Laumatiamanu Ringo Purcell | |
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Minister of Sports & Recreation | |
In office 1 October 2023 –16 September 2025 | |
Prime Minister | FiamēNaomi Mataʻafa |
Preceded by | Office established |
Succeeded by | Seuamuli Fasi Toma |
Member of the Samoan Parliament for Safata No. 2 | |
In office 26 November 2021 –3 June 2025 | |
Preceded by | Nonu Lose Niumata |
Succeeded by | Tuia Fuatogi Puʻa Letoa |
Personal details | |
Political party | Samoa Uniting Party |
Other political affiliations | Faʻatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (until 2025) |
Laumatiamanu Ringo Purcell (born ~1968) [1] is a Samoan politician and former Member of the Legislative Assembly of Samoa,who served as minister of sports and recreation from 2023 to 2025. He is a member of the Samoa Uniting Party (SUP).
Laumatiamanu was educated at Saint Joseph's College and is a former police officer. [1] He later worked for the Samoa Shipping Corporation. [1] He first ran for election at the 2016 Samoan general election as a candidate for the Human Rights Protection Party. [2] He switched allegiance to the FAST Party to contest the 2021 election,but lost to Nonu Lose Niumata. He subsequently lodged an election petition,resulting in Nonu resigning in a settlement. [3] Both candidates contested the resulting by-election,with Laumatiamanu winning by over 100 votes. [4]
In a cabinet reshuffle on 6 September 2023 he was appointed Minister of Sports &Recreation. [5]
Prime Minister FiamēNaomi Mataʻafa called a snap election following the government's budget defeat in parliament on 27 May 2025. [6] Purcell ran as an SUP candidate at the 2025 election but lost his seat to Tuia Fuatogi Puʻa Letoa of the HRPP. [7] Purcell's tenure as minister concluded on 16 September,and he was succeeded by Seuamuli Fasi Toma. [8]