Cabinet of Samoa

The Cabinet is the executive branch of the government of the Independent State of Samoa.

Per article 31(1) of the Constitution, executive power is vested in the Head of State. Per article 26(1), however, "the Head of State in the performance of his functions shall act on the advice of Cabinet, the Prime Minister or the appropriate Minister, as the case may be". Article 32(1) provides that the Cabinet "shall have the general direction and control of the executive government" of Samoa.

The Cabinet is composed, per article 32(2), of the Prime Minister and "not fewer than eight nor more than twelve other Members of Parliament", appointed by the Head of State on the advice of the Prime Minister. ^[1]

XVII Cabinet

This Cabinet was appointed by Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa during the 2021 Samoan constitutional crisis following the April 2021 Samoan general election. ^[2] The previous cabinet purported to continue in a caretaker role. ^{[3] [4]} On 23 July 2021 the Court of Appeal ruled that the swearing-in ceremony was constitutional and binding, and that FAST had been the government since 24 May. ^[5]

Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster resigned on 3 June 2021 after being arrested for drink-driving. ^[6] He returned to Cabinet on 20 October 2021, with the addition of the Tourism portfolio. ^[7]

A cabinet reshuffle in September 2023 moved Mulipola Anarosa Ale Molioo to the Women, Community and Social Development portfolio. She was replaced as Minister of Finance by Lautimuia Uelese Vaʻai. Leota Laki Lamositele became Minister of Commerce, Industry of Labour, with Leatinuu Wayne So'oialo retaining only the public enterprises portfolio. Laumatiamanu Ringo Purcell entered Cabinet as Minister for Sports & Recreation. ^[8]

In January 2025 Laʻauli Leuatea Polataivao was charged with ten criminal offences. After refusing to resign, he was sacked from Cabinet on 10 January. ^{[9] [10]} Three other ministers were subsequently sacked. ^{[11] [12]} On 15 January Titimaea Tafua, Lagaaia Tiatuau Tufuga, Mauʻu Siaosi Puʻepuʻemai, and Niuava Eti Malolo were appointed as replacements. ^[13]

	Portfolio	Minister	Constituency	Party
	Prime Minister Prime Minister and Cabinet Foreign Affairs and Trade Tourism Samoa Public Commission	Fiamē Naomi Mata‘afa	Lotofaga	FAST
	Deputy Prime Minister Customs and Revenue	Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio	Gagaemauga No. 1	FAST
	Agriculture and Fisheries	La'auli Leuatea Polataivao	Gagaifomauga No. 3	FAST
	Works, Transport and Infrastructure	Olo Fiti Vaai	Salega No. 2	FAST
	Public Enterprises	Faumuina Asi Pauli Wayne Fong	Faleata No. 2	FAST
	Women, Community and Social Development	Mulipola Anarosa Ale Molioo	Palauli No. 1	FAST
	Justice and Courts Administration	Matamua Vasati Pulufana	Faasaleleaga No. 1	FAST
	Police and Prisons	Lefau Harry Schuster	Vaimauga No. 4	FAST
	Natural Resources and Environment	Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster	Aana Alofi No. 4	FAST
	Health	Valasi Toogamaga Tafito	Vaisigano No. 2	FAST
	Education and Culture	Seuula Ioane	Alataua Sisifo	FAST
	Communications and Information Technology	Toelupe Poumulinuku Onesemo	Falealili No. 1	FAST
	Commerce, Industry and Labour	Leota Laki Lamositele	Palauli No. 2	FAST
	Finance	Lautimuia Uelese Vaʻai	Vaimauga 3	FAST
	Sports & Recreation	Laumatiamanu Ringo Purcell	Safata No. 2	FAST

XVI Cabinet

This cabinet resulted from the March 2016 general election.

A cabinet reshuffle in April 2019 made the following ministerial changes: ^[14]

• Dr Tuitama Talalelei Tuitama moves from the Minister of Health to the Minister for Women, Community and Social Development
• Hon Faimalotoa Kika Stowers moves from the Minister for Women, Community and Social Development to the Minister of Health

