Sāmoa PM challenged by village chiefs over district appointment

A dispute has emerged between Samoa’s Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt and village leaders from Faasaleleaga II in Savai‘i after the district rejected the government-appointed chairperson for its ST$1.8 million (NZ$1.11m) development programme.

As reported by the Samoa Observer, chiefs from Faasaleleaga II met with Laaulialemalietoa on 21 January to discuss the appointment of former MP Magele Sikati Fiaui as chairperson of the Fono Faavae programme.

Magele served as the Faatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) MP for Faasaleleaga II from 2021 until he lost the seat to Vaaelua Senetenari Samau of the opposition Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) in the August general election. Magele filed an election petition alleging bribery, and Vaaelua submitted a counter-petition.

The Supreme Court upheld the counter-petition, found Magele guilty of bribery, and barred him from elections for 10 years.

On 14 January, Laaulialemalietoa announced leadership appointments for all 51 districts, naming Magele as chairperson for Faasaleleaga II. He said only a few HRPP MPs had applied for district chair roles, a claim disputed by opposition MPs.

The appointment drew criticism from the opposition and district representatives, who voiced their concerns directly to the Prime Minister.

Laaulialemalietoa and Magele at a FAST Party pre-election rally in Iva, Savaii. Photo/Facebook

According to the Observer, the mayor of Vaiafai, Iva, said the wider district supported changing the chairperson. Sae Tui also opposed Magele’s appointment.

“We all agree that Magele shouldn’t be leading this project because there is no trust at all among the constituents that he can lead with transparency and honesty,” Sae told the Observer.

Another matai, Tofilau Lino Tofilau, said chiefs were concerned the Prime Minister, whom he called an “outsider”, was imposing leadership on their district.

Alii ma Faipule (village council) of Faasaleleaga II district in Savaii, met with prime minister Laaulialemalietoa on 21 January to discuss the appointment of Magele Sekati Fiaui as district chair and head of the district development fund. Photo/Sāmoa Observer

“He does not tell us what to do,” Tofilau told the newspaper, adding that the Prime Minister wanted the district to reinstate Magele.

He said they might miss out on Fono Faavae funding, but Faasaleleaga II could manage without it, using what he described as “clean money”.

Tofilau also said their current MP, Vaaelua, had applied and been interviewed for the district chair role. “Laaulialemalietoa should consider letting our MP be the chairperson because he did apply,” he said.

The claims contradict the Prime Minister’s assertion that the district MP had not applied.

On 19 January, Laaulialemalietoa told the media he welcomed the opportunity to meet with Faasaleleaga II’s chiefly representatives, suggesting the district was heavily influenced by politics.

“Meeting them will be an opportunity to clarify the government’s position. Based on social media coverage, there is much the district does not understand,” he said. “The question is whether the entire district is involved, or only Iva. I welcome further discussion,” he told the media.

Watch Laaulialemalietoa's press conference (Sāmoan) below:

Laaulialemalietoa said the government was not biased and would clarify why other applicants were not selected and why the district MP was not appointed, noting the MP had not applied.

He cautioned against ‘politicising’ the issue, saying the ruling FAST party had decided, as policy, that district chairpersons should be selected from within its ranks, and districts should accept this decision.

Opposition leader Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi told the media on Thursday that the government was “absolutely not allowed” to impose decisions on village councils, pointing to constitutional protections for custom and village authority.

Under Sāmoa’s Constitution, authority exercised by alii ma faipule (village councils) is legally recognised, provided it does not conflict with the Constitution or an Act of Parliament.

PMN News has sought comment from the FAST party, the Prime Minister's office, and the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development, which administers the Fono Faavae programme.