu Lesa.

The significance of the location for the headquarters
Laaulialemalietoa said for four years, the party had applied to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment for the use of the old building which was just standing there and deteriorating.

“Our requests were declined but it did not tarnish our belief that this was the place where Samoa’s independence was determined and FAST intended to have their headquarters at Mulinuu, at the place where our forefathers sought for our independence,” said Laauli.

“E tatau ona saili se nofoaga i le mea na sailimalo ai matua ma o le ala lea o le Viia o le Atua, sa faigata le amataga a o lea ua tatou saofafa’i iinei i le vaega eleele sa saili ai le tuto’atasi o Samoa,” he said.

The monument in-front of the building is the remaining testament of Samoa independence as signed by the joint Heads of State, Tupua Tamasese Meaole and Malietoa Tanumafili 11.

The FAST Party headquarters behind the Independence Monument.  

Early this year, FAST wrote to MNRE again for the use of the building and was granted, however, the planning for a headquarters was not easy or cheap especially at the time the new Government had just taken office.

The building has its own history and FAST intends to safeguard and preserve such history for the next generation understanding of how and when Samoa gained independence from colonial rule.

Also relocated in its original place infront of the building, is the original flagpost used to raise the Samoan flag during the first independence in 1962.

Also kept and displayed in the new office is the original flag raised in 1962 and the desk of the first Parliament Speaker, Luafatasaga Kalapu now housed inside the Home of Faith building.

“O le fa’amoemoe. O le taua o measina, o ma’a na pine fa’amau o fa’amanatuga e tumau e o’o i le fa’avavau o galuega a tuaa ma matua na fai. E leai nisi tala fou pe toe sailimalo aua ua uma na tapena e matua,” said Laauli.

Some of the FAST overseas members representing 24 established branches in Australia, American Samoa, New Zealand and United States, during last Saturdays opening.  

Inside the Home of Faith
In the building there is a conference room that caters for 51 districts, and offices for each country with FAST branches such as Australia, New Zealand, USA, American Samoa and one for other countries with small number of representatives.

The construction was delivered by the Pa’o Construction & Design Company.

The Home of Faith office is estimated to cost $1.5million with all its state-of-the-art interior and materials, offices, a media studio, kitchen and living quarters for visiting members from overseas.

Displayed in the new headquarters are the original flag raised during the first independence in 1962 and the desk of the first Parliament Speaker Luafatasaga Kalapu.

The project was funded through donations from the FAST Party matafale – branches established around world through previous fundraisers. During the opening, the branches made presentations of monetary donations and fine mats towards the cost of the project.

The service to open the Home of Faith was conducted by the Deputy Chairman of the Congregational Christian Church Samoa Reverend Elder Enefatu Lesa.

“Ia lototetele i le alofa ole Alii ma le malosi i lona mana e aumai le meaalofa e taitai ai le atunuu i le lumana’i, O outou mama na,” Reverend Elder Enefatu Lesa.

When the FAST Party was first established in 2019, the party used an office space at the Maota o Samoa supermarket at Tuanaimato and Function Centre at Vaitele. But with the new headquarters now opened, the FAST activities will be centred at Mulinuu.

The Party also plans to build a Hall next to the headquarters for its bigger meetings and functions.

After the opening, the party also celebrated its 6th birthday with a huge representation of the overseas members at the Apia Park Football Hall in the evening.