{"id":5037,"date":"2021-03-10T02:10:40","date_gmt":"2021-03-09T12:10:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/talamua.com\/?p=5037"},"modified":"2021-03-10T02:10:40","modified_gmt":"2021-03-09T12:10:40","slug":"fiame-encourages-active-participation-amongst-party-members","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/talamua.com\/?p=5037","title":{"rendered":"Fiame Encourages Active Participation Amongst Party Members"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Fiame

The FAST Party Leader, Fiame Naomi Mataafa (R) and Deputy Leader, Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao (L).<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

By Lagi Keresoma<\/p>\n

APIA, SAMOA – 09 MARCH 2021:<\/strong> The newly elected leader of the Faatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi<\/strong> (FAST) Party, Fiam\u0113 Naomi Mata\u2019afa, wants equal participation and active discussion amongst its members.<\/p>\n

Fiam\u0113 was elected unanimously in the FAST party\u2019s election candidates meeting yesterday after she was nominated by the party Chairman, Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel encouraged as a new party leader that people are actually having these discussions that I had not had with my old party for some time,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

As the new leader, she noted the challenges that any political party faces and the question on what brings people together.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think if you have clarity on that and the base upon which people come together, and that is quite clear with the issues such as the rule of law, good governance and equal participation for people in the economy,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

She is excited by the fact that FAST as a new party has a new and exciting organisation and election strategy and members are tied together by a common purpose.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd that purpose is to change the government,\u201d she stated.<\/p>\n

\"FAST

The FAST Party caucus after yesterdays meeting.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

With HRPP she said the interest is switched to the interest of the party rather than what the party was originally established for, the interest of the people.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have learnt a few lessons but it\u2019s not that the issues are new, but rather how people are seeing it and how they want to resolve it.\u201d<\/p>\n

In accepting the leadership role, she also told FAST members that they have laid a burden on her.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I can take the burden knowing that this party will work together as a team, and that is my kind of leadership,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to achieve new results or better results so I\u2019m feeling very excited and honoured to lead,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

She is confident that working as a team and keeping an open platform for discussion is a bonus for FAST\u2019s strong stance.<\/p>\n

Fiam\u0113 has been the guest speaker at the FAST party\u2019s election rallies in the villages and electoral constituencies in the past two months.<\/p>\n

The level of campaigning with party candidates meeting voters face to face and explaining their policies and manifesto and using billboards to promote the party and its candidates has been criticised by the Prime Minister as a foreign concept.<\/p>\n

\u201cPolitical parties and campaigning on policies is nothing new (for Samoa). It\u2019s the democratic process at work,\u201d said Fiam\u0113.<\/p>\n

\u201cSamoans have done it for years and made easier over time with our personal and established family connections,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

The party also elected La’auli as Deputy Leader. Fiam\u0113 said they have been elected to lead the party into the 9 April general elections and those elected from its 53 candidates, will again vote on the party leadership.<\/p>\n

As she is already elected unopposed, she could well be Samoa\u2019s very first female Prime Minister if her party wins the elections.<\/p>\n