	Portfolio	Minister	Constituency	Party
	Prime Minister Prime Minister and Cabinet Foreign Affairs and Trade Police	Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi	Lepa	HRPP
	Deputy Prime Minister Natural Resources and Environment	Fiamē Naomi Mata‘afa	Lotofaga	HRPP
	Commerce, Industry and Labour Public Enterprises	Lautafi Fio Selafi Purcell	Satupaitea	HRPP
	Tourism	Sala Fata Pinati	Gagaemauga No.1	HRPP
	Women, Community and Social Development	Tuitama Talalelei Tuitama	Aana Alofi No.1 East	HRPP
	Works, Transport and Infrastructure	Papaliitele Niko Lee Hang	Urban East	HRPP
	Agriculture and Fisheries	Lopao'o Natanielu Mua	Vaisigano No.1	HRPP
	Finance	Sili Epa Tuioti	Faasaleleaga No.1 East	HRPP
	Health	Faimalotoa Kika Stowers	Gagaifomauga No.1	HRPP
	Revenue	Tialavea Tionisio Hunt	Vaa o Fonoti	HRPP
	Communications and Information Technology	Afamasaga Rico Tupai	Aana Alofi No.3	HRPP
	Education, Sports and Culture	Loau Solamalemalo Keneti Sio	Sagaga le Falefa	HRPP
	Justice and Courts Administration	Faaolesa Katopau Ainuu	Vaimauga Sisifo No.2	HRPP

^{[15] [16]}

XV Cabinet

As of March 2011. This Cabinet results from the March 2011 general election, which saw the Human Rights Protection Party retain an absolute majority of seats in Parliament. Its term corresponds to that of the Fifteenth Parliament. ^[17] The minister's matai title precedes his or her name. ^[18]

In April 2014, Finance Minister Faumuina Tiatia Liuga resigned, after some twenty years in Cabinet, following "allegations of abuse in the performance of his ministerial duties". Prime Minister Malielegaoi took over the Finance portfolio himself. ^{[19] [20]}

	Portfolio	Minister	Constituency	Party
	Prime Minister Foreign Affairs Commerce	Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi	Lepa	HRPP
	Deputy Prime Minister Industry and Labour	Fonotoe Pierre Lauofo	Anoama'a West	HRPP
	Women Community and Social Development	Tolofuaivalelei Falemoe Leiʻataua	A'ana Alofi No. 2	HRPP
	Police and Prisons	Sala Fata Pinati	Gagaemauga No. 1	HRPP
	Public Works, Transport and Infrastructure	Manu'alesagalala Enokati Posala	Safata	HRPP
	Natural resources and Environment	Faamoetauloa Ulaitino Faale Tumaalii	Gagaemauga No. 3	HRPP
	Revenue	Tuiloma Pule Lameko	Falealili	HRPP
	Health	Tuitama Talalelei Tuitama	A'ana Alofi No. 1	HRPP
	Communication, Information and Technology	Tuisugaletaua Sofara Aveau	Vaimauga East	HRPP
	Education Sports Culture	Magele Mauiliu Magele	Fa'asalele'aga No. 1	HRPP
	Justice Courts administration	Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa	Lotofaga	HRPP
	Agriculture Fisheries	Le Mamea Ropati	Lefaga & Falese'ela	HRPP
	Finance	Faumuina Tiatia Liuga	Palauli-Le-Falefa	HRPP

XIV Cabinet

This Cabinet resulted from the 2006 Samoan general election. ^[21]

	Portfolio	Minister	Constituency	Party
	Prime Minister Foreign Affairs	Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi	Lepa	HRPP
	Deputy Prime Minister Trade, Commerce, Industry and Labour	Misa Telefoni Retzlaff	Falelatai & Samatau	HRPP
	Finance	Niko Lee Hang	Individual Voters	HRPP
	Health	Gatoloaifaana Amataga Alesana-Gidlow	Fa'asaleleaga No. 1	HRPP
	Agriculture	Taua Kitiona Seuala	Aleipata-Itupa-I-luga	HRPP
	Justice	Unasa Mesi Galo	Fa'asalele'aga No. 3	HRPP
	Police and Prisons	Leaupepe Toleafoa Faafisi	Aana Alofi No. 1 West	HRPP
	Women and Youth Affairs	Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa	Lotofaga	HRPP
	Communication, Information and Technology	Mulitalo Siafausa Vui	Fa'asaleleaga No. 4	HRPP
	Education	Toomata Alapati Poese	Salega	HRPP
	Public Works	Tuisugaletaua Sofara Aveau	Vaimauga East	HRPP
	Lands and Environment	Faumuina Tiatia Liuga	Palauli-Le-Falefa	HRPP
	Revenue	Tuu'u Anasi'i Leota	Si'umu	HRPP

XIII Cabinet

This Cabinet resulted from the 2001 Samoan general election. ^{[22] [23]}

Tuu'u Anasi'i Leota was appointed Minister of Revenue and Ga'ina Tino was moved to Minister of Justice following the death of Seumanu Aita Ah Wa in January 2004. ^[24]

	Portfolio	Minister	Constituency	Party
	Prime Minister Foreign Affairs	Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi	Lepa	HRPP
	Deputy Prime Minister Finance	Misa Telefoni Retzlaff	Falelatai & Samatau	HRPP
	Education	Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa	Lotofaga	HRPP
	Tourism, Trade, Commerce, Industry and Labour	Hans Joachim Keil III	Individual Voters	HRPP
	Lands and Environment	Tuala Tagaloa Sale Kerslake	Anoamaa West	HRPP
	Health	Mulitalo Siafausa Vui	Fa'asaleleaga No. 4	HRPP
	Transport	Palusalue Faʻapo II	Safata	HRPP
	Women	Tuala Ainiu Iusitino	Gaga'emauga No. 1	HRPP
	Public Works	Faumuina Tiatia Liuga	Palauli-Le-Falefa	HRPP
	Agriculture	Tuisugaletaua Sofara Aveau	Vaimauga East	HRPP
	Sports, Youth and Culture	Ulu Vaomalo Kini	Faleata West	HRPP
	Justice	Seumanu Aita Ah Wa	Fa'asalele'aga No. 1	HRPP
	Legislative Department & Audit (Revenue)	Ga'ina Tino	Gaga'ifomauga No. 1	HRPP

References

1. Constitution of Samoa Archived 2007-07-08 at the Wayback Machine
2. Marieta H Ilalio (25 May 2021). "Fiame Sworn in as Prime Minister under Marquees on Parliament Grounds". Samoa Global News. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
3. Sapeer Mayron (24 May 2021). "Samoa election turmoil: Samoa's caretaker PM Tuilaepa gives blistering speech as FAST Party's Fiame Naomi Mata'afa sworn in as new PM". Stuff. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
4. "Samoa incumbent leader rejects first female Prime Minister's swearing in as 'treason'". RNZ. 24 May 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
5. Lanuola Tusani Tupufia - Ah Tong (23 July 2021). "F.A.S.T. declared new Government as appeal upheld". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
6. Joyetter Feagaimaali'i (3 June 2021). "Cabinet Minister-elect Toesulusulu resigns". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
7. Talaia Mika (20 October 2021). "New Clerk of Parliament and Cabinet Minister sworn in". Talamua. Archived from the original on 21 October 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
8. "Samoa Prime Minister Announces Cabinet Reshuffle: New Finance Minister and Two Additional Ministers". Samoa Global News. 6 September 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
9. Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi (10 January 2025). "PM Fiame terminates La'auli". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
10. "PM terminates Samoa MP at centre of police charges". RNZ. 10 January 2025. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
11. "More MPs removed in Samoa political saga". RNZ. 14 January 2025. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
12. Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi (14 January 2025). "Three more Cabinet Ministers sacked". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
13. "New Cabinet Ministers take oath". Samoa Observer. 15 January 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
14. "Cabinet Ministers Swap Portfolios in a Reshuffle Announced by the PM". Samoa Global News . 2019-04-25. Retrieved 2019-08-15.
15. "Members of the XVI Parliament". Parliament of Samoa . Archived from the original on 2019-08-18. Retrieved 2019-08-15.
16. "Cabinet Ministers". Parliament of Samoa . Retrieved 2019-08-15.
17. "Samoa: Composition du gouvernement", French Ministry of Foreign Affairs
18. "MPS - 2011 to 2016" Archived March 9, 2011, at the Wayback Machine , Office Of The Electoral Commissioner
19. "Samoa's PM new head of Finance Ministry", Radio New Zealand International, 26 April 2014
20. "Samoa Finance Minister resignation expected to mend party rift", Radio New Zealand International, 22 April 2014
21. "Five new faces in new Samoa cabinet". RNZ. 24 April 2006. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
22. "Misa becomes new Minister of Finance". Samoa Observer. 20 March 2001. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
23. "SAMOA'S TUILAEPA SAYS HE'S SAD TO SEE TUIATUA STEP DOWN". Pacific Islands Report. 26 March 2001. Archived from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
24. "Samoa cabinet swears in new minister". RNZ. 20 February 2004. Retrieved 29 August 2021